This short story by Paul Goble is a great introduction to the world of Native American tribes. Told and illustrated by Paul, Horse Raid is a new edition of the 1973 story Lone Bull’s Horse Raid.

The story is fast paced and details the excitement and fear of a 14 year old boy eager to join in on the horse raids of the men of his tribe. An author’s note is provided, detailing the history of horse raids between Native American tribes, where raiding another tribe’s horses is seen as the most heroic of acts carried out by men.

Less than 50 pages in length, Horse Raid is an entertaining short story.  It is told from the point of view of young Lone Bull, as he and his friend Charging Bear decide to stalk the older men who are taking on a raid with their nearby enemies, the Crows.

Author and illustrator: Paul Goble
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5863.Paul_Goble
Fiction – children
In my library? Electronically. I’m sure it’d be a great book for younger readers who will also delight in the illustrations.
Want it? Get it now at Amazon.

“The hooves of a horse! Oh! Witching and sweet is the music earth steals from the iron-shod feet; no whisper of love, no trilling of bird, can stir me as hooves of the horse have stirred.” – Will H. Ogilvie

Racehorse fan, Christmas fan or someone who just loves a good ending? You’ll really enjoy this novella by Natalie Keller Reinert.

Alex is a horse trainer who cannot relate to children. Her disdain for people tends to be the polar opposite of her appreciation for the equine species. This works fairly well for her as a racehorse trainer.  Well that is, until a request is made of her to grant the wish of a young girl in love with a horse Alex trains – Personal Best.

Finding herself not able to back out of the situation, Alex ends up in charge of young Wendy on the day of an important race for Personal Best. The fact that she only has to deal with the young girl for one day was an enticing fact. However, Wendy surprises Alex with her fierce desire for horses and the want to be around them.

Alex finds herself drawn to the young girl in an unexplainable way and as Wendy reaches out to the trainer for more contact, Alex agrees to spend more time teaching her about horses.

On the day when Alex meets Wendy, her colt Personal Best immediately takes to the girl, but it is the appearance of an unexpected filly named Christmasfordee that seems to set events in motion. As a series of coincidences occur, Alex is reminded of her passion for horses that got her into the industry in the first place.  Desperate to see something positive happen for Wendy, she makes an unusual plan.

Claiming Christmas is a realistic and entertaining short story. The characters are authentic and Alex’s initial disdain for children growing into an admiration for one strong willed young girl who loves horses is a delight to read about.

Author: Natalie Keller Reinert
http://www.nataliekreinert.com/
Fiction – youth
In my library? As an eBook it is! I was rapt to gain access to an early copy and should have read this sooner!
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

“Who among us has not as a child asked Santa Clause to bring us a pony on Christmas day?” – Author unknown

In this prequel to the Orange Slipknot, author Jan Young again introduces the reader to 12 year old Ben Lucas and his adventures on a large cattle ranch.

Since an accident with his father’s boss Fred that resulted in Ben needing to take the older man to hospital, the pair have developed an unexpected friendship. Although still gruff and seemingly angry all the time, Fred invites Ben to learn how to start a horse under saddle the old fashioned way.

Ben jumps at the opportunity and is amazed to find that his father’s way of ‘bucking out’ a horse isn’t the only way – and perhaps not the best. For Ben it is the temptation of getting to be the first rider on Soapsuds, his young colt that he had to forego to Fred, which helps him to keep his cool and stay patient for an opportunity to ride the colt.

Ben assumes the first day that they start work that he’ll be hopping on Soapsuds’ back. Fred has other ideas.

As Ben learns what Fred is teaching him, he realises that he must choose between two very different ways of starting horses under saddle. This becomes a particularly difficult issue for him, as his father indicates he’d like Ben to ‘buck out’ some young horses.

Starting the Colt is a great follow on from the Orange Slipknot, and a book that I enjoyed even more than the first. The characters are authentic and the horse knowledge of the author is obvious.

The book is an enjoyable read with a lot of great information. Like the Orange Slipknot, it contains a glossary of terms at the end of the novel to help enlighten those who may not be familiar with cowboy terms.

Author: Jan Young
http://www.janyoungauthor.com/
Fiction – youth
In my library? Indeed. A great and fitting follow on from the first Ben Lucas story by Jan Young.
Want it? Get it now on Amazon.

“What the colt learns in youth he continues in old age.” – French Proverb