The Part That Can't Be Sold
A Father and Son's Memoir of Harlinsdale Farm
by Talbot and Clay Harlin
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.
Johnny Haffner, DVM
"Talbot was able to resurrect old friends and old memories and bring them to life in the pages of this book. I am grateful to have been blessed To be a part of the Harlinsdale Farm legacy. It was people ( Mr. Hayes, Mr. Wirt, Dan Ford, Rocky Jones, Billy Maddox, and others) who played a large role in shaping my life. But the one who backed me up to a wall with his finger in my chest and told me I needed Jesus, was Clay Harlin. I will forever be grateful to God for Clay."
Dan Ford
"I believe I’ve read this book about five times now because it brings back so many memories of my many years at Harlinsdale. Talbot captures so well in words the many things that we all felt and experienced working along side each other. Breaking Yearlings, getting them ready for a the sale or a horse show, or the end of the day ritual as we sat worn out in the hallway of the barn and nobody would get up to go home until Rocky or Clay ended their standoff waiting for the other to be the first to leave."
Emily Bowman, Board of Directors for Friends of Franklin Parks
"in this authentic, funny, and emotional compilation of essays, I couldn't help but feel nostalgic as I turned the pages and thought about my own memories: driving down the lane toward the big barn on Sunday drives after church, just to see what the mares and foals were up to in the big pasture, keeping an eye out to see if I could spot Smiths Midnight Lady - the mother of my first and best horse. This a book for horse lovers, James Herriot fans, and anyone interested in Middle Tennessee history."
