Sonrise Stable Books - A Crew Review

Disclaimer: I received a FREE COPY of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

My daughters are polar opposites. They are only about a year and a half apart in age, so you would think that they would have fairly similar interests, right? Nope, not really. While there are some things that they both agree on and enjoy, for the most part, their tastes are miles apart. This extends to each of their approaches to their schoolwork. My oldest could sleep until 10 every morning if I let her, and wouldn't mind not finishing her studies until 4. My youngest, on the other hand, is an early riser who prefers to get her work completed by 1. The differences extend to pretty much every subject. Take history, for example. My oldest approaches the majority of history curriculum with disdain, while my youngest has great enthusiasm for the past. If you find yourself nodding your head in agreement with my situation, stay tuned, because Sonrise Stable Books may be the history resource that you've been waiting for, that will engage even the most turned off students. They provided our family with a copy of History on Horseback: The Early Years to read and review. 

Horses allowed preachers to bring the Gospel all over America.

History on Horseback: The Early Years focuses on the arrival of horses, and their contribution to American history from 1493 to 1866. It is written for those that are 12 years and up. This is a softcover book with 53 chapters, as well as a bonus preview from Volume 2. The chapters are fairly short, with some containing as few as 2 pages. This makes it an easy read. The stories included are factual, historical accounts. It is not meant to be a stand alone history curriculum, but an extra resource. A study guide is in the works, that will then make it possible to make this a complete course. You could also put together your own materials as well to make this its own subject. 

A sidebar is included in every chapter, noting the main points.

This book is written with such an interesting perspective, and adds a great level of richness for history studies. Every chapter focuses on a specific period in history, whether it's the arrival of horses to America from Spain, the Thoroughbred Family Tree, the travels of Lewis and Clark, or the Gold Rush. That's a pitifully small sample out of these 53 chapters, but it would take too much time to list them all, and then you wouldn't need to read the book, so there you are. Readers will learn about historical figures yes, but with a focus on the horses that were an important part of their lives. The text is peppered with journal entries from various featured figures. Every chapter also includes a sidebar that provides a list of the main points and highlights discussed. Those aspects are good, but what I really love is that every section includes little tidbits that explain how certain things got their name, or where specific phrases originated. Let me give you a few examples:

A Conestoga wagon, which is where "stogies" got their nickname.

- Did you know how Americans came to drive on the right side of the road? In the days of riding a horse drawn wagon, when driving a narrow path, drivers would pull to the right side of the road, beginning the practice.

- Did you ever wonder how some cigars acquired the name "stogies"? They were named after the wagon drivers who drove wagons called Conestogas, called stogies for short.

- Methodists were given there name by some who actually looked down on their "method" of living, that is, praying, fasting, and generally living a disciplined life.

- How did the phrase, "I'll be there with bells on", come to be? Horses wore bells on their harnesses. If a driver's wagon broke down, he had to wait for another driver to come along and assist. In return, the one assisted would give the helper his horses bells. It was a thing of shame to arrive at your destination with no bells, and it was a source of pride to arrive with all if your bells. Thus, the phrase, to arrive "with my bells on", was born.

I enjoy these extra facts so much that now I keep a sharpened pencil with me as I read, just so I can underline the ones I really want to remember.

The book includes actual historical photos, as well as drawings.

Our whole family is really enjoying this book. Even my husband is waiting his turn. My oldest, the one who generally dislikes history, has been pretty happy to have this as a part of our studies, and has conceded that it's an interesting read. It doesn't sound like it, but that's high praise from her, hee hee. We're just about halfway through with 22 chapters under our belt, and looking forward to the rest. History as a subject aside, this makes a great family read, for all ages. I cannot wait for the other volumes, and the study guide. We've read on average, 5 days weekly, just to get through as many chapters as we could to get a good feel for the material. If you're supplementing your current curriculum, or simply want to go at a slower pace, 3 days a week would work well and provide a good semester's worth of work. 

Whether you use this as a supplement or read aloud, I'm confident that most everyone will be fascinated with how instrumental horses have been in our lives, practically, emotionally, and spiritually. Don't miss this book, pick up a copy!

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