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While on a trip to Israel in February 2007, Emilie Storch became mesmerized by a fellow traveler who was blind.

"She turned out to be the best tourist because her senses were so strong," Storch said.

Upon returning to Greensboro, Storch found it an interesting coincidence that while she was gone someone had donated a blind horse to Horse Friends, the nonprofit therapeutic riding organization of which she is president.

The horse, which she named Flurry, was skinny and in poor health, but Storch was not deterred. She cleaned her up, dewormed her and began the process of training her to work with Horse Friends.

With three locations in Greensboro, Horse Friends offers therapeutic riding to children with autism, children and adults with mental and physical disabilities, and adults with multiple sclerosis.

"She ended up being a phenomenal riding horse because, like the tourist I met, her senses were so strong," Storch said.

Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis two years ago, Storch felt an immediate bond with Flurry.

"We were a disabled animal and person doing this together," she said.

But then Flurry unexpectedly died, leaving Storch heartbroken and determined to help other blind horses.

In honor of Flurry, she started a project called Flurry's Hope, an organization that works to increase public awareness of the treasure in blind horses and their potential for riding. The organization also helps others learn how to care for and train their blind horses.

"The world thinks you should kill blind horses," Storch said. "We're trying to change that worldview and get people to understand that blind horses can be even better to ride."

Using the Internet, she works with people across the country.

Storch acquired two more blind horses - Promise, a former racehorse who was going to be killed, and Belle, who was going to be sold for slaughter. The horses now are used with Horse Friends.

"They trust you and don't run away, and they are so grateful," she said. "Belle now will gallop in the fields with you and even ride in the dark."

Itching to do more to save blind horses, Storch decided to write a children's book about Flurry, Belle and Promise and sought the help of a friend, Deirdre Kevorkian, an art teacher at Caldwell Academy.

"I thought since this is a children's book, it would be special to have children illustrate it," said Kevorkian.

Kevorkian's Rhetoric Advanced Art class, which consisted of 16 high school students, became the illustrators.

The students visited and rode one of the blind horses, took pictures and made composite drawings for the book's three chapters. All of the students are listed in the book as illustrators.

Lauren Shelmerdine, a rising senior, illustrated the cover, which shows all three horses.

A lover of horses and a rider herself, Shelmerdine loved the opportunity to work on the book. She's considering minoring in art in college and feels having her work published will be helpful.

"I learned so much about how involved publishing is with all the edits and changes," she said. "This was such an exciting experience."

Kevorkian agreed that illustrating the book was a wonderful opportunity for her students to learn about publishing from start to finish, as well as to help a cause they grew to feel passionate about.

"It was a great experience working with a real client and making changes even when they didn't want to," she said. "It was a great success, and I'd love to do something like this again."

Titled "Horses Who See with Their Hearts," the book is a true story based on Storch's experiences with blind horses. Geared toward children ages 5 to 10, the book is available for $10.65.

"It's a story for all ages about second chances," Storch said.

Proceeds from the book will go to help Flurry's Hope and continue Storch's dream to save blind horses.

"For these horses, it's all about second chances, something we all need," said Storch. "This is a throw-away world, so to see blind horses carrying the disabled is so phenomenal."

Contact Jennifer Atkins Brown at 574-5582 or jennifer.brown @news-record.com.