horse related book recommendations

[charliecrisps]

Need a new book to fill the evenings (and clearly wet weekends too!!). Any good fiction or non-fiction horsey related reads anyone can recommend please

 

[Regandal]

If you want a laugh, get 'Turn Me On, Guv' by Marcus Armytage (sp?). It's a collection of short anecdotes (racing related) and is very funny.

 

[LisaS]

Have you read Hovis's 2 books ? Guaranteed to make you laugh out loud !

 

[LisaS]

The Clare Balding book is also a fabulous read

 

[Cowpony]

Yes! Clare Balding's biography is brilliant!

Lyndon Stacey is good, as is John Francombe - they are mysteries as well as being about the horse world.

 

[Adopter]

Yes Clare Baldings book is good, John Francombe as well, I have also recently discovered Sarah Challis, lots of her books are based in countryside and are around horses, enjoyable reads.

 

[Archangel]

Vagabond by Jeremy James is the story of his ride through Eastern Europe. He has a quirky writing style but stick with it as it is an amazing adventure (true) story.

 

[Deleted member 104317]

Mark Todd's autobiography was really, really good!

 

[connieconvert]

The Fox in the Cupboard by Jane Shilling: a true account by a woman who learns to ride in order to hunt.
Jumbo To Jockey by Dominic Prince: hilarious, well informed story of author losing weight to race ride.
Experiences Of An Irish RM by Somerville and Ross: sublime!

 

[Spilletta]

Another vote for Clare Balding’s book.

Nicholas Clee’s ‘Eclipse: the story of the rouge, the madam and the horse that changed racing’ is pretty good if you’re interested in racing.

Also, Jeremy James’s ‘The Byerley Turk’ is worth a look. I liked reading how the seyis (groom) interacts with the horses, but I’m no good at giving reviews so maybe check online for a better synopses.

AP McCoy’s ‘Taking the Fall’ is one I intend to read soon.

 

[justabob]

Horse Heaven by Jane Smiley, it is a very good book and well written.

 

[HollyWoozle]

One Hundred and Four Horses by Mandy Retzlaff. Inspirational book and a true story, but I warn you that it is very sad!

 

[LittleRooketRider]

William Fox-Pitt & Mary King & Pippa Funnel autobiography

Dick Francis & John Francome have some brilliant thrillers my favourite being Stalking Horse...all are reaally gripping...ooh lifeline is my other favourite
The Horse Whispere is also really good

 

[LittleRooketRider]

Horsey wit - Quips & Quotes for the equine obsessed

 

[Marydoll]

I started Mary Kings biography and never finished it as it was so boring !
I really like The Balanced Horse by Sylvia Loch

 

[windand rain]

Lyndon stacey and the race riders for thrillers
A nice story loosely based on horses and romany gypsy life is the Bitti Chi and its follow up the lost souls by Jane Gray
A few Autobiographies about for christmas too

 

[JustKickOn]

Have a look at Lyndon Stacey books. The most recent I have read is 'Deadfall'. They're mainly crime based, but with an equestrian theme.

 

[cambrica]

I still have Clare Baldings book to read. My favourite is 'Reflections on equestrian art' Nuno Oliveira and a mark rashid book ( lent it out so can't remember the title)

 

[Adopter]

I really used to look forward each Christmas to Jenny Pitman's series she wrote, sadly they only seem to be in secondhand paperback copies now and not available as electronic books.

 

[Cello_song]

A non fiction easy read - French relations by Fiona walker

 

[kassieg]

Jenny pitman books are good

 

[TPO]

Mark Rashid's books (Considering the horse, A good horse is never a bad colour, Horses Never Lie and Life lessons from a Ranch Horse). I put off reading them for years for stupid reasons and I wish I'd been smart enough to read them sooner. I can't recommend them enough; they are really well written and all the lessons are recounted through his personal experiences. He's a really good story teller and his messages resonated with me.

Fiona Walker for horsey chick lit. There are three books she's written with the same eventer characters in it that are funny and easy reading.

Jo Jo Moyers - The Horse Dancer is another easy to read horse story.

ETA Jane Smiley has written a fair bit of horse fiction. Horse Heaven is the only one I've read but here's a list of her books http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jane-Smiley/e/B000APT97K

I google'd adult horse books ( with hindsight that may not have worked out so well knowing google...) and found this list http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/12934.Best_Horse_Novels_for_Adults_Or_Older_Teens

The only one from it that I've read is Chosen by a Horse. I am a wimp but it's a proper heart breaker!

Another true story I enjoyed was Beyond the Homestretch. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/1577319567/ref=mp_s_a_1_13?qid=1388860536&sr=8-13&pi=AC_SX110_SY165

 

[spottydottypony]

Chosen by a horse by Susan Richards is good and also The god of animals by Aryn Kyle. Both really good reads especially the last one it cost me 50p!

 

[california dreaming]

another vote for the Byerley Turk. Would make an excellent film.

 

[Doublethyme]

Fiction wise agree Fiona Walker trilogy French Relations, Well Groomed and Kiss and Tell are good fun easy reads.

Dressage Chronicles one and two are good as well.

Autobiography wise my favourites are still all the Lucinda Green ones, although sadly out of print now. Pkys Village Gossip which I think is written by her groom Joanne Capon? Love that book, cried buckets.

 

[ElaineLightning]

Kit Ehrman steve cline mysteries racing based I enjoyed the series
Tami Hoag dark Horse
Bev Petterson series
Jo carnegie Horse Play (and rest in series)

 

[SarahWeston]

And Saddletramp by Jeremy James. Wonderful books. The bit with the poncho in Vagabond gets me every time.

 

[Mariposa]

One Hundred and Four Horses by Mandy Retzlaff. Inspirational book and a true story, but I warn you that it is very sad!

That book made me cry and cry and cry...wonderful story but soooo emotional!

 

[shellonabeach]

One Hundred and Four Horses by Mandy Retzlaff. Inspirational book and a true story, but I warn you that it is very sad!

I got this for Christmas, have read it and passed it onto a friend! A very good read

 

[EventingMum]

A non fiction easy read - French relations by Fiona walker

French Relations is definitely fiction!