http://horsecountrychic.blogspot.com/2016/02/a-new-horsey-read.html
There is a new book out, takes place in the eventing world but the author (who rides) had Gretchen Butts vet the book for accuracy. It is brand new.
[QUOTE=JenEM;8531532]
Any suggestion on where to start with Dick Francis? I’ve never read anything of his, almost bought something last month, then couldn’t decide what to get. Any recommendations on a favorite or good starting point?[/QUOTE]
Field of Thirteen
It’s a collection of short stories that I believe were originally published in racing magazines. I think the name of the one I like so much is “Annie’s Song”. In my opinion, it’s the best thing he ever wrote.
And as someone else already said, start with his earlier books. The ones that he collaborated with Felix on are not as good. I’m sure that Felix is a nice guy, but he can’t write like his Dad could.
The Lady and Ring of Fear are both great and both by Anne McCaffrey - NOT fantasy, if that’s what you associate her name with.
Scorpio Races is by Maggie Stiefvater.
Read YA, people! It’s nothing to be ashamed off! Kate Lattey writes some amazing horsey stuff, set in New Zealand, which just fascinates me.
Cormac McCarthy has a trilogy, “The Borders Trilogy” - horsey, but not solely about horses… however, I really like the attention he pays to the dialogue / interaction between the men and the horses in All The Pretty Horses and The Crossing. There’s a little bit of it in Blood Meridian too but not as much.
None of his works are light reads by any means.
[QUOTE=JenEM;8531532]
Any suggestion on where to start with Dick Francis? I’ve never read anything of his, almost bought something last month, then couldn’t decide what to get. Any recommendations on a favorite or good starting point?[/QUOTE]
Come To Grief was my first…
Just read “the fortune hunter” by daisy goodwin- about the foxhunting/ grand national in the late 19th century in england, it was great!
Check out Holly Menino’s books. Excellent!
The old classic, “The Show Gypsies” by Leigh Brown.
A friend of mine just wrote a horsey book for grown ups called Golden Revenge. It’s on Amazon and available on Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/Golden-Revenge-Jane-Renner/dp/069254643X
I recently read Class Warfare by Danya Bray. I got it off of Amazon. Definitely adult, but a fun mystery set in the hunter/jumper world. Highly recommend!!
I think Dick Francis is best read in order they were written
many of the early ones have a feeling of the time and when you read them in order, you feel as if you are taking a journey through the years
My favorite of his books was an early one “For Kicks”
The Lady by Anne McCaffrey is a pretty good read.
I ABSOLUTLY Love this book!! I even recommended it to my mom after she heard me laughing so hard as I read some of it. You did a fantastic job! Let me know if you write anymore. I have written one horse book but it’s been on hold for a while.
[QUOTE=Box of Chocolates;8531156]
I wrote my horsey fiction with adults in mind. The two main characters are in their early 20s.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RM0Q35W?Version=1&entries=0
The Dressage Chronicles is another good choice.
Anton Di Sclafani’s book The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls (not YA despite title)
Rita Mae Brown’s foxhunting mystery series
Elizabeth Letts, The Eighty Dollar Champion: Snowman
Micheale Korda, Horse People: Scenes from the Riding Life
Is this book on Kindle?
[QUOTE=mckenna310;8531543]
I HIGHLY recommend In & Out: Year One in the Jumping for Gold Series by Barbara Moss. It’s like a soap opera centered around a Grand Prix rider. Lots of juicy scenes and accurate horse dialogue. I’m so sad she hasn’t written the next one yet.
Also The God of Animals by Aryn Kyle. Very beautifully written story about a girl on a ranch, family drama, etc.[/QUOTE]
Kate Lattey rides a good series - Pony Jumpers. It’s YA but I love them!
The “Winning Odds” series is very enjoyable. 5 books (Love me a series) about racetrack people and horses. The author really knows tracks, the backstretch, vet work, OTTB rescue, etc. I get crazy when simple horsey mistakes are made, but there are none here.
Easy reading without a teenager in sight. 
[QUOTE=pepper1986;8539943]
I ABSOLUTLY Love this book!! I even recommended it to my mom after she heard me laughing so hard as I read some of it. You did a fantastic job! Let me know if you write anymore. I have written one horse book but it’s been on hold for a while.[/QUOTE]
Thank you for the kind words. I really appreciate it. If it serves as any kind of encouragement … it took me five years to write that book with all the long stretches of putting it on hold until it was finally finished. Sadly, the two books that I’m working on now are in danger of suffering the same fate while I deal with my latest horse-related crisis. Keep at it with your book. It will eventually get done.
If you are open to some late YA the Bittersweet Farm series by Barbara Morgenroth is awesome. She is a horse person and former script writer. The books are factual, funny and captivating. My only complaint is that they are short but several get released every year to satisfy the itch. I read them all in one sitting
