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Jackie Parry

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A Standard Journey: 5 horses, 2 people, and 1 tent Kindle Edition

by Jackie Parry (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.0 185 ratings

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They rescued five horses from an unknown fate.

They sold everything they had.

Jackie and Noel trained the lost and confused horses, and forced their own unfit bodies to meld into one team.

Life became horses, trail, endurance, and camping: all seven reliant on one another as they trekked along part of Australia’s majestic Bicentennial National Trail.

What started as a dream adventure turned out to be more than they had ever imagined. The beauty of the trail didn’t lessen its dangers; with minimal support and all their worldly possessions on horseback, Jackie and Noel made mistakes and with humour learned the hard way.

They were amateur horse-handlers, tackling an epic challenge, but they created something special, unique, and incredibly endearing.

Fears were faced, healed, and conquered. Bonds were forged.

But did the team of seven that started together, finish together?

Saddle up and take a ride along life’s natural trail of trauma, fear, pain, and loyalty.

What they are saying
‘A story that will resonate with any animal lover, any adventurer, and anyone who enjoys reading about ordinary people achieving truly extraordinary things.’

‘A hauntingly beautiful book.’

‘A story that shows how two people continue to discover new strengths in each other through the most dire circumstances.’

‘The humour and humbleness make this such an enjoyable read.’

‘She conveys her story with searing honesty.’

‘This will stick with readers for a long time.’

Print length

264 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publication date

June 5, 2015
File size

4290 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Special and unique. This books, takes you through a full range of emotions, from joy to sadness, from excitement to fear. There is humour and tears throughout and everything in between. You will feel like you are on the journey, while the author tells her true life adventure from the heart. At the core of the book is Jackie's passion for horses. It is a true and inspirational story. I challenge any reader to not want to feel like selling up all and going on their own adventure. A beautifully written book - anyone who loves horses and who dreams of adventure should read!" Everything Horse UK

Pack up three, ride two - what could be simpler? Well, for starters, some of the areas being traversed were very isolated.
"Noel and I changed, but it wasn't the journey that changed us the most, it was the boys [their horses].... they gave us - unwaveringly, utterly, and without question - their hearts."
This is a very moving tale of a journey cross-country on horseback, a journey full of challenges, but also full of love, compassion and mutual bonding.
"Now I've witnessed and been a part of a bond that, at times, overwhelmed me."
Excellent.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00Z17XXQA
Publisher ‏ : ‎ (June 5, 2015)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 5, 2015
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 4290 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 264 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #2,180,929 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #134 in Travel with Pets (Kindle Store)
- #614 in Travel with Pets (Books)
- #870 in Horse Care (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
4.0 185 ratings

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Jackie Parry

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Jackie now supports & trains everyone on the water: https://linktr.ee/SisterShipTraining

Jackie returned to Australia after exploring the French canals on a Dutch barge with her Australian husband.

Originally from the UK, Jackie is now an adopted Australian. She grew up with horses in the UK until her world was shattered with a heartbreaking bereavement. Disillusioned with life, she ran away to Australia and met and married Noel (within just a few months!). They decided to buy a boat and set sail. So within her first year living in a foreign land, she was getting used to a foreign husband and a foreign life on board!

Mariah II took Jackie & Noel around the world. Pyewacket II (purchased in San Francisco) took them across the Pacific Ocean for a second time on a more southerly route. Adventures include The Great Loop in the USA plus Canada’s Great Lakes and the French Canals.

Between boats they adopted 5 standardbred horses and set off into the Australian bush with just the horses and their gear on their backs... "an extraordinary experience."

Their last boat was a motorboat - a long story (well a short one really) but keep following to see what new plans they have!

Jackie & Noel spent three years on a 1920s Dutch Bunker barge, which they completely renovated while exploring France and Belgium.

As a commercial captain Jackie has worked internationally, and has been a Marine Rescue skipper. She has also taught commercial maritime. She co-wrote a pilot book (in America) and several hundred magazine articles worldwide. Cruisers' AA (accumulated acumen) was Jackie (and Noel's) first self-published book. She now runs her own training company for recreational and commercial boaters, called SisterShip Training.

New Street Communications Publishers has picked up most of Jackie's books and released audio versions.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5

185 global ratings

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Glen Barrera

A remarkable story of adventure.

Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2015

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I really enjoyed this book, about the author and her husband and their dream to pack-saddle Australia’s Bicentennial National Trail. Selling everything, reading-up, and pouring through equipment catalogues they make their purchases and plans, until all they needed…were the horses.

I’ve ridden horses, love them, but never really knew them until I read this book. From the beginning, when the “boys” (all rescued ex-trotter Standardbreds) are introduced and their personalities, temperaments and quirks noted, I realized this story would be different. It wasn’t long before they became, to me, five mischievous boys out with their parents on a holiday road-trip (Neddy pushed me! Did not! Did to!). But then, these boys weighed a half-ton each, sometimes had a mind of their own, and couldn’t grasp the concept of “time outs.”

This story is well written with an appealing honesty. It made me laugh, as well as dab at my eyes. It’s about change: how five horses, once timid and easily spooked from a life at the racetrack, can become strong and courageous with love and attention; how two people, through the most adverse conditions, will do everything they can to keep their “family” healthy and safe. A Standard Journey is a must-read for animal lovers and/or those with a taste for a truly great adventure.

6 people found this helpful

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Mik Hetu, Author

The title could have several meanings . . .

Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2015

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The title could have several meanings . . .

A “standard journey” for Jackie Parry isn’t the same as for most of the rest of us: she did, after all, sail a boat around the world (see her book Of Foreign Build.) For this trek across part of Australia, if there’s one episode in the story that represents the whole journey, it might be the one where the horses wandered off across a road, in traffic, and Jackie chased after them, running when the horses weren’t looking, abruptly walking nonchalantly when they’d turn to check on her, a la silent movie / cartoon slapstick comedy. For me, this episode exemplifies the story because while she was trying to have fun she found herself having a serious, dangerous problem, but yet she saw the humor of it all.

A second “standard journey” meaning might be exactly that: a man and a woman trying to enjoy their lives, achieve their goals, and encountering all kinds of setbacks and surprises along their path, daily uncovering the reality under their dreams. Isn’t that pretty much the standard experience for many of us?

She tells her story in a very down-to-Earth, humble way, sharing with readers information on how she and Noel could afford to have adventures like this (by buying their clothes in charity shops, for one thing), which leads to one of my favorite lines in the book, “The smartest thing we’ve done is to make our lives the entertainment.”

And my favorite line? The last line: “We’re still not immaculately dressed: how can you be while renovating a 1920s Dutch barge in France during winter? But that’s another story.” Y’all better read about this horse-trekking adventure of hers now because surely in the future she’ll have another good story to tell . . .

2 people found this helpful

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Kindle reader

This is not a easy trip

Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2021

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I see In this book a lot of worry, horses and riders stressed and accidents most every day. I know if things went perfect every day there wouldn't be much of a tale. Still.this is a stressful book to read. I wanted the trip to be somewhat enjoyable for the author, but it wasn't. There are a lot of long rider books out there and the long rider Group itself. This is not a pleasurable book to read. I could feel the worry ,stress, and uncomfortable trip. I quit reading towards the middle , then read the ending to make sure all of them were safe.

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RYCJ

5 horses, 2 people and 1 quest...

Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2015

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Jackie made reading about her boys; Neddy, Dom, Stevie, Spirit and Charlie delightful. Right away I selected Dom if I had to choose which of the boys a jittery person like myself could ride for a quick trot around one stable. He was a sweetie, though as I read on, I found they all were.

What did I learn? I learned a little about when and how to walk or trot horses through creeks… beneath highways… to not fear rocks…kangaroos… or cars and the likes. I learned a little about shoeing horses, "jabbing them…" to give them shots, and signs of a choking horse and how to stop the choking. I learned how they play and how each has its own personality. The voice Jackie gave ‘her boys’ I simply adored, and aside from the chuckle I got from ‘Chardonnay’, I fell out laughing about the possible attempted abduction of Stevie...whose previous owner named him Psycho Stevie. I couldn’t help but wonder what was it that thwarted that possible kidnapping attempt? Too funny!

People like Anne deserve a handclap her generous support of this journey, and as well Jackie and hubby Noel in their quest to rescuing horses.

Helpful

Norm

Horses love you back.

Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2015

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Around the world under sail voyager, Jackie Parry, gives the reader a good look into trail riding on horseback. A great story of her affection for rescuing and riding horses. In her first book, Of Foreign Build, she gives the reader a glimpse into what was coming when she describes the role of captain as being tougher than one might think. And then she says she had no idea until it was her turn to lead her sailor-turned-rider husband on a trek of thousands of miles. He had led her around the world successfully. In this story the tables are turned and she finds rising to the occasion an exciting challenge. They stood the test. I am exhausted, though.

The Australian Bicentennial National Trail is 5300 kilometers in length. Jackie and husband Noel rode its length on horseback packing their gear between their five rescued horses. Two horses were ridden and three were led with packed gear. An amazing feat to this sailor. The part that interested me the most was learning just how complex trail riding is. My boat may not love me back but it sure is a lot easier to voyage. Thanks Jackie and I look forward to more work from you.

2 people found this helpful

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Brecon

Absehbar zum Scheitern verurteilt

Reviewed in Germany on July 4, 2021

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Habe eine spannende Schilderung der Reise auf dem Bicentennial Trail erwartet. Statt dessen gings von einem Mißgeschick und Unfall zum Nächsten. Schnell wird klar, dass so ein Trail von 2 so schlecht vorbereiteten Personen mit 5 nicht grade gut trainierten Pferden zum Scheitern verurteilt ist. Ein Trail in Australien und die Pferde nicht mal an Känguruhs gewöhnt?? Nicht verkehrssicher? Usw. usw. . Zumindest haben sie rechtzeitig abgebrochen, bevor noch etwas Schlimmeres passiert ist.

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Rolande

Great Read

Reviewed in Canada on September 13, 2015

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I just finished Jackie's book. As usual, her writing style pulled me right in. I laughed about and loved her horses, with their quirky personalities. And I am not a horsey person! Her and Noel's undertaking (Hiking the Australian Bicentennial Trail on horseback) was a huge undertaking. Of course these two do not do any thing by half measure. I loved hearing about it all. Thank you Jackie for sharing your adventure. I highly recommend this book.

One person found this helpful

Vmp

If you love horses and adventure, this book is a must!

Reviewed in the Netherlands on November 7, 2015

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What an indomitable spirit Jackie Parry is! I read this book with my jaw dropping open on almost every page. The whole idea of setting off on a horseback journey along an Australian trail with five horses that have never been ridden before might strike some as totally bonkers. However, through a mixture of love, passion, patience and willpower, Jackie and her husband do so and manage to make quite a distance before injury forces them to stop. There is plenty about the care and training of horses in the first half of the book for those who love the theoretical and technical side of how to go about such an endeavour, and there are, equally, plenty of emotional ups and downs. Not only do they have some terrifying incidents when their horses panic, but Jackie and her husband stretch the limits of their nerves and relationship in this tense, but awesome trip. In the end, I am not sure they can really say they enjoyed the ride, but I'm guessing they will never, ever forget it

Lesley L

Wow! What an amazing adventure!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 22, 2015

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Far from "standard" - this is the story of an amazing, arduous but fun trek in Australia. It's all factual but it draws you in like a really good novel. I was hooked from the gripping first line: "Galloping down the mountain to find a gun to shoot one of our horses, I realised that I had bitten off more than I could chew." The journey itself hasn't a single dull moment and even by a third of the way through you will know the vagaries of each of of the five horses (all adopted ex-trotters - Dom is my favourite) - and you will feel as though you actually ARE Jackie or Noel. The hazards of the bush that you might expect are all there (the kangaroos, the bull, the snakes) but also many that you don't expect (such as possums that pee on you). I learnt a lot too - how to sort out a choking horse, for example. It's an emotional roller-coaster - but an involving, genuine one. There's an underlying life philosophy too which has helped put certain things into perspective for me. No way am I brave enough or fit enough for a trip las extreme as Jackie's - but I I'm definitely going to go with some of her can-do/give it a go approach. Unreservedly recommended.

Joyp

Really enjoyed this book from beginning to end

Reviewed in Australia on September 9, 2015

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Really enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I read anything to do with horses and the fact that this was ride undertaken in Australia was a must read for me. The horses and their personalities were engaging and the book was very descriptive. I would thoroughly recommend this read. The riders I must admit were pretty dedicated, not too many creatures comforts on this trip. I love the idea of the ride but the logistics of 'putting it all together' to me would be a deterrent. The pack bags the horses carried sounded as though they were a real pain and the amount of time spent getting horses packed and ready each day was time consuming, however from the descriptive writing I could enjoy the journey in the comfort of my armchair. Thanks for the ride :)

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A Standard Journey: 5 horses, 2 people, and 1 tent Kindle Edition

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