Horses

By Alison Lester, Noni the Pony (Little Simon, 2019) is the rhyming story of Noni the pony (“friendly and funny/Her shimmering tail is the color of honey”). For ages 2-5.

Sharon Hart Addy’s When Wishes Were Horses (Houghton Mifflin, 2002) is a Sorceror’s-Apprentice-like take on horses; the title derives from the old saying “If wishes were horses, every man would ride like a king.” A mysterious stranger, passing on horseback through the little town of Dusty Gulch, gives Jeb a magic power: every time he says “I wish,” a new and different horse appears. The expanding herd of rambunctious horses quickly gets out of hand, but resourceful Jeb figures out how to get things back to normal. For ages 4-8.

Jan Brett’s gorgeously illustrated Fritz and the Beautiful Horses (Sandpiper, 1987) is the rewarding story of Fritz, a shaggy little pony. The kingdom’s beautiful horses (“magnificent jumpers, splendid chargers, and elegant parade horses”) refuse to have anything to do with him, but it’s gallant little Fritz who ultimately becomes a hero. For ages 4-8.

Sara London’s Firehorse Max (HarperCollins, 1997) is set in turn-of-the-century Vermont. The town has just bought two new fire engines, which means that Max – a handsome black horse with a white star on his forehead – is no longer needed at the fire department. Simon and Yetty’s grandfather, a peddler, buys Max to pull his wagon, but there’s a dreadful problem: Max takes off at a gallop whenever he hears the fire alarm. For ages 4-8.

Paul Goble’s The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses (Aladdin, 1993) and The Gift of the Sacred Dog (Aladdin, 1984) are Native American legends centering around horses, both with beautiful stylized illustrations. The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses is a Caldecott Award winner. For ages 4-8.

C.W. Anderson’s Billy and Blaze (Aladdin, 1992) is a re-issue of an old classic. Billy, who loves horses more than anything in the world, gets a pony for his birthday. This is the start of a beautiful relationship; the adventures of Billy and Blaze continue in many sequels, all illustrated in detailed pen-and-ink drawings by the author. For ages 5-8.

Elizabeth Shub’s The White Stallion (Yearling, 1995), is the story of a little girl traveling across Texas by wagon train – who gets lost, along with her horse, Anna, only to be rescued by a wild white stallion. For ages 8-12.

Marguerite Henry has written many excellent horse-themed books, among them Misty of Chincoteague (Aladdin, 2006), now a classic, about the wild ponies of the coastal islands off Virginia and Maryland, and two determined children who want a pony of their own. For ages 8-12.

Also by Henry see Justin Morgan Had a Horse (Aladdin, 2006), the story of Vermont’s famous Morgan horses; and King of the Wind (Aladdin, 2006), the exciting tale of Sham, an Arabian stallion, sent as a gift to the King of France from the Sultan of Morocco, and Agba, the mute stable boy, who is Sham’s keeper and closest friend.

The movie Misty (1961) is based on Misty of the Chincoteague. Not rated, but wholly family friendly.

Walter Farley’s The Black Stallion (Random House, 1991), originally published in 1941, is the engrossing story of young Alec Ramsay, shipwrecked on a desert island along with a beautiful wild stallion. The pair are eventually rescued; and Alec, back home, struggles to train his stallion as a racehorse. For ages 8-12.

There are many Black Stallion sequels; as well as a terrific movie version (1979) starring Kelly Reno, Mickey Rooney, and an absolutely spectacular black horse. Rated G.

Anna Sewall’s Black Beauty (Puffin, 2019; and many other editions) is the life story of a 19^th-century English horse, narrated in the first person, by the horse himself. It’s also a compelling study in human-animal relationships, as Black Beauty is transferred from owner to owner, some kind, some cruel. (The book is famed for its heartbreaking account of the plight of the London cabhorses.) For ages 9-12.

The movie Black Beauty (1994) is rated G.

Enid Bagnold’s National Velvet (Dover, 2019) is the story of 14-year-old Velvet Brown who wins a piebald horse – the “Pie” –  in a village raffle and trains him to win the Grand National steeplechase. The book is well worth reading, with details of scene and complexities of character that the movie version does not address. For ages 9 and up.

The movie version of National Velvet, made in 1944, stars a twelve-year-old Elizabeth Taylor as Velvet. Not rated; family-friendly.

In Kimberly Brubaker Bradley’s The War That Saved My Life (Puffin, 2016), set in Britain during World War II, ten-year-old Ada – born with a club foot – is imprisoned in their apartment by her abusive mother. When her little brother Jamie is evacuated from London, Ada sneaks out and goes along. Both are taken in by Susan Smith, under whose watch Ada learns to ride a pony and gets a new lease on life. A wonderful book for ages 9-12.

By Nanci Turner Steveson, in Lizzie Flying Solo (HarperCollins, 2019), Lizzie and her mother – forced out of their home – are living in a homeless shelter. Devastated Lizzie manages to pull her life together again with the help of the people and horses at the neighboring Birchwood Stables. For ages 9-12.

In Dan Gemeinhart’s Some Kind of Courage (Scholastic, 2016), set in the 19th-century West, young Joseph Johnson has lost his family – but he’s determined not to lose his beloved horse too. For ages 9-12.

In Sam Angus’s A Horse Called Hero (Square Fish, 2015), Wolfie and Dodo, evacuated to the country from London during World War II, raise an orphaned foal named Hero. The grown Hero rescues the children from a fire – and the children are devastated when he’s stolen. Years later, however, they find him again – and are determined to save him from working in the mines. For ages 9-12.

In Megan Shepherd’s The Secret Horses of Briar Hill (Yearling, 2018), set during World War II, Emmaline is sent to a tubercular sanatorium – where she sees magical winged horses in the mirrors. When an injured horse crosses over from the mirror world, Emmaline resolves to help. For ages 10 and up.

By Josephine Tey, Bratt Farrar (Scribner, 1997) is a suspenseful mystery in which young Brat is convinced to take over the identity of Patrick, owner of the horse farm, Latchetts. A great story – with horses – for ages 13 and up.