The Horses of Proud Spirit

"My father was an adamant proponent of John Donne's 'No Man Is An Island' philosophy, and that is the way I was raised. One of the most life-altering lessons that I learned from both my mother and father is that it's possible to attain higher levels of happiness, feelings of self-worth, and a genuine sense of accomplishment if we take the focus off ourselves. Whatever we choose to be passionate about, we need to remember that in one form or another, we are either taking from or giving back to the world around us. No man is an island.

Perhaps when we consciously try to conduct our lives in the spirit of giving back to the world, the gift of happiness, a feeling of self-worth, and a sense of accomplishment are simply there . . . We do not have to seek them."

Melanie Sue Bowles

The above is a, slightly edited for length, excerpt from the introduction of The Horses of Proud Spirit. I have chosen to share this book and this person on this site because Melanie is a rare gem among us, the Human species. She is one that doesn't just tout a philosophy, she lives it. Proud Spirit started on fifty acres in Myacca City, Florida and now spans 300 plus acres in Mena, Arkansas. All the horses were moved in special tractor/trailer rigs when the larger facility was procured. It is the living proof of the heart and soul of a gentle woman, passionate about giving back to the Earth a small portion of what we all take from it. What it has given her.

I've witnessed with my own eyes, these glorious creatures that without her, would have met with yet more abuse or death. I've seen her work with them, care for them, and most gratifying of all, I've seen the love and trust in their incredible eyes when she enters a pasture and they come loping up to greet her. A trust she gave of her all to earn against nearly insurmountable odds.

In addition to their tireless work with the horses, Melanie and her husband Jim, both retired with full service from the Sarasota County Fire Department where Jim was a Battalion Chief. In this world fraught with trial and tribulation, Man's inhumanity to man and beast, such a soul as Melanie deserves acknowledgment. I am humbled to know her, and honored to have a platform in which to introduce her to you.

The purpose of this site is simply food for thought, an effort toward spreading awareness of the connectedness of the World around us. Possibly an outstretched hand offering hope or inspiration to one alone and hurting. I shun any tendencies toward commercialism. In this instance, however, I urge all who may read this page to acquire this book. Your Spirit will thank you. So will the horses.

See The Horses Of Proud Spirit

View a magnificent video on horses living as they should live . . . with dignity and freedom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crBUioqs3j8

Sucarha

Readers were introduced to the graceful heart of Melanie Sue Bowles in her first book, The Horses of Proud Spirit. In Hoof Prints we learn more about the horses she cares for in her horse sanctuary, which has relocated from southwest Florida to the hills of west Arkansas. In the new location, the Proud Spirit horses run free on 320 acres of rolling hills, living the life every horse deserves.

In this book you will meet some people who have no idea how to treat horses, and some wonderful, kindhearted people who open their lives to the beauty of these creatures with so much to teach us. You will meet Cosmina, a Romanian orphan who finds a kinship with these horses, who have also been abandoned. You will, of course, meet the horses—and two donkeys, one of whom can fly!—each one bearing a different scar, recovering at Proud Spirit in the warmth of the care offered there.

Meet Sammy, the big beautiful bay Standardbred gelding, who comes and goes and comes again to his final sanctuary at Proud Spirit. Meet Jesse and her baby, Riley, the first of a whole barnful of babies! Learn how one dedicated trainer has found an alternative to the cruel practice of “soring” for Tennessee Walking Horses. Learn the ways of horse friendships: Meet big old Ranger, who eases Rosie from her mourning for Cracker, though it is finally Rebel and Gambler who invite Rosie to make a threesome of their twosome. Then there’s Indigo, a very wild Mustang, who finally decides he can trust Melanie enough to greet her in the laundry room.