Joey

Joey by Jennifer Marshall Bleakley 
Number of Pages: 253 Rating: ★★★★★
 
Joey, a leopard Appaloosa, was found emancipated in a stall knee deep in manure, leaving the Dalmatian looking horse blind. Challenge after challenge awaited the ranch owner Kim and her two friends Sarah and Lauren, as they rescued and looked after Joey. Things that a seeing horse would have no trouble with developed into major obstacles as they learned how to support this horse navigate around his atmosphere. But these challenges came with many blessings, as the blind rescue horse helped others learn to see. Joey's blindness allowed him to touch children in a way no other horse could, helping one girl to find her voice, one boy to like he has a friend, and countless other individuals to feel the Lord's love. Joey is the perfect example of walking in blind faith.

Jennifer Bleakley follows Joey's trainers and caregivers throughout the story whether it's about how the team of Hope Reins attained Joey, how they tended to him, and how he kept the ranch alive as the staff faced tough financial seasons. On page 253 the quote,"To know Joey was to love Joey" is in bold font at the top of the page. Bleakley continues to say,"This was a phrase I heard often during my interviews with people who had the honor of spending time with Joey. Some shared treasured memories, others recalled amazing incidents, many offered thoughtful reflections, and all agreed that you couldn't help but love this beautiful horse." Joey was a horse who changed lives of many individuals. This book is an uplifting story full of trust, faith, and love.

If you aren't religious, this book is not for you. If you are searching for something to believe in, this book is for you. Joey puts the reader face to face with the internal struggle of trusting God and stepping into "blind" faith. This book exhibits story after story of God's faithfulness. This book is applicable for horse loving Christians who are searching for beautiful ways the Lord worked in lives of measureless people and even animals. Overall, I loved this book. I would read it 10 times over again and again.