Rory and El Paso is a delightful little story about a boy and his horse. Set in the Arizona desert, the author does a great job of describing the local scenery as the story starts. The reader is then directed toward a ten year old boy who exits the house to visit with his pony.

The bond between the pair is obvious. Rory is comfortable around his horse and also enjoys spending time with him. El Paso gives the impression of being a very dependable, quiet pinto. Because of this, Rory adores playing with him, practicing lassoing in the corral that El Paso resides.

This is the cause for much amusement for the local boys. As far as they can see, El Paso is a stationary animal, often asleep. Rory is a boy to be mocked for his attachment to such a creature.

Rory and El Paso is a great short story that aptly shows that all is not as it often seems. Rory is able to prove to his three mockers that his horse is very different to what they assume and so is Rory. Robert Stephen’s short story for children is a delightfully well written tale with enough description to help children imagine the story as it progresses.

For those looking for a short horse story to read to their children, add this one to the list. There is a great moral in things not being as they seem and in standing up to bullies by having confidence in who you are as a person.

Author – Robert Stephen
Fiction – children
In my library – I recently acquired it as an eBook!
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

“I’ve often told people who ask if there is a God: Get around enough people with horses and see what happens. See how they survive in spite of all the things they do, and you’ll become a believer!” ― Buck Brannaman

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All Heart continues to enlighten the reader about the lives of July Carter and Beck Delaney. Both their lives have taken a new direction with Beck studying in the city and July knowing she should apply to NYU.

If she does, then she’ll be closer to her boyfriend and best friend. But if she does, she just can’t see how she’ll manage study, relationships, working her ex-racehorse Kali and devote as much time to the track as is necessary. It’s all heart that needs to be invested in racing, nothing less.

As July struggles with what to do, she is dismayed to find her dad is taking on a trainee who is aiming to become an assistant trainer. She is jealous, feeling that should be her role. But how can she take on such a role if she’s off studying?

Alongside this July is trying to work out exactly where she and Beck stand. Although they appear to be an item, she feels that she isn’t getting to see much of him at all. And then when it seems that he might want more of her in his life, she finds him hesitating.

All Heart further explores July’s relationship with her estranged mother and her need to make decisions for herself and her future. It takes awhile for July to decide what she truly wants, rather than focus on what others expect of her. As she does this, she grows and finds things fitting into place. Although life seems so messy and chaotic, she is able to find some semblance of order when it comes to her family, her horses, her future dreams and Beck. The book looks well toward the future, providing hope of a follow on novel.

Author: Mara Dabrishus
http://www.maradabrishus.com/
Fiction – teen or adult
In My Library? As an ebook copy, that it is!
Want it? Get it now at Amazon.

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DJ Randall has an incredibly hectic schedule. Although it’s the summer holidays, she is having trouble fitting everything in. Raising the Bar details her art classes focusing on ceramics with her grandmother and then pursuing her first love in the arts, drawing, in San Francisco.

In between this she is pursuing her all time favourite past time – riding horses and being around them. From helping out her dad at some shows to competing on her own horse Herndon, she finds there is little time, particularly for sleep!

DJ dreams of competing in the Olympics and feels she is getting closer to the goal by attending a week-long riding camp at the United States Equestrian Team’s training camp. After finishing the USET camp and her drawing classes with her mentor Isabella Grant, DJ is left questioning if she will have to give up one of her loves to pursue the other.

For the barely fifteen year old, it seems that life is indeed busy. Throw in her unexpected business of selling cards featuring pictures she has drawn and her friend Amy has photographed, and DJ doesn’t know which way is up!

Raising the Bar does a great job of focusing on a busy teenager who needs to determine the best way to achieve her Olympic dreams. It has a good mixture of horse events and learning, setting and achieving goals, finding time for family and friends and a budding romance. The series is sure to be a hit for teens who love horses and have the Christian faith.

Author – Lauraine Snelling
Fiction – early teen
In my library – it is indeed! Along with a few others in the High Hurdles series.
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

“A horse which stops dead just before a jump and thus propels its rider into a graceful arc provides a splendid excuse for general merriment.” ― Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

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I was rapt to find this short story free on Kindle recently. Saratoga Summers by Mara Dabrishus provides a little more insight into the lives of July Carter and Beck Delaney. For readers of Stay the Distance you’ll already be familiar with these two characters.

Saratoga Summers explores six different summers as July grows up, starting with her parents first being employed to work for the Delaney’s. In fact, ‘Saratoga Summers is a fifty-page short story prequel—and immediate sequel—to Stay the Distance.’
At the start of this story, July is 14 and her whole life is horses and her family working with them. This doesn’t change, even as her mother spends months away from the family, pursuing her riding career.

As it becomes apparent that her mother isn’t coming back, July clings to every bit of information she can gather about her mum’s mounts in races and their performance. Martina her older sister does the exact opposite, swearing off anything horse-related.

Saratoga Summers shows the relationship of July and Beck changing as the years pass. The reader is introduced to silly little pranks that Beck plays on July.  Then, his sometimes endearing qualities and the growing attraction between the pair.

Although things seem to be changing for July with her mother’s absence, learning to drive and getting a car and many other things – two things stay constant. Her love of horses and also Beck. This short story does a great job of adding to the novel, Staying the Distance. It’s an easy and enjoyable read.  Plus, it provides fans of July and Beck with a little bit more to their story.

Author: Mara Dabrishus
http://www.maradabrishus.com/
Fiction – teen or adult
In My Library? As an ebook copy, that it is!
Want it? Get it now at Amazon.

I think Four Faults is my favourite of this series so far! This story is told from the point of view of Tess Maxwell, the younger sister of Hayley. Tess has lived in her sister’s shadow her whole life. She feels it’s just easier to do as Hayley wants, rather than get on the wrong side of her.

That is, until Hayley insists that Tess rides Misty, her talented but difficult to control Grand Prix Pony. Hayley can no longer ride ponies and Tess is fearful about the idea of riding him again. When their parents offer an ultimatum – Tess rides him or they sell him – the young teen finds that the pressure from her sister increases.

She is battling her fear of riding Misty whilst also trying to work out her friendships at school. When she finds out one of her friends is interested in a boy who lives on their farm, things are further complicated. Tess learns the hard way that the girls she felt were her friends at school aren’t at all. When she finds herself spending time with AJ, Katy and Susannah, she quickly comes to realise what true friendship is about.

Four Faults has a little bit for everyone. There’s a budding romance, sibling rivalry, lots of horse scenes and even a health scare that makes you question your own mortality.

The Pony Jumpers series is well told from the different points of view of four uniquely different girls. Each has their own faults and endearing qualities and all of them love horses. Four Faults is another great read by Kate Lattey.

For the fans out there or those interested in the series, did you know you can download the first novel, First Fence for free at Kate’s website?

Author: Kate Lattey
https://nzponywriter.com/
Fiction – teen
In my library? I was able to download the first four recently, so as an eBook it is!
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.