In the horse world, it's so hard to find good horse books to read on your free time. There are very few horse story books in general, and even fewer ones worth your time. I have an obsession for horse books. I'll read almost any book I can get my hands on, even though I'm usually very picky with my books. Over time, however, I've found there are plenty of good horse books to keep me busy in my free time, which isn't a lot, between school, and horse riding. So here I am to help other horse crazy people find good, well-written horse books to read. I will categorize them by my favorite authors, in order of favorites.
Sara Gruen:
She is a fabulous author who writes fun, witty stories, yet stories that have such feeling in them.
Riding Lessons- It is a great book by her. It is about a forty-something year old woman who faces conflicts in her past and present. When she was 18, she competed in the show jumping Olympics with her horse, Harry. A terrible riding accident caused the death of her horse, and she ended up in the hospital. Twenty years later, Annemarie Zimmer, has stayed away from riding horses. She, along with her teenage daughter, Eva, returns to her family's horse farm in New Hampshire to aid her mother and dying father. She reunites with a handsome veterinarian she new before the accident, and she also meets a horse impossibly similar to her old horse. There and then, and obsession takes her over, and she buys the horse from the vet, and tries to find out the horses mysterious past.
Sara Gruen:
She is a fabulous author who writes fun, witty stories, yet stories that have such feeling in them.
Riding Lessons- It is a great book by her. It is about a forty-something year old woman who faces conflicts in her past and present. When she was 18, she competed in the show jumping Olympics with her horse, Harry. A terrible riding accident caused the death of her horse, and she ended up in the hospital. Twenty years later, Annemarie Zimmer, has stayed away from riding horses. She, along with her teenage daughter, Eva, returns to her family's horse farm in New Hampshire to aid her mother and dying father. She reunites with a handsome veterinarian she new before the accident, and she also meets a horse impossibly similar to her old horse. There and then, and obsession takes her over, and she buys the horse from the vet, and tries to find out the horses mysterious past.
Flying Changes- As the sequel to Riding Lessons, it is yet another great read. Annemarie's daughter, Eva, is dreaming of Olympic glory, and Annemarie struggles with the difficulties in her past, she has to take on new problems as her relationship with the Dan, the vet, hits a rough bump on the road. Eva finally meets the horse of her dreams, who is her key to fame, and goes to train with a famous instructor. If only her attitude would change. She is almost never allowed to come back in training with her instructor again, but Annemarie let's go of her own fears and thinks of her daughter's future, convincing the instructor to take Eva back. Annemarie finally let's go of twenty-plus years of feeling trapped in her past. A terrible accident and a surprise ending await! A must read!
Shelley Peterson:
A great author who never leaves the reader bored, but leaves him or her satisfied. her books have amazing plots, and I love every single one of them, although I haven't read them all.
Dancer- Hilary James (called Mousie) wins the The Fuller Trophy jumping with her magnificent horse, Dancer, at the Royal Winter Fair. She is then invited to perform for Queen Elizabeth in England. However, she has also attracted the unwanted attention of Samuel Owens, who tries to get Dancer for his niece, Sara. Since Mousie refuses to sell her precious horse, Samuel has no other choice but to a hire a man to steal the horse. Nothing good came of this. Before the incident of trying to steal Dancer, Mousie had a dream of a beautiful, blonde woman warning her of something. Later on she find out that the woman in her dream was Arabella, the second wife to the Duke of Dewbury.
A great author who never leaves the reader bored, but leaves him or her satisfied. her books have amazing plots, and I love every single one of them, although I haven't read them all.
Dancer- Hilary James (called Mousie) wins the The Fuller Trophy jumping with her magnificent horse, Dancer, at the Royal Winter Fair. She is then invited to perform for Queen Elizabeth in England. However, she has also attracted the unwanted attention of Samuel Owens, who tries to get Dancer for his niece, Sara. Since Mousie refuses to sell her precious horse, Samuel has no other choice but to a hire a man to steal the horse. Nothing good came of this. Before the incident of trying to steal Dancer, Mousie had a dream of a beautiful, blonde woman warning her of something. Later on she find out that the woman in her dream was Arabella, the second wife to the Duke of Dewbury.
Abby Malone- In this book, young Abby Malone struggles to balance her complicated life. With her alcoholic mother, her father who is in jail for a crime he didn't commit, and the girls in school teasing her, Abby feels closer to her animal friends, an orphaned coyote who she's owned since he was a pup, and a spirited mare named Moonlight Sonata. People are still a mystery to her. Luckily and old couple, Pete and Laura Pierson, give her the support and encouragement she needs. In this book, Abby falls in love, solves a mystery, and competes in a perilous steeplechase.
Stagestruck- Dancer needs a new rider for the upcoming Grand Invitational, and Hilary James, his owner, decides that young Abby Malone is the right one for the job. Abby also had other, metaphorical, hurdles to jump. Her community is staging a play in the old theater, and Abby soon discovers everything is not right, and strange events begin to occur at the theater.
Sundancer- Is an amazing and unique book about a 13 year old girl named Alberta, but known as Bird, who never talks to people, but she has the power speak telepathically to animals. She spends her days going to school, riding horses, and working on her Aunt Hannah's farm, who she lives with. When a new problem horse arrives at the farm, Hannah realizes that the strange and silent Bird, is the only one who can break Sundancer. But then Bird's mother Eva arrives for a visit with her new boyfriend and Bird's younger sister, old problems resurface.
Susan Richards:
She is an amazing author who writes touching memoirs about her life with horses. She writes with such feeling, and her tales come straight from the heart. A wonderous author.
She is an amazing author who writes touching memoirs about her life with horses. She writes with such feeling, and her tales come straight from the heart. A wonderous author.
Saddled- Is a memoir where Susan Richards finally divorces her abusive husband, admits she's an alcoholic, and changes her life. And it's all because of her horse, Georgia, who makes her feel the need the change her life.
Chosen by a Horse- This touching memoir tells of the time Susan Richards goes to the rescue to pick a horse she chose: Current Squeeze, but the horse refuses to be corralled. Susan takes a chance on any horse, and soon there is a mare and her foal being led up the ramp of her trailer, and into her life. Lay Me Down, the horse she rescued, changes Susan's life forever. Susan thought she was saving the horse, but the horse was really saving her.
Molly Gloss:
This author tells a fantastic tale of a female horse whisperer, and really makes you be one with the story.
This author tells a fantastic tale of a female horse whisperer, and really makes you be one with the story.
The Hearts of Horses- This is a wonderful story of a 19 year old girl who rides from town to town in search of work breaking horses. She arrives in a town where she finds plenty of horses needing to be broke. The owner's of these horss are willing to see her own methods of gentling a horse, and soon Martha Lessen finds work, a place to stay, and love.
Jane Smiley:
She illustrates her book with her words wonderfully, and I enjoy the simple plots of each and every one, taking in ever word.
She illustrates her book with her words wonderfully, and I enjoy the simple plots of each and every one, taking in ever word.
The Georges and the Jewels- Seventh grader Abby lives on a horse ranch in California where she spends her days riding horses. Her father insists that they call the geldings Georges, and the mares Jewels, as not to get attached by naming them, for the horses are there to be sold. With all the stress at home and school, Abby seeks refuge with the horses. There is one horse, who her father has her train, and who bucks Abby off every chance he gets. He only adds to Abby's trouble, and she calls him the Ornery George.
A Good Horse- Eight grader Abby knows there is no place she'd rather be than tending to the nine horses on her family's ranch. Some chores are no work at all, like grooming Jack, a young colt that Abby is attached to. As for Black George, he is a natural born jumper, and they decide to sell him. But suddenly, Abby might lose not one horse, but two, as a letter from a private investigator arrives. It states that he mare that gave birth to Jack might have been sold to the Lovitt's as stolen goods. Will she lose her beloved Jack to his rightful owner?
True Blue- When Abby gets the beautiful dapple-gray horse, she can hardly believe her luck. True Blue's owner was tragically killed in a car crash, and no one has claimed the horse. True blue is a sweetheart, and whenever Abby calls "Blue, blue, how are you?" he whinnies back to her. But sometimes True Blue seems spooked...he paces around and always seems to be looking for something, or someone. This story is suspensul and mysterious, and an almost ghost-story.
A Year at the Races- Jane Smiley says that every horse story is a love story. Then she tells her tale of love, money, horses, and luck. Specifically her story revolves around a filly anmed Waterwheel and a gelding, Wowie. This is memoir is definitely a winner.
Michael Morpurgo
He has a unique writing style and creates a touching story of a horse and boy.
He has a unique writing style and creates a touching story of a horse and boy.
War Horse- In 1914, Joey, a beautiful bay horse is sold to the army and thrust into war. Joey's courage touches the hearts of the soldiers, and he is able to find warmth and faith. But he misses Albert, the farmers son who raised him, and the one who he left behind. This story is unique for it is told in the horses point of view, and I suggest this book to anyone!
