A Horse Called Freedom

Nikki Tate-Stratton writes children’s picture books and novels for
preteens. Her most recent novels are Jo’s Triumph, Raven’s Revenge,
and Tarragon Island. Her latest picture book is Grandparents’ Day.

After Jani’s parents move from the city to the country, Jani suffers
predictable moving pains. She misses her best friend; the riding stable
where she used to board her horse, Ceeta; and sleeping in her old room.
Even the fact that her beloved horse has a roomy, grassy pasture all her
own does little to ease Jani’s sadness. To further complicate matters,
the ramshackle barn at Jani’s new place is haunted by the spirit of a
renegade horse. When still alive, this magnificent mare was kept locked
inside the barn, hobbled and tied by the farm’s previous owner. With
the help of a new friend, Jani discovers how to set the spirit of the
wild horse free.

While diehard horse lovers will enjoy the various descriptions of
Jani’s relationship with her own horse and, later, with the spirit
horse (dubbed Freedom), the plot is implausible. Dorsey never quite
manages to be convincing in her evocation of the ghost and the
latter’s ability to strike and injure from the spirit world. Even if
one suspends disbelief and accepts the fact that a powerful horse is
able to materialize, terrorize Jani and her new friend, and then be won
over by kind words and patience, drastic character changes (both human
and animal) over the course of the novel stretch credibility. For
example, the old man who was responsible for imprisoning the horse years
earlier undergoes an unbelievable transformation when Jani informs him
that Freedom’s trust in a person freed the mare from her hideous
purgatory. This confrontational scene seems contrived and hollow.

Since Dorsey is obviously familiar with horses and successfully
captures the details of the relationships between horses and people, it
isn’t clear why she chose to have her main character save a ghost
horse rather than a real animal in distress, and this fundamental
problem spoils what might otherwise have been a solid story for horse
lovers. Not recommended.