The Village Horse Doctor: West of the Pecos

Very good book. A lot of off the wall vet information

This is a continuation of the entertaining, sometimes hilarious life of Ben K. Green, horse trader and horse doctor. His books have the authentic flavor of Texas during and beyond the Great Depression, and this book is no exception. Green possesses a keen understanding of people, cattle, and especially horses,which is not only entertaining, but also very informative. Since I have horses of my own, and I live or have lived in or near many of the places he encounters in his books, reading his books is often like coming home for me. This particular book pretty much details the difficulty of becoming accepted by the surrounding ranchers,the ingenuity of treating animals without always having traditional medicines close at hand, and the love of a man doing what he has chosen to do in spite of many set backs. Although this might not be a book for the general public, anyone who has a love for animals, the West, and the people who inhabit this sometimes challenging land will thoroughly enjoy this book.

Great book. Well written!

Good friend of mine told me this was his favorite book ever. Didn't take long to read as it was very interesting. I loved the stories of life in the South West US during and after WW2. Veterinary work at that time was primitive and pretty much a learn as you go for the Ben as he worked hard to care for the animals he was called to help. I will get another one of Ben Green's books to read very soon.

Dr. Ben Green is a story teller par excellence. His stories are in the vernacular of the West with all the colorful expressions used in the West. Doc Green writes about a period of time in which most of what younger folks know about is World War II. From gas stamps required to buy gasoline, to tires, which were also allotted by government quotas, he gives a picture of what was happening at home during the war through a cowboy/veterinarian.This is great reading to get away from a frustrating day and simply enjoy great stories and laugh out loud at some of his folksy solutions to problems and then, to simply relax.I read every book I can find by Dr. Ben K. Green and you should too.

I enjoyed the book. It is slower paced than some of his others, and the sheep research got a little tedious. There is not a lot of exciting, but it was pretty entertaining and gave me a picture of vetting by the seat of your pants in such a vast area.

Entertaining and informative book about the Trans-Pecos region. My daughter, son-in-law and their boys ranch outside of Balmorhea. They love it, but respect the harsh environment.

Like talking with an old friend, this book didn’t disappoint. This is the third of Ben Green’s books I’ve read. I’ve enjoyed them all and learned a few things from each. Ben has a dry sense of humor that is great! My only regret is discovering him so long after he has left us. It would have been a delight to meet him.

This book is different reading in that it was written from recordings of the author swapping tall tales with his friends. The friends' contributions are missing, but the story gives the reader the feeling of being in the room listening to the author tell his stories. Ben Green has a self-deprecating humor as he tells about caring for the local ranchers' livestock in the high desert area of Texas during WWII. An old cowboy turned veterinarian, he tells of driving thousands of miles as he treats Navajo sheep, ranchers cattle and horses, and the company of the people who owned them. You go with him as he eats hot chiles with Mexican vaceros, or rides with an IRS (US Inland Revenue) accountant who is questioning the expenses claimed on his federal income taxes. A thoroughly enjoyable book.