It's almost derby time in Anne's hometown.
I grew up in the state of Kentucky, known around the world as horse country. My state well deserves that reputation, and the rolling hills of rural Kentucky—and the horses that graze upon them—are beautiful to behold.
But here’s the thing: it’s a big state, and I’m a city girl. I’ve been on a horse twice in my life while still in grade school and was scared speechless both times. Horse country may be a lot closer to me than it is to you, but—minus that first Saturday in May—I don’t feel like it has a lot to do with me.
I’m always surprised when people assume—as they have for many years—that, being from Kentucky, I must love horses. And being a reader, I must love books about horses. For many years, I told myself that simply wasn’t true about my reading life.
But I may have to revise what I’ve been telling myself. Maybe I haven’t thought of myself as someone who loves horse books, but I sure love the books featuring horses on this list below.
How do you feel about horse books? I’d love to hear your experience with any of the books on this list, and welcome any recommendation you can offer.
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This quirky spin on the true story of Lady Jane Grey was pure laugh-out-loud fun. The three authors who co-wrote this book transformed the tragic historical interlude of Jane's 9-day reign into a zany comedy, akin to a mash-up of The Princess Bride and The Other Boleyn Girl. In their version, sixteen-year-old King Edward arranged a marriage for Jane in order to secure his line to the throne. The young king doesn’t have much interest in ruling, and she doesn’t have much interest in marriage. But duty is the least of their problems because, well...Jane’s betrothed turns into a horse every night. Audiophile alert: this sassy book is especially great on audio, as narrated by Katherine Kellgren. More info →
Here’s what I learned when I raced through this thriller in a single day: “Horse girls are the toughest girls around. You know why? They make a thousand-pound wild animal do whatever they ask.” And sometimes they ask for the unconscionable. I was hooked from page one: I wanted to know what would happen next, of course, but the story is also anchored by a strong emotional core revolving around ambition, sisterly rivalry, parenting angst, and devastating secrets. The stakes are high, the egos huge, the characters largely unlikable, and the horses untameable. I loved it. More info →
This is the book that forced me to realize I love a good horse book; I finally picked it up at the urging of Amy Jo Burns, who called it one of her top 5 all-time books in any genre in What Should I Read Next Ep 383 (“Juicy, big-hearted family novels”). Kyle's 2007 debut coming of age tale is set over the course of a blazing hot summer on a Colorado horse farm. 12-year-old Alice's world was upended when her older sister Nona ran off with a rodeo cowboy. Now Alice feels like she's been left all alone to deal with the death of a classmate, her mother's ongoing depression, and her father's stress about the farm's finances. But when a new student starts taking riding lessons at the farm, that's when things really begin to change. Kyle draws beautiful and subtle parallels between life and horses as she shows us how Alice endures and changes over the course of one tumultuous summer. More info →
I wouldn't call this a "horse book" but I’m including it here for its Big Horse Energy. The heart of this novel is an unlikely love story between Una and Owen. Una Everlasting was a medieval lady knight, legendary warrior, and patron saint of the nation of Dominion, who does it all accompanied by her loyal steed Hen. Owen Mallory is a tweedy scholar obsessed with Una’s legend. But then Dominion’s new chancellor sends Owen back in time to meet Una and write her definitive tale, so that the story may inspire the beleaguered nation. When he first meets her, he’s in awe and can barely believe she’s real. But then he falls in love with her—with disastrous consequences for them both. I don’t want to say too much—but I was completely entranced by this emotional, epic, and achingly intimate love story that unfolds across time and whose outcome will determine the fate of a nation. Don’t miss the Author’s Note for multiple reasons, including the scoop that Harrow’s mom sent her six pages of notes about what she got wrong about horses, which she then had to address. More info →
A YA fantasy about wild water horses and the risks we’ll take to protect those we love. Every November 1, the Scorpio Races take place on the small island of Thisby. Riders try to stay on capall uisce long enough to cross the finish line or at least not to die. Everyone in the community has lost someone to the murderous capall uisce. Nineteen-year-old Sean has won the races four times and he’s back to defend the title. Puck never thought she’d enter and not just because she’ll be the first girl to ever complete. Her impoverished family desperately needs the cash prize. Sean and Puck are drawn into each other’s orbit despite themselves but there can only be one winner. More info →
This 2022 novel from Pulitzer Prize winning author Brooks spans three timelines as she delves into the true story of Lexington, one of the greatest racehorses in US history. In 1850 Kentucky, Jarret, an enslaved groom, bonds with the bay foal under his care oer the years against the backdrop of the Civil War, while an artist becomes known for his paintings of the racehorse. In 1954 New York City, a gallery owner comes across a mysterious nineteenth-century equestrian painting. In 2019 Washington, DC, a Smithsonian scientist and an art historian work to unearth the lost history and the Black men behind Lexington’s wins. I just finished reading Brooks’s more recent memoir Memorial Days, and was intrigued by her many references to working on Horse in those pages. More info →
Bestselling author of The War That Saved My Life Kimberly Brubaker Bradley launches a new uplifting Middle Grade series with this first installment. Harper’s life is upended when her parents announce they’re divorcing and she and her mom move to a new town. One day a truck drops off a neglected horse in her yard, instead of the riding barn next door. Harper may not have had any interest in horses before but she is drawn to this abandoned horse, who she names Phoenix—and a life-changing relationship begins. I haven’t read this yet, but I’ve loved Bradley’s work in the past and was excited to learn of this new one. More info →
Before Hillenbrand got a hold of Louie Zamperini's story for Unbroken, she was an editor at Equus magazine, having fallen in love with horses as a kid thanks to reading Come On, Seabiscuit! over and over again beginning at age eight. In this true story that reads like a novel, Hillenbrand takes her reader on a remarkable ride, masterfully weaving together the stories of a knock-kneed racehorse and the three men who made him a champion: a bookish half-blind jockey, an eccentric trainer, and a limelight-loving owner. An incredible tale, and not just for horse lovers. More info →
Do you have any favorite horse books? Please share in the comments.
P.S. Fly away with these 9 books about birds and 14 books about nature to inspire your next outdoor adventure.
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