Big Guy Reviews
“Celia Ryker’s Big Guy – A School Horse Story tells a horse’s story in his own words. Big Guy is a thoroughbred who moves as he ages from the coddled life of a show horse to become part of a herd of well-tended school horses for young riders. Ryker trained hunter jumpers and taught riding students for more than thirty years. The adventures, injuries, and idiosyncrasies that Big Guy narrates come from horses Ryker has known including former racehorses and circus horses. She shares their stories with compassion. We meet Shorty, the chatty horse who welcomes newcomers to the barn, and Kaiser, the grumpy gelding who kicks at stall walls. We meet their owners. We witness what good care looks like. I read the book in one sitting – as a horse-crazy senior who always slows down as I pass a pasture of horses grazing.”
– Tricia Knoll, poet of Let’s Hear It for the Horses
“A few days ago, my writer-friend, award-winning author Celia Ryker sent me an advance reader copy of her soon to be released book, “BIG GUY—A School Horse Story.”
I love horses and have been around been around them for much of my life. I rode my first one – his name was Blaze -- when I around 10 years old. I’ve owned five of them. I’ve read many “horse books” through the years, and I’ve written stories and poems about them. Horses are beautiful animals, amazing animals. They teach us much, even when we’re not paying attention.
What can I say about Celia’s BIG GUY book? I loved reading every page. Couldn’t wait to see what Big Guy and his buddies were up to next! And I loved the book’s wonderful illustrations.
Be on the lookout for BIG GUY. Its release date is slated for June 18, 2024. Wonderfully published by Rootstock Publishing. Get yourself a copy!”
Kudos, Celia!
– Jerry Johnson - Poet/Author of Up The Creek Without A Saddle and Noah's Song