I thoroughly enjoyed the fox hunting / fantasy trilogy - The Hounds of Annwn – by Karen Myers. The first book in the series is To Carry the Horn.
Another YA book, also by Anne McCaffrey - Black Horses for the King. An alternative approach to King Arthur story.
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Dick Francis (of course) - even the newer ones written by his son (Felix Francis) are good. Less horse-centric but the horse parts are right if you know what I mean. Felix doesn’t have his father’s background in the real nitty gritty of horse racing but does a good job. UK based
Glennis Wilson - only written a couple of books but very very readable. Hope she writes more soon. Similar (but different, if you know what I mean) to Dick Francis and as good IMO. UK based
John MacEnvoy - US based writer. I have read a couple. Horse bits are “believable”. Not as readable IMO as the previous 2.
Peter Klein - Australia based. Same as for John MacEnvoy.
I am surprised that no one mentioned Claire Svednsen’s “Show Jumping Dreams” series. I signed up for Kindle Unlimited on Prime Day. I found this series and binge-read all 32 (! no, they are not all that long) during vacation.
The characters are really well-developed and so authentic! The author is really knowledgeable about the horse show scene, but also includes good messages for young (and old) readers. At one point, the protagonist’s father, a trainer, loses his position, and they have to move all of their horses out of the training barn, and lose their home at the barn as well. It’s life - and she faces the challenge of how they have to cope with the reality of it.
I enjoyed every one of these. Highly recommend. Can’t wait for the next one!
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[QUOTE=wireweiners;8712571]
They are old and not politically correct but the Blister Jones stories by John Taintor Foote are pretty good. They were written in the early 1900’s so there is some use of the n word to describe black grooms and jockeys. The central character is a race trainer named Blister Jones. Blister is a tad bit shady and talks of doping horses. But I think the stories are a fairly accurate portrayal of racing in the early 20th century. My favorites are Trees Jolie, Salvation, and Class. They are free on google play.[/QUOTE]
I loved his story “The Look of Eagles,” which was made into the 1938 movie “Kentucky,” starring Loretta Young and Richard Greene (1950’s TV’s Robin Hood).
Lyndon Stacey and John Francome have also written some good mysteries. Stacey’s have a varied background (eventing, racing, etc.), Francome’s are pretty much the British racing scene (He’s a former jockey).
I liked the first few of Laura Crum’s veterinary mysteries, but the last couple, eh, not so good.
The trouble looking them up on Amazon is that too many are “young adult,” and I’m just not into “teenage girl and her horse” tales.
[QUOTE=FatCatFarm;8715678]
I enjoyed Riding Lessons by Sara Gruen and the second one, Flying Changes.
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley is good, and it’s Prequel: The Hero and the Crown
Jean Auel’s, The Valley of Horses (Earth’s Children series)
Bluegrass by Borden Deal
There’s a great list over on Goodreads under Listopia of Best Horse Fiction: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8367.Best_Horse_Fiction?page=1 Pretty much has everything referenced here.[/QUOTE]
Oh, I’m sorry. I HATE those Gruen books. Foolishly read the second after I heartily disliked the first. Obnoxious characters and the horse “knowledge” is akin to fantasy. Yeah, kid gets on “difficult” (only she can handle it!!!) Nokota horse and shortly (in a few minutes) is doing passage and piaffe, then events him - intimated to be advanced- and makes an error, then within a short period, he’s an open jumper…eh…NO.
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[QUOTE=FatCatFarm;8715678]
There’s a great list over on Goodreads under Listopia of Best Horse Fiction: http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8367.Best_Horse_Fiction?page=1 Pretty much has everything referenced here.[/QUOTE]
I must say, I’ve read most of the books on that list - as a child. There are only a few that are adult fiction/non-fiction. shrug (And I wouldn’t read Danielle Steele on a bet! - “Palomino” - but “different strokes.”)
Talking of Horses by Monica Dickens (A granddaughter of Charles Dickens) will forever be my favourite horse book of all time. 
it’s a stand-alone nonfiction piece about the author’s life spent in the company of horses, so maybe not quite what you’re looking for; but it’s told through such a compelling, relatable and well written series of short stories, I honestly find it more gripping than most any fiction out there. I’ve read it and reread it dozens upon dozens of times since I was a child (not to say it is by any means a “children’s book” …I finished the unabridged Gone With the Wind at age 11 & many other classics before that, I was a very advanced young reader… not to say that this book is anything like Gone With the Wind either :lol: just saying – everybody can enjoy it!), and every time I open it have so much trouble setting it down.
I highly recommend it to any equestrian.
[QUOTE=supaflyskye;8816961]
Talking of Horses by Monica Dickens (A granddaughter of Charles Dickens) will forever be my favourite horse book of all time.
it’s a stand-alone nonfiction piece about the author’s life spent in the company of horses, so maybe not quite what you’re looking for; but it’s told through such a compelling, relatable and well written series of short stories, I honestly find it more gripping than most any fiction out there. I’ve read it and reread it dozens upon dozens of times since I was a child (not to say it is by any means a “children’s book” …I finished the unabridged Gone With the Wind at age 11 & many other classics before that, I was a very advanced young reader… not to say that this book is anything like Gone With the Wind either :lol: just saying – everybody can enjoy it!), and every time I open it have so much trouble setting it down.
I highly recommend it to any equestrian.[/QUOTE]
Yes, wonderful book! I’ve read and re-read it many times and recommended it to others.
Sweet William by John Hawkes is great. Not a series, though. Narrator is a misanthropic Thoroughbred. Very well-written and compelling read.
All kinds of interesting suggestions offered - that is my reading for the next few months sorted out. Recalling KM Peyton, who was a favorite in my teens, i still have ‘Dear Fred’, about Fred Archer, one of the greatest jockeys ever, on my bookshelf. Another author I loved was Elyne Mitchell, an Australian author, with tales about The Silver Brumby, a wild horse and his herd in the Snowy Mountains. She was the daughter of the CO of the ANZAC Light Horse in WW1
If you are interested in a racing book, The Horse that God Built is about Secretariat… really good.
Another horse racing/breeding book I love is Wild Ride, the Rise and Fall of Calumet Farm
Did anyone mention Hot Blood, about the murder of Helen Brach [and more]?
Horse Heaven.
@Sandy M, the “Show Jumping Dreams” series are probably considered young adult fiction. I am in my fifties, and liked the books a lot - not a bunch of “romance” (young girl falls in love with her hot trainer, blah, blah) or silly “tame the wild stallion” storyline. The setting is very authentic, but true, the protaganist is a young teenager. Still, the struggles she has are much about the adult world - earning enough money to pay the bills, dealing with bullying by stepfather, dilemmas about drugging of show horses to win (or lose).
@Angela Freda: “Hot Blood” is a stunning expose, but it’s not relaxing fiction ;). Whole 'nuther category! What an awesome tale, all the same, and still worth reading, since the people involved still show up from time to time. Thanks for reminding me about that one!
Rita Mae Brown books are good AND authentic. Foxes, hounds, etc.
Probably been mentioned above, but I just skimmed all these offerings.
[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;8817465]
Rita Mae Brown books are good AND authentic. Foxes, hounds, etc.
Probably been mentioned above, but I just skimmed all these offerings.[/QUOTE]
Oh, definitely! Riding Shotgun is one of the best books I’ve ever read.
Try Ellen Rodgers “Deadly Deception” and “Deadly Trust”. They are great- murder mysteries set in horse county. The main character is runs a feed shop and gets dragged into whatever local murder has happened…always to a horse person. The author is a rider, and there are so many gems in the books that just make you go “YUP”. Really fun reads!
Sasscer Hill has several short novels centered around the race track. Quick reads that give insight into horse racing.
http://www.sasscerhill.com
[QUOTE=Kathy Nebel;8716054]
I thoroughly enjoyed the fox hunting / fantasy trilogy - The Hounds of Annwn – by Karen Myers. The first book in the series is To Carry the Horn.[/QUOTE]
Really bummed that this book isn’t part of the Kindle Unlimited group. May have to get it anyway, it sounds right up my alley.
