I particularly enjoyed this Young Adult book about an
eager
horsewoman in the making. The featured horse - the
eponymous THE THIRTEENTH HORSE at the riding stables --
is a
carthorse breed, the mighty French origin breed called
Percheron. Kristy Moore didn't have a choice about moving
town when her parents changed jobs. She doesn't make many
school friends and quickly decides to work at a riding
stables as she loves horses.
The noble black Cassius is out at grass and -- after a
great
deal of work and training -- Kristy asks if she can ride
him. Three of the other young people who keep their own
ponies at the stables are putting together a quadrille
team, a coordinated ride to music, and need a fourth
member. This might be their only reason for being nice to
her, but Kristy thinks that she might just make some
friends. Cassius has a beautiful nature but he is blind
in
one eye, and needs very special handling. Kristy has to
learn how to ride him safely before she can contemplate
the
challenge of being part of a team.
I love the unusual nature of the riding challenges, and
putting a heavy horse to good use. The author also
stresses
the importance of Kristy keeping up her school grades and
not exhausting herself. This tale is set in England but
will be relished by horse lovers everywhere. Amanda Wills
has written several other children's horse books such as
THE
LOST PONY OF RIVERDALE and demonstrates her expertise
both in
horsemanship and in telling an exciting tale. THE
THIRTEENTH HORSE is ideal for girls and boys from eight
to
fifteen years old.
New girl in town Kristy Moore is desperate to fit in. So, when she lands a job at Mill Farm Stables, she hopes she’ll make friends with the children who keep their ponies there. When she’s given the cold shoulder by their ringleader, bossy Norah Bergman, she seeks solace by befriending the mysterious and mighty black Percheron, Cassius. To her surprise, Norah and her friends invite Kristy to join their quadrille team. Fate deals them one disaster after another and Kristy begins to wonder if they are destined to fail. As the day of the quadrille draws near, can Kristy and her new friends overcome adversity and triumph against all odds? And will Kristy lose the one thing she loves more than anything – her beloved horse Cassius?