I recently downloaded a copy of the Horses of Winter for free on Kindle.  I have read and enjoyed Defining Gravity by Genevieve Mckay so was keen to check out another of her novels.  This novella is a delightful read with a small amount of fantasy, horse information thrown in and a lot on family dynamics.

Sarah and her eight year old sister Amy are working their way through the foster system.  They are finally in a place where Sarah is keen to stay.  But she’s on eggshells trying to not upset the unusual routine or habits of their artistic carer, Cecily.  This is hard to do with an energetic, imaginative younger sister.  Sarah finds things quickly spiral out of control when Amy is insistent that her older sister check out the unicorn in the greenhouse of their carer.

Sarah finally relents, finding she can’t focus on a poem her father wrote before he and her mother passed away.  She doesn’t find the unicorn Amy spoke of but is intrigued by hoof prints in the snow and a trail of blood.  Soon Amy and Sarah are racing daylight to find the injured horse.  They finally find him and Sarah is amused in amongst their need to act fast that Amy is convinced the horse named Sam is a unicorn.

The day gets colder and the trek in the snow seems to take forever.  Sarah is convinced she has hypothermia and it is this that is making it seem like the horse can talk in her mind.  Saving the gelding from death out in the snow has made Sarah a hero with their neighbours.  They are thankful she was able to find Sam and bandage his wound before bringing him back to Cecily’s.  Saving the neighbours’ horse opens an opportunity for Sarah and Amy to develop friends in the eight children that live next door. A Christmas surprise by the Plekowski family means Sarah and Amy get to ride.  Sarah’s riding knowledge is shown as she picks up walking, trotting and cantering again after years out of the saddle.

As the teen struggles to work out how to keep herself with her younger sister in the foster system, she feels sick as she recognises Cecily’s frustration with Amy’s exuberant nature.  In a place where she’s starting to develop friends and even getting to be around horses, Sarah questions if it’s too good to be true.  The Horses of Winter is an enjoyable story with a great ending.  It’s bound to entertain horse fans.

Author – Genevieve Mckay
Fiction – young adult
In my library – as an eBook it is!

In the series created by Joanna Campbell, the reader gets to learn about Ashleigh Griffen’s life before her parents lost their farm and started working at Townsend Acres. In book six in this series titled A Dangerous Ride, Ashleigh is suddenly introduced to the world of showing and jumping.

Alongside her best friend Mona, Ashleigh tries her hand at jumping on her mare, Stardust.  Although it’s fun and she knows she is improving, Ashleigh would still rather be galloping.  In time though, she starts competing and the thrill of winning a ribbon is contagious.  Ashleigh gets caught up in the joy of competing alongside Mona.

Whilst this is going on, one of her favourite horses – racing stallion Aladdin – is being prepared for a big race.  In an incredible twist of luck, he ends up at Edgardale, Ashleigh’s parents’ property as there is a mix up regarding stabling at the racetrack.  Ashleigh is thrilled to have him at her parents’ home.  She imagines spending lots of time with the horse – maybe even astride.  And of course it’s appealing to catch up with his thirteen year old owner and exercise rider, Peter.

But Ashleigh’s older sister seems to be monopolising Peter’s time.  And whenever Ashleigh plans to do something relating to Aladdin there are other commitments, other rides to take part in.  Competition life demands a lot of her time and it seems that it may even rob her of the chance to see Aladdin in his biggest race yet.  In a world that is full of horses, Ashleigh finds she has to make a choice about which road she wants to take while she’s too young to pursue her desire of being a jockey.  Competing or race going?  The question seems harder than it should be and Ashleigh battles to find time for both.  A Dangerous Ride is an interesting read and gives a great insight into the dynamics of Ashleigh’s family life and horse commitments.

Author – Mary Newhall Anderson, series created by Joanna Campbell
Fiction – pre-teen
In my library – that it is!

Young Arden Quinn loves spending time with her grandparents. They run an animal rescue farm that is always made up of lots of species. Monkeys, elephants, lizards and birds, the list goes on! Arden is especially a fan of horses. She is pleased when it seems that her grandfather has picked up a neglected horse to nurse back to health. But in the Stolen Horse, the rising ten year old is saddened by the state of the black filly that has been brought home.

After being encouraged by her grandmother that she needs to take on a project to occupy her time, Arden decides that the black filly is her special project. She is mortified when her family nicknames the untrusting animal Bad News. Instead, she gives her the name of Glory and spends any time that she can talking to the filly, grooming her and feeding her sugar cubes.

Her time invested is rewarded and Arden finds that Glory is quiet around her although skittish around others. Her grandfather sees the filly’s nervous nature and forbids Arden to ride her because of it. But Arden is convinced he’s wrong and just needs to prove it.

A secret ride goes well and Arden plans to show her grandparents how reliable Glory is. Unfortunately, she didn’t count on her meddling neighbour Tiffany to ruin things. Although Tiffany first had nothing nice to say about Glory, once she sees Arden astride she is jealous and wants the horse for her own. Throw in the mystery of where the filly first came from and the Stolen Horse is a great read for young horse enthusiasts. There’s horse information, a horse mad rider and a mystery relating to a beautiful thoroughbred filly.

Author – Sharon M. Hart
Fiction – pre-teen
In my library – that it is!

Every book of Angela Dorsey’s that I have read feature horses in a fantasy role. Sola Eclipsed is no different. Thirteen year old Sola lives in an interesting world. Humans are lowest on the pecking order; Shadow Elves are highest. Somewhere in between are dwarves and other creatures.

Sola and her grandmother are struggling to make a living in their world. Humans are allowed to trade in town but they make very little money and the rent is due to Landlord Stye, an evil dwarf. Sola is devastated that she can’t help her grandmother. She has no aptitude for the beautiful carvings that her elderly grandmother can create to sell. And it seems she is not much use for anything else.

Going against her grandmother’s wishes, Sola follows her to town one morning. She is amazed at the array of creatures and people – all unsmiling, unkind – that make their way to town. In amongst the melee she finds herself suddenly to blame for a Shadow Elf falling off his horse. Sola knows he could have her killed or imprisoned and the fear spurns her into action. But when she interacts with the beautiful red horse that he was riding, she finds she has some connection with the animal.

Sola is grateful to escape that day with her life. But it seems she can’t hide from the commotion she created on the way to town that day.

A sudden chance at employment has her in amongst those she so desperately wishes to avoid. And yet… it seems that this chance meeting is an opportunity for young Sola to utilise the connection she feels with not only one beautiful red horse, but many horses.

Sola Eclipsed (Talismans of Thunder #1)

Sola Eclipsed is just the start of this young teenager’s story. It is made up of fantasy, adventure and some mystery thrown in. Add horses to the mix and young horse fans are bound to enjoy the start to the Talismans of Thunder series.

Author – Angela Dorsey
Fiction – teen
In my library – As a Kindle version.

Wild Pony Island by L.B. Shively is a short story for young horse enthusiasts. With the main focus a young boy stranded on an island and a pony stallion, it is bound to capture their imagination. Young Simon misses his trips out in the dinghy with his papa. Because his father is sick, he finds that he is sad and cooped up inside when he’s desperate to be out on the water.

In a rash decision, Simon decides to take the dinghy out by himself one night, promising himself that he’ll be back before his parents notice he is gone. But things quickly go awry. Simon finds himself stranded on an island, cold, wet, hungry and alone. Or so he thinks.

A pony stallion seems to arrive out of nowhere, pointing Simon toward a place where he can be protected from the elements. The young boy makes a quick shelter and then considers how he is going to get back to his family.

He knows enough to make a fire.  Although he is able to dry off and ward away the cold, he is hungry and also thirsty. At the right time the stallion pony captures his attention and draws him away toward water. In time, he shows the young boy where he may secure food on the island, too. It seems that this wild pony island is a place where one wild pony is able to look out for the boy and help him to meet his needs.

In time Simon is surprised and pleased to find that he is not alone.  Thankfully he is found and will be brought safely home. As he leaves with his father, Simon is amazed to find that it is not just one pony that lives on the island. There is a herd to accompany the stallion that had so carefully looked out for him. Wild Pony Island is a short, entertaining read full of adventure.

Author – L.B. Shively
Fiction – children’s
In my library – as an eBook it is.