Teenager Releases First Children's Book
 
Fifteen-year-old Ana Merckx of Middletown, New Jersey, has self-published her first children's book. The Remarkable Roo is about one of Merckx's three miniature horses, Buckaroo, also known as Roo. The tiny equine is a Therapy Horse. He was initially owned by Karen and Butch Mokuau of Stoney Acres Ranch in South Jersey. At the time, he was a show horse and competed in the Stallion Stock-type class at the Fort Worth, Texas, World Championships. He placed 4th.
Roo joined Merckx's mini herd in 2023 when Karen Mokuau saw the talented teenager on social media taking her other horses on visits to libraries, nursing homes, Assisted Living communities, and hospitals. Mokuau thought Roo should have a job and contacted Merckx about adopting him.
The young equestrian has had an interesting journey to becoming a mini horse owner. She's a native of Bulgaria who was adopted from an orphanage when she was four years old. As a small child, Merckx had anger and coping issues due to her hard start in life. When she was six, horseback riding was recommended as a way to relax and enjoy her new life in America.

At 12, Merckx was preparing for her first horse show when her world fell apart. She learned she had a genetic disorder affecting her neck. Then came the truly devastating news. Her doctor told her a fall from a horse would be fatal.

Sadly, the young horse lover hung up her stirrups. Merckx, a resilient young lady unwilling to give up her passion for horses, began researching equine actives that didn't involve riding. She became excited when she discovered liberty training, whereby the person stands in the center of a round pen and gives the horse commands such as Walk, Trot, and Canter first on a line and then ultimately off the line. Tricks, such as teaching the horse to spin and bow, can also be included. The only problem was her parents were fearful of full-size horses. Then the family had a Eureka moment! Miniature Horses!! They found an excellent breeder in New York state. Merckx and her mother drove up one weekend to meet with her and learn about Minis. They came home with Odyssey, a silver bay with blue eyes, in the back of their van.
Merckx's father already had their yard set up for goats, and they had plenty of land, so there was a pasture and shelter for the little horse. Over time, Merckx adopted two more Minis, Roxxy, and Roo and became involved in therapy work and horse showing. Plus, she created Ana's World of Minis. 
Homeschooled Merckx is always on the go.

In 2022, she met animal book author and freelance writer Loren Spiotta-DiMare of Hunterdon County. By complete coincidence, Spiotta-DiMare was working on an article about miniature horses and interviewed Merckx about her story that appeared in Elite Equestrian magazine.

Later, the young horse lover took a publishing class with the author and was inspired to produce The Remarkable Roo. She also plans to create a series about all her minis entitled Ana's Helping Herd.
     "I'm so impressed by Ana," Spiotta-DiMare says. "She didn't let her diagnosis stop her from pursuing her passion for horses. As a horse person myself, I get it. I'm also very impressed by her writing skills and persistence in publishing a book." 
Produced in softcover, Ana's Helping Herd: The Remarkable Roo sells for $10.99 on Amazon.