It’s been a little while since I’ve read The Head and Not the Heart, the original first book in the five book Alex and Alexander series but this prequel was a delightful read. Runaway Alex although a prequel, was actually published five years after the first book in series.

Horse racing isn’t for nice girls like Alex. She’s been told again and again: stick to horse shows, stick to riding lessons, stick to the relative safety of the suburban equestrian center where she has been a working student since grade school.”

I loved learning about Alex’s life before she and Alexander were training together. Her experience riding ex-racehorses and bringing them on to become performance horses after racing, sets Alex in good stead when she considers what she really wants in life. Her parents are insistent she gets a college degree and settles into a well paying job. Alex is desperate to ride racehorses and explore the thoroughbred racing world. The only problem is, there is no way for her to do this where she currently lives.

When Alex’s ability to work with horses is taken from her, she runs away to Ocala. It seems the perfect time to pursue her dream of breaking into the thoroughbred racing world. A chance meeting with charming racehorse trainer Alexander Whitehall seems like fate. Alex jumps at the opportunity. She soon finds herself with a job interview at the destination of her dreams.

Falling in love, learning to ride racehorses and proving to her parents that her passion is not a phase she’ll grow out of all take their toll on Alex as she delves deeper into the thoroughbred racing world. Can she make it work?

Runaway Alex is a beautifully realistic look at the racing world. It explores the passion and grit it takes to pursue a career you love whilst everyone else is telling you to ignore the passion and settle for a safer career. Highly recommended.

Author: Natalie Keller Reinert
Fiction – adult
In my library? It is as an ebook, yes!

Awhile ago I was contacted about reading and reviewing another book here on Equus Education.  Grace, Grit and Gratitude by Tara Coyote is an incredible story.  It looks at persevering through challenges and explores in depth the journey of being diagnosed with cancer and dealing with it.  An interesting aspect that is explored through this book is the healing power of horses.

Through Grace, Grit and Gratitude, Tara details how she discovered the power of Equine Facilitated Learning – and healing!  This has led to the work that Tara now does.  Recently on Equus Education she was kind enough to be profiled about her work with horses as an Equine Facilitated Learning Teacher.

Grace, Grit and Gratitude is a non-fiction read that spans a few years, exploring the changes in Tara’s life as she deals with a life altering diagnosis. Horses consistently feature in the book as Tara turns to them for comfort and healing.

Through her journey of a cancer diagnosis, Tara explores many different ways to heal her body. This book is a real eye opener that covers some topics I wasn’t even aware of! The use of frog’s poison to purge a body, for example. Her perspective on life and what is important changes, too.

Important life accomplishments (like finishing this book!) become crucial to complete when the clock is ticking loudly above your head. At the same time, you have a deep acceptance, surrender, and understanding that, in the big picture, pushing yourself to achieve doesn’t really matter.”

Tara details her journey with cancer as well as her exploration of using horses to heal herself and ultimately, help others to deal with their own grief and learn to heal. She also uses the horses to keep perspective when the world is first rocked by Coronavirus:

While the world melts away with panic about the virus, I’m still focusing on my goals and what brings me joy because that’s what keeps me sane.”

Grace, Grit and Gratitude is an enlightening read with horses featuring at the centre. Highly recommended.

Author: Tara Coyote
Non Fiction – autobiography
In My Library? As an eBook.

Recently I was given the chance to read and review First Past the Post by SJ Garland. This novel focuses on the thoroughbred breeding and racing world, set in the time of Queen Victoria. The protagonist, Eva McKenzie is a passionate horse woman, making her way in a man’s world. This is much to the disdain of her socialite father.

When Eva’s favoured stallion is stolen, the young woman finds herself suspicious of a British Duke who appeared at the Sheepshead Bay horse auction. He is very interested in her grey stallion and not too much time passes before a fire occurs and Eva’s stallion is stolen.

As Eva battles to unravel the mystery involving her stolen horse, she also battles a growing attraction to the British Duke who knows more than he’s letting on.

First Past the Post travels from New York to England as Eva and the Duke pursue her missing horse. Throughout this mystery, a romance grows and horses feature heavily. The story is very engaging and the dialogue between the male and female lead entertaining.

Eva has vowed never to marry. Her father’s treatment of her mother and his constant putting down of his daughter have guaranteed that. And yet, she can’t deny a growing attraction to the Duke. Francis was happy to escape the consistent planning of his mother, trying to marry him off to every available female. He didn’t anticipate coming across a tall, stubborn, well informed horse woman in the United States. And yet, he cannot deny his attraction to Eva.

First Past the Post beautifully explores the role of women in the Queen Victoria era, with a lovely focus on horses. The main characters are a delight to read about and the supporting roles build on the story. Highly recommended.

Author: SJ Garland
Fiction – historical
In My Library? As an eBook.

In After Lucas, teenager Mavis gives an incredible impression of being a spoiled, rich girl who wins every ribbon on her push button horse. But under the surface, the riding, the ribbons, even coming first seem to bring little joy to her. So when Mavis’s dad loses his job and her prizewinning mare Ava must be sold, the teenager finds a sense of relief fills her.

She no longer has to go to the barn daily. She isn’t expected to put her beautiful, flawless horse through her paces over and again. She doesn’t have to pretend enthusiasm for the next countless red ribbon she acquires.

With the loss of his current position, Mavis’s father has to move away from the family for a new role he acquires. As the family dynamics change, the teenage girl finds she is called upon to taxi her brother to his basketball practices and games. Mavis does so grudgingly at first, but as she continues to drive her brother – and his friend Lucas – she develops a new routine and sense of belonging. Suddenly she is needed; included.

After Ava is sold, Mavis is needed at the barn to clear out the rest of her things. As she does so, a chance encounter with a chestnut gelding – also named Lucas – gains her attention. And so starts a journey with a horse that is everything her mare wasn’t: untrained, dirty, stocky and a former trail horse.

With the help of two different males named Lucas, Mavis goes on a journey to discover what she really wants in life, and how money has nothing to do with making her happy.

After Lucas is a delightful read of a young woman truly learning about horses, riding them and their care. As she learns to do more for herself – instead of expecting others to do it – her confidence grows and her amicable nature to other people improves. Mavis grows and develops into a delightful person, who at the start was far from appealing. The horse aspects of this novel are informative and entertaining and the relationships that develop throughout are also enjoyable. Highly recommended.

Author: Tudor Robins
Fiction – young adult
In My Library? As an eBook.

I was recently approached by Ann Feifel about reading and reviewing her first novel: Ace the Black Stallion. This story explores the lives of the Beemer family, namely young adult Julia Beemer.

Julia grows up on a farm with parents that love and raise horses. Julia learns much from her riding and instructing mother. She also inherits her way of reading and working with horses. As Julia comes to grips with the loss of a family member, she pours her energy into the horses and spending as much time with them as she can.

In time she is able to raise and handle a beautiful black colt. The unusual white marking on his forehead in the shape of an ace of spades helps her to name him Ace. And so starts Julia’s journey with the beautiful black colt.

Ace the Black Stallion is a very informative read. Whether you’re horsey or not, the events that happen from Ace’s birth, through to his weaning and later starting under saddle are explained well by the author. This is well compared also, to the ranching neighbour who is heavy handed with horses.

As Ace grows older, Julia’s life moves on from school years to gaining employment. Throughout the years, horses are a constant although Ace vanishes without a trace, leaving the teenager devastated. In time though, Julia finds herself with a consolation prize. And so her horse training journey begins again. Ace the Black Stallion is a read that spans many years. A small mystery arises in this novel, though it doesn’t occur until more than halfway through the story. From here, things build nicely and the story has an enjoyable ending.

Author: Ann Feifel
Fiction – young adult
In My Library? As an eBook.