Book: The Horsemasters

[dressagetraks]

By Don Stanford. This was part of my haul from the recent library benefit sale, where the last day is $1 a bag day and is a madhouse. Anybody thinking print books are obsolete ought to see the hundreds lined up at the warehouse waiting for the doors to open that day or the feeding frenzy of book-seizing that follows. And every now and then among the tables, there is the woeful cry accompanying a bookalanche as someone tried to overstuff their $1 bag rather than checking out, depositing in the car, and starting over with bag #2, and it tore. I was grabbing anything that even potentially looked horsey (or select other genres), to be sorted at more leisure later. Got over 60 books in two bags.

I’d never read this kid’s book, but it was great start to finish. A little dated (the idea of being able to fly from America to England, pay for a full-summer residential course at a horse school, then fly back across the Pond at the end on a $1000 inheritance brought a smile). But the horsiness was outstanding.

This is one from the era when horse books were about HORSES. So many more recent horse fiction books I’ve read are about horses plus life angst, boys, etc., as if they think we’d get bored staying in the stable or the riding ring. But the truly horse crazy LOVE staying in the stable or the riding ring, and this book keeps you there. Even the life lessons, boyfriend crush, etc., take place firmly in the immediate context of horses. Probably 95% of the book is either set in the stables or riding. And the horse knowledge was accurate.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. A nice gem of the past with which I hadn’t previously been acquainted.

[Auburn]

There is a movie version that was made by Disney way back in the day. I loved that movie. :yes:

[JanM]

You really made out well on that purchase. Used copies on Amazon are over $40.

[dressagetraks]

Last year, the same sale had a FIRST EDITION Smoky by Will James. I went the first night last year, when it’s $1 hardback, 50 cents paperback, except for the select “better books” corner. This, of course, was in the better books in the collectables bookcases and was priced at $60. Had I had $60 to spare, I would have bitten instantly, but I had just had an unexpected repair bill. It was gorgeous, hardbound, full-color illustrations. I drooled over it.

Better books do get included in the final bag day. I returned, was in line when the doors opened, and made a beeline over at my best pace. It was gone. :sadsmile:

I usually try to hit the first night, leisurely browsing, picking up what I really want, marking things to potentially dash for, and then I return for bag day at the end. Last year from the same first night I did not buy Smoky, I found two out of the three Fury books at 50 cents each.

This year at the bag sale, under the “horsey” category, I also got an unfamiliar book titled Mustang: Saga of the Wild Horse in the American West, Gib Rides Home (never heard of it, but horse on the cover), the Big Book of Horse Stories edited by Page Cooper from 1946, the British Horse Society Manual of Horsemanship, the Cavalry Manual of Horsemanship and Horsemastership, Midnight by Sam Savitt, Summer of the Stallion, and Tall and Proud. Plus the Horsemasters.

Wonder what will be there next year. . .

[MidnightWriter]

You got a treasure. My high school library had that book and I love it. Also love the Disney movie (it may be available from Disney or somewhere on DVD). Annette and Tommy Kirk and some really good horse footage – but the book is even better!

I was talking with a friend just last week about how horse stories used to be about horses, and more recently they have involved either all sorts of non-horse-related angst or, even more recently, are written by people who apparently know next to nothing about horses.

I am so happy for you getting this book! Wish I could go to a sale like that!

[fourmares]

I read that book over and over in grade school. Lucky you!

[Donkaloosa]

I read that book over and over again, too. Would love to find a copy of it now.

[Puddin_Pie]

I had it in paper back and still remember it when tack cleaning. The poor kid who let a piece of grain in the bit joint! Wasn’t the main character’s assigned horse name Cornish Pasty?

[dressagetraks]

Yep. She called him Corny P. Thought he was an old, inconvenient school horse at first and hated having him assigned to her for stables, because he was very messy in the stall. But he turned out to be a whiz cross country when they got to that. He was an old hunter who just didn’t see any point in getting motivated in the arena.

Very fun book. I loved the dressage instructor of the school, who was ex Polish champion and threw fits and yelled at them all - and then explained that it was because he knew how good they COULD be someday.

[tikihorse2]

[QUOTE=dressagetraks;7247527]
Yep. She called him Corny P. Thought he was an old, inconvenient school horse at first and hated having him assigned to her for stables, because he was very messy in the stall. But he turned out to be a whiz cross country when they got to that. He was an old hunter who just didn’t see any point in getting motivated in the arena.

Very fun book. I loved the dressage instructor of the school, who was ex Polish champion and threw fits and yelled at them all - and then explained that it was because he knew how good they COULD be someday.[/QUOTE]

I have an ancient copy of this book, too! I got it as a child and am carefully preserving it.I still read it from time to time, and I still love it just as much. It’s true-- books about horses nowadays aren’t about horses as much as they are about other things.

The Polish dressage instructor-- I always thought it was funny how he would tear off his jaunty little hat and stomp on it if he were upset with the students! H’m…

Kim

[BeaSting]

That was one of my favorites when I was a kid.

[StGermain]

I loved it as a kid, too. Much better than the Disney movie. Funny thing is, I cuold remember right off that the horse was called Corny (Cornish Pasty), but can’t remember the protagonist’s name. I wanted to be her, though. And Trixie Beldin.

StG

[JanM]

I looked on Amazon, and googled it, but the DVD isn’t in production in a quality edition, at least not that I could find. It’s too bad Disney doesn’t make nice DVDs of a lot of the Disney tv show movies, because there’s definitely a market for this one.

[Blugal]

Loved that growing up too. Her name was Dinah. (I remember because I pronounced it incorrectly in my head until someone made a joke about dynamite.)

[lolalola]

Loved that book as a kid!

[anon68314200]

You’re making me feel old…

[RMJacobs]

I still have my copy of that book on my shelf! I could probably quote it word-for-word because I read it so many times when I was a kid. Who could ever forget Corny P. and the evil dressage instructor?

Rebecca

[arabianeventing]

Okay, I’ll 'fess up. Saw the movie as a kid and liked it. Read the book numerous times and really liked it. Ended up going to the school the book had a dedication to (the Porlock Vale Riding School in Somerset, England – and yes, the tuition and air fare were under $1000 back then) and loved it. Earned my BHSAI. It is one of the fondest memories I have. The school was well known and respected back then, but is defunct now. Last I heard it was a bed and breakfast kind of inn. Someone on COTH should write a new book for all of us who love these Horsemaster kind of stories!

[Frosty_M]

It is so true that horse books back in the day were about the horses and not the social angst. I loved the Horsemasters book. I was in Pony Club at the time and learning much the same lessons. It made me feel a part of something bigger than just my little slice of the horse world. A friend recently found a copy of Pamela and the Blue Mare on Ebay for me. Re reading it was amazing. It brought back how I used that book as a textbook to train my horses. it was well written and useful.