Overview

A U.S. Marine Corps fighter pilot and his father, a fourth-generation horseman, tell the story of a place and time that-it seems now-might only have been a dream. Harlinsdale Farm was not a piece of land, or a beautiful barn, or fields full of horses. It was alive; its blood and spirit flowing through the lives of the men who worked it and were forever changed by it. Throughout this enchanting memoir, you will feel the cool morning breeze of a Tennessee horse pasture in early June. You will shake out your aching hands as the sweat stings your eyes in a stifling hayfield on a hot July afternoon. You will understand the exhilaration of mastering horsemanship, of controlling an animal that by all rights of its size and power should live beyond your control. You will experience the joy of a place that brought so much life, and the grief that comes along when it is gone. You will learn that wisdom is often found through hardship, and that the path to happiness begins with gratitude. Rising from the depression-era South and spanning five generations, Harlinsdale Farm stands as an iconic landmark in the small town of Franklin, TN. For over 70 years, the Harlin family bred and raised thousands of horses on its rolling pastures. That way of life came to an end in 2004, but through the hearts of the men who loved it, the story lives again. Rather than a history of Tennessee walking horses, or a list of Harlinsdale's champion stallions and their titles-this is a story of people. With an entertaining blend of humor and history, Talbot and Clay use their unique ability to observe memories through the detachment of time and bring them to life again for the reader. From Talbot's first day working on the farm as a fourteen-year-old boy in 1995 and back through 4 generations of the men who came before him, Talbot and Clay tell the story of Harlinsdale. It was a world apart, with a language and a rhythm and a life unto its own. Talbot captures this world through clever insight and a style of storytelling that makes it tangible to the reader. A blend of humor and hardship, misery and joy, this story will make you laugh out loud even as your muscles ache in sympathy with the characters. You will smile through the tears with a full heart and be left with the memory of lives fully lived and a place fully loved. For readers who enjoy a great story-and for fans of great story tellers like James Herriot, Tim O'Brien, and Sam Watkins-we invite you to enjoy this wonderful and engaging tale about the life of Harlinsdale Farm.

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Talbot Harlin was born in Franklin, TN in 1981. He served for 20 years as a United States Marine, enlisting at the age of 17 and serving as an infantryman until his graduation from The University of Tennessee in 2004. After completing Officer Candidate School, he flew F/A-18 Hornets until his retirement in 2019. During his service as a Marine Corps officer and aviator, he graduated from the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) and operated from the USS Enterprise, serving in both Iraq and Afgnanistan. He now lives in Franklin with his wife Ashley and their two daughers, Charlotte and Colette. Clay Harlin was born in Nashville, TN in 1953. He graduated from Lipscomb University in 1976 and managed Harlinsdale Farm for most of his adult life. After the sale of Harlinsdale Farm to the City of Franklin, he managed Midsouth Uniform and served as a pastor at a local church until his retirement. He has been married to his wife, Faye, for 50 years and they have three children-Anna, Talbot, and Meredith-and eight grandchildren. Clay still lives in Franklin where he serves on the board of directors for the Friends of Franklin Parks and continues to share his love for all of God's creatures with his grandchildren.

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