April's Affections and Intrigues: Love and Mystery Bloom

The Thirteenth Horse, July 2017 Mill Farm Stables #1 by Amanda Wills Author Self-Published Featuring: Kristy Moore 166 pages ISBN: Kindle: B0731ZC75N e-Book Add to Wish List Purchase Kindle

"Riding in a horse quadrille proves a huge challenge"

The Thirteenth Horse
Amanda Wills

Reviewed by Clare O'Beara
Posted April 20, 2018

Childrens

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.

Learn more about The Thirteenth Horse

SUMMARY

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?

What do you think about this review?

Comments

No comments posted.

Registered users may leave comments.
Log in or register now!