The Last Diving Horse in America: Rescuing Gamal and Other Animals--Lessons in Living and Loving

Cynthia A Branigan

210 ratings by Goodreads

Language: English

Published by Random House USA Inc, 2021

1101871954 / 9781101871959

  • Hardcover
  • Used
See all details

Seller: World of Books (was SecondSale), Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.World of Books (was SecondSale)

5-star seller

AbeBooks seller since December 20, 2007

Hardcover

Condition: Used - Good

£ 3.41

 Free Shipping 
Ships within U.S.A.

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket
Free 30-day returns

Item description from seller

NamedBest Equine Non-Fiction Book at the 2022 Equus Film & Arts Fest The rescue of the last diving horse in America and the inspiring story of how horse and animal rescuer were each profoundly transformed by the other-from the award-winning animal rescuer of retired racing greyhounds and author of the best-selling Adopting the Racing Greyhound It was the signature of Atlantic City's Steel Pier in the golden age of "America's Favorite Playground": Doc Carver's High Diving Horses. Beginning in 1929, four times a day, seven days a week, a trained horse wearing only a harness ran up a ramp, a diving girl in a bathing suit and helmet jumped onto its mighty bare back, and together they sailed forty feet through the air, plung-ing, to thunderous applause, into a ten-foot-deep tank of water. Decades later, after cries of animal abuse and chang-ing times, the act was shuttered, and in May 1980, the last Atlantic City Steel Pier diving horse was placed on the auction block in Indian Mills, New Jersey. The au-thor, who had seen the act as a child and had been haunted by it, was now working with Cleveland Amory, the founding father of the modern animal protection movement, and she was, at the last minute, sent on a rescue mission: bidding for the horse everyone had come to buy, some for the slaughterhouse (they dropped out when the bidding exceeded his weight). The author's winning bid: $2,600-and Gamal, gleaming-coated, majestic, commanding, was hers; she who knew almost nothing about horses was now the owner of the last div-ing horse in America. Cynthia Branigan tells the magical, transformative story of how horse and new owner (who is trying to sort out her own life, feeling somewhat lost herself and in need of rescuing) come to know each other, educate each other, and teach each other important lessons of living and loving. She writes of providing a new home for Gamal, a farm with plentiful fields of rich, grazing pasture; of how Gamal, at age twenty-six, blossoms in his new circumstances; and of the special bond that slowly grows and deepens between them, as Gamal tests the author and grows to trust her, and as she grows to rely upon him as friend, confidant, teacher. She writes of her search for Gamal's past: moved from barn to barn, from barrel racer to rodeo horse, and ending up on the Steel Pier; how his resilience and dig-nity throughout those years give deep meaning to his life; and how in understanding this, the author is freed from her own past, which had been filled with doubts and fears and darkness. Branigan writes of the history of diving horses and of how rescuing and caring for Gamal led to her saving other animals-burros, llamas, and goats-first as company for Gamal and then finding homes for them all; and, finally, saving a ten-year-old retired greyhound called King-despondent, nearly broken in spirit-who, running free in the fields with Gamal, comes back to his happy self and opens up for the author a whole new surprising but purposeful world. A captivating tale of the power of animals and the love that can heal the heart and restore the soul.…

Seller Inventory # 00091470769

Title
The Last Diving Horse in America: Rescuing Gamal and Other Animals--Lessons in Living and Loving
Author
Cynthia A Branigan
Publisher
Random House USA Inc
Publication year
2021
Condition
Good
Binding
Hardback
Language
English
ISBN 10
1101871954
ISBN 13
9781101871959

World of Books (was SecondSale)

Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.

5-star seller

AbeBooks seller since December 20, 2007

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Item4 to 12 business days3 to 6 business days
First item£ 0.00£ 8.22
Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.

Payment methods

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay

Store description

Founded in 2002, World of Books is a leading online destination for buying and selling both preloved and new books, committed to making sustainable reading accessible to all. With a mission to help people read more and waste less, World of Books offers a huge range of affordable, high-quality books — giving both new and preloved titles a second life. The company also operates World of Books – Sell Your Books, an easy-to-use platform that allows customers to trade in unwanted books for cash, helping to keep books in circulation while promoting sustainability. As a Certified B Corp, World of Books is driven by a vision to become the world’s largest and most sustainable dedicated online bookstore. The company measures its success through the positive environmental impact it creates, the value it provides to customers, and its ability to operate profitably while supporting its sustainable mission …

Seller's business information

SBYB, Inc.

900 Knell Rd
Montgomery, IL U.S.A. 60538