Winnie Award Winner at the Equus Film Festival: Best Equine Rescue BookDinky: 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 listener 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.
5.0 out of 5 stars Endearing Coming-of-Age Tale
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2022
"Dinky: The Nurse Mare's Foal" by Marta Moran Bishop is a unique, heartfelt coming-of-age story told from the perspective of Dinky, a foal born to a nurse mare. Dinky comes across as an engaging character whose life's odyssey highlights some of the abuses in the horse-breeding industry. Dinky's mother is a nurse mare with uncertain bloodlines which dooms her to nurse the offspring of high dollar show or racing mares. So, she can nurse, she must first give birth to her own foal that will be considered a disposable byproduct.
The story begins when Dinky reminisces about his journey from birth to a yearling. He was born in springtime when his mother only had a couple of days to teach him about his fate and how to become a part of the herd, so he is adopted. As his mother forewarns, Dinky is separated from her after just a couple of days. To survive, he must learn to drink milk from a dirty pail. On his year's journey, Dinky meets other foals like himself and soon learns about the duality of humans, who can be cruel or loving. Always in the back of his mind, he fears that he will be auctioned off for his hide or food. If he is is lucky though, he will be adopted by a loving family.
