.:EQUUS:.

A series created by Joanna Campbell, this Thoroughbred story is written by Alice Leonhardt. Team Player focuses on Parker Townsend, the son of Brad and Lavinia Townsend of Townsend Acres.

Despite being the son of a rich and famous couple who clashed heavily with Ashleigh, the first main character of the series and later on with Samantha, Parker works for Samantha and Tor Nelson. The fiftieth book the in series, time has definitely moved on from the young Ashleigh who first worked her way into the racing industry.

Also taking a slightly different direction, Parker doesn’t ride racehorses. He is an eventer, through and through. And a good one at that.

Working as a riding instructor at Whisperwood, the riding school owned by Samantha and Tor Nelson, Parker’s riding dreams are obviously a labour of love, rather than a money driven career.

This appears to be where he clashes with his parents who are focused solely on the racing industry – and the large purses that are offered with wins. Not caring about the money – but recognising he needs it to be able to compete – Parker is more interested in showing off the talent of his Thoroughbred mare, Foxglove as well as his own riding skill.

When a colleague with similar riding achievements gets shortlisted for the eventing team headed for the Olympics, Parker is left questioning why he wasn’t given the same opportunity.

Determined to show his skill, Parker sets out to win the next one and three day events that are made up of top quality riders. The question arises though, will he push his horse too far and forget that he wants to be part of the equestrian team, not an individual rider obsessed and going for gold?

Team Player focuses on the dedication required of horse and rider as well as the skill needed to compete in such a gruelling discipline as eventing. It also leaves the reader questioning what the most important thing with regards to the sport is – the prestige and recognition of winning or a job well done and a horse in peak fitness?

Author: Alice Leonhardt
http://www.answers.com/topic/alice-leonhardt
Fiction
In my library? You betcha. I’ve not yet got the whole of the Thoroughbred series as created by Joanna Campbell but am working towards it!

“No locker room speeches. No playbooks. No contracts or free agents. Not even a word spoken between teammates. Doesn’t that make it the greatest of all team sports?”

Tags: horse story, equine book review, equine author, horse library, horse writing, Alice Leonhardt

So the local newsagency has this big trolley out the front with $5 books and I can’t help but have a look any time I’m in town and wandering past. A few days ago I found a multitude of Dick Francis books – but couldn’t for the life of me remember if I had them already!

So, I opted out on buying any more of those but did stumble across a horse lover’s mystery series by Michele Scott.

Recently written, there are currently two books to the series. Death Reins In follows on from the first in the series, Saddled With Trouble. The series focuses around horse owner, lover and trainer, Michaela Bancroft.

Michaela trains reining horses, something that she became passionate about due to the encouragement of long time friend Audrey Pratt. Attending some Quarter Horse races with Audrey, Michaela suddenly finds herself caught up in the middle of a murder mystery – that of her close friend Audrey.

Having recently lost her uncle and solved the mystery involving his death, Michaela finds herself searching for answers with regards to her dead friend and colleague.

Death Reins In shows a good knowledge of horses, Quarter Horses in particular, with the informative writing style from Michele Scott really helping the reader to learn as they progress in this mystery.

The story is an entertaining read, informative and keeps you wanting to read until the end – I spent the afternoon the devouring the book, not going to bed until it was finished.

I haven’t read any books that focus on the Quarter Horse breed which made this series refreshing. The focus on a thirty something year old woman running her own business and focused on being an honest contribution to society was also refreshing. A great read.

Author: Michele Scott
http://www.michelescott.com/death.shtml
Fiction - Murder Mystery
In my library? Along with Saddled With Trouble. I’ll have to get the third in the series, Tacked to Death, also.

“They can turn on a dime and toss you back nine cents change, the American Quarter Horse.”

Tags: horse story, equine book review, equine author, horse library, horse writing, Michele Scott

Probably twelve months ago I stumbled across a book by Joyce Stranger in an Op Shop called Breed of Giants. Spotting the gorgeous draught horses on the cover I decided to buy it, not having heard of this author before.

Just recently I stumbled across another of her works, No More Horses which is based around young veterinarian, Timothy Yorke.

Having recently become a partner with Sara in a stable, Tim struggles to find time to help with a mare that Sara has purchased at a sale. It’s been a year since he joined his first veterinary practice and Tim is finding life is still moving at an incredibly fast pace.

Sara purchased the mare due to her poor condition and the sickly foal at foot. It’s only after her moment of compassion that she realises the task ahead of her trying to raise the pair. This is especially difficult due to the mare not being trusting of humans.

No More Horses depicts the busy, tiring, but exciting life of a young vet alongside having animals of his own. Despite being fictional, the story is quite informative and opens the reader’s eye to possible problems that can arise with horses and other animals and the downside of ungrateful and neglectful owners.

The book is fast paced and quite a light read, being informative as much as it is humorous. It’d possibly appeal to those in their mid to late teens entertaining the idea of working with animals.

Author: Joyce Stranger
http://joycestranger.ponymadbooklovers.co.uk/
Fiction
In my library? That it is and I’d be more than happy to add any more works by Joyce Stranger to the list.

“They told me that when I bought a horse I would meet lots of new people. I did, and every one of them is holding out their hands for money - the farrier, the saddler, the vet, etc.”

Tags: horse story, equine book review, equine author, horse library, horse writing, Joyce Stranger

So I’m ashamed to say I bought this book about twelve months ago and haven’t touched it until now! A friend borrowed it and insisted I get on with reading so that I could review.

I’m glad she did! Rachel L. Burkum’s 2008 published novel Silent Ride was a delight to read. Interestingly, the book has remained exactly as the author intended, “verbatim, without editorial input.”

Randi Steel hasn’t been in touch with her brother for nearly a decade. Despite a difference of six years in age, she used to have an incredibly close relationship with her older brother. This changed drastically when she was twelve.

Now, at the age of 21 she finds herself living with Brad, who is none too happy about the interruption to his life.

Consumed with an endurance race that he’s training for, Brad finds his sister’s presence poor timing and irritating. Brad struggles to communicate with his younger sibling, making it a rough ride for Randi. The fact that she is deaf seems to make this all the harder for her older brother.

Two months out from the race Brad is suddenly unable to continue with his training due to an accident. With the accident dies his hopes of making a good name for his farm and showing the worth of his Arab cross Morgan mare. On the surface Brad’s sister and staff can understand his disappointment but are confused by Brad’s defeated attitude.

What they don’t realise is that more is at stake due to Brad not being able to race. When this information comes to light, it is Randi who is forced to consider taking her brother’s place – in a four day endurance race against eighty plus competitors, all of whom are male and all of whom can hear.

Silent Ride is a wonderfully written story, focusing on determination, second chances, God’s grace in an ever changing world and how going it alone is never the answer.

Author: Rachel L. Burkum
http://www.rachelburkum.com/
Fiction
In my library? A resounding yes for this one. I loved the characters, the horses and the way the story progressed.

“In the steady gaze of the horse shines a silent eloquence that speaks of love and loyalty, strength and courage. It is the window that reveals to us how willing is his spirit, how generous his heart.”

Tags: horse story, equine book review, equine author, horse library, horse writing, Rachel L. Burkum

New Years weekend I visited the parents and checked out a bookshop nearby with mum. There were many, many non fiction books for the horse enthusiast but not looking to spend too much, I was rapt to find a couple of the Thoroughbred series on sale and a couple by author Terri Farley.

Familiar with her Phantom Stallion series, I was interested to find that in 2008 the two books that were in the store were created as what seems to be a spinoff series. Phantom Stallion Wild Horse Island is set in Hawaii, the main character being young Darby.

In book seven of the series, Mistwalker, Darby is living with her grandfather in Hawaii on his 2000 acre ranch, ‘Iolani Ranch. Her mother is a well known actress and when younger had a falling out with her father, causing strain between the two. When Darby’s mother comes for a visit, the young girl concocts a plan to convince her mum that ‘Iolani Ranch is the place for them.

Jonah Kealoha, her grandfather breeds and trains purebred quarter horses on his ranch and is against the idea of other breeds and types – especially paints – on his farm.

Darby has acquired herself a wild filly in the form of Hoku - which means star. Aware that she has a lot to learn, Darby spends many hours with her filly, training and building a relationship with her as well as improving her riding skills on other reliable horses.

While out riding in the rain forest, Darby comes across a beautiful paint mare. With the impending arrival of her mother to the island, after stumbling across her mother’s diary as a teenager, Darby questions if the paint mare might be the answer to convincing her mother that Wild Horse Island is the place for them.

Set in gorgeous surroundings with interesting culture, characters, and the Hawaiian language thrown into the mix and of course horses, Wild Horse Island is an exciting read.

Author: Terri Farley
http://www.phantomstallion.com/author.shtml
Fiction
In my library? Definitely! It’s great to see Terri Farley working on another series with great characters and culture. An enticing read for early teens.

Tag: horse story, equine book review, equine author, horse library, horse writing, Terri Farley