08 Aug Marta Moran Bishop Dinky: The Nurse Mare’s Foal #horses #nursemarefoals #animal @moranbishop

FEATURED AUTHORS: MARTA MORAN BISHOP

I’m excited to feature Marta Moran Bishop, award-winning author of Dinky: The Nurse Mare’s Foal  (Classic Literature & Fiction). I had the opportunity to interact with Marta at some author events and became intrigued with the premise of her book. The book, told from the first-person perspective of Dinky, is about the plight of a foal taken away from his mother a few days after he is born. In essence, Dinky is a throwaway foal whose mother must nurse another thoroughbred mare’s foal.

For me, the story has a universal coming-of-age theme that each of us can relate to.  Despite our circumstances and who we are, we all want “to be part of the herd” and be accepted for whom we are. The biggest honor for me was to receive a “hoof-signed” book from Dinky, telling me that I am now part of his herd. 

The book was originally released by Crowe Press on 13th January 2013 (216 pages). Narrated by Bridget Thomas, the audiobook was released on 28th February 2019 (4 hours 10 minutes).

Below are highlights of Dinky: The Nurse Mare’s Foal, Marta Moran Bishop’s author bio, a post that gives the background of the real-life Dinky, and an excerpt from the book. There is an extra bonus of photos taken of Dinky throughout his life.

HIGHLIGHTS—DINKY: THE NURSE MARE’S FOAL

Dinky: The Nurse Mare’s Foal

By Marta Moran Bishop

Narrated by Tom Sleeker 

Blurb

“Dinky: The Nurse Mare’s Fal is a moving tale that will rip your heart in half and then stitch it back up. Told from the perspective of Dinky, a little foal that was ripped away from his mother, the story opens the reader’s eyes to the pain, fear, and heartbreak that many horses face in the cruel world of animal marketing.” —NY Times Best-Selling Author, Beth Hoffman.

“Dinky was born to a nurse mare, a horse mated for the sole purpose of supplying milk for high-dollar foals. The foal was taken from his mother and denied a normal upbringing for the sake of profit. It’s a heartbreaking tale of humans exploiting horses and the aftermath. Steeped in drama and harsh realities, the story makes you rethink horses, humans, and humanity in general.” — Jade Lazlow AuthorWinnie

Award Winner at the Equus Film Festival. Best Equine Rescue book.

Dinky: The Nurse Mare’s Foal is the story of one little foal’s fight for survival after being taken from his mother within hours of his birth. Dinky takes us on a poignant trip through the heart and mind of an animal, who was born for the sole purpose of producing milk in the mare. In the elite world of horses, Dinky was considered a by-product, a ‘junk foal.’ Dinky’s story will resonate with animal lovers, as well as anyone who has adopted. Although a horse, his story has been called an adoption story. The reader can follow him through the heartbreak, cruelty, loneliness, and finally to happiness in his forever home. His story is based on true events. Each event from the moment the author met Dinky actually happened, though it is the author’s interpretation of what he might have been thinking and feeling during the occasions described in his story. His early life which is unknown has been fictionalized by the author and constructed through research and imagination.

There are many wonderful animal rescue leagues, many are very empathic to these young animals, though some are not. Since Ms. Bishop has no knowledge of Dinky’s early days she used the latter to enhance the strength of his story.

It will break your heart, open your eyes, lift you up, and teach you much about horses.

It is suitable for all ages.

Book Buy Links:

Available on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon UK     Amazon US     Amazon CA     Amazon AU     Barnes and Noble

Buy Links Audiobook

iTunes     Audible

AUTHOR BIO: MARTA MORAN BISHOP

Marta Moran Bishop walks in the shoes of her characters and weaves the tapestry of their lives with the threads of her dreams.

Ms. Bishop is an award-winning and prolific writer with over 37 books and stories for sale. She writes in multiple genres and continues to stretch herself and her craft.

Her newest novel Whispers on the Wind is a time-travel romance with a brutal war with Atlantis as its backdrop. It takes us on an adventure to the mythical civilization of Lemuria during the last days of the civilization.

Currently, she lives on a small farm in New England with her husband, three horses, cats and a conjure parrot named Jack. They help her remember to view the world through a child’s innocence and keep her young and imaginative.

Social Media Links:

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Goodreads      Amazon Author Page     BookBub 

BACKGROUND—DINKY: THE NURSE MARE’S FOAL

Dinky and Lucky Huddling Together

My husband and I first met Dinky at the Bolton Fair. He was tiny, skinny, and very crabby. The day was so hot, and Dinky and Lucky were standing for hours in the sun. It was the first time either of us had ever heard of nurse mare foals, and we were horrified that it was an actual thing. After adopting him, we worked with him, loved him, and tried to help him learn how to be a horse.

Our vet told us we’d have to double worm him, that it would either kill or cure him, but if we didn’t he wouldn’t live, as he hadn’t been properly wormed at the stable where we adopted him from. He also told us how big he would get and that he would turn white as he aged. This information I included (as if his mother had told him) in the book. The stable had told us he wouldn’t ever be big enough to ride, but that turned out to be false.

His beginning days were based on research, but from the moment we met him, everything else was written from his point of view as I watched him go through things. He is intelligent, curious, and has a love of life. Dinky finds joy in many things, though sometimes still has issues feeling as if he is unsure of his place or if he belongs. That is usually when talking to him or working with him helps the most.

Dinky Learning How to Be Part of the Herd

His book won an award at the EQUUS Film Festival in 2015 and has been read all over the world.

Dinky’s book was written to tell not only his story but to shine a light on the practice of nurse mare foals.

An Introduction to a Nurse Mare Foal

The elite of the horse world are the high-dollar mares. They are show animals or racing animals, bringing high dollars for their foals because they have a history of excellence and winning. For them, time is money and it’s important that the mare be kept busy birthing instead of spending weeks nursing her offspring. That job is given to a nurse mare.

Much like the old-time wet nurse employed by wealthy mothers throughout history, the nurse mare is of uncertain or unimportant bloodlines and incapable of bringing substantial income to her owner. In order to nurse the important foal, she must have recently given birth and produce the necessary milk. The question is: What becomes of the nurse mare’s foal

By many called a “junk foal,” this unfortunate newborn is considered a necessary evil, a disposable byproduct. The cost of trying to nurse this foal until it is weaned is high, so often the “junk foal” is killed outright and disposed of. Sometimes it’s shipped off to auction and bought by manufacturers who use its hide to make expensive bags or shoes. Whatever its fate, the nurse mare’s foal is considered an unimportant nuisance.

The nurse mare’s foal is usually taken from its mother anytime from one day to a week after birth instead of the ten to twelve weeks that foals commonly nurse. The times vary, depending on when the high-dollar mare foals. Generally the nurse mare is shipped off to the farm to nurture and foster the high-priced foal.

The horse industry benefits from this barbaric practice because the high-dollar mare gets back in shape more quickly, so she can show well and invite more offers for her offspring. While some stables allow the mare three to four weeks to recuperate after giving birth, many are sent to the stallion for rebreeding within seven to ten days of giving birth.

There are Equine Rescue Leagues that have spent their time, energy, and money to help the rejected foals. Without them, more of these small lives would be lost. Most of the rescuers are knowledgeable, but there are a few well-intentioned people who want to save the newborns without any knowledge of horses. In some cases, these organizations succeed almost by accident, and in others they make matters worse for the animals in their care. Unfortunately, these groups sometimes rely on unscrupulous people, self-proclaimed experts who have their own hidden agendas.The lucky foal is adopted by people who know and love horses or who go out of their way to learn the needs and care of this fragile baby animal. Too many are adopted by men and women who know little or nothing about horses, let alone the unique care these foals require, and the new owners soon become overwhelmed. As a result, some foals are bought and sold several times before they reach maturity. Others die from lack of proper nutrition and proper parasite control. The nurse mare’s foal unfortunate enough to fall into the wrong hands usually grows up with multiple deformities and bone development problems. Some have social development issues, never learning how to be a horse or understanding the role of a horse with a human companion.

This book is the story of one nurse mare’s foal and its fight for survival.

Marta Moran Bishop

EXCERPT—DINKY: THE NURSE MARE’S FOAL

“The men are here, son,” she said. As they came closer, I saw the two-legged creatures were enormous. The closer they came, the smaller Mother became.  Her fur was all puffed up and her ears were back. She smelled of terror and determination, which frightened me.

The men reeked of strange smells—meat, cigarettes, and coffee mixed with last night’s beer—and walked awkwardly on their two legs. Still they came closer and closer. One of them was carrying something long and black.

“Please, let me keep this one. He is really exceptional, and I believe he will be my last baby,” Mother said as she ran at them screaming.

Hearing one of the men yell, “Drug her,” my whole world narrowed into darkness. The light of the new day, the smell of the grass, and the song of the birds disappeared. A loud horrific noise filled the early morning air, and I turned to flee. For a moment, it felt as if Mother was with me, but realizing she wasn’t, I turned just in time to watch her legs wobble and see her fall slowly to the ground.

Trembling with fear, I started to make my way back to her. Was she dead? No, her chest still rose and fell. Something that looked like a bird feather stuck out of the side of her neck.

She was whimpering a desperate goodbye and gazing at me with love and grief, “I tried, son. Remember I will be with you always.”

Something grabbed me and pulled so tightly I could hardly breathe. It was choking me and I fought to get away. One of the men held me tightly with a rope around my neck. He pulled me away from Mother. I could smell his sweat along with the stink of him. There was no tenderness or mercy in his hands. The other man was talking into the small black thing he held in one of his hands. Curtly he said, “Come in. We are ready.”

Still I struggled to get away and watched as a monster came into view over the horizon. It made a loud growling noise. It didn’t walk on two legs or four, nor did it fly like the birds or crawl on the ground like the worms and the bugs. It rolled on six wheels. It stank of smoke, fear, and death, and it was coming closer. I didn’t know how to puff up and rear. I was too small to fight. I couldn’t protect us. I just sobbed.

“Joe, grab his back end.” One of the men said as they picked me up and tossed me into the back of the trailer. Before the door closed, scared and alone, I watched Mother get slowly to her feet, crestfallen, and head hanging low. As the men slammed the door and locked me into the box, I screamed, “Mama.”

Terrified for my life, I was flung to the floor and against the walls so many times by the movement of this box I was trapped in. I was afraid to try standing again, so I cowered in the corner. On the floor of the trailer was a bed of soiled straw. I lay there watching the sunlight crawl across the dirty brown walls. The shadows from the sun hitting the bars in the window looked like enormous fingers coming to get me as they crept across the walls of the trailer.

No longer was I able to see the grass, the sky, or Mother. I lay there trembling and alone with no one to love or cuddle me—just this large space all around me that smelled of old manure, urine, fear, and death. Some of the smell was my own fright. The stench was so strong it made me sick. Where were they taking me? Without Mother to protect, nuzzle, and teach me, how would I survive? I felt so helpless.

My misery and my deep need to belong and feel loved were so strong, the solitude of my mind wandered back to the same questions. What would happen to me? Who would teach me? Would I get a chance to live as she promised? “Remember her words,” I told myself.

“Hold your head up, son, you must be strong.”

With every fiber of my being, I held on to her voice in my mind. It helped to ease the apprehension, the hunger, and the throbbing from my bruises.