Things have changed drastically for Alexandra Anderson in the past 12 months. This is shown in Yearling, the second book in the North Oak series. Alex is no longer an orphan struggling to do what is required of her in a home run by a tyrant of a woman.

Instead, she has found a home and a – slightly dysfunctional – family in the staff members at North Oak. But it’s the horses that Alex feels most at home with, not the parental figures or teenage girls slightly older than her.

Alex only wants to spend time with the horses and to learn to ride. If she can ride well, then she can run away – be free – on the back of a horse. But it seems that the family who are looking after her and offering her a home have other ideas.

As soon as Hillary discovers Alex’s lack of literacy, she vows to do something about it. Plus, she is insistent on Alex attending school, not staying on the farm and playing with horses.

As Alex battles with her lack of education and fitting in, she receives another blow. The yearling colt she has grown so fond of is being prepared for sale. Promenade, the one horse that she grew to love was being taken away from her and she could do nothing about it.

Yearling further develops the characters that were introduced in the first book. Alex grows and learns to lower some of her protective barriers. The reader is introduced to a fourth young woman who is fighting some battles of her own. As Carol is brought into the picture, Alex’s relationship with Ashley has light shed on it and it’s possible to see why Alex chooses to put up defences to avoid getting hurt. Yearling is a good follow on from Born to Run.

Author – Ann Hunter
Fiction – teen
In my library – Indeed it is as a Kindle version!
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

DJ Randall is having a ball riding her horse, Major in Letting Go. She is even taking classes that don’t interest her as much.  This is because she knows it will improve her jumping and give her more experience. She is saddened to learn at one of these shows that some complete strangers talk about her beloved horse, indicating he is holding her back from progressing in riding.

All DJ wants to do in life is compete in the Olympics on her horse. It seems that advice is coming from different avenues, indicating she can achieve her goal – but not with Major. When an injury to her gelding puts him out for the rest of the season, DJ questions if this is the end of her riding career.

When a surprise offer comes to her from her father and his new wife, DJ is torn. Should she accept this new horse that can help her go places? What about Major?

As she battles with this decision, DJ finds herself running out of time to sleep.  There is just too much to do! With art classes, school to keep up with and her horse cards business taking off, she doesn’t know which way is up.

As her father encourages her to focus on her Olympic dream, DJ questions how she can fit in everything that she wants to do. Alongside this, she is battling doubts of being a rider who is capable enough.  How can she make it without her beloved Major? Letting Go focuses on the tough decision DJ needs to make – and come to accept – if she wants to achieve her riding goals.

Author – Lauraine Snelling
Fiction – early teen
In my library – it is indeed! I’ll continue to aim for this whole series.
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

Jane and Penny Brooke love horses. They each have a pony that they ride and care for. Unfortunately, Penny is getting too big for her black pony, Brambles. Her father says as much, but indicates that he cannot afford to buy her another pony.

When the girls are out riding one day, they come across their friend Sheila. She is battling with a young colt, obviously afraid of him. When the girls question their friend about the pony, they are surprised to find that Sheila owns him. In fact, her parents acquired the unbroken colt for her as a first horse!

When Jane and Penny learn that the unmanageable colt is likely to be shot if he cannot be trained, they know they have to find a solution. Penny has an idea of a pony switch. Surely if they take on the colt and train him and provide Sheila with Brambles, then all will be well!

And so starts the girls’ journey of owning an uneducated colt. Jane and Penny quickly learn how much effort – and consistency – is required. With the help of an older teen, Jane and Penny introduce Rusty to being led properly, to having his legs and feet handled, rugging and even being backed under saddle. As he grows and develops they learn about a horse that is losing its baby teeth, how to apply poultices and prepare a horse for its first farrier visit.

The story focuses on the importance of finding a balance between tending to a horse’s educational and welfare needs and meeting school obligations. Penny finds as the main carer for Rusty – and the child who is a little over enthusiastic – that things need to be taken slowly, and carefully. She finds her schooling suffers greatly because of her dedication to Rusty. Plus, the colt is taken through some exercises too quickly in her eagerness.

A Colt in the Family does a great job of educating readers about caring for young horses. It would be well suited to younger readers eager for a pony adventure.

Author – Judith M. Berrisford
Fiction – children
In my library – Along with a few others by this author!
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

Young Isla is a ten-year-old talented horse rider. She has a mother who is supportive of her horse riding and encourages her to compete and do as well as she possibly can. Isla has achieved much on her trusty mare Dusty but the level at which she is aiming to compete is too high for the older pony to consistently compete at. Because of this, her mother has purchased a piebald mount for her named Diablo.  He is the focus pony in Isla Picks Herself Up.

Diablo is an incredible jumper and he is taller, able to competently jump the heights Isla is competing in. He is also a very forward pony and a more challenging mount than Dusty. Isla finds herself a little anxious when riding her ambitious pony. This is further aggravated when she has a fall and breaks her arm.

Isla Picks Herself Up explores how a young rider is able to overcome her fear of falling. Isla needs to have the confidence not only to ride her new pony, but also to compete on him. If she can’t effectively jump him then her mother’s investment in Diablo would have been wasted.

This story for the younger reader is a quick and easy read. It is set in Wales and explores some aspects of horse care that help to educate readers. Unfortunately the images that should be in the kindle version don’t all show up! There are little red crosses indicating broken graphics for three out of the four images.  The last one is a lovely illustration. I am sure these would have added to the story, if they had worked.

Author – Susan Stark
Fiction – children
In my library – Indeed it is as a Kindle version!
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

Alexandra Anderson finds herself in a situation that no person should find themselves in, in Born to Run. Never mind that she is only thirteen years old. On the run for murder, she goes as far as her body will take her.

When she ends up on the doorstep of a large thoroughbred establishment, all she can think about is her plan. The plan to run away and never be found. And when it seems that the woman who is left in charge of her care doesn’t want her there, Alex sees no reason why she shouldn’t keep running.

As much as she plans to go, the horses pull her in an unexplainable way. She is amazed to find a sense of peace and comfort with one weanling in particular on the farm. The owner of the farm, Stephen North quickly realises how the horses could convince Alex to stay. And this is something that North wants – even needs – in order to secure his farm’s future.

Alex is surprised – and scared – to find herself wrapped up in the large family at North Oak. The two teenage girls who are a little older than her are all embracing. Alex doesn’t know what to do with their smothering presence. Or their blatant faith.

As Alex continues to try and run from her problems, she knows it is only a matter of time before everyone at North Oak finds out what she’s done. Only a matter of time before she finds herself behind bars for taking another’s life.

North Oak is a great introduction to this series that focuses on thoroughbred racing. Alex’s foster life is explored nicely alongside the working family of staff at North Oak. Each of the characters are flawed – human – but they have plenty of room for loving others and allowing grace. Born to Run is an easy read, one that horse fans will no doubt devour.

Author – Ann Hunter
Fiction – teen
In my library – Indeed it is as a Kindle version!
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.