Tori Bilski’s Wild Horses of the Summer Sun

Books with either “Horse” in the title or a horse picture on the cover will grab my eye. Tori Bilski ‘s Wild Horses of the Summer Sun did just that while I looked for a good vacation read. The book jacket promised “A wondrous story of adventure that illuminates the friendship of a group of women who ride Icelandic horses.” SOLD. I have a love/hate relationship with memoirs. Often I find them either too how-great-am-I, or heartbreaking tales. But Wild Horses of the Summer Sun did not disappoint. Bilski’s lyrical descriptions of Iceland and their horses combined with her simple honesty of her less-than-perfect riding skills and interaction with the other women puts this among my favorites.

            The book spans eleven years, chronicling Bilski’s annual week-long summer trips to Iceland to ride horses. A chance stumble onto a website featuring a stirring picture of an Icelandic horse creeps into her spirit and she becomes determined to ride these horses. She hooks up with a group of women, all middle-aged or older, and is invited to join their yearly adventure to a breeding and training farm in Iceland to ride the hardy, iconic horses and explore the beautiful, stark country under the nearly continual summer sun. I fell into her descriptions of these horses; their deep double coats, the curiosity of the young ones, and their unique gaits. As a reader, I learned all the questions I would want to ask; how are the horses raised and trained, what are their diet and health issues, what do the gaits feel like? I’m completely green with envy as she crosses a lake on horseback, clinging to the saddle horn, breathless, terrified and giddy. I want to be there.

            In caution, be aware that Icelanders love their horses, train them with respect and promote good health, but there they are practical as well. Without the vast infrastructure of clinics and equine hospitals we are blessed with in the US, horses with catastrophic trauma or disease are quickly euthanized. Some readers may find the few passages on this subject difficult. Bilski treats these scenes with deep respect and awareness of cultural differences.

            Bilski’s relationships with her companions varies from close to antagonistic and she does not hold back on her own contribution to the tension. She shares the same level of honesty about her husband, children, and aging parents; at times warm and close and other moments awkward and searching. Drops of female wisdom about age and women’s roles are real and thoughtful without accusation. She reads Tolkien, old Norse tales, and is an avid watcher of the Game of Thrones. I want to be her best friend.

            Grab this book and savor the read. I highly recommend Wild Horses of the Summer Sun and give it five horseshoes.