Believing In Horses

Believing In Horses

by Valerie Ormond

Horse crazy Sadie moves for the sixth time to Bowie, Maryland, only to find out that her Navy dad is deploying to Afghanistan for a year. To ease the transition, Sadie's parents reward her with her dream of a lifetime, her own horse. “Lucky,” her beautiful tri-color pinto, quickly becomes her best friend and equine learning partner. Via the internet, Lucky and Sadie come across ten horses in a holding pen waiting to be sold at auction, and commit to saving them. Sadie's efforts include proposals to horse rescues, grass roots lobbying, a media appearance, school help, and various other efforts to accomplish her mission in a few short months. Along the way, Sadie meets both good and bad people, and experiences joy, fear, disappointment, self-doubt, lost horses, and a level of responsibility she has never known before.

Valerie Ormond spent the majority of her adult life as a Naval Intelligence Officer. The daughter of two English majors, and an English major herself, she always had a great interest in books and writing. Just prior to her retirement from the Navy, someone suggested she turn an idea she had into a book, and from there her second career began. Valerie’s first novel, Believing In Horses, tells the story of a twelve-year-old girl committed to saving unwanted horses, and the life lessons she encounters along the way.

A lifelong horse enthusiast, Valerie has enjoyed bringing horses into people’s lives who may not have otherwise been exposed to horses. She is proud to have put over 100 people on horses for the first time in their lives, ranging from ages one through seventy- one. She believes in the healing power of horses and is a member of numerous equine-related organizations including the Maryland Horse Council, Certified Horsemanship Association, American Society of Equine Appraisers, American Quarter Horse Association, American Horse Publications, National Capital Adult Equestrian League, the Southern Maryland Horse Show Association, and the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association.

She was a mentor, counselor, and leader in the U.S. military for over twenty years. Her education includes a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Penn.; a Master of Strategic Intelligence, Defense Intelligence College, Washington, DC, and a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Mass Communication from Towson University, Towson, Md. She is a lifetime member of Naval Intelligence Professionals, Disabled American Veterans, and Women in Military Service to America.

She lives with her husband Jaime Navarro, a career Naval officer, in Bowie, Maryland. They enjoy the company of both of their wonderful families and friends, their three horses, and two dogs.

For additional information, please see her web site and blog at www.believinginhorses.com





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~1/11/11