Alex Nash doesn’t see his dad more than one day a year, and his mom never says anything about the man unless it’s disparaging. But her medical career is cut short and Alex finds himself obliged to spend summer with his dad, Roberto Nash, before moving to live with his aunt in the fall. Rob Nash lives on a small Colorado ranch, and maybe ON A GOOD HORSE he and his son can start mending the fences between them.
This Young Adult tale of finding family and finding yourself revolves around a summer full of empty land, heat and horses. Rob is a horse shoer, working on other folks’ horses, and he’s glad of the chance to train in some help, as well as to get to know his son. The physical work is a struggle for a lad more accustomed to computers; on the other hand, Alex can’t believe his dad is so slow to write up invoices on the home computer. The man hasn’t even heard of Ebay. But mainly, the new sorrel gelding Rio is a focus for Alex. While his dad rides the older Jack, Rio is fiery and keen to work. A nice touch is that between some chapters we see a snippet of this horse’s point of view.
The open land carries many dangers, not least of which is coming off a horse at speed. Alex learns to cope. He also meets a local youngster, though he’s annoyed that there are no boys his age and he has to ride with a girl, Reece Harding. Author Darby Karchut explains at the end that many of these events are based on her own growing up days, riding around with her friends. Anyone who’d like to get a taste of this life would do well to read ON A GOOD HORSE, which presents Alex with many challenges and lessons. The biggest challenge of all, of course, is deciding what he wants to do with his life. I find this an enjoyable read, not overly sentimental, which will suit readers from twelve to fifteen. Darby Karchut has previously written modern fantasy about Finn MacCullen who encounters Celtic legends in ‘The Adventures of Finn MacCullen’ series.
A boy and horse could outrun all the sadness of this flat world. If the boy believed, and the horse was swift. The sorrel knew he was fast enough to help the boy. He just needed open grassland and a light hand on the reins. He'd show Ol' Mr. Grief his heels. Why, he'd run so fast that the wind would peel that sorrow right off the boy. Like a snake shedding its skin. Leaving it caught in the grass and drying up in the sun. Dust to dust. All the horse needed was a chance.
Alex Nash dreams of being a soccer star. Or a graphic artist. Maybe both. But being a cowboy? Nope and no way. Not if it means being anything like his seldom seen father.
Then, out of nowhere, tragedy shatters Alex's world, and when he thinks life couldn't sucker-punch him again, it does. He's forced to live with Roberto Nash, a man he barely knows. Or wants to know.
Until Alex finds out his dad has bought him a peace offering of a sort, one with a red coat, lightning speed, and a fighting spirit. A spitfire of a horse that just might heal Alex's heart and reunite father and son.
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