A Horse Named Duke

<p class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt>Horses have always been part of my<span style=mso-spacerun: yes> </span>of my life.<span style=mso-spacerun: yes> </span>I grew up with horses they were a part of our family since I can remember<span style=mso-spacerun: yes> </span>and<span style=mso-spacerun: yes> </span>for 12 years was active in rodeos with the Country Spice Drill Team . I still participate in horse shows in dressage and ride with the Santa Fe Hunt Club in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags /><st1:place><st1:City>Temecula</st1:City> <st1:State>California</st1:State></st1:place>. As a Director of a child care center I have often wished that there were more picture books about horses and the pleasure and enjoyment they bring to children.<span style=mso-spacerun: yes> </span>So one day I decided to stop wishing an write one!</p> <p class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt><span style=mso-spacerun: yes></span> </p> <p class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt>A Horse Named Duke is a special story about a special horse that my husand Chuck rescued from abuse.<span style=mso-spacerun: yes> </span>Duke was a difficult horse at first and had to be handled carefully; he liked to do things his way.<span style=mso-spacerun: yes> </span>But Chuck was patient and gave him lots of freedom to adjust to his surroundings.<span style=mso-spacerun: yes> </span>Eventually Duke's personality blossomed and he became the lead horse on the ranch.<span style=mso-spacerun: yes> </span>His antics described in the book actually happened and his story had to<span style=mso-spacerun: yes> </span>be told.</p> <p class=MsoNormal style=MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt><span style=mso-spacerun: yes></span> </p>