To the Rescue by Kirsten Hall & Martha Doty

Theresa is lucky enough to have this horse due to its malfunctioning at the Horse Riding Academy. You see, Theresa is the only person who can control this horse with a mind of its own and so her parents buy it for the lucky girl after academy owner, Rita, finally gives up. Things are going along just fine until one day,whilst out and about, Sheriff detours from their regular route and Theresa can't control him. Whatever is going on? This is a fairly predictable story but I am sure horse lovers will enjoy it. Once again, illustrations by Martha Doty add greatly to the miniature book in the Horseshoe Canyon series.

Lost in the Canyon by Kirsten Hall & Martha Doty

Mazzy, Thana's horse, is the Houdini of the horse world, and is forever sneaking away after figuring out how to unlock his stall. But, still she loves him and they spend a lot of time together. One day Thana ventures out to play a game of It with her friends. Suddenly, she is alone and in unfamiliar territory. The illustrations by Martha Doty are the best aspect of this book in the Horeshoe Canyon series.

From Midnight to Daybreak by Kirsten Hall & Martha Dory

Eight year old Amy is desperate to own a horse and she has her eye on the family's black Arabian stallion. No matter how many hints she drops, she isn't having any success as her father believes the horse to be too headstrong for such a young girl. Amy's birthday is coming up so she is putting the pressure on her parents. The big day comes, she receives an amazing cake, her hopes are high, but it seems she is not going to get a birthday present she so desperately wants.  Then, the following morning, her parents wake her early to an unexpected surprise. The illustrations by Marta Doty will not disappoint and appear on each double page of text. This is a relatively short and simple, but not "babyish" text for a middle or upper primary student needing a break from a longer novel.The title is a beautiful play on words and very apt for the book.

Flashback the Amazing Adventures of a Film Horse by Gillian Rubenstein

The  novel Flashback the Amazing Adventures of a Film Horse, by Gillian Rubinstein, deals with the trials and tribulations of Antony Abel who was leading a very mundane but safe existence with his very conservative great aunt and uncle on a property of some  two hundred acres called Oonoobooloo.  The one real joy he has in life is his pony, Flashback, whom he has only just started to train.  After an unfortunate accident  on his beloved pony, Antony  loses his memory and  finds himself hanging out with stuntmen, Doggo Slim and Pablo Pequeno (Small Paul),  from the film company Tasman True Productions. They are currently working on a film with the narcissistic and greedy actor, Tasman True, whom even the director Oliver Bolivar can't control. Tasman True insists that he needs someone to play his double to make the dare-devil leap across the very wide gap at Desolution Gorge. I must admit I found this book a bit hard-going in terms of interest stakes, but if you like rough riding and eccentric characters and improbable plots,  then maybe you will enjoy this novel.

I Own the Racecourse by Patricia Wrightson

Andy Hoddel is different from other boys but he is well-liked and is very friendly. He is duped into buying a Beecham Park Racecource from a tramp for $3 and firmly believes he owns it and is excited about the prospect of sharing it with his mates. His friends are not quite sure how to break the neews to him that he doesn't own it. This novel was made into a television movie in 1986 but so far I haven't been able to get a copy of it. Patricia Wrightson is an Australian writer who sadly passed away last year.

Jodie's Journey by Colin Thiele

Colin Thiele, a true blue Australian author, is very worth reading. In this novel, Jodie rides her horse, Monarch, in shows with increasing success until the sudden onset of rheumatoid arthritis which prevents her from completing a ride in the last show of the season. After she is referred to a specialist in Adelaide she learns about the disease and how best to deal with it. The summer is overbearingly hot, perfect weather for a bushfire! On what became known as Ash Wednesday, Jodie is home alone, when fires, fuelled by a strong wind, break out in the hills around Adelaide. Jodie decides to set Monarch free and in her wheelchair, leads the way to safety. The story is easy to read and the facts about juvenile arthritis are clearly portrayed. Jodie’s is a very emotional struggle.

After the Storm/Helping Out by Sheryn Dee

This is the second title in a series of books, each often containing two stories in one is great for those children making the transition into chapter books. Theses pony stories are laden with details and instructions about horses and would certainly be appreciated by horse-lovers. There are detailed ink drawings which accompany the text. The stories are about Jessia and her pony, Magic, set on a beautiful property in the South Australian Riverland area. This little book is now out of print. Read more about these two stories by clicking on the link under the book.

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