There is little in this world that a family cannot endure, if endure they must. For we all have it within us to lose everything, absolutely everything, and still find strength in the most simple, beautiful things.Pat and Mandy Retzlaff lived a hard but satisfying farming life in Zimbabwe. Working all hours of the day on their sprawling ranch and raising three boisterous children, they savored the … savored the beauty of the veld and the diverse wildlife that grazed the meadows outside their dining room window. After their children, the couple’s true pride and joy were their horses.
But in early 2001, the Retzlaffs’ lives were thrown into turmoil when armed members of President Robert Mugabe’s War Veterans’ Association began invading the farmlands owned by white Zimbabweans and violently reclaiming the land. Under the threat of death, the family was forced to flee, leaving behind a lifetime’s possessions and becoming exiles in the only country they had ever called home.
As other families across the country fled, they left behind not only their homes but dozens of horses. Devoted animal lovers, Pat and Mandy—now essentially homeless themselves—vowed to save these horses: Shere Khan, the queen of the herd; Tequila, the escape artist forever breaking free and trying to walk back to his original home; Grey, the silver gelding and leader; Princess, the temperamental mare; and the numerous others they rescued along the way.
One Hundred and Four Horses is a love story and an epic tale of survival and unbreakable bonds—those that hold us to land and family, but also those between man and the most majestic of animals, the horse.
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This is an incredibly well-written story about events that the world needs to know more about. The more stories like this get out there the better informed and able to help the world will be.
This was a very intense and interesting story mainly about Pat and Mandy Retzlaff and their family, in their quest to save not only their own horses but many that had to be left behind by their neighbors and friends as their farms were taken over by armed members of President Robert Mugabe’s War Veterans’ Association, who began invading the …
Boring
I found this book a bit hard to read because it was reality. And wars and people and animals caught in the middle of conflicts are very real.i was glad the family found some stability for the horses.. and hopefully for their lives too.
A brave family’s hard work to save over a hundred horses in an African country’s campaign to clear white colonialists from the nation
A true-life story of white farmers in Zimbabwe that were repeatedly chased off of farms by Mugabe’s thugs. As the farmers were displaced, their animals were often left with no protection or care, so this couple took it upon themselves to rescue every horse they possibly could. Eventually, they gave up on Zimbabwe and crossed into Mozambique with …
I was originally drawn to this book because of my life long love of horses. What I hadn’t anticipated was a tremendous, in depth description of the Rhodesian Conflict that became the Zimbabwe Civil War. The dedication that this couple exhibited by taking in all horses left behind when their owners fled Africa was truly inspiring. Spoiler alert …
The couple in this book love Zimbabwe. He is a native of Zimbabwe, she is from South Africa. They have a farm and raise tomatoes and love horses. As Mugabe starts claiming these farms (some farmers get killed, others emigrate), they take on the horses of their friend farmers. They move at least four times within Zimbabwe, the last time they were …
Excellent book and quite captivating. Would have rated 5 star if there were better time lines and more in-depth character interactions.
What these poor people and animals had to go through! Opened my eyes!
Incredible writing for a first book and unbelieveable true story. A lesson in life. Very enjoyable reading. You will learn a lot by reading this book. Heartfelt but not over dramatized.
I loved this book. Good for all horse lovers. Gives good onsite to what went on in Zimbabwe. My Xhome.
These folks are heroes, kind of sad but they saved so many horses!
spell binding
Made me appreciate where I live, in the USA. Very interesting, well-told story. Learned a lot about horses, about life in Zimbabwe & Mozambique. Couldn’t put it down until I finished.
I recently met and befriended some people who live in South Africa. They are moving out of the country due to the circumstances described in this book. The turning of many countries in Africa from the industrious, prosperous run farms to the present day mess was eye-opening for me. The murdering of white farmers, the land re-allocation to …
I love horses and am fascinated by Africa. It is also a ‘true’ story.
Must read..beautiful story