The Hearts of Horses

The Hearts of Horses follows Martha Lessen, a 19-year-old horse trainer who arrives in an Oregon ranching community during World War I. She seeks work breaking horses using gentle methods rather than the traditional rough approach of male trainers. Martha creates a "circle ride" connecting local ranches, training multiple horses each day by riding one and leading others in a chain from ranch to ranch. Through her work, she becomes integrated into the tight-knit rural community and develops relationships with the ranchers, their families, and their horses. The backdrop of World War I and its effects on the American home front shape the daily lives of the characters. The war creates labor shortages on ranches as young men leave to fight, opening opportunities for women to take on traditionally male roles. This novel explores themes of gender roles, human connection to animals, and the tension between tradition and change in the American West. The story illuminates how communities adapt and persist through periods of social transformation.

Readers call this a quiet, contemplative story that moves at a deliberate pace. Many reviewers appreciate the authentic depiction of rural Oregon life during WWI and the detailed descriptions of horse training methods. Readers liked: - Historically accurate portrayal of women's roles in ranching - Technical details about horse breaking and training - Character development of Martha Lessen - Portrayal of the war's impact on small communities Readers disliked: - Slow pacing, especially in the first third - Limited dialogue between characters - Multiple side plots that some found distracting - Abrupt ending Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (300+ ratings) "Like watching grass grow, but in a good way," noted one Goodreads reviewer. An Amazon reader wrote: "The horse training scenes were fascinating but the story meandered too much." The book resonates most with readers who appreciate methodical storytelling and have interest in horses or early 20th century ranch life.

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🐎 Author Molly Gloss spent significant time researching early 20th-century horse training methods, including the then-revolutionary "gentle breaking" techniques that her protagonist Martha Lessen uses. 🌟 The book is set in 1917 Oregon against the backdrop of World War I, reflecting a time when many women took on traditionally male roles as men went off to war. 🤠 The character of Martha Lessen was inspired by real-life "horse whisperers" of the American West, including women who worked as bronc busters and horse trainers. 📚 Molly Gloss grew up on a small farm in Oregon and drew from her personal experiences with horses and rural life to create authentic details throughout the novel. 🎯 The "circle ride" described in the book—where a trainer rides from ranch to ranch in a circuit to train multiple horses—was a real practice used by horse trainers in the American West.