If Wishes Were Horses: The Education of a Veterinarian

By Nancy Gage and Loretta Gage

Book Overview

When Loretta Gage entered her first year of training at Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, all the odds were against her. In addition to the tremendous pressures that her fellow classmates faced - brutally long hours, a rigorous load of lecture and laboratory classes, and the knowledge that many of them would not graduate - Gage brought with her the enormous emotional and financial challenges of a working-class upbringing. If Wishes Were Horses is the triumphant story of her struggle against hard work and self-doubt to become a practicing veterinarian. This memorable and heartwarming book envelops readers from the very first page, transporting them to a world filled with curmudgeonly professors, classroom disasters, and academic break-throughs, as well as many joyful and inspiring episodes involving the wounded and sick animals that come into the students' lives as they learn their trade. In addition to tales from the classroom, emergency room, and hospital barn where the students made daily rounds, Gage shares her battles with the moral and ethical implications of her work. The rich and gripping story of her struggle to fulfill a lifelong dream illuminates the triumph of the human spirit as much as the fascinating, often heartrending world of veterinary medicine.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312928777
• ISBN13: 9780312928773
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 295 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

I Loved This Book!

There is so much to this little book. I laughed, I cried, I squirmed, I was inspired. Loretta Gage tells the truth about what a student must go through in order to become a vet - especially what is involved in learning to work with living animals. These are things most of us don't think about when we consider our vets' educations. I have a new respect for both my large and small animal vets from having read this book, and I recommend it to friends who are considering this profession. This book also shows that the only real obstacles to changing course in midstream are the ones we put there ourselves.

compelling and real

As a practicing veterinarian for over 20 years I view this book as the most honest and courageous to address this profession. It breaks the rules and debunks the simplistic mythology that pervades the profession. By shattering the illusions that many cling to in their unrealistic and romantic views of the complex relationships with our pets and the educational process, she understandably will offend some. That simplistic dream world needs breaking. This book was given to me by clients as a token of appreciation after a gruelling situation ultimately resulted in the euthanasia of their dog. This gift moved me greatly and reinforced my strength to face new challenges. Rather than finding the truth telling depressing it heartened me to find a veterinarian brave enough to reveal that we are as human as anyone, have lives with ambiguities, doubts, personal tragedies and diversions, like anyone else, and yet continue to face uncertain days regularly with committment, hope, dedication, and optimism.

A must read for future vets

As a student getting ready to apply to vet school, I was moved by the author's account of what the next 4 years of my life will be. She tells students what they need to know, and includes moving text as to why anyone would actually want a job that can be so heart breaking-order this book now!

An enjoyable, truthful tale of the journey to becoming a vet

As an aspiring veterinarian, I was very moved by the story of what so many of us are facing throughout our education. No holds barred--some of the chapters are a little harder to read emotionally, but there is always an underlying element of the hard truth which comes with the profession. A VERY good read...

A wonderful book! One to keep and read again and again.

If you have ever been faced with adversity when trying to acheive your dream, this book will lift your spirits and show you that you are not alone, and that it can be done. For every person who wants to be a vet but was told, "It's too hard, too expensive, you're not smart enough, vets don't make enough money, etc.", this is the book for you. Maybe the reviewer who didn't like this book never had to face ridicule, ignorance or discouragement, but thank God for Loretta Gage! Because of her story, this old coot (I'm 34) is going to veterinary school! Thanks again, Dr Gage. Please bring on the sequel!