Rose Miller was born and raised in North Central Pennsylvania, spending much of her youth on a farm with her family. After marrying her husband, Hal, they moved to North Central Indiana where they presently reside on a 75-acre horse farm. Most of her life has been shared with animals of many kinds. She is the manager of their horse boarding facility, has raised and shown horses for 30 years and has been active in NWHA, an organization dedicated to the humane treatment and training of Tennessee Walking Horses. She is the recipient of the NWHA Phoenix Award. She has been a horse show judge. She is an artist, the mother of four children and grandmother of two, all of whom share her love and respect for animals. You may contact her at www.rosemiller.net
"The Horse That Wouldn't Trot" is really two books in one. It is the autobiography of the author, Rose Miller (unrelated to me), sharing a life of triumph and tragedy.
But it is also the story of the Tennessee Walking Horse which, in my opinion, is one of the greatest breeds of horses ever created by mankind's selective breeding.
It is a historic account as well, of the atrocious cruelty inflicted by those who show the "Big Lick" horse in order to achieve the grotesque and unnatural gaits seen in the show arena.
Hopefully Miller's book will help to eradicate the inexcusable cruel methods still in use in the Walking Horse industry today.
Robert M. Miller, D.V.M. author of Imprint Training, Understanding the Ancient Secrets of the Horse's Mind, Natural Horsemanship Explained, and more. (www.robertMmiller.com)
Rose Miller's charming story of a life pursuing excellence with horses strikes home with horse lovers. It's also a "must read" for anyone interested in getting a horse.
This particular odyssey traverses the world of the Tennessee Walking Horse, with startling insight as to the abuse these beautiful creatures endure in the show ring, and one "country gal's" dedication to finding a better, more humane way to succeed. But more than that, each new chapter of The Horse That Wouldn't Trot reveals valuable lessons for horse owners. As Rose naively ventures into the world of horse ownership, including breeding mares and managing stallions, her story traces the path many new horse owners innocently travel when getting their first horse.
Pat Parelli states that, "When you buy a new horse, it doesn't come with an owner's manual " The Horse That Wouldn't Trot is Rose's narrative of surviving the horse-ownership experience without a manual. From parades and horse shows to commercial photo shoots and the breeding shed, I read each anecdote and said to myself, "Hey... that happened to me " By learning from her mistakes and discovering how to be safe and effective with horses, Rose's story will help horse lovers avoid potholes on the road to horsemanship.
The Horse That Wouldn't Trot is not only a great place to start if you are interested in getting a horse, but an enjoyable read for horse owners as Rose's experiences will resonate so well with their own.
David Lichman
Owner and co-trainer of 1991 Lite Shod World Grand Champion, The Artful Dodger Parelli 5-Star Professional www.davidlichman.com