Book Review: One Hundred and Four Horses
I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Africa and really enjoy learning more and more about the continent. So when I was looking for a book to read recently, I searched for books about Africa on my Overdrive account. The book One Hundred and Four Horses by Mandy Retzlaff popped up on that search. Years ago I took horseback riding lessons. And while I haven't been on a horse in quite a few years, I do enjoy horses. I used to volunteer to groom the horses and muck out stalls when needed. Mostly I groomed horses. I loved it. I probably loved that more than actually riding. So when this book popped up about Africa and horses I knew I needed to read it.
This story. Where do I start? Mandy and her husband Pat are both from Africa and met in South Africa. Shortly after being married they decided to move back to his home country of (then) Rhodesia where they lived a pretty idyllic life, even weathering the change in government from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe. Pat and Mandy had a farm and were raising their children with the thought that this was their permanent, forever home. Until the political climate changed in Zimbabwe and white farmers were forced off their lands. Pat, Mandy, and their children were forced off their farm but the thought of leaving their horses behind was unimaginable. Many farmers were forced to leave their livestock, including horses, in order to escape with their lives and not much else.
This book is one about survival, not just for Pat and Mandy, but for the horses. It's about struggle. And doing the right thing even if the right thing means sacrificing. I will warn you, sometimes there are no happy endings. And this book is a real tear jerker. But in the end you realize how special Pat and Mandy are. The lengths they are willing to go to in order to make sure the horses are safe.
I learned a lot reading this book. I learned what it's like to live in a country that is torn about politically. What it must have been like to live in fear every day. I was listening to NPR recently and one commentator suggested that one of the worst things is to live in fear in your home. You never feel safe. This must apply to Mandy and Pat. To never know if you are safe. If you have a home. If all the work you're putting into saving horses will be enough.
The good news? They escaped Zimbabwe and now live in Mozambique. On the ocean where they offer horseback safari adventures. You can even be a paying volunteer and spend time behind the scenes with Pat, Mandy, and the grooms. They started Mozambique Horse Safari but after the publication of the book.
Bottom line? Read this book. It's very well written by Mandy. It tells a life of struggle and survival. It tells of adventures. I don't know if I would have had the strength to do what they did. To be forced off one farm after another. To never know where I was going or how long that safety and security would last, if there ever was any safety and security. And if you are lucky enough, I would head to Mozambique to meet Pat and Mandy. I'm adding it to my bucket list. Maybe one day I can go as a volunteer. But until then, I'll be following their adventures on Facebook and Instagram. And will continue to learn more about Africa. This has only piqued my interest in the countries, the politics, the people, and everything in between.
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