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.