Proud Spirit first began in the late '90s on a fifty acre ranch in Florida (they have since relocated to Arkansas).  One horse started it all — Cody.  Cody, a middle-aged Thoroughbred mare, was a horse who had been neglected, malnourished, and mistreated.  Cody was a difficult horse and quite a challenge, so much so that Melanie's friends had encouraged her to sell the horse.  But Melanie refused to turn her back on Cody.  Her endless patience and undying commitment gave her the perseverance to stick with Cody and not give up on her.  In the end, her patience yielded the best of rewards. Cody began to trust her and thus began Cody's healing process and her ability to trust humans again.  That was many years ago now, and since that time over one-hundred-fifty horses have come through Proud Spirit.

The love that Melanie Sue Bowles has for these horses shines through on every page.  All of the author royalties from the sale of this book go to the care of the rescue horses.  These horses are not adopted out.  Once they come to Proud Spirit it is their home until the day they die.  If you have a passion for animals you must have this book.  I truly loved it and am hoping there will be a third book coming out soon.  I also enjoyed the pictures contained in each chapter — I loved "seeing" all of these horses as well as hearing their stories.

I want to say a special thanks to Cody who is the capstone of Proud Spirit. Without her, there may have never been such a wonderful sanctuary for abused and mistreated horses.  Cody, you live on in the hearts of each and every horse that enters Proud Spirit and in the heart of each of us who read your story.  Rest in peace, special one, rest in peace.