A GLIMPSE BEHIND THE VEIL

A memoir about a man’s love for his horse along with a collection of anecdotes about others’ unique experiences with animals.

Rowland, author of Unspoken Message (2013), returns in this memoir to continue the story of his beloved horse, Pal. This book is split into two parts: Rowland’s short account of his family’s decision to sell their farm and his horses, including Pal, and a collection of stories about others’ connections to their animals. As a cancer survivor and animal lover, Rowland believes in the mystical powers of the animal kingdom: “All of them are magical and highly advanced sentient beings capable of showing us the truth about this universe, but we have to be open to see what they show.” He discusses how and why he made the hard decision to sell the farm and relocate to be with his wife’s aging parents in Maine, forcing him to say goodbye to Pal. In a last effort to connect to him, Rowland hired a horse psychic to read Pal’s mind. His story is quirky and lively, but unfortunately it’s rendered in plain prose, which, to some extent, he counters with a conversational style, often addressing readers directly. The second part of the book is more interesting. The author chronicles others’ experiences with animals, from those who’ve made spiritual connections to their horses to a person with PTSD discovering a horse’s healing potential. Not every anecdote is based on equines. A former real estate agent happened upon and saved a badly injured 25-pound snapping turtle, for example. Rowland characterizes the rescue as more than a lucky human intervention for the turtle: “I am one to believe once the universe finds people with open minds to its enchanted ways, it sends even more to you.” Animal lovers will appreciate the sometimes-dramatic stories of animals rescuing humans and vice versa. While details are occasionally scant, the efforts here are passionate and authentic.

Heartfelt accounts of restorative experiences with animals.