Eric Hatch

Year of the Horse

Crown Publishers, NY? 1965, jacket by Doug Anderson

Dell, pb, 1968

“But that’s getting ahead of the story, a warm, wacky, wonderful story about a father’s attempts
to win the love and respect of his teenage daughter who has eyes only for a horse. Anyone who
has ever had a daughter is bound to be enchanted by Freddie Bolton, a charming, harassed
suburban ad executive playing – and losing – Madison Avenue’s favorite sport of living beyond
his income. Nothing is too good for his daughter, but when Hellie asks for a horse of her won,
he has an adman’s brainstorm. He cooks up a deal to name the horse after a product he just
happens to represent, and Freddie, who knows nothing about horses- he’s allergic to them;
they make him sneeze! – finds himself anchor man in an insane triangle with a prize
thoroughbred.

Not since Mr. Blandings succumbed to his single moment of weakness has one man been subjected to more bewildering – and hilarious – adventures. Most unaccountably, Freddie finds himself falling for the big, beer-swilling animal, who has turned out to be the hottest show horse ever to point his nose toward Madison Square Garden. The scene where Freddie, finding himself out of cigarettes, hops aboard the championship hunter for a quick trip to the supermarket – and gets arrested for stealing his own horse! – is one of the most sidesplitting in all humorous writing.”

Eric Hatch (31 October 1901 - 4 July 1973) lived in Connecticut, and was an immensely productive, and busy, man. He owned a radio station (WBIS in Bristol), wrote screenplays and plays, fiction, non fiction and magazine articles. He was also a member of the State Historical Commission, an expert horseman, director of the Connecticut Horse Shows Association, a judge and steward of the American Horse Shows Assocation..... I’m amazed he had time to pose for the picture opposite.

The Year of the Horse is one of those books that seems to appeal to everyone: it was originally written as a humorous novel for adults, but has been marketed to both adults and children. Disney based their movie The Man in the Gray Flannel suit on the book, though to not a great deal of critical acclaim: the New York Times said it was “too bland to interest anyone who has survived beyond the age of 7.”

Finding the book: not available at all in the UK, as far as I can see. It’s certainly obtainable in the US, but even in its paperback incarnation, it’s more expensive than average. Don’t be put off by the cover of the paperback: the text is exactly the same.

Sources and links:

New York Times’ review of the film

A review of the book with an extract (don’t worry, it’s considerably better than the film)