Our list of top 10 horse books for your reading pleasure covers a wide variety of genres, from love to war to the classics.
Are you a horse lover who also enjoys a good read? Check out this list of top ten horse books that should be on your radar.
1. Lost Rider
Lost Rider (2017) by Harper Sloan is the first of three in the Coming Home An injured rodeo star is forced to return home and take over the family business – horse farming. He encounters a girl from his childhood who used to have a crush on him. He didn’t return her feelings back then, but he’s taking notice now.
2. Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover’s Soul II: Inspirational Tales of Passion, Achievement and Devotion (2012)
This book was written by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Marty Becker, DVM, and more in 2012. It’s an inspiring collection of horse stories that will make you smile, cry, and even laugh out loud.
3. American Horse
American Horse by D.A. Michaels captures the attention of horse lovers through poetry and imagery. Patience is required, though – you can pre-order this book now, but it doesn’t come out until October 30.
4. Last Chance Mustang
Last Chance Mustang (2015) by Mitchell Bornstein is a story about redemption. A mustang named Samson, who was taken from the wild and abused for years, finally winds up on Bornstein’s farm. As he tries to tame the beast, the beast does some teaching of his own.
5. The Perfect Horse
The Perfect Horse (2016) by Elizabeth Letts tells a tale for war buffs and animal lovers alike. A group of soldiers are on a mission to rescue a herd of magnificent white horses that Hitler has hidden to breed a master race. Can they rescue the horses before the Russians add them to their menu?
6. Horse: A Novel
This new book by Talley English will tug on your heartstrings. Teagan’s life is turned upside down when her father abandons her and their farm. She starts to train and bond with the headstrong horse her father also left behind. Enjoy English’s take on family, friendship, loss and forgiveness in this new novel coming out on August 7.
7. Out of the Wild
Out of the Wild (2009) by Mark Rashid tells the story about a forgiving ranch owner, a broken cowboy and a wounded mustang. Just as their bond starts the healing process, someone from the past threatens everything. A movie based on this book came out in 2017.
8. The Wake
The Wake (2017) by Connie Johnson Hambley is the third in a thrilling series called The Jessica Trilogy. Jessica is a world-class equestrian trapped in geopolitical warfare, and must keep her family history a secret, at all costs. When a bomb goes off at the Atlanta-based Summer Olympic Games, she is forced to fight for her life. You’ll want to read the first two books before starting this one!
9. A Whisper of Horses
A Whisper of Horses by Zillah Bethell should be on your list, whether you have a child, or are still a child at heart (like me). Coming out on July 3, it’s a story of a futuristic world with no horses, and a girl who dreams of finding the last existing ones.
10. Black Beauty
Black Beauty (1877) by Anna Sewell is a must-have if you’re never read it before. If you have read it, then perhaps it’s time to revisit it. It’s a classic story about a working horse’s life told from his perspective. Suitable for all ages, this book touches on valuable lessons about the treatment of animals, which in turn can be lessons on how to treat other people
I believe there’s a book on this list for every horse lover. I don’t know about you, but I’m going to curl up in a chair with Black Beauty, while I wait eagerly for Horse: A Novel to hit shelves!
