Today we’re excited to have Kathryn O’Neill with us to discuss her newly released devotional, Hoofprints of Hope! Hoofprints of Hope is the perfect blend of Scripture, stallions, and science for your horse-loving middle grader! Throughout the book, O’Neill shares stories about legendary equines, beautiful horse breeds, and fun activities that involve these magnificent creatures.
Welcome Kathryn!
To start off, would you tell us how your observations of horses have lead you to reflect on God’s truth?
Kathryn: God created horses with features that make them able to survive in the wild or to be helpful and friendly companions and workers for people. When I brush a horse’s coat and see their ears flick back to hear my softest word, I know God has given them terrific hearing to stay safe from predators. Special features like that point us to God’s wisdom in the creation of all creatures.
I’ve volunteered in equine therapy programs and seen big therapy horses carefully carry children with disabilities and stand quietly afterwards for hugs and kisses. The horse’s kind and gentle nature can encourage us all to be more like that. I believe horses can help us know God, ourselves, and others a little bit more!
What was the most challenging aspect of writing Hoofprints of Hope?
Kathryn: Using my time wisely to meet my deadline was a challenge. With nonfiction, you submit a proposal with a detailed outline or table of contents and 3 sample chapters. Once we agreed on a deadline for the 52 devotions, I set up a timeline of how many devotions I needed to research and write each week to be able to meet that deadline.
I sometimes had to resist the temptation to go down rabbit holes into fascinating extra information. Even so, I always ended up with more information than I could use and had to decide what was most relevant for that devotion. I was glad I could often put some of the extra facts in the Fun Notes from the Barn.
That would be difficult, trying to decide what information to include and what to leave out! When doing your research, what was the most surprising fact or story you learned?
Kathryn: Some of my very first research was about a rescued plow horse that became a champion jumper. While researching about Snowman, I learned that once a horse takes off for a jump, they can’t see the jump, but must trust their rider to navigate the takeoff and landing.
That level of trust seems like a good illustration of how we must trust in God to guide our steps. As you wrote this devotional, did any particular Scriptures stand out to you?
Kathryn: The verse I always kept in mind for an overarching theme was “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV. It kept me writing, and it’s a verse I want young people to take to heart!
You divide this devotional into four sections: Breeds of Horses, Famous and Not-So-Famous Horses, God Made Horses Special, and Activities With Horses. Which one was your favorite to write?
Kathryn: That’s a hard question, because I love all four sections. Famous horses like the first pony express horse captured my interest, and learning about breeds like the Caspian horse, which was thought to be extinct, was fascinating. In the special features section, there was a lot of science about horse’s vision and other physical features, and I enjoyed finding ways to write in words kids would understand. In the activity section, it was fun to learn about gymkhana and other horse activities.
How did you decide which 12 breeds of horses to focus on during the first section? There are so many types to choose from!
Kathryn: I’ve always loved learning about different horse breeds—their history, talents, and personalities. For the book, I tried to have a variety of types from big Shire work horses to small Shetland ponies. I chose some ancient breeds like Arabians and newer breeds like Gypsy Vanners. I also wanted horses from around the world, from Icelandic horses to Appaloosas, bred by Native Americans.
What activity with horses is your favorite?
Kathryn: When I watched a dressage lesson for the first time, I fell in love with a discipline that trains a horse and rider to be a more balanced team. Later I joined a four-person dressage drill team, which is called a quadrille after a dance popular in France many years ago.
We learned to ride patterns together, making sure to be aligned with the horse across from us and keep even spaces between horses ahead and behind. We figured out how to trot across the arena and split into pairs that passed each other. Our team found shirts and saddle pads that matched. We practiced and practiced for an upcoming show.
When show day arrived, we were ready. Our tack was cleaned and polished; our horses were bathed and brushed. When the music began, four horses and their riders trotted down the center line to salute the judges and begin our dance.
In the book, you discuss how horses are herd animals, and how they remind us to support our loved ones. Who are some of the members of your “herd” who help support your writing?
Kathryn: What a great question! So many people helped me, starting with my husband, who believed in my dream and took up a lot of the slack around the house so I could research and write.
My agent also believed in me and worked really hard to find a good publisher for Hoofprints. And he did—everyone at Tyndale Kids, from the editors to the art and marketing people, have been on board to help Hoofprints of Hope become an accurate and inspiring book for young people.
Everyone in my Write2Ignite critique group was patient with all the horse information and helped hone each devotion, keeping me on track with Bible verses and insights. And now there’s a wonderful group of friends and fellow writers helping launch Hoofprints out into the world.
I couldn’t have written Hoofprints without the wonderful herd surrounding and helping me!
What is the main takeaway you hope readers will learn from this book?
Kathryn: I pray that the fun information will corral their attention and lead them to insights about how much God loves them and longs to be their guide. Life is a little like a trail ride—mostly adventurous and fun, but sometimes a little hard or even scary. I hope Hoofprints of Hope will assure them that God is always with them on their trail ride. Deuteronomy 31:8
Thank you, Kathryn for joining us today! If readers would like to know more about your book, where should they look?
Kathryn: Readers can go to my website to learn more about me and Hoofprints of Hope Devotional. They can also download a FREE Hoofprints activity pack with puzzles, a writing prompt, a craft, and more, all about horses.
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