BOSSMARESART

Pam McKissick and Cheryl Gregory have been writing partners for 29 years, first as writer/producers in L.A., then published novelists in lesbian mystery and romance and now in non-fiction with this timely and relevant book on women's equality--how we women have allowed ourselves to become secondary when it comes to equality, money, power and even our own sexual satisfaction, and how we can "Grab it Back!"

"The toughest place for women to plant the flag of equality is in our own home, starting with the way we raise our children, interact with our mate, talk about ourselves in the mirror, or allow friends, family and institutions to blame or shame us. After decades of putting ourselves in second place at home and work, we often find "being secondary" has become a habit that's hard to break, because so many people expect it of us."

Best-selling mystery writer, Taylor James has struggled to complete a novel ever since divorcing her husband. When her publicist insists she take time away at a remote cabin to “finish the damn book” Taylor reluctantly agrees. Amid the crystal-clear lakes and towering pines of the north woods, Taylor encounters a mysterious woman. Small and beautiful, Levade keeps to herself, but at night she rides a white horse bareback into the lake, as if looking for something. Taylor is captivated, but Levade pushes her away. There’s a secret she can’t share involving a murderer who walks among them, and who promised to kill anyone or anything Levade loves. But White Horse Point is haunted by another pair of lovers, long deceased, who have a personal connection to the two women, and are determined to bring them together.

At the end of WW II American soldiers captured a German man carrying a briefcase filled with nothing but pictures of beautiful white horses. Hitler had stock piled these horses behind enemy lines to breed a new kind of horse that was to be an equine master race--a military machine. But the Russian army needed food and the horses were in danger of being slaughtered. (The Nazis used about 2.7 million horses during World War II and roughly 1.8 million of the horses were killed or wounded.) 

American Colonel Hank Reed with General George Patton's blessing made the decision to save these phenomenal equine athletes; however, secretly moving hundreds of snow white horses, that practically glowed in the dark, across enemy lines for endless weeks endangered everyone. Nonetheless, they persisted. And at the end of the war, these tired but talented Lipizzaners performed dramatic airs above the ground demonstrating classical dressage at Madison Square Garden for 20,000 guests and Mrs. Patton in honor of her husband who gave the command to save the  horses. 

(Read The Perfect Horse by Elizabeth Lett.)

When I look into the eyes of a Lipizzaner, I see centuries of grace under pressure. They've experienced war first hand, along with the cruelty and the kindness of men. They have more than intellect; they have a knowing. Their kind eye and regal arch of the neck bespeak eons of good breeding. In the best training facilities, a rider is permanently matched to his or her Lipizzaner horse and the two become one, teaching one another.  

The stallions have the physical strength to leap into the air and perform dazzling feats. They are in complete harmony alongside one another, too intelligent to do anything but focus on their work.

The mares are the wise and patient makers of these brilliant young horses who all begin life brown or dark in color and only later turn white. If a dark horse fails to turn white, the horse is kept at the farm as a good omen; and in fact, most farms want to have one in the herd at all times. Luck is luck.