I am an avid reader and read most anything but for some reason I have a hard time finding good horse fiction. Can anyone give me the names of some books or authors? Besides Rita Mae Brown, love her stuff.
“Riding Lessons” and it’s sequel, “Flying Changes” by Sara Gruen - AMAZING books; I cried multiple times during both of them. They’re not horrendously sad, but her writing is so powerful.
I stick with kid stuff when I want to read horse fiction. National Velvet, My Friend Flicka, Skyrocket, Fly-By-Night, etc. Usually the grown-up horse book genre is trying too hard to be serious AND horsey at the same time. Doesn’t work for me. 
I did enjoy the book “Riding Lessons”, have forgotten the author. Most of the others are too much about needy, screwed-up women looking for a man and not enough about horses. 
[QUOTE=Paige777;3531263]
“Riding Lessons” and it’s sequel, “Flying Changes” by Sara Gruen - AMAZING books; I cried multiple times during both of them. They’re not horrendously sad, but her writing is so powerful.[/QUOTE]
I read these. I thought they were okay but there was a little too much fantasy involved for my taste. They lost me when the fairly inexperienced teen hopped on an impossible to ride horse and got it to do advanced dressage moves in a matter of seconds :lol:. They’re probably the best of the adult stuff that I’ve read though. I think I’ve given up on adult horse stuff b/c it bothers me too much when they don’t get it right, I stick with classics now. The lady that wrote those two books does ride so alot of the info in the book is accurate, more accurate then alot of stuff I’ve read anyway. They’re fun, quick reads for a rainy weekend.
I enjoyed “Horse Heaven” by Jane Smiley (same author who wrote “1,000 Acres”). I’m not a big horse racing fan, so I was surprised that I liked it as much as I did but found it well-written and interesting.
I loved those books, but her best book is Water For Elephants which was on the NY Times Bestseller List. Fantastic book and it does have horses in it, it just doesn’t center around a horse.
I am presently reading Allan Mallinson - about ten books in the series about cavalry/dragoons/Horse Guards Napoleonic era. It is historical fiction obviously.
Very well written. Great characters. Lots of horse stuff. Some romance.
Battlefield stuff. I love the books. BTW - what is “farcy”? (term used in the book for sick horse). If you read these books start in order with “A Close Run Thing”.
Dark Horse and The Alibi Man by Tami Hoag
In Service to the Horse: Chronicles of a Labor of Love by Susan Nusser. Not really a fiction book, but a must read!
Another vote for Sara Gruen. Extremely powerful writing. Riding Lessons is one of my favorite books of all time. I have read it at least 5 times.
Riders by Jilly Cooper - a must read!
Horse Play, by Judy Reene Singer. VERY funny - I laughed so hard I cried at the clinic scene…
The Show Gypsies by Leigh Brown, now out of print but may be available at or through your local library.
In the Presence of Horses by Barbara Dimmick
The Fox in the Cupboard, by Jane Shilling–not fiction, but a good read (if you like hunting).
I second what others have said here about preferring children’s horse fiction to some adult horse fiction. Only most of the children’s horse fiction I love is long out of print and can be hard to find at libraries (who seem to weed everything that’s old). But if you can find books by Dorothy Lyons, Thomas C. Hinkle, Monica Edwards, Ruby Ferguson, and Patsey Gray, you may enjoy them.
And Spin and Marty (Marty Markham) is great! I think it’s by Lawrence E. Watkin but I can’t get up to look right now as I have a cat asleep in my lap. 
I also liked Horse Heaven and the Tami Hoag books.
Caitlin
[QUOTE=arktos19;3531545]
Horse Play, by Judy Reene Singer. VERY funny - I laughed so hard I cried at the clinic scene…[/QUOTE]
This has to be my favorite, and i think everyone involved with horses should read it at least once.
I really enjoyed Horseplay, but Riders by Jilly Cooper is an absolute must read.
I loved “Horseplay” and second that… also loved Anne McCaffery’s “The Lady.” I read a lot of old childhood faves, like “Fly-by-Night” and the Jean Slaughter Doty books, but they are hard to find nowadays… sadly. Actually I kind of wish I could find the old Saddle Club books and reread them. Doesn’t seem like I can find them anywhere anymore…
And I’m sure Reynard Ridge is lurking, so I’ll throw in a plug for “Chronicles of the $700 Pony,” though it seems a little out of the pure fiction category. d; (BTW, is Wee Spotted Pony out soon then?)
I’ll have to find that Anne McCaffrey book - I love her stuff.
There are two related books by Robin McKinley - The Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword - both Science Fantasy, that feature horses prominently. I loved her description of the old horse in the field doing war maneuvers alone - made me cry.
There was a great book out recently that I loved, revolves around horseracing…by Peter Tattersall and called “Or else…!” I can’t wait for the next installment of that one. Also, Kit Ehrman has written 5 or 6 all with the same main character, who is part detective, all in the horse world…really enjoyed those. also if you like Dick Francis, try Lyndon Stacey, she has 5 or 6 as well. Brit author. Maybe a bit formulaic but I enjoyed all but maybe one of hers.
I’ve/We’ve collected a lot of suggestions that show up in these threads at:
ponydom.com horse fiction database
There are over 400 adult and young adult titles there, with descriptions, ratings, and reviews. It’s always good to have new books added and new reviews and ratings added. You can search them by quality, by genre, or by discipline - so if you want to see a list of fiction about dressage, you can find a bunch of titles.
Some that I like:
The Lady, by Anne McCaffrey
Ride a Dark Horse and Chance Meeting by Laura Moore
The Mountain’s Call by Caitlin Brennan (and also books under her other name, Judith Tarr)
Horseplay by Judy Reene Singer (Beammeup)
Slickrock, by Laura Crum
Anything by KM Peyton
Quality of Care by Elizabeth Letts
Anything by Jean Slaughter Doty
Anything by Patricia Leitch
Trophies by Ainslie Sheridan
The Chestry Oak by Kate Seredy
Loved Dark Horse and Alibi Man from Tami Hoag!
