Saturday, September 21, 2013

Saving a Neurologically Damaged Horse: Alex, the West Nile Horse by Katie Klosterman

Training any horse takes patience, skill and love. Training a neurologically damaged horse draws on even great reserves of patience, caring, and ingenuity. When Katie saw Alex he had just survived West Nile Virus, a disease that affects the brain. Most horses end up being put down because they are so impaired after being infected with the disease, but Alex is a survivor.

Alex is a Saddlebred with good breeding. He was destined for the show-ring, but didn't make it and ended up in a barn in Arizona where he contracted West Nile Virus. When Katie saw him he was emaciated with matted hair, definitely not looking like a showhorse, but there was something about him. She purchased him and began the training that while ultimately successful was a test of love and endurance.

If you love horses, you'll enjoy this book. The training methods are interesting and sometimes unique. If you have horses you may find some of them useful, but more that that, it's a story of faith and the special relationship between a human and a horse.

I highly recommend this book. It's well written and shows the sacrifices an owner makes to take care of a special horse.


I reviewed this book for Net Galley.

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