Warrior by Jack Seely

The story of one of the last cavalry horses to be used in war, told by the man who went to war with him.

First published in 1934, this books tells the incredible true story of a cavalry horse in the First World War.

Written by the man who bred, trained and went to war with Warrior, this book shows the remarkable bond between man and horse as the thoroughbred travels far from his place of birth on the Isle of Wight to the battlegrounds in France.

What I liked best about this book was the relationship between the author and Warrior. A spirited animal who was hard to break using traditional methods, Seely recognized the horse’s intelligence and respected him for it.

After a rather hair raising ride across the Isle of Wight, Warrior and the author establish a form of communication that is the solid foundation of their relationship. I firmly believe that because of this mutual respect, and the fact that Seely listened to his horse not just commanded him, Warrior was able to thrive in the noisy, bloody and death filled arena of the First World War.

I love learning about how animals help soldiers on the battlefield, and it is heartening to read Seely’s accounts of how much the men loved and looked up to Warrior. They took great comfort in the horse, and were often guided by his perseverance in horrible conditions to continue.

There are some wonderful tales of heroism and miraculous survival in this short book, made all the more interesting because the author was actually there and experienced the events first hand. A lot of animal war stories in books are recounted third or fourth hand, and it is refreshing to read the story written by the man who went through it all too.

I’m afraid I’ve a slight beef with the author, however (although I’m sure he is not at all concerned as he has long departed to the next life). He is quite vocal on how horses are the superior animals to dogs, and that their devotion is pure while dogs base their loyalties on whoever has the best treats.

Now, I love horses very much. I’ve been a life long fan of them and I am constantly overwhelmed by their kindness and patience as they allow weak boned people, who they could easily bite and crush, beat them and shove them around. I agree with the author that they are special creatures, but I disagree with his assessment of dogs, and I don’t think canines need to be put down in order to exalt equines.

I award Warrior…

Warrior is available for $9.13 ebook and $9.64 print book on Amazon.