Hello kind readers!

I must thank all of you for your patience… This book took a minute or two!

But here it is! Click the link to purchase:

The Great Red Horse: The Legacy

Why did it take so long for me to complete this final book in The Great Red Horse trilogy? I guess I just wasn’t ready to say my final goodbye to my friend, UC Ringmaster. During our last visit back in 2012, I promised him I would write beautiful books for him to keep his memory alive. He nickered very, very softly to me as I spoke to him. He was so weak I could barely hear him. In his youth, Ring could nicker and whuffle with such vigor. He was so tired, but he still had the spark. Always a World Champion. A two-time World Champion, to be exact.

Tears streamed down my face as I told him I loved him. I knew I would never see him again. Then, I walked away from his stall for the last time.

One day later, he was gone.

I now realize that this book isn’t a goodbye–it is my way to keep UC Ringmaster in our hearts.

I kept my promise.

I included all of his UConn-bred progeny in this new book, and well as my eulogy. At his memorial service, the wind noticeably picked up as I recited the words “I hear him in the gust through the flue.” Yup, The Great Red Horse was there with all of us that day. Magic happens when you are still and your heart is open.

The ones we love may leave us on the physical plane, but they never truly leave us as long as we remember them. Love is always visible: just look up. They live among the stars.

With gratitude,

Helen

 

(Helen and UC Ringmaster share a fun moment. photo credit K. Jakowski, 2011)

Go here to purchase Because of a Horse on Amazon!

Thank you all for your support! Because of a Horse was so much fun to write!

My 2019 gift to all of you, a new poem: “009.”

Fortunato Cavallo’s Carol Ann, “Cricket,” had a rough start to her life. Forgotten and scared–she was rescued at the 11th hour, and was given warmth, safety, and love in time for Christmas. She went on to become a little girl’s adored pony–and a dressage champion at the Randy May Memorial dressage schooling show! She is an amazing pony, and is loved by so many.

Cricket after she was saved–the light returns to her kind eyes! (copyright 2018, Helen Scanlon)

My best wishes to you for a wonderful new year filled with love and laughter.

~Helen

 

 

Hello everyone! Happy Fourth of July!

I was interviewed by UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources recently–I love talking about my books–and horses! Many thanks to Kim Colavito Markesich for a great interview. I felt like we could chat for hours…. Click on the link to read:

Naturally@UConn interview with Helen Scanlon

In the interview, I mention my final book in The Great Red Horse trilogy–The Great Red Horse: The Legacy– and I would like to share more of an update with you on my blog. The book is written (yay!), most of the illustrations are outlined(yay!)–I just need to break out the watercolors and the brushes and get to work. Not much is happening with that right now because Connecticut is in the middle of an epic heat wave, and my studio doesn’t have air conditioning (!). So, I am waiting (somewhat impatiently!) for fall to arrive. I am not much of a summer person, and my friends will tell you how much I complain during the dog days. Grumpy Cat becomes my spirit animal in the summer, I won’t shut up about the heat and general grossness until glorious October! But, I like fireflies. And watermelon and fresh corn.

Thank you all for enjoying my books and for your lovely words of support! And my dear overheated New Englanders, stay cool! Relief is on the way…

Oh, and by the way–tomorrow is my birthday and if anyone was thinking of getting me a horse, I have a soft spot for Morgans. 😉

Sending a refreshing breeze your way,

Helen

 

PS here is a selfie with my wonderful dressage partner, Nakita! Isn’t she beautiful? She is a Morgan/Andaulsian cross (I know, right?!), and wow–can she move! I recommend trying out a medium trot on this mare. You will channel Kate Winslet in Titanic: “I’m flying!”

 

Dust and Determination: A History of UConn Polo was SO MUCH FUN to write–I am happy that readers think it’s fun to read as well. Thank you!

Here are the 5-star reviews on Amazon:

A must read for any horse, polo, or Uconn Husky fan! Highly informative, loved the history and origins of the sport and an insightful look into the University of Connecticut’s experience with horses and polo over the ages. And of course love the visuals 🙂 ~Vincent Xavier

This book contains some of the best in sports writing. Scanlon details the history of the players, both male and female, the coaches and the horses. She explains in detail the rules of the game. She tells of all the trials and tribulations of building a world class polo team at a small state university. The University of Connecticut has battled the best of the teams in this “rich man’s sport,,” and has won again and again even against ivy league teams like Cornell’s “Big Red.” A wonderful history of an exciting sport. Recommended! ~kathy

Toni Leland of Connecticut Horse magazine also gave D and D a glowing review, here is an excerpt:

If there’s anything you want to know about polo, you’ll find it in Dust and Determination: A History of UConn Polo. Connecticut author Helen Scanlon gives a detailed, concise, and well-written overview of everything from the game itself and its history to the chronological progression of the polo program at the University of Connecticut (UConn). Helen’s enthusiasm and description of her first encounter with polo leaves one with the urge to go see a game…Throughout this nice volume, Helen’s beautiful artwork enhances her writing, and some chapters include historical photographs of UConn’s program and players.

If you loved reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it–feel free to write a review! Authors, especially those who are independently published (like yours truly), love it when our readers spread the word about our work. It means a lot to us! So, share the love.

With heaps of gratitude,

~Helen

 

Hi everyone!

It’s been awhile since I have checked in, so…

Happy New Year, and I hope your holidays were filled with laughter, good friends, loved ones, and good eats!

My fourth book, Dust and Determination: A History of UConn Polo has been published is available on Amazon: buy here!

And it already has its first review–five big stars! One reader felt compelled to email me to tell me she couldn’t put my book down even though it was getting late and she should probably get some shut-eye. Another reader wrote that she fully expected a book full of boring sports statistics but found herself on the edge of her chair, hanging on each word. Well, the Huskies have an incredible story–it’s why I was compelled to write this book. My aim is to put my readers in the saddle, mallet in hand.

Writing is a solitary business, so when I release my work to the world and get love in return–it’s really quite heartwarming. Thank you, kind readers.

Dust and Determination was a blast to write, I am so happy it shows. I must admit, I didn’t expect to love sports writing as much as I did. The history of UConn polo is a tale of fierce competition, unwavering perseverance, drive, guts, and friendship. And, of course, a love of one of the planet’s most noble creatures: the horse. The horse is the reason for all of it.

I hope to have a book signing or two when the weather warms up a bit, watch this space.

Thank you again for all of your support!

~Helen

 

The Lady Huskies Overcome Many Hurdles to win the 1997 National Intercollegiate Polo Championship title–an excerpt from Dust and Determination: A History of UConn Polo by Helen Scanlon. COMING SOON!

The Lady Huskies were selected as a wild card team in the final four, just like the previous year. 1997 was looking and feeling a lot like 1996, but with some imposing speed bumps: Kim Morgan, the national championship player and animal science major from Springfield, Massachusetts, now a junior, was involved in an automobile accident early in the season, and her recovery time kept her out of the action for an entire month. Then, Meg Dinger’s shoulder injury added another dent to the team’s armor. And, since these things tend to travel in threes, Alicia Wells, also a junior and an experienced national championship player from Sykesville, Maryland, became ill with a nasty bout of the flu a mere three weeks before the national tournament. With plenty of rest and recuperation, Wells, a renewable natural resources major, bounced back like the champion she was and got right back in the saddle for some serious practice time a week before the team was nationals-bound.

The universe was testing the young women from UConn, but every obstacle and attempted derailment fed the fire and made them even stronger.

Dinger and Wells were not at full capacity when they headed to the Brushy Creek Polo Club in Burleson, Texas for the 1997 National Intercollegiate Polo Championships. Dinger’s shoulder was not completely healed despite months of rest and physical therapy—which further demonstrated how serious her injury was. Wells still felt the remnants of the flu that had left her bed-ridden only two weeks ago. No matter—illness and injury would not stop this runaway train: Dinger and Wells were tough, battle-scarred warriors ready to push through and bring the silver home again. Combine that high-octane tenacity with Kim Morgan completely healed from her injuries, and with the highly athletic and fiercely competitive Jen Freed at full-strength—you had something to make the opposing teams jittery.

Jittery was right. All that experience, razor-sharp discipline, unwavering commitment and ruthless work ethic came together to form a polo team that left spectators and opponents awestruck. The Lady Huskies began their final-four onslaught by taking down the highly talented South East Regional Champions, the University of Virginia in the semifinals, at 19-10. In the other semifinal corner, Cornell was busy wreaking their own havoc by obliterating the fierce Stanford University team.

The victories had UConn face-to-face with Cornell yet again.

In the first chukker, UConn scored five comet-quick goals to get the crowd gaping in amazement and hooting with excitement. The Cornell team rolled their spurs to get in two goals, but it wasn’t good enough to get them a lead by the first chukker. When Cornell had trouble with their ponies in the second and the third chukkers, UConn showed no mercy and claimed a six-point lead. For the final chukker, it seemed that Big Red resolved the pony issues and came alive, scoring five points. Not to be strong-armed, the Huskies, fueled by white-hot adrenaline, mirrored their rivals and claimed five more goals of their own.

So, now we know how this story ends.

17-11 flashed on the scoreboard at the sound of the buzzer, and it was done. The crowd erupted. UConn had done it again. The wild card women had defeated not only their longtime rival Cornell—but they had also defeated injury and illness to claim the top prize.