DJ Randall is having a ball riding her horse, Major in Letting Go. She is even taking classes that don’t interest her as much.  This is because she knows it will improve her jumping and give her more experience. She is saddened to learn at one of these shows that some complete strangers talk about her beloved horse, indicating he is holding her back from progressing in riding.

All DJ wants to do in life is compete in the Olympics on her horse. It seems that advice is coming from different avenues, indicating she can achieve her goal – but not with Major. When an injury to her gelding puts him out for the rest of the season, DJ questions if this is the end of her riding career.

When a surprise offer comes to her from her father and his new wife, DJ is torn. Should she accept this new horse that can help her go places? What about Major?

As she battles with this decision, DJ finds herself running out of time to sleep.  There is just too much to do! With art classes, school to keep up with and her horse cards business taking off, she doesn’t know which way is up.

As her father encourages her to focus on her Olympic dream, DJ questions how she can fit in everything that she wants to do. Alongside this, she is battling doubts of being a rider who is capable enough.  How can she make it without her beloved Major? Letting Go focuses on the tough decision DJ needs to make – and come to accept – if she wants to achieve her riding goals.

Author – Lauraine Snelling
Fiction – early teen
In my library – it is indeed! I’ll continue to aim for this whole series.
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

Jane and Penny Brooke love horses. They each have a pony that they ride and care for. Unfortunately, Penny is getting too big for her black pony, Brambles. Her father says as much, but indicates that he cannot afford to buy her another pony.

When the girls are out riding one day, they come across their friend Sheila. She is battling with a young colt, obviously afraid of him. When the girls question their friend about the pony, they are surprised to find that Sheila owns him. In fact, her parents acquired the unbroken colt for her as a first horse!

When Jane and Penny learn that the unmanageable colt is likely to be shot if he cannot be trained, they know they have to find a solution. Penny has an idea of a pony switch. Surely if they take on the colt and train him and provide Sheila with Brambles, then all will be well!

And so starts the girls’ journey of owning an uneducated colt. Jane and Penny quickly learn how much effort – and consistency – is required. With the help of an older teen, Jane and Penny introduce Rusty to being led properly, to having his legs and feet handled, rugging and even being backed under saddle. As he grows and develops they learn about a horse that is losing its baby teeth, how to apply poultices and prepare a horse for its first farrier visit.

The story focuses on the importance of finding a balance between tending to a horse’s educational and welfare needs and meeting school obligations. Penny finds as the main carer for Rusty – and the child who is a little over enthusiastic – that things need to be taken slowly, and carefully. She finds her schooling suffers greatly because of her dedication to Rusty. Plus, the colt is taken through some exercises too quickly in her eagerness.

A Colt in the Family does a great job of educating readers about caring for young horses. It would be well suited to younger readers eager for a pony adventure.

Author – Judith M. Berrisford
Fiction – children
In my library – Along with a few others by this author!
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Young Isla is a ten-year-old talented horse rider. She has a mother who is supportive of her horse riding and encourages her to compete and do as well as she possibly can. Isla has achieved much on her trusty mare Dusty but the level at which she is aiming to compete is too high for the older pony to consistently compete at. Because of this, her mother has purchased a piebald mount for her named Diablo.  He is the focus pony in Isla Picks Herself Up.

Diablo is an incredible jumper and he is taller, able to competently jump the heights Isla is competing in. He is also a very forward pony and a more challenging mount than Dusty. Isla finds herself a little anxious when riding her ambitious pony. This is further aggravated when she has a fall and breaks her arm.

Isla Picks Herself Up explores how a young rider is able to overcome her fear of falling. Isla needs to have the confidence not only to ride her new pony, but also to compete on him. If she can’t effectively jump him then her mother’s investment in Diablo would have been wasted.

This story for the younger reader is a quick and easy read. It is set in Wales and explores some aspects of horse care that help to educate readers. Unfortunately the images that should be in the kindle version don’t all show up! There are little red crosses indicating broken graphics for three out of the four images.  The last one is a lovely illustration. I am sure these would have added to the story, if they had worked.

Author – Susan Stark
Fiction – children
In my library – Indeed it is as a Kindle version!
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.