Children’s book author Deanie Humphrys-Dunne recently contacted me about reading and reviewing her latest release, My Life at Sweetbrier A Life Changed by Horses. Now this book is quite different to her other children’s fiction horse books. My Life at Sweetbrier tells Deanie’s story with horses as she grew up.

Her life started out in an unexpected way, with having difficulty learning to walk. Eventually the doctors concluded that she wouldn’t be able to walk, due to having cerebral palsy.

Deanie’s dream as she grew up was to ride horses but it looked like mastering walking would be her first challenge. Her father refused to acknowledge the doctor’s conclusion. He eventually decided to teach Deanie to ride horses to strengthen her legs. And so the long journey began!

Between lots of falls and persistence, Deanie learned to ride on ponies. In time she decided she wanted to jump; this led to a lot more falls and her father deciding to wait a further year before continuing with jumping on horses.

This story is a beautiful one of persistence and never giving up on your dreams. The fact that it is based on her real life is sure to inspire readers. As it says in My Life at Sweetbrier, Deanie wants children to remember never to give up on their dreams because anything is possible if you don’t give up. This book is an updated edition of Tails of Sweetbrier.  It includes some great photos of the people and horses in the book.  My Life at Sweetbrier is a delightful read that is sure to inspire and encourage.

Author – Deanie Humphrys-Dunne
http://childrensbookswithlifelessons.com/
Non-fiction – motivational, biography, children’s
In my library – as an eBook, yes!
Want it? Get it now at Amazon.

Doing my typical online search for free kindle books under the category of horse, I recently came across another book in the Magical Pony Adventure series by Angharad Thompson Rees. This particular short children’s book is titled The Ugly Pony.

The Ugly Pony is a wonderful retelling of the children’s tale the Ugly Duckling. Except this time the animal in question is a pony instead of a swan. This young pony grows up on a stud farm where ponies are bred for the show ring. They are recognised for their beautiful coats, rich colour, high stepping trot and pleasant conformation. These are all things that this particular pony seems to be lacking.

She has unusual – or even horrible – conformation. She is a dull white colour and has a funny bump on her forehead. As she grows older, these things don’t lessen, but instead seem to increase in visibility. The other ponies on the farm make fun of her.  In fact, even her mother is embarrassed by her appearance.  This in turn leads to the pony concluding that she doesn’t belong on the farm.

The Ugly Pony has a unique twist to it as well as a wonderful moral: that we need to appreciate our own uniqueness. Author Angharad Thompson Rees encourages all readers to embrace the person that they are and to love themselves. This is a great lesson for young readers as well as older readers! The Ugly Pony is a lovely retelling of the classic that is sure to captivate young readers and horse fans alike.

Author – Angharad Thompson Rees
Fiction – children
In my library – as an eBook it is.
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

“There is no better place to heal a broken heart than on the back of a horse.” ― Missy Lyons

Dude Ranch is the sixth book in the Saddle Club series by Bonnie Bryant. In this novel, Stevie, Carole and Lisa are off on an adventure. They have been invited to visit Kate Devine’s family dude ranch.

Here the girls will put away their English style of riding and embrace western saddles, herding cattle and also roping stock. It’s a trip they’re all looking forward to. There is one downside for Stevie however – she’ll be missing her normal birthday celebrations with her twin, Alex.

Although Stevie is disappointed by her friends’ lack of sympathy for her birthday situation, she is delighted to learn many new things in the saddle and to even meet some new friends. Kate is made an out of town member of the Saddle Club and the three girls find themselves unexpectedly befriending another local who rides – but always without a saddle.

When you mix herding cattle, five horse crazy girls, a surprise birthday party and a run in with a rattle snake, you get the general idea of this book. Stevie, Carole and Lisa once again show their passion for horses and their joy for riding and learning.

Dude Ranch is an enjoyable read in a different setting to the usual Pine Hollow stables. The western focus helps to enlighten readers about another type of riding. On top of this, it’s nice to see a couple of other young women added to the story.  This is in the form of Kate and Christine who make future appearances in the series.

Author: Bonnie Bryant
Fiction – pre and early teenage years.
In My Library? Along with many others in the series!
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

At some point I picked up Horse Crazy Lily in an op shop. The young girl with the horse on the cover drew me. Reading it recently, the fact that it is a Christian book also has appeal!

The 11th book in the series, Horse Crazy Lily focuses on a time in her family where things are changing drastically. Lily has an older as well as a younger brother.  Her parents have decided to adopt a 9-year-old girl on top of this. Tessa is a troubled child, not having anyone in her life that she can depend on. Consequently she reacts to most situations poorly.

Before Tessa is a part of the family, Lily is at a friend’s birthday party. They are all going out horse riding. Although Lily’s first ride is daunting and starts out somewhat scarily, she is soon hooked. She is convinced that horse riding is her skill for life and she owes it to herself to learn all she can – and get a horse of course! She just has to convince her parents. With a well researched argument and presentation, she is sure they’ll be swayed to say yes.

What she didn’t factor in was her newly adopted sister. Tessa has a lot of needs and many of these are expensive.

Lily finds that alongside her newfound love of horses, her usual routine with her close girlfriends is suddenly broken. The family needs to invest a lot of time and energy in Tessa and also help her to settle. Young Lily finds herself feeling resentful toward the even younger girl, as her life is turned upside down.

It isn’t until tragedy strikes and her friends step in to help that Lily realises how important Tessa is – and that they need to show her. Horse Crazy Lily has the lovely added aspect of horses, although they don’t feature as heavily in the story as I would have liked.

The focus on proving to someone their worth – as well as sticking with them – is a great topic to weave into the story. The book was easy to read although having read other books in the series would have shed more light on Lily’s friends, who were assumed to be known to the reader.

Author: Nancy Rue
Fiction – children’s, Christian
In My Library? That it is!
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

I recently received a copy of Horse Training with Bilger to read and review. I was surprised to read from the author that the book is one that can fit into your back pocket. Also, it is a quick read – 45 minutes from cover to cover!

Curious, I sat down one evening and did indeed progress through it quickly. Horse Training with Bilger outlines certain tasks with horses – in a particular order – that should be undertaken by all who want to be safe riders. It has a focus on establishing ground work and a safe working relationship with the horse.

As the handler achieves one aspect of safe handling, it is then able to move onto another. Bilger has created a simple book that is well explained. The tasks outlined are defined, so that it is clear why things are done and in the order he puts forward.

For ease of reading, I did struggle with the particularly long paragraphs. That said, the book is broken into a number of small sections and these are easy to read through. Readers are first introduced to the horse’s flighty nature and their use of body language. Once this is explained, the concept of handling the horse and working in a round pen is introduced.

Bilger then goes on to explain simple tasks that the handler should work to get the horse to do in a calm and safe manner. Once this is achieved, the focus moves from free lunging to in hand techniques. Once the ground work is complete, tacking up the horse is then addressed and from here, the opportunity to mount the horse and finally, to ride.

The order of the tasks is logically sequential. Once riding the horse in an enclosed, familiar area is addressed, it is then time to consider riding out alone. A separate word on horses that panic – and why they do – is offered to the reader. Although this is a short read, it is packed with simple, but effective ways to improve your working relationship with the horse and above all, to stay safe.

Author: R J Bilger
Non-Fiction – horse training
In My Library? As an eBook.
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.