The Horses of Proud Spirit
by Melanie Sue Bowles

. . . the book for anyone who ever cared
about an abused animal . . .

You will meet a whole stable full of remarkable horses:

There are approximately seven million horses in America. Each year, over seventy thousand are abused, abandoned, and fated to slaughter by callous and irresponsible owners. With a heart as big as a pasture, author Melanie Bowles takes some of these horses into her sanctuary called Proud Spirit. Here, horses that arrive listless and broken find a home where they finally know safety. The bond between horse and caretaker does not happen overnight. It hangs by a fine thread of trust that the author earns with endless patience and a full commitment to the well-being of the horses in her care. The horses, some of which have suffered severe abuse, astound her time and again with their ability to trust, return the love they are given, and enjoy the companionship of other horses.    Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary What began with just one horse in need on only five acres of land in rural Florida has evolved into a 320 acre, award winning facility in Mena, Arkansas.  Since its modest beginning in Florida, over 150 abused, neglected and unwanted horses have come to live out their lives in peace and dignity at Proud Spirit Sanctuary. Jim and Melanie Bowles, the founders of Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary, are deeply committed to the horses in their care. “The new facility in Arkansas is the culmination of years of hard work, and all the dreams and visions that we had for this sanctuary finally coming together,” says Melanie. One of those visions was to provide as natural an environment for the horses as possible. “Domestication has created so many problems…founder, colic, vices…problems that you never see in the wild. It was essential to Jim and to me that we place just as much emphasis on the horses’ emotional well-being as we do their physical needs.” The horses at Proud Spirit are never stalled. They function as a herd with no cross fencing, safe in the companionship of other horses…something they so desperately need. They have room to move about, and to graze and roam… which they need to thrive. One of the very few true sanctuaries in the United States, the Bowles do not adopt out any of the horses who find their way to Proud Spirit, “having given enough,” as Melanie would say. "My father was an adamant proponent of John Donne's 'No Man Is An Island' philosophy, and that is the way I was raised. One of the most life-altering lessons that I learned from both my mother and father is that it's possible to attain higher levels of happiness, feelings of self-worth, and a genuine sense of accomplishment if we take the focus off ourselves.  Whatever we choose to be passionate about, we need to remember that in one form or another, we are either taking from or giving back to the world around us.  No man is an island. Perhaps when we consciously try to conduct our lives in the spirit of giving back to the world, the gift of happiness, a feeling of self-worth, and a sense of accomplishment are simply there . . . We do not have to seek them."   As you may know PBS filmed a documentary based on my book “The Horses of Proud Spirit”. The special was released regionally in 2005 and aired only in the southeast. It received so much attention, however, (even winning an EMMY) that WEDU, the original broadcasting station, decided to release the film nationally. What this means: The documentary, entitled “The Horses of Proud Spirit” (same as the book) has been made available to every PBS affiliate in the United States. It is now in the national databank, where as before, it was only in a few stations in the southeast.   If and/or when it airs in your viewing area will be at the discretion of each individual Program Director. So check your local listings. If you do not see “The Horses of Proud Spirit” in your PBS line-up, you may call your local PBS station to request it. In fact, we are asking that you do call your individual stations…and please pass this along to others. The documentary has been a terrific help with book sales, and as you know, that’s help for our horses.   A Note From Melanie and Jim We have always relied on a number of equine health care professionals to ensure that all the horses who come to Proud Spirit are well cared for. We would like to extend a huge thank you to Dr. Donna Craig, DVM and Dale Craig, Advanced Certified Equine Dentist, for coming in from out of town and volunteering a full week of their time, their expertise, and all the necessary medical supplies to float the teeth of the entire herd…that’s over 40 horses! What remarkable generosity and kindness. When we relocated from Florida to the new facility in Arkansas, we had to say good-bye to Dr. Mark Davis, DVM, our primary veterinarian for over 10 years, and four back-up veterinarians from different practices who we relied on when Dr. Davis was unavailable. But we are deeply grateful for the new relationships we have formed with Dr. Randy Burgess, DVM and Dr. Leon Mitchell, DVM. Thank you for caring about our horses! About the founders of Proud Spirit  Jim and Melanie Bowles, the founders of Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary, are deeply committed to the horses in their care. “The new facility in Arkansas is the culmination of years of hard work, and all the dreams and visions that we had for this sanctuary finally coming together,” says Melanie. One of those visions was to provide as natural an environment for the horses as possible. “Domestication has created so many problems…founder, colic, vices…problems that you never see in the wild. It was essential to Jim and to me that we place just as much emphasis on the horses’ emotional well-being as we do their physical needs.”   About the Author   Melanie Bowles was born and raised in Michigan and moved to Florida in her early twenties. After acquiring her first horse in 1992 and learning of the mistreatment endured by many horses, she set out to create what would become Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary, a fifty-acre facility in Myakka City, Florida, where she and husband Jim have provided peace and shelter to about seventy horses. For over seventeen years, Ms. Bowles has worked alongside her husband as a firefighter/EMT. The Horses of Proud Spirit is her first book.   Amazon.com   Barnes & Noble   Visit her website at:   Horsesofproudspirit.com   More about Proud Spirit   Arkansasliteraryfestival.org

Thanks!