Joe Camp is a man used to trusting his instincts--and he's usually right. In the early 1970s, Joe knew he had a special story to tell about a dog. But Hollywood didn't see what Joe saw, and he was met with "no" at every turn. Believing in the story he had to tell, Joe produced, directed, and distributed the movie himself--and the phenomenon of Benji was born.
When Joe became a new horse owner a mere three years ago by way of a birthday surprise from his wife, Kathleen, he once again trusted his instincts. As complete neophytes, Joe and Kathleen were without a clue as to what horses needed or wanted, but they plunged headfirst into this new adventure, navigating unexpected, uncharted, and often controversial territory. In this engaging, emotional and often humorous book, Camp deftly lures readers into the heart and soul of a horse, unlocking the mystery of a majestic creature who has survived without humans for fifty-five million years.
THE SOUL OF A HORSE: Life Lessons from the Herd (Harmony Books; April 29, 2008; $24.95) is the compelling and heartfelt story of Joe and Kathleen's initiation into horse ownership. The parallel journeys of a fabled herd in the wild and a wide-eyed couple thrust into this enigmatic new world are charmingly blended into a riveting expedition of discovery about relationships, choices, trust, and love. One that could change traditional thinking about horses forever.
Joe set out to attain a deeper understanding of horses--their history and nature as wild animals, their needs, fears, and how they perceive the world. But he claims The Soul of a Horse is not a horse book. " I mean, yes, of course, it has to do with horses," Camp says, "but first and foremost it's a story. I've spent most of my life telling stories, most of them involving animals. And I found this one particularly fascinating. Two complete novices--my wife and I--with no idea what to do with these beasts. The mistakes, the fear, the fascination, and the frustration with some of the answers we were getting. And ultimately the discovery that something was very wrong in this world of horses."
Joe's passion for these majestic creatures pervades THE SOUL OF A HORSE . And he credits them for teaching him many valuable lessons about life with humans. He writes, "Discovering the mysteries of the horse is a never-ending journey, but the rewards are an elixir. The soul prospers from sharing, caring, relating, and fulfilling. Nothing can make you feel better than doing something good for another being. Not cars. Not houses. Not face-lifts. Not blue ribbons or trophies. And there is nothing more important in life than love. Not money. Not status. Not winning. Try it and you will understand what I mean. Apply it to your life. It is the synthesis of this book and why it came into being."
THE SOUL OF A HORSE is much more than one man's journey to understand horses. It is about building connections-with people, with animals-and trusting one's instincts.
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THE SOUL OF A HORSE
Life Lessons from the Herd
Published by Harmony Books * April 29, 2008 * Hardcover; $24.95
ISBN-13: 978-0-307-40685-9
About the Author
JOE CAMP is the man behind canine superstar Benji. He wrote, directed, and produced all five of the celebrated Benji movies and all of Benji's television programs. He is the author of three novels and an inspirational nonfiction book.
See Q&A with Joe about The Soul of a Horse
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