
The Perfect Horse
The Daring U.S. Mission to Rescue the Priceless Stallions Kidnapped by the Nazis
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Narrated by:
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Paul Boehmer
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By:
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Elizabeth Letts
About this listen
New York Times best seller
From the author of The Eighty-Dollar Champion, the remarkable story of the heroic rescue of priceless horses in the closing days of World War II
Winner of the PEN Award for Research Nonfiction
In the chaotic last days of the war, a small troop of battle-weary American soldiers captures a German spy and makes an astonishing find - his briefcase is empty but for photos of beautiful white horses that have been stolen and kept on a secret farm behind enemy lines. Hitler has stockpiled the world's finest purebreds in order to breed the perfect military machine - an equine master race. But with the starving Russian army closing in, the animals are in imminent danger of being slaughtered for food.
With only hours to spare, one of the US Army's last great cavalrymen, Colonel Hank Reed, makes a bold decision - with General George Patton's blessing - to mount a covert rescue operation. Racing against time, Reed's small but determined force of soldiers, aided by several turncoat Germans, steals across enemy lines in a last-ditch effort to save the horses.
Pulling together this multistranded story, Elizabeth Letts introduces us to an unforgettable cast of characters: Alois Podhajsky, director of the famed Spanish Riding School of Vienna, a former Olympic medalist who is forced to flee the bomb-ravaged Austrian capital with his entire stable in tow; Gustav Rau, Hitler's imperious chief of horse breeding, a proponent of eugenics who dreams of genetically engineering the perfect warhorse for Germany; and Tom Stewart, a senator's son who makes a daring moonlight ride on a white stallion to secure the farm's surrender.
A compelling account for animal lovers and World War II buffs alike, The Perfect Horse tells for the first time the full story of these events. Elizabeth Letts' exhilarating tale of behind-enemy-lines adventure, courage, and sacrifice brings to life one of the most inspiring chapters in the annals of human valor.
“Letts captures both the personalities and the stakes of this daring mission with such a sharp ear for drama that the whole second half of the book reads like a WWII thriller dreamed up by Alan Furst or Len Deighton.... The right director could make a Hollywood classic out of this fairy tale.” (The Christian Science Monitor)
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"[Elizabeth] Letts, a lifelong equestrienne, eloquently brings together the many facets of this unlikely, poignant story underscoring the love and respect of man for horses.... The author's elegant narrative conveys how the love for these amazing creatures transcends national animosities." (Kirkus Reviews)
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“Hard to put down... One need not be an equestrian or horse lover in order to appreciate this story.” (New York Journal of Books)
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- Length: 11 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Maggie Atwood and Becky McCabe, mother and daughter, both champion riders, vowed to never, ever, go up against one another. Until the tense, harrowing competitions leading to the Paris Olympics. Mother and daughter share a dream: to be the best horsewoman in the world. Coronado is Maggie’s horse. An absolutely top-tier Belgian warmblood. Sky is Becky’s horse. A small, speedy Dutch warmblood.
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Performed well, Exhausting Political References
- By Kelly E. Christensen on 01-13-22
By: James Patterson, and others
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Broken
- By: Fred M. Kray
- Narrated by: Stephan Watson
- Length: 13 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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It was a cool, quiet evening at Calumet Farm, where the most valuable racehorses—including the prolific stallion Alydar—had settled into their stalls for the evening. Alton Stone, filling in for the regular night watchman, completed his rounds at the barn. Although nothing seemed out of the ordinary, an inexplicable hunch led Stone to check on Alydar. What he found—a grievously injured horse with no discernable cause—jump-started one of the biggest mysteries to ever hit the horse racing world.
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A Very Tedious Listen
- By Read With My Ears on 02-24-24
By: Fred M. Kray
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Sacred Spaces
- Communion with the Horse Through Science and Spirit
- By: Susan D. Fay PhD
- Narrated by: Susan D. Fay PhD
- Length: 5 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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There are silent, yet powerful, ingredients missing from current horse training, riding, and natural horsemanship instruction. In her research of horsemen and women who have a gift with horses, Dr. Susan Fay outlines the invisible things these equestrians do that make their interactions with horses seem effortless. As a research scientist and life-long equestrian, Dr. Fay spent more than two decades searching for scientific explanations for why some people are able to develop seemingly spiritual relationships with horses.
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Absolutely perfect start to finish
- By Amazon Customer on 08-03-22
By: Susan D. Fay PhD
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Joey
- How a Blind Rescue Horse Helped Others Learn to See
- By: Jennifer Marshall Bleakley
- Narrated by: Emily Durante
- Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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At the height of his show career, this beautiful Appaloosa's majestic stature, strength, and willingness to work made him the perfect partner. But when an injury cost Joey his show career, he moved from one owner to the next, ultimately experiencing severe abuse and neglect. A rescue group found Joey nearly dead from starvation - and blind. Then he came to Hope Reins - a ranch dedicated to helping hurting kids who had been abused, emotionally wounded, or unwanted.
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Why Joey will always touch people’s hearts and lead them blindly into faith
- By Ms. Sara Kathryn Bakker on 10-23-19
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Finding Dorothy
- A Novel
- By: Elizabeth Letts
- Narrated by: Ann Marie Lee, Elizabeth Letts
- Length: 13 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Hollywood, 1938: As soon as she learns MGM is adapting her late husband’s masterpiece for the screen, 77-year-old Maud Gage Baum sets about trying to finagle her way onto the set. Nineteen years after Frank’s passing, Maud is the only person who can help the producers stay true to the spirit of the book - because she’s the only one left who knows its secrets. But the moment she hears Judy Garland rehearsing the first notes of “Over the Rainbow”, Maud recognizes the yearning that defined her own life story.
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Simple
- By Douglas A. Saunders on 04-02-19
By: Elizabeth Letts
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The Horse God Built
- The Untold Story of Secretariat, the World’s Greatest Racehorse
- By: Lawrence Scanlan
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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In The Horse God Built, best-selling equestrian writer Lawrence Scanlan has written a tribute to an exceptional man that is also a backroads journey to a corner of the racing world rarely visited. As a young black man growing up in South Carolina, Eddie Sweat struggled at several occupations before settling on the job he was born for - groom to North America's finest racehorses. As Secretariat's groom, loyal friend, and protector, Eddie understood the horse far better than anyone else.
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Excellent book and perfectly written
- By Jeffrey P. Allen on 09-01-17
By: Lawrence Scanlan
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The Horse
- A Galloping History of Humanity
- By: Timothy C. Winegard
- Narrated by: Sean Patrick Hopkins
- Length: 19 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Timothy C. Winegard’s The Horse is an epic history unlike any other. Its story begins more than 5,500 years ago on the windswept grasslands of the Eurasian Steppe; when one human tamed one horse, an unbreakable bond was forged and the future of humanity was instantly rewritten, placing the reins of destiny firmly in human hands. Since that pivotal day, the horse has carried the history of civilizations on its powerful back.
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Virtue signaling on 4 legs
- By K N on 08-25-24
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Milo's Eyes
- How a Blind Equestrian and Her "Seeing Eye Horse" Rescued Each Other
- By: Lissa Bachner
- Narrated by: Johanna Parker
- Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Lissa Bachner was born with a passion for horses and won her first blue ribbon at age five. Other awards would follow as a young rider, and for years Lissa trained with jumpers, tackling more difficult leaps, and working to perfect her ride. When blindness struck in her teens, it appeared her passion for riding would come to an end. How could she jump hurdles when she could barely navigate through her own home? But success, trust, and love came to Lissa when her trainer convinced her to buy a "diamond in the rough" from Germany.
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Inspirational Listen
- By Amazon Customer on 11-29-22
By: Lissa Bachner
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Finding Gideon
- A Broken Dream, a Missing Horse, and the Faith of a Mustard Seed
- By: Sarah Hickner
- Narrated by: Sarah Hickner
- Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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This is a story about leaving home to chase a dream that was so deep in my bones I couldn’t quit, even when it nearly killed me. It’s about the horse who held my heart suddenly disappearing. It’s about love finding me when I least expected it. And it’s about learning to trust a God who gives and takes away.
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Incredible story
- By Grammy Sutton on 04-18-25
By: Sarah Hickner
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The Horses Know
- The Horses Know Trilogy, Book 1
- By: Lynn Mann
- Narrated by: Emily Gray
- Length: 14 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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The human race has all but destroyed itself and those who remain know that they must avoid repeating the mistakes of their ancestors. But it’s extremely difficult. Without horses, it would be impossible. Amarilla is one of those chosen by a horse as a Bond-Partner. She looks forward to a lifetime of learning from her horse and of passing on the mare’s wisdom to those seeking help. But then she discovers that she is the one for whom the horses have all been waiting. The one who can help them in return.
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Great story, powerful message, fantastic narrator!
- By Brooke Wagner on 03-06-24
By: Lynn Mann
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In the Middle Are the Horsemen
- By: Tik Maynard
- Narrated by: Tik Maynard
- Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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In 2008, 26-year-old Tik Maynard faced a crossroads not unlike that of other young adults. A university graduate and modern pentathlete, he suffered both a career-ending injury and a painful breakup, leaving him suddenly adrift. The son of prominent Canadian equestrians, Maynard decided to spend the next year as a "working student." In the horse industry, working students aspire to become professional riders or trainers, and willingly trade labor for hands-on education.
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The journey of an inspiring Horseman
- By Kelley on 01-16-25
By: Tik Maynard
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The Equine Listenology Guide
- Essential Horsemanship, Horse Body Language & Behaviour, Groundwork, In-Hand Exercises & Riding Lessons to Develop Softness, Connection & Collection.
- By: Elaine Heney
- Narrated by: Elaine Heney
- Length: 4 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Enjoy this Listening to the Horse-inspired book, packed full of stories, lessons, case studies, and exercises for you and your horse. This book is the first book in the Equine Listenology trilogy.
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Feels more like a sales pitch
- By Anna M on 08-18-22
By: Elaine Heney
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The Horse
- The Epic History of Our Noble Companion
- By: Wendy Williams
- Narrated by: Angela Brazil
- Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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Horses have a story to tell - one of resilience, sociability, and intelligence and of partnership with human beings. In The Horse, journalist and equestrienne Wendy Williams brings that story brilliantly to life. Williams chronicles the 56-million-year journey of horses as she visits with experts around the world, exploring what our biological affinities and differences can tell us about the bond between horses and humans and what our longtime companions might think and feel.
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Full of science.
- By Jennifer90046 on 02-07-17
By: Wendy Williams
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Last Chance Mustang
- The Story of One Horse, One Horseman, and One Final Shot at Redemption
- By: Mitchell Bornstein
- Narrated by: Tom Zingarelli
- Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Last Chance Mustang is the story of Samson, a formerly free-roaming, still wild-at-heart American mustang that was plucked from his mountainous Nevada home and thrown into the domestic horse world, where he was brutalized and victimized. After years of abuse, Samson had evolved into a hateful and hated, maladjusted beast - until the day he found his way to a rural Illinois farm, an ill-equipped owner, and one last chance.
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Great story
- By ggvan on 04-30-17
What listeners say about The Perfect Horse
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- NanS
- 04-24-17
Good history/horse story
Where does The Perfect Horse rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
Gee, I've listened to so many over the years! This book is definitely in my top 20% and since I rarely listen to history books, I'd rate it as in the top 10% among nonfiction books.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Perfect Horse?
The race in the middle of the night, with Lessing and Stewart one on a black and one white horse was described perfectly.
Which scene was your favorite?
As a horse person, I really enjoyed several of the descriptions of being around horses. There was one description about Hank Reed's familiarity of those things any horse person knows - the rhythm of a horse's gait, the scent of fresh straw and "what the end of a day on horseback felt like, salty with sweat, dirt under his nails, and a mind white-washed on worry".
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I am always drawn to people who understand that the animals of this world are worth saving.
Any additional comments?
This is an excellent book for horse lovers who are not regular history readers. Instead of just dates and battles, Letts educates her readers about the people and places in this book. Not as good as In the Company of Elephants, but still quite good.
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7 people found this helpful
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- awesomeness123
- 10-02-16
Excellent story, irritating narration
I loved the story. I am an avid equestrian and for years I have wanted to know the details of how Patton's men saved the Lipizzaners during WWII. The story is fascinating and the writing has moments of true beauty. The author weaves disparate strands of seemingly unrelated topics into a tapestry that contains rich elements of setting and characterization. The reader begins to understand the art of classical riding, social Darwinism as applied by the Third Reich, and even the complexities of horse breeding.
The narrator, on the other hand, so faithfully reproduces German pronunciation of words that at times it sounded like the SNL spoof of news anchorpersons saying Spanish place names like a native.
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2 people found this helpful
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- MH
- 11-28-16
Great story, stick with it beyond the first chapter
This is my fourth book on audible, and I realize how important the style of narration is. I was not a fan of the narrator's style of speaking, especially in the first chapter. Initially, it felt too distracting and I almost quit the audible book to order it in paperback. The style seemed to be exaggerated especially in the beginning of the book, but it toned, and I was able to focus on the story, which was very good - especially if you happen to be a horse lover. I ordered a hardback of the book as well as a gift for a family member.
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1 person found this helpful
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- mom of 3
- 09-20-16
Amazing story!!
Great book about an amazing story!! I laughed and cried while listening to this incredible story to save such magnificent creatures during WWII
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- Lisa J. Shultz
- 03-06-18
Different angle on suffering of World War II
I found the book fascinating in hearing about the plight of horses during World War II. There are so many facets of tragedy and valor in that tragic war. I was slightly bored at times because I felt there was some filler that made it a bit long for me, but overall, I appreciated learning about what happened to animals during the war.
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- Jose
- 01-05-18
Very Good Book - Intense Story
I think the voice talent is very good, very clear, and set the right tone
The story is both history and story. For me, the book is very stressful because I am worried about the horses the whole time. The Russians want to destroy and desecrate, the Americans want to be fair, and Vets want to preserve life.
It's amazing that within a conflict that killed millions and destroyed so much, there was still a way to save these amazing and intelligent horses.
I say I was stressed, that's because I love animals and don't like to read about them being purposely harmed. It bothers me.
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- Pam
- 03-12-21
Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
A great telling of the story of saving the Lipizzaner horse during WW2. I'm so grateful that enough people cared, and that just enough luck was had, to make this possible!
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- TKW
- 05-08-18
Courage and Struggle
This true story has every element of what makes a good book great. Under the deadly annihilation of all life during Europe WWII, a few courageous people go to the penultimate risk to save endangered Lippizaners and Arabians for generations of the future.
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- Megan
- 02-20-24
Fantastic read.
It is a amazing story of history. I love untold stories and this one was my favorite.
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- Lou Rush
- 04-13-24
Perfect Tale of the Perfect Horse
I always loved the beautiful white stallions, and I had seen the Disney movie, “Miracle of the White Stallions” when I was MUCH younger. I was surprised at the rather important discrepancies of the book compared to the movie, but that was explained and it made sense to me. The tale was fascinating, and made possible by many who never received credit- at least until now! GREAT read, even if one isn’t a horse fanatic. And fascinating details and trivia about people and places. Kind of makes one realize that miracles do, in fact, still happen!
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