Jodi Stuber wasn’t looking for another horse for her struggling therapy ranch—let alone one like Solomon. After losing his herd, he was solitary and sad, spending his days standing near the plastic deer in his yard for company. No stranger herself to loss and heartache, Jodi knew she had to give Solomon a home. Just as Jodi and Solomon were both beginning to heal, an unthinkable tragedy struck the therapy ranch. And Solomon was about to teach Jodi the greatest lesson of all.
Written by Jennifer Marshall Bleakley, author of Joey: How a Blind Rescue Horse Helped Others Learn to See, Project Solomon is a powerful story of resilience, sacrifice, and love that reminds us all how much we matter.
What was it about Solomon’s story that made you think about writing a book?
I first met Jodi Stuber in the fall of 2019 after she invited me to speak at the fall fundraiser for HopeWell—the therapy ranch she founded with her husband Ty. HopeWell Ranch is a non-profit therapy farm in Weidman, MI that partners with horses to reach children and adults who are dealing with emotional, spiritual, physical and social needs.
Jodi had reached out to me after my first book, Joey, released. That books tells the true story of a blind horse who lived at a therapy ranch near my home in Raleigh, NC, and who helped people see a light of hope. Since writing Joey’s story, I have become a huge believer in the power of equine assisted therapy, and so I was excited to lend my support to HopeWell and gladly accepted their invitation.
Before the event, Jodi gave me a tour of the ranch, during which she started talking about a special horse named Solomon who was the inspiration for their veteran program. Solomon had been donated to HopeWell by a loving couple who could tell that he was lonely after their two other horses died. In fact, he was so lonely that he would break out of his field to stand by the plastic deer in the front yard. After arriving at HopeWell, Jodi realized that Solomon had a special way of connecting with people—especially with children on the autism spectrum. He seemed to somehow innately know what each child needed and wanted from him. In addition to his innate understanding of children, he also proved to be a worthy leader among his HopeWell herd.
I floated the idea of collaborating on this project to Jodi and was delighted when she said yes! Then after getting the support of my publisher, Jodi and I began working together to tell this story.
Project Solomon tells the true story of a grieving woman and a lonely horse who rescued each other, and in the process, built a community of hope and rest for survivors. – Jennifer
What is it about Solomon that made him such a special horse and a hero?
Solomon was truly special. He could read people extremely well. His abilities seemed uncanny and he would listen so intently to the rider’s body that he would follow subtle cues and perform miraculously what the rider needed. This often looked like a child saying, “Look at what we did! I thought a thought and he did what I thought without me even telling him!” Solomon understood children on the autism spectrum and he was so quiet and patient with them. The young riders would often dismount and hug our big red boy. His love and steadfastness made him a favorite horse on our ranch. – Jodi
Describe what HopeWell is all about and how did Solomon come to live there?
HopeWell Ranch is a therapy farm where we supply assistance to those who have experienced trauma, are dealing with mental/emotional issues, or are facing physical challenges. We utilize the Eagala model which stands for Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association, which is an internationally recognized organization. This model is 100% on the ground, has a mental health provider, an equine specialist, and is solution focused. – Jodi
What age group will best enjoy Project Solomon and is the book only for horse lovers?
Project Solomon is appropriate for ages 12 and up. However, it does deal with some hard topics such as grief, loss, and PTSD; so parents might want to read it in advance, or with their child, so they can talk about those things together. Project Solomon: The True Story of a Lonely Horse Who Found a Home–and Became a Hero It is a story of hope that a painful ending can also be a beautiful new beginning; that a dark chapter doesn’t have to define your entire life; and that new life really can grow from the ashes of death. – Jennifer
