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Reviewed by Kamil Wróbel for Readers' Favorite
Dinky: The Nurse Mare’s Foal by Marta Moran Bishop follows a young, orphaned horse navigating a world that sees him as a mere commodity. Separated from his mother right after birth, the young foal is pushed into a cold transportation ring and a temporary rescue stable. In the barn, an elder goat named Ole Jack fills him in on the true realities of the trade. Throughout it all, our little hero and his companion, Lucky, endure malnutrition and frightening training sessions. His path changes when Ken and Marta adopt him from a sweltering county fair, bringing him to a farm where he must integrate with a protective gelding named Chrome and a wise mare named Connella. In the end, can a sickly, defensive, "junk foal" learn the intricate rules of herd socialization and truly heal from his early trauma?
Dinky: The Nurse Mare’s Foal by Marta Moran Bishop is an eye-opening story that gives us a beautiful look at how traumatized animals heal. Telling the story through Dinky’s point of view gives this tale a sweet, innocent quality that really pulls at your heartstrings. The book does a wonderful job of showing the huge difference between people who do not care and people who offer real kindness, sending a powerful message about how we treat animals. It is very rewarding to watch the little foal grow as he slowly learns to drop his fear-based biting and kicking because he finally has stable boundaries. Having older horses step in as mentors to teach him about personal space adds a lot of depth to the farm setting. The story moves at a gentle pace that matches true recovery, making Dinky’s milestones and pasture interactions feel very authentic. This amazing book teaches a lot about horse communication while remaining easy for readers of all ages to follow. It is a great choice for families who want a heartwarming tale about the power of a caring forever home.
