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Phantom Stallion E-Newsletter January 2015

Dear Readers,

I'm so excited to share the cover of my new book, WILD AT HEART! If you spot it anywhere else on the Internet, please let me know.

It won't be shipped until September 8, but I've heard there are discounts for pre-sales.

Want to tell other readers what you think of Terri's books?
Join Terri on GoodReads.

You Can Help the Horses!

Please send letters and drawings:

Children 4 Horses
P.O. Box 614
Greenland, NH 03840

Tell America's lawmakers how you feel about the West/s wild horses and Declan Gregg of Childen4Horses will deliver your letters and drawing for you.

Artwork by Mel Leonard

WHEN: February 11 - 12

WHERE: Washington, D.C.

WHY? Bureau of Land Management (BLM) inhumanely rounds up mustangs with helicopters. Many horses die during these round ups. Their families are always split up. After capture, tens of thousands of horses are at risk of being slaughtered for horsemeat. Lawmakers in Washington, D.C. have the power to stop this cruelty so that there will still be wild horses roaming free when you have the chance to see them for yourselves.

MEET THE PHANTOM STALLION'S SON: RAIN CLOUD

The real Phantom Stallion wasn't alone when he was rounded up. His mare Shy and a dark gray colt came with him.

That dark gray colt was adopted by a girl named Amber and she called him Rain Cloud. The rest of Rain Cloud's family were taken to the Wild Horse Sanctuary in California. You can see them in this video.

When Amber left Nevada, her mother Margaret took care of Rain Cloud. He got good food and water, and a mare took over as his substitute mother.

After a few years, Margaret knew that Rain Cloud needed more adventure in his life. I went to see him and oh! he had the kindest eyes, the proudest stride, and a wild stallion attitude. He reminded me so much of his sire.

Rain Cloud almost left his adoptive home on this day he met Terri Farley, but Margaret couldn't part with him.

Then, in the very last days of 2014, the old mare who'd been Rain Cloud's substitute mother died. Without a lead mare mom, he turned into a rowdy & rude guy.

He needed training and he was so lucky that Palomino Armstrong happened to be in town on the weekend Margaret decided it would be best for the grown up colt to go to California with Palomino.

Palomino knew the real Phantom, too, and she can't help calling him Phantom, Jr.

He's in California, now, learning about rules and other animals and trees!

I'll keep you up-to-date as the Phantom's son grows up.

HORSELESS GIRL GROWS UP TO A LIFE WITH EQUINES: How Did She Do It?

Rachael Yoder always wanted a horse, but for a long time the closest she came was reading THE PHANTOM STALLION books. Rachel drew and painted horses as well as reading about them, and she didn't give up on her dream. In May, she graduates from college and is already working with therapy horses.

A Savvy Story

By Rachael Yoder

"Mom, can I get a horse?" I asked for one every year or every month, I should say. Mom gave the same lame excuses like, "We don't have room to keep one" or "They are too expensive". I kept trying to explain that the crawl space beneath the house would be perfect; we just had to knock out a wall or something. Plus, it wouldn't be that much money for food because the horse could eat the grass Dad complained about mowing.

This was my life growing up. Like many girls, I wanted a horse but the possibility of ever having one was slim to none. They said I'd ‘grow out of it'. Not me, no sir! I couldn't have the living, breathing thing so I got closer to them the only way I knew how; through books. I read anything that involved them from fact to fiction. The librarian, at my middle school, even allowed me to stay inside to read during recess. One day, I found the Phantom Stallion series which became a problem. Why? Well, I wouldn't stop reading them. I would hide them behind text books in class. I was mesmerized by the main character Sam and her adventures out West. While other middle school girls were trying to impress the boys, I was falling in love with a fictional cowboy named 'Jake' and his natural gift with horses. I loved reading but I still yearned for a horse of my own. It seemed as if my life with horses in reality would always be a work of fiction.

Now mind you, I didn't sit around and just dream. I got up off my hindquarters and looked for any outlet that would get me closer to a horse. Eventually, I joined the 4-H club in a group called ‘The Horseless Horse'. Basically, it was a club for kids who loved horses but didn't have one to show. Guess what, from their I met an amazing gentlemen who free-leased an old black mare to me. Her name was Midnight and she didn't really like anyone unless food was involved. Every time I tried to tighten the saddle she'd flatten her ears and snap her teeth like one of satin's demons. I knew next to nothing about riding before I got to know her so you can imagine the challenge. She taught me how to be tough, how to stick it out.

Midnight stood by me, resentfully for her I reckon, for three years. I went to college the very next day after my last horse show at the fair. It's alright for young people to not know what they want to do at this point. I didn't have that problem; I wanted to work in Therapeutic Recreation with equestrian emphasis. Basically, therapeutic riding assists men, woman, and children who are mentally or physically challenged. The horse brings out something in people, something I cannot explain. I call it a savvy; a miraculous connection that God puts somewhere in each of us, even the most hardened.

I'm a senior now, getting ready to graduate in a May with a major of Equine Management and Public Recreation. It would take me days to write about all I've experienced in the equine world since I started college. Asbury University, my school, has provided me with amazing opportunities. For example, I was able to train a horse for Ken McNabb, an inspiring Christian Cowboy from out West. I, of course, named my training project "Ace" after my favorite horse from the Phantom Stallion series. What a flying change from a horseless girl to a horsewoman with hopefully a bit more sense. Currently, I'm working with a brand new equestrian therapeutical slash educational program in my hometown. We hope to start building the barn next year and I am praying to successfully become its' first manager.

There are plenty of horse girls and guys out there that know a plethora more than me about the equine industry. I was taught to use what I know and do what I can for the glory of the Lord. That's exactly what I plan to do. There's a line in one of Terri Farley's Phantom Stallion books I always remember. It states, "It's never right to do the wrong thing for the right reason". Here's one way to look at it. Don't give up on your dreams of working with horses because it doesn't make money or because someone tells you it isn't a 'successful business'. I didn't, and I don't regret a single thing.

Going to college or maybe thinking about going back? Please visit my school Asbury University at www.Asbury.edu.

It is located in the small town of Wilmore right in the beautiful horse country of Kentucky. If you see Harold Rainwater, tell him I sent you. He's the mayor, the barn manager, my teacher, and my good friend.

Happy Trails,

Rachael Yoder

Rachel & I have emailed each other about books, art and horses for more than 7 years and she's put up with my long silences between deadlines. I've even exchanged letters with her mother when Rachael wanted to help a Calico Mountain mustang by sending some of her own money for rescue. With her mother's permission, she did, so it seemed only right that I asked her to name the little sorrel mare. She became Sage.

Where is Terri Farley?

Feb 1, 2015 due date: 1,000 words Leyla Beban Young Authors Foundation creative writing contest
http://www.blue4beban.org/1000-word-contest.html
(more info below, May 3)

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Phantom Stallion books are available at your local bookstore and online at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Indiebound.org