WALTER FARLEY: You ought to pursue your hobby . . . not become a lawyer so you can spend your spare time pursuing your hobby.
The Black Stallion, written by Walter Farley in 1941, is the first book, a big girl book, that I checked out of the library and took home to read on my own. By the time I discovered it in 1966, I was taking books into my room, shutting the door and telling everyone to leave me alone. I was in a book and I could not get out of it except to come to meals or play wih the girl across the street. We pretended we were wild horses. You see, I have been a horse in my mind since I was a small person.
Since then I absorb books that I really like. The series of books that Walter Farley wrote based on the Black Stallion, Son of the Black Stallion, The Island Stallion… they kept me reading for a long time. When I had read all of those, I moved to the Marguerite Henry books.
King of the Wind written by Marguerite Henry in 1948, is the fictionalised story about the first Godolphin Arabian to come to the United States. It is a wonderful romantic story that also was instrumental in peaking my interest in Morroco, Ramadan and Saudi Arabia. I have always been fascinated with the Middle East but especially Saudi Arabia and I did many reports on that country during elementary school.
As an adult, my husband and I became friends with a family from Riyadh and one day I hope to travel to see them. It is a dream of mine.
Walter Farley never owned a horse, but his excellent way of writing about them, encouraged me to read and I think, eventually pursue a desire to express myself through writing.
When I Ride... 
I still have the Black Stallion on my bookshelf. Great post 🙂
Thank you. These are fun questions.
I used to pretend I was a horse with my best friend too….