Colt

Book excerpt: Winner of the Joan Fassler Memorial Book Award: The triumphant story of a boy who overcomes his disease with help from horses If Colt Vittorio had a motto, it would be I Don’t Want To! Colt has spina bifida—a condition that makes the bones in his legs weak and confines him to a wheelchair. When Colt is introduced to horseback riding in a program for disabled kids, he is beyond nervous. He wants nothing to do with these terrifying animals. After all, there’s no chance he’ll ever be able to use his legs anyway. What’s the point? Once he gets in the saddle astride a horse named Liverwurst, Colt’s whole world changes. With the horse’s powerful, muscular body beneath him, Colt no longer feels small and limited. After all, if he can control this huge, strong animal, he can do anything. And with Liverwurst’s help, Colt’s back and legs start getting stronger. But when his doctor warns that horseback riding is too dangerous and the risks are too great, will Colt’s riding lessons be history?