Are there any decent horsey novels out there?

PeanutButterDragon

PeanutButterDragon

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 June 2008
Messages
6,006
Visit site
Finished with Uni for the summer and fancy a horsey read - any horsey novels you could recommend? Read and loved The Horse Whisperer but aside from that the only horsey novels I have found are the ones I read pre secondary school like The Saddle Club series, Hollywell stables etc . .
 

I personally like Dick Francis. I find his novels really good.

I'd love to know too as that's about the only good horsey author I've come across.

I'd particularly love to hear of any good books that are set in the racing industry, if anyone knows of any?
 
I Love the Flambards series - Its been ages since I've read them so can't really remember them.
Short ones like Heartland, The chincoteague pony and the silver brumby are good.
I have a book at my dads that lists loads and I honestly can't reamember any of them
crazy.gif


Theres this list on Amazon listing some, haven't read any so don't know if they're any good:
http://www.amazon.com/Great-Horse-Novels-particular-order/lm/2E9B0Q2911G98

ETA:
Blind Beauty is a fantastic book that has a sad beginning but a lovely ending.
 
Jenny Pitmans books are a good read - type of book that you need to finish another chapter before putting down, then another chapter.......
 
There are also some books by Lyndon Stacey which are set in a horsie setting - sometimes racing but some eventing/show-jumping.
Tani Hoag's Dark Horse is a murder/thriller with an equestrian theme.
If you just fancy a bit of light relief Fiona Walker's French Relations is a right laugh in a Jilly Cooperesque type way. There is a sequel to that book too but I can't remember what its called.
 
I'm a fan of Dick Francis, Jenny Pitman, Fiona Walker and John francome too.

The sequel to French relations is Well Groomed and its as good as if not better than French Relations.

I'd forgotten about the Flambards series - thanks for reminding me.

Another one that I've found is Lyndon Stacey - very entertaining - like the others you keep wanting to read one more chapter. (oops, just seen post above says similar!!)

Good luck with your summer reading!!
 
I am reading 'The Maze' BY lucy rees at the moment. It's about her trek through arizona. quite hippyish but interesting.
there is also another great one that is about a woman that goes from lands end to john o groats on a whitbread shire horse. Celia Fiennes I think??
I love books about journeys on horseback!
 
Thanks for the suggestions everyone!! Will make every effort to procure a few of these over the summer. Not many horsey novels out there though is there? Definitely a gap in the horsey novel market - perhaps I'll put English degree I'm doing to good use and write some and some point haha!!
 
The Jinny books by Patricia Leitch (I think!) were fabulous! And if you have read the Horse Whisperer, go and get Nicholas Evans's other books - The Smoke Jumper, The Loop and The Divide - they are all masterpieces, even though they're not horsey.

Whatever you do, DONT buy a book called 'Spring Moon Over Badminton' - I bought a signed copy at Badders about 5 years ago, and my God, I've never read such incoherent crap - I completely see why the guy had to self publish!!!
shocked.gif


Graeme Roe also writes in a crime/racing setting, but I'm not overly fussed about his work. I've always been a Francome fan, but have recently managed to actually enjoy Dick Francis - I used to hate his writing style! Jenny Pitman is good also, and I have all the Lyndon Stacey books, but can't say I'm overly impressed. She seems to write for adults, in the style of a child!

I'm also putting my English degree to good use and writing my own
wink.gif
 
Jilly Cooper!!! Not strictly about horses but Riders and Polo are essentially smutty horsey novels, what more do you need lol?
grin.gif

P.S The Jinny, Shantih (sp) ones were excellent!
 
Walter Farley's Black Stallion series...

Haven't read them for ages but was hooked - there's loads of them too so you won't run out for a while!
 
JILLY COOPER, JILLY COOPER, JILLY COOPER!!! Even the non-horsey ones have horses in them somewhere. They are pure trash, literally chocolate but so re-readable so always good books to have on the shelve. Unfortunately I have a very warped view on polo though thanks to the book
laugh.gif
laugh.gif
laugh.gif
 
Let's see what I have on my shelf...

<ul type="square">[*] Richard Adams - Traveller (6/10 - written in dialect, got irritating)
[*]Caroline Akrill - Eventer's Dream, A Hoof In The Door, Will To Win (9/10 - hilarious)
[*]Samantha Alexander - Will to Win (3/10 - *cringe* Came free with Horse &amp; Pony Mag years ago!!)
[*]Enid Bagnold - National Velvet (8/10 - classic but didn't blow me away)
[*]Ruby Ferguson - All (10/10 - my absolute favourites)
[*]Jane Gardam - Black Woolly Pony (10/10 - it's a small child's book, how have I ended up with this?!?!)
[*]Christina Jones - Going The Distance (5/10 - horses are not centre stage! Free with Gallop! mag)
[*]Patricia Leitch - All (10/10 - brilliant. Love 'em all!)
[*]K. M. Peyton - Swallow Tale, Swallow Summer, Poor Badger (6/10 - won as a prize from Horse &amp; Pony Mag many moons ago!)
[*]Anna Sewell - Black Beauty (10/10 - the original and best!)
[*]Mary Stanton - The Heavenly Horse From The Outermost West (9/10 - another teen-book but still a great read)
[/list]
Erm, yes, I'm still firmly anchored in my childhood, by the looks of things!
 
Tami Hoag has written a sequel to "Dark Horse", "The Alibi Man". It's not quite as horsey but has the same characters and an equestrian setting.

Has Sarah Greun made it here yet? "Riding Lessons" and "Flying Changes" are her two horse-oriented one. I can't say as I loved them but they're fun for what they are.

Jane Smiley "Horse Heaven" and "A Year at the Races". The second one is about her experiences owning race horses and is generally quite well written.

If you like 'chasing try "A Fine Place to Daydream" by Bill Barich. It's not fiction but still an "easy read". A lot of the rider's autobiographies fall into this category, too - not fiction but still entertaining holiday reads and often inspiring as well.
 
there is a book called "blind buffy" or similar and its about a blind horse that a girl rescues and its also about her personal life, i read it at 11 n loved it
 
All the following are good but old and can be bought secondhand from amazon for a few pence (plus postage)
* Winner - Maureen O'Donoghue (gypsy girl's journey through life after her father dies and she is outcast. Her ambition is to breed a winning racehorse)
* Regret not a moment - Nicole McGehee (romantic novel set around racing)
* Bred to Win - William Kinsolving (Similar to above).

If you haven't read To hear a nightingale by Charlotte Bingham (as already suggested) I'd read that. Ruined the search for mr right though as I was looking for 'Tyrone' in every bloke
smile.gif
Made present one read it - I'm very sad - and hence I am no longer looking for mr right
wink.gif
The Nightingale Sings is a follow up but not quite as good.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top