As a horse lover, I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to get to Grace Olson’s memoir The Yard: How A Horse Healed My Heart. It took an internet blackout and a laptop that has decided not to charge to give me time to attack my out-of-control TBR list 🙂
In all its wisdom, Amazon has barred me from leaving reviews and has deleted years worth of reviews I’ve left, without giving a reason! I have no idea why, so I’ve only been able to leave reviews on Goodreads and BookBub.
Here’s my review:
I absolutely loved The Yard, which will appeal to anyone who enjoys a warm, honest, and inspiring story of personal growth.
“This book isn’t all about horses. It’s about finding the courage to do difficult things, rebuilding confidence, and learning who you are beneath the labels and responsibilities that life piles upon you.”
You can read my full review below:
Amazing Grace – A Warm & Funny Memoir of Horses, Hope, & Healing
As a little girl who was obsessed with horses, I immediately connected with Grace Olson’s memoir The Yard. While our lives have taken very different paths, I recognised the transformative power horses can have when life becomes overwhelming.
After her daughter’s traumatic birth, Grace lost not only her confidence but also much of her sense of self. Caught in the relentless juggling act of work, childcare, motherhood and domestic responsibilities, she struggled with postnatal depression and the crushing guilt of feeling she wasn’t quite enough for anyone. Then, thanks to a chance conversation with a client, horses re-entered her life and began a remarkable process of healing.
The Yard is filled with a wonderfully bonkers cast of characters, both human and equine, but at its heart is the story of a woman rediscovering the parts of herself that had been buried beneath the demands of everyday life. But despite tackling some serious subjects, this is far from a gloomy read. Grace has a sharp eye for the absurd and recounts many of her adventures with warmth and humour. The book is peppered with funny anecdotes and delightful sketches of the mishaps, misunderstandings, and general chaos that seem to accompany life at the yard, providing plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
I have enormous admiration for Grace. At her lowest point, she had to pull herself up by her own bootlaces, often without the support or understanding she needed from those closest to her. Seeing how anxious and uncertain she was at the beginning makes her achievements all the more inspiring.
One of my favourite moments comes after she masters a particularly difficult horse: “I felt alive, awake, and more capable of actually being a mum.” That sentence perfectly captures one of the book’s central messages: sometimes taking time for yourself isn’t selfish – it’s essential.
Although horses are the vehicle for Grace’s growth, this book isn’t all about horses. It’s about finding the courage to do difficult things, rebuilding confidence, and learning who you are beneath the labels and responsibilities that life piles upon you. As Grace observes, horses are like a self-help manual; lessons learned in the saddle often translate directly into lessons for life.
What makes Grace such a likeable narrator is her honesty. She never pretends the journey was easy, nor does she gloss over her mistakes, fears, or insecurities. That vulnerability underscores how her incredible achievements were genuinely earned.
You don’t need to know anything about horses to enjoy this book. Grace explains the horsey aspects clearly and accessibly, making them easy for non-riders to understand. So, whether you’re horse-mad, a parent struggling to find yourself or accept your new identity, or simply someone looking for an inspiring story of personal growth, I am sure you will enjoy The Yard as much as I did.
Blurb and Links
“Feel-good, laugh out loud funny, yet also deeply moving…”
“The way Grace has written about her mental health issues and woven it around the story is inspirational and will strike a chord with many readers”
The comical tales of a new mum on her journey from post-natal depression to the dawning of her self-worth as she discovers adventure, friendship and the healing power of horses.
Join Grace as she battles her negative thought patterns and fears amongst a backdrop of eccentric characters, pampered farm animals and the glorious Yorkshire countryside.
Wisdom comes from unexpected sources leading Grace to a psychological and spiritual awakening of the true meaning of motherhood. While an elderly, opinionated pony teaches her how to love her daughter, a scary young sports horse teaches her how to relax and enjoy life again. Just watch out for the goats…
BuyThe Yard: How A Horse Healed My Heart on Amazon UK (Affiliate Link).
Buy The Yard: How A Horse Healed My Heart on your local Amazon store (Universal Link).
Find My Books On Amazon
I too am a writer, and my road trip memoirs are all available on Amazon – you can read them FREE with Kindle Unlimited.
The ebook of my latest release, From B to A: Britain to Albania: The True Story of an Overland Van Life Adventure Through Europe towards The Balkans – With Dogs is available for a limited time at the special launch price of 99p/99c across most markets
About Jacqueline Lambert
Jacqueline (Jackie) Lambert is a multi-award-winning travel writer and blogger. A dedicated adventurer, B.C. (Before Canines) she rafted, rock climbed, and backpacked around six of the seven continents. A passionate windsurfer and skier, she can fly a plane, has been bitten by a lion, and appeared as a fire eater on Japanese TV.
A.D. (After Dog), she quit work in 2016 to hit the road permanently with her husband and four pooches.
To date, they have toured more than 20 countries.
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The Fab Four at Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Stratford Upon Avon
Jacqueline Lambert 