I’ve somehow come to the end of my reading list and have been wanting to read some good fiction books about horses. I say fiction because I don’t want instruction books filled with facts, but I’m not opposed to based on a true story novels. I prefer hunter/jumper focused storylines, I haven’t learned enough about dressage or other disciplines to understand reading a book revolves around them. I enjoy all types of novels, YA and adult, everything in between. Thanks!
Kim Ablon Whitney’s A Perfect Distance and she’s written ~ 4 more?
Barbara Morgenroth has written many good books in the genre. Her standalones are my favorite, but her Bittersweet Farm series is very readable and will last you a while.
For a really quite good dressage one I’d suggest the series that starts with The Dressage Chronicles by Karen McGoldrick.
Tudor Robins has written some I like.
Laura Moore’s Ride a Dark Horse and Chance Meeting
I’m assuming you’ve read the classics like Jean Slaughter Doty and Margaret Cabell Self, and older horse novels like Trophies by Ainslie Sheridan and Anne McCaffrey’s The Lady
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There’s an older childrens/YA novel called Everyday Friends by Lucy Diggs. It’s worth tracking down!
Also older books, anything by Patsey Gray. Pedigree Unknown by Dorothy Lyons.
I’ve yet to find any modern horse fiction that really works for me!
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I once complied a list based on recommendations from a number of different threads on this same subject. Of course I have no idea what happened to it. 
Did you see the sticky at the very top of the list of topics on the Off Course topics? It’s got kindle books related to horses.
I can’t think of any new books at the moment. Some authors whose books I have read or had recommended to me (they aren’t all hunter/jumper focused):
Jody Jaffe
Carolyn Banks
Laura Crum
Natalie Keller Reinert
Kit Erhman
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If you like mystery try Lyndon Stacey.
Have you read The Scorpio Races?
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I haven’t read any yet, but Georgina Bloomberg’s The A Circuit books.
While personally I didn’t love Kim Ablon Whitney’s Show Circuit series, I was compelled enough to read all 4. My standards must be low though because I read more of Claire Svendsen’s Show Jumping Dreams books then I care to admit, but I hated the main character more and more with each book (an annoying know-it-all who can’t seem to do wrong) and finally had to stop before I got too rage-y.
On the non-H/J front I second the Dressage Chronicles, finally some characters who are not completely unlikable. I read the first three of Natalie Keller Reinert’s Eventing series, which I found interesting but once again I found the main character rather annoying.
Here are a handful of ones that I’ve recently read. There are plenty more and if you need book ideas I can give you my Good Reads info. Tons of books on there, horse and non horse related:
Standalones:
Ladies and Gentlemen by Anne Polli
After The Start Bell & Clear To The Last by Hazel Beecroft
Breaking Free by Lauraine Snelling
Finding Daylight by Mara Dabrishus
Series:
The Eventing Series by Natalie Keller Reinert
Thrill of the Chase, Jump If You Dare, A Year At Worst by Hazel Beecroft
Dressage Chronicles Series by Karen McGoldrick (yes, it involves dressage but is really good and not technical at all - fabulous series)
Show Circuit Series by Kim Ablon Whitney
Fortune’s Fool Series by Mary Pagones
Loxwood Series by Grace Wilkinson
The Harrisons Series by Alexa Bloom
Stay The Distance Series by Mara Dabrishus (racing series)
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I agree with so many of these suggestions. My struggle with equestrian fiction is that the vast majority is either A) written for the pre-teen set and/or B) not well written (particularly with the horse details). That hasn’t stopped me from reading a million of them, but my favorites (most of which I have re-read several times) are:
Jilly Cooper - Riders & Polo are the best two IMO and are just so luxuriously decadent & fun, I have probably read them both 5 or 6 times
Dressage Chronicles Series by Karen McGoldrick (I am not a dressage rider either but these are very well written and compelling)
All of the Natalie Keller Reinert books (she has an eventing series, a racing series, and one that is dressage related - all fantastic)
All the books by Kim Ablon Whitney
Fortune’s Fool Series by Mary Pagones
The Eventing Trilogy by Caroline Akrill
Kiss & Tell by Fiona Walker (if you like Jilly Cooper you will like this one)
The Eighty Dollar Champion: Snowman by Elizabeth Letts (based on a true story)
The Jane Smiley books (especially Horse Haven) are fun and funny
Horseplay by Judy Reene Singer
The Defining Gravity series by Genevieve McKay
Ladies and Gentlemen by Anne Polli
The Georgina Bloomberg series is actually pretty good
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Rita Mae Brown’s Sister Jane mysteries, and Riding Shotgun (stand-alone book).
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Oh, and British writer KM Peyton writes very good horse novels.
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Tami Hoag mysteries - Dark Horse and Alibi Man
:yes: :encouragement:
I have never hunted & find these good reads.
Also loved Jane Smiley’s Horse Heaven - hardly all rainbows & unicorns, but compelling.
For nonfiction I enjoyed Michael Korda’s Horse People.
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Dick Francis, almost all of the books deal with horse racing. Good Reads. For Kicks , my favorite
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Ok back with more (some mentioned above, some new suggestions):
Bittersweet Farm Series by Barbara Morgenroth
Alex & Alexander Series by Natalie Keller Reinert (brings in Eventing Series characters as well)
Blaze of Glory Series by M. Garzon
Aspen Valley Series by Colette Auclair
A Circuit Series by Georgina Bloomberg
Steve Cline Series by Kit Ehrman
Canterwood Crest Series by Jessica Burkhart
Hearts Over Fences by Toni Leland
Ride A Dark Horse by Laura Moore
Horseplay by Judy Reene Singer
Susan Arher has 2 great books.
Ooh, excited for this thread XD
I’m guessing you’ve read the books by Marguerite Henry (the Misty books) and the ones by Walter Farley (the Black Stallion books)? I really like Farley’s Man O’War novel
There’s also a book called The Fire Pony by Rodman Philbrick that I enjoyed.
Also:
I’ll Take Cappy by Lee McCabe
Stallion of the Sands by Helen Griffiths
King of the Stallions by Edward B. Tracy
It was very funny and every time he described a new character I thought, “I know that person!” :lol:
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I loved horse people! I have realized since then the Korda family was very involved with the movies.
I don’t read as much as I used to but I do recommend Dorothy Lyons. I think she wrote smoke Rings and Jump Shy. Great books. I think she wrote about 50 about horses.:yes:
I liked lots of the ones listed. Don’t think anyone has mentioned these ones:
In & Out - Barbara Moss (romancy showjumper novel)
The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls: A Novel - Anton DiSclafani (coming of age type story set in the 1930s)
Learning to Fall - Anne Clermont (great showjumping story)
Ride Every Stride - Amy Maltman (Easy read)
Old now but a great book – The Show Gypsies by Leigh Brown.
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