For those who like a quick, easy read, the Cryptic Caper may be of interest.  I downloaded it for free on Kindle recently under a search of the word horse.  This is a short horse racing mystery.  Now when it comes to horse racing mysteries, I typically think of Dick Francis.  Though Bev Pettersen does a great job of mixing horse racing romances with mystery.  The Cryptic Caper is a short story that wraps things up nicely.

Although the story is based around horse racing and betting on races, it doesn’t really feature horses at all.  There is reference to the racetrack and horse’s names in the races but that’s about as far as the horse sections of the book go.

The book is an easy read that looks at the interactions between a writer who likes to solve mysteries, some bettors who make a living from racehorse odds and the bigwigs who have a lot of connections in town and a lot of money to bet on sure things.

Horse races are being thrown and it’s interesting to read about the way the message is presented to particular bettors.  The cryptic way the message is displayed was not one I had read about.

Doug Olsen’s bio indicates that he writes short stories that can be read and neatly wrapped up within half an hour.  The Cryptic Caper fits into that description nicely.  I would have loved to see more reference to the horse industry as it only appears on a superficial level.  That said, there was nothing incorrect or inconsistent about the horse aspects, which was nice to read.

Author – Doug Olsen
Fiction – mystery, stort story
In my library – as a kindle

Crowd funding seems to be a big thing at the moment.  For many entrepreneurs in the equine industry, financial backing is the missing link to bring a great idea to fruition.  Recently I have been blessed to take part in a savings program that matches dollar for dollar what my husband and I put away up to a set amount.  This is to be utilised for one of our children’s education.  And I got to thinking about a financial program for horse entrepreneurs that aids people in the area of funding.

Like this savings program, the idea would be that finances are provided to those with products or services that cannot go ahead without financial aid.  Perhaps the idea could be explored and a budget set out to show how it will actually occur.

Then from here, financial backers could help.  This may be people in the equine industry who are willing to invest in new ideas that could benefit the industry.  Or it may be other people who have the financial capacity to help without actually having a link to the equine industry.

The Financial Program

Once the idea is put against a budget and a potential backer – or two! – is found, then it is up to the person or group to show that they are investing finances, too.  From here a savings plan could be set up where a set amount is put away each week, fortnight or month.  Then at the end of each month the backer/s match the amount dollar for dollar, or whatever predetermined amount is set.

In this way the entrepreneur is showing they will invest in their product but they are also guaranteed of extra finances to help them achieve their goal. There is no savings account where you can earn 100% interest.  And yet, someone matching you dollar for dollar as you put away into a savings account does this.  And of course, you also earn interest!  It is possible to throw in an extra rule where entrepreneurs pay back the amount loaned to them once their product is live and earning a return. So why not a financial program for horse entrepreneurs?

The 10^th book in the Ashleigh books of the Thoroughbred Series is titled Derby Dreams.  Young Ashleigh Griffen still has dreams to be a great jockey when she is older.  Her parents’ thoroughbred breeding farm is a great joy to take part in.  The only way things could get better is if they were actively involved in the racing side of the industry.

Ashleigh’s parents share with their three children that they have purchased a racehorse with the view to breed from him in the near future.  Ashleigh is ecstatic – a racehorse of their very own!  And the young colt in question is a beautiful horse, well conformed and with a great personality.  Ashleigh is smitten right from the start.  But when the seller of the colt appears to be reneging on the agreement she is devastated to think that the idea of owning a racehorse will disappear as quickly as it arrived.

Mr and Mrs Griffen plan to utilise the colt for breeding as well as racing if they are to secure him.  This is in a bid to recuperate some of the large sum that they spent to secure the horse.  The first race that Renegade runs in for his new owners is promising.  Ashleigh suddenly has grand designs of a derby win.  But very quickly her dreams start to fall to pieces.  Renegade’s breeding ability is put into question and then his capability to race well.

Ashleigh can’t understand how such exciting news – and a promising horse – could suddenly all turn bad.  She has a sneaking suspicion it has something to do with the gentleman who sold them the horse.  And yet, she cannot find any proof or even understand what has occurred.

In Derby Dreams Ashleigh and her best friend Mona take on a little detective work to solve the mystery around the Griffen’s new racehorse.  The book is an entertaining read with just a few horsey aspects that I would question but this may be due to differences in the US thoroughbred breeding world and what I know in Australia.

Author – Chris Platt, series created by Joanna Campbell
Fiction – pre-teen
In my library – that it is!

The first book in the Outback Riders series, Horses of the Sun has siblings Matthew, Lani and Dane discussing what they will do with their cousin Amy who is coming to stay with them – for a whole year.  Youngest Matthew wants to put a large brown snake – one of the deadliest snakes in Australia – in her bed as a welcome gift.  Ever the voice of reason Dean concludes they can play a prank but it shouldn’t be dangerous.

Their mother encourages them to think of ways they can make Amy feel welcome.  And yet, the siblings can’t help but feel anxious about her arrival.  And when the older teen comes to their property made up of thousands of hectares from her life in the city, the three struggle to feel welcoming or charitable.  This is especially so when they discover that Amy hates horses.  How can anyone hate horses?

The three try hard to be friendly but Lani soon finds she’d rather give Amy a hard time.  Dane is a little more successful at playing amicably but it’s young Matthew who actually manages to get through to Amy.  And although the three start to get along, Amy is hiding an incredible secret from them.

In time the teen is coaxed into the saddle and the brothers and sister giggle at her inability to rise at the trot in spite of her persistent tries.  The three take her on a tour of their property and share a story about Legend’s Leap, a four metre jump from one rocky area to another with a gorge between the two.

Amy cannot believe that anyone could make that jump on a horse and yet her cousins are insistent that their great grandfather achieved it many years earlier.  As much as Amy cannot believe the incredible feat, she finds that in time she is tested to do the same when a horrible accident results in the lives of her uncle, aunt and youngest cousin hanging in the balance. Amy’s move to live with her cousins has cost her so much.  And yet it seems that drawing close to this family may be the only way to realise what is important in life.  Horses of the Sun is fast paced and features horses highly.  An entertaining read.

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