I recently downloaded Diana Kimpton’s There Must be Horses for free on Kindle. It was nice to get stuck into another horse middle grade book to read and review. Twelve year old Sasha has a love for horses tha will last forever. This is the only thing that has been a constant in her life as she’s been moved around in the foster system. When an emergency care situation leads to the pre-teen finding herself on a horse property, she is overjoyed. But the situation is only temporary, so how can she make it permanent?

There Must be Horses aptly explores the value of a permanent home with encouraging parental figures, even if they aren’t biological parents. As Sasha learns in this new environment, she is shown that her temper and want to break things when upset is not okay. She is also shown that she is not stupid and that persistence and a different approach can pay off.

Sasha is amazed to learn how to read horses.  She finds that their behaviour and body language is very different to a person’s. As she grows and develops in her horse knowledge and skills, Sasha’s adamant that there must be horses in her life.  This becomes a problem for the social worker who is so keen to find her a forever home. Sasha doesn’t want a new home – she wants this temporary one to become permanent instead.

There Must be Horses is a thought provoking read with horses at the forefront. Young horse fans are sure to be engaged – and learn a lot.

Author: Diana Kimpton
Fiction – middle grade / pre-teen
In my library? As an ebook it is.

“In riding a horse, we borrow freedom.” – Helen Thompson

I recently downloaded Flame on Kindle, having learned from author Leanne Owens that is was free over the weekend. Yay for another horse book to read! I have read one of Leanne’s books before, Horses of the Sun and enjoyed this.

It is nice to discover other Australian authors that write about horses. Flame is a short story that could easily be devoured in an afternoon.

Flame is a wild horse in Australia. He starts out as a yearling in the story when some stock men are caught up in a fire, trying to move their herd of cattle to safer ground. The wild horse although presumably a brumby appears to have thoroughbred blood in him. One of the stock men feels a connection with the colt in that first meeting. And then over time, as the stories of Flame grow, John feels that he will see the horse again.

This short story looks at the harsh conditions that stock men work in and wild animals encounter in the Australian outback. Storms, flooding and the worst perhaps – fire – are all explored as Flame lives out his years in the wild.

The reader gets to learn about this environment through the eyes of ageing stockman John and growing wild horse, Flame. Many emotional stories are shared as one wild horse uses his knowledge of the land to save various people. Through these events the reputation of Flame grows and John finds himself wondering if this magical ghost horse is indeed real.

But his various interactions with the flaming chestnut over time prove to him that this wild horse – although seemingly magical – was very much real. Flame was an informative and enjoyable short read with a very big horse focus. Recommended.

Author: Leanne Owens
Fiction – adult
In My Library? As an ebook it is.

I recently downloaded the children’s book Gentle George on Kindle to read. Gentle George is an early chapter story for kids. This horse book for young readers has a look at the history of pit ponies that worked in coal mines.

Gentle George is one of the ponies that helps workers at Grubb’s Coal Mine in the English town Yorkshire. Young readers learn about the hard work of the miners in Yorkshire. Even more surprising is the information that the ponies used in the mines – pit ponies – work in the mines, not getting to see sunlight or eat grass.

When a storm results in creeks overflowing and the water running directly into the mine, things do not sound good. And even as John works to get all of the children out of the flooding mine first, it appears that time is short. The influx of water has resulted in parts of the mine collapsing. The workers cannot make their way out through the long trek down the mine. They must get out through the lift that can only take up six workers at a time. Can they get out in time?

Gentle George is an adventure for young readers. It explores a race against time and how the biggest and most gentle pit pony comes to save the day. This story for younger readers has illustrations to go along with the adventure and I am sure will engage young horse fans.  An added bonus is the historical element of pit ponies.

Author: Ken MacKenzie and Chris Stead
Fiction – children’s
In My Library? As an eBook.

“You can’t become a decent horseman until you fall off and get up again, a good number of times. There’s life in a nutshell.” – Bear Grylls

Recently I was given a copy of Blood in the Bluegrass by Virginia Slachman to read and review. A while ago, Virginia was kind enough to be profiled and answer some questions for Equus Education. Now I am thankful to be able to provide a review of this racing mystery that she has written.

Harper Hill has returned from her city living, to the family stud farm. Her sister Piper is dead.  Harper suspects foul play even though the death was ruled as an accident. The question is though: who? As Harper investigates possibilities, she finds a lot is happening under the surface of her family farm. How was she unaware of so many things when she was so close to her sister? They shared everything, didn’t they?

As Harper further tries to unravel the truth of her sister’s death, all of the relationships she held dear come into question. Her ability to read people is also an issue of doubt. How is she to make sense of all this?

Blood in the Bluegrass is an engaging racing mystery. The topic of drugging horses and pushing them beyond their physical capabilities is explored well. Throw in the ties of two families that have grown up together, unexplained deaths and a drug ring as well, and there is plenty to learn about in this novel.

Slachman writes about a topic she is obviously passionate about and the novel builds at a good pace. Blood in the Bluegrass is an enjoyable read and the mystery builds well. This novel is bound to engage mystery and horse fans alike.

Author: Virginia Slachman
Fiction – racing mystery
In My Library? As an eBook.

A Love Divided is book one of the Mary’s Ladies series. I don’t think I’ve read any of Belle’s books before. But I got a sneak peak at this book perhaps a year or two ago. The excerpt in question was a scene where the local warden is mesmerised by someone riding their horse. As the high end dressage movements are carried out, Michael approaches the person. He is keen to learn how to ride like that.

And so from reading this previously, I was keen to read the whole book. So naturally when it came up free on Kindle recently, I was keen to download a copy to read and review!

A Love Divided by Belle McInnes

When the Scottish warden, Michael discovers that the rider is a beautiful young woman – and not a young lad as presumed – he is further keen to have that riding lesson. And so starts an encounter between two very different people that builds at a time when the Scottish and English do not accept or trust each other.

A Love Divided provides a lot of history of Mary Queen of Scots and the English reivers who will steal cattle and horses. The politics of running and protecting a country are explored well. Throw in a forbidden romance between a Scottish man and an English young woman and the story is an enjoyable historical romance. The horse focus on dressage and the way this is explored in different scenes just added to the appeal. An entertaining read with a lovely horse aspect.

Author: Belle McInnes
Fiction – historical romance
In My Library? As an eBook.

“When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk: he trots the air; the earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes.” – William Shakespeare