The fourth book that follows Born That Way by Susan Ketchen is Rides that Way.  The story sees fourteen year old Sylvia further developing as a teen.  As someone recently diagnosed with Turner Syndrome, Sylvia is struggling with the many things that make her different from others.  What she doesn’t seem to realise is that many of the things she is struggling with, other ‘normal’ teens are also struggling with.  She attributes a lot of what she is navigating in life to Turner Syndrome, when much of it is perfectly normal for a growing teen.

Sylvia finds her peace in riding her pony Brooklyn and is rapt to have taken him in her first one day event – and survived!  She is an unstoppable athlete.  Sylvia is also a young female who isn’t sure she wants to deal with developing into a woman.  Because of her syndrome, Sylvia needs to take oestrogen to further develop.  If she doesn’t, she will stay with a boyish figure.  As she watches people around her managing male attention and working out how to best present their figures, she is not sure it’s at all what she wants.

Then there’s Logan Losino.  He might be Sylvia’s favourite person but when she learns how he explains her syndrome to others, she questions if he is like everyone else.  Too many people seem to think she’s a freak and she’d rather just fly under the raidar.

Rides that Way has a lot to offer.  The book takes a look at family dynamics with some very humorous insights from young Sylvia.  Issues of peer pressure and unwanted attention by males is also covered.  From a horse point of view there’s lots of riding, caring for horses that are sick and considering what is best for the horse’s welfare.  Rides that Way is a unique and entertaining read.  Highly recommended.

Author – Susan Ketchen
Fiction – teens
In my library – it is as an eBook!
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

Star of Wild Horse Canyon is a short read for the young horse fan. It features lovely illustrations by Grace Paull to help readers picture what is happening in the story. Young Danny enjoys his life living as a cowboy on his parents ranch, Starlight Ranch.

It’s at the start of the book that Danny’s Uncle Mack plants a seed in Danny’s mind. The pony he rides – Ginger – is getting small for him. Danny is growing into a big boy and will soon outgrow his pony. When Uncle Mack talks of a herd of wild horses that are nearby and his plan to catch them, Danny’s ears perk up. He is rapt when he and his friend Judy are able to go along with his father and uncle.

Over time Danny helps to build a trap for the wild horses. He rides with the other men, helping to drive the horses toward the yard where they will be caught. Amongst the thirty or so wild horses one horse stands out to Danny.

He is a white, proud horse and Danny is eager to have him as his own. When he voices this desire to his father and uncle, both try to dissuade him. In the end Danny agrees that a wild horse isn’t for him, but he can’t forget about the horse he’s named Star.

A surprise from his Uncle Mack is something Danny is thankful for. When he finds Star as his own, he works hard to befriend the horse. In time he is able to break him in. But even after they’ve established a bond, Danny is distraught to find his horse missing one day. Although he searches high and low, he cannot find Star anywhere. Danny has no idea where to look and questions if he needs to give up the dream of owning the white horse he first viewed in a herd of wild horses. Star of Wild Horse Canyon is an imaginative read for the younger reader. It features horses heavily and has a great theme of doing what is right.

Author – Clyde Robert Bulla
Fiction – children
In my library – it is!
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

A couple of months ago I was rapt to find a new book had been sent to me for review on Equus Education. It was Suffering in Silence by Jochen Schleese. This non fiction book looks in great depth at the link between saddle fit (or incorrect fit) and physical and psychological trauma in horses.

I need to claim a lot of ignorance in this area. My first horse was a beautiful gelding with a rather obvious sway back. I bought a starters pack for beginner riders that included a saddle, bridle and saddle pad for a couple of hundred dollars. Not surprisingly, the saddle didn’t fit! I spent a long time using various risers to try to ‘balance’ the saddle on my horse’s back. It wasn’t until a couple of years after having bought my horse that I was able to get a new saddle that was fitted to him.

On top of the sway back, he was also extremely overweight and had a very, very flat wither. The gullet plate was too narrow for Pride’s back and had to be remoulded to extra, extra wide! Twelve months after the saddle was fitted to him – and he’d lost a bit of weight! – I had it reflocked. That about sums up my efforts with regards to making sure my saddle fitted my horse. After reading Suffering in Silence I realise that I should have had the fit assessed more regularly and adjusted accordingly. I believe I would now be equipped to ask more questions and to even assess the appropriate fit myself!

Suffering in Silence is an informative, practical guide on the importance of correct saddle fit for horses – and their riders! It looks at the anatomical differences between males and females and how this affects our position in the saddle. Did you know there are saddles made specifically for women?

It also highlights various lameness issues, muscle atrophies and even behavioural issues that can all be attributed to poor saddle fit. The end result is the same: an unhappy horse.

Saddle fit is explored from the point of the horse – where it should be sitting and what it shouldn’t be touching. It is then considered from the point of the rider. This also details the differences between males and females, their leg lengths, pelvis angles and how they sit to achieve the correct shoulders, hip, heel plumbline.

This book has detailed chapters, accompanying diagrams and photos and references to research literature.  Suffering in Silence is a must read for all horse owners that ride. It would be of benefit to horse health care professionals, horse riders and instructors.  And in particular those who plan to make a living from saddle fitting and creation. If you’re interested in saddle fit as a career, be sure to check out SaddleFit4Life, created by Jochen Schleese. Suffering in Silence is a horse book worth adding to anyone’s collection. Just be sure to read it!

Author – Jochen Schleese
Non Fiction – saddle fit
In my library – definitely!
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

I recently downloaded Learn about Horses by Kathy Mann as a free download on Amazon.  This book is a quick and easy read with lovely coloured illustrations by Carol Berger to engage the younger reader.

The book starts with a reminder that horses can be dangerous animals.  If anyone is to ride them, they should seek the help of a professional to learn.  That covered, the book goes on to explain many simple concepts that need to be known by horse riders.  It talks about how horses come in different sizes and colours and how they are gregarious by nature.

Equipment to handle horses and manage them effectively is also explored.  Readers are treated to illustrations of a halter and lead rope.  They are also shown how to put it on and where to lead the horse from.  Clean stables and appropriate fencing is also covered.  This is followed by information about what horses eat and drink as well as who tends to their physical health needs.  Brushes used to groom them are illustrated and the bridle and saddle are explained with various points identified.

The statements in Learn about Horses are short and simple, easy to understand and also remember.  They are also backed up with an appropriate illustration.  This further helps young readers to comprehend the point being made.

Learn about Horses is a simple and effective read, written at an appropriate level for young horse fans.  This non fiction read would be a valuable addition to the collection for the young enthusiastic horse lover.

Author – Kathy Mann
Non Fiction – children’s
In my library – as an eBook it is.
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

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Recent free downloads on Amazon included three different books by L.B. Shively.  Two of these were from the Sweet Pony Dreams: Adventures of Lulu and Bug series for children.  The third book in the series focuses on Lulu and her beloved pony, Bug.

Bug is a stuffed toy that Lulu sleeps with at night.  Together they travel to the land of dreams and go on many adventures.  In this particular story, Lulu travels with Bug to do some camping.  She is rapt to find that around the campfire are two of her favourite people – her grandmother and grandfather.

Lulu awakens from her wonderful dream and tells her mother all about her adventures.  After breakfast she heads off to school.  The students have been promised a reward of going to the local pool once they’ve finished their tests.  Lulu takes Bug along with her and finds a kindred spirit on the bus.  Another young girl named Misty loves ponies, too.  The two girls quickly decide to be friends.

Whilst at the pool, Lulu spies local bully Willie and decides to ignore him.  That is easy until he gets a hold of Bug and holds her out over the water.  Lulu is livid.  A silly prank soon turns into a dangerous afternoon at the pool.

Sweet Pony Dreams: Adventures of Lulu and Bug #3

This is a lovely short read for the younger horse lover.  It focuses on the bond people can have with horses whilst also teaching about doing the right thing.  When Lulu could have gotten angry at Willie for being mean to her, she instead chose to act quickly to save him.  The story is a lovely one.  One issue I had was inconsistent tenses within the story.  It switched between past and present tense regularly.

Author – L.B. Shively
Fiction – children’s
In my library – as an eBook it is.
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

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