Wide Stride Equestrian Center
Bangor, Pennsylvania
The Black Stallion
The Black Stallion is a classic and for good reason. First published in 1941, the story is timelessly engaging. As a boy, Alec Ramsey is shipwrecked on a deserted island with a wild horse. Alec and the Black Stallion come to build a singular bond that lasts for the ages — and for countless sequels.
Horse Girl
Wills is so excited to start her horse riding training at the prestigious Oakwood Riding Academy. But Amara and her friends don’t make it easy for Wills. Luckily with her horse Clyde at her side, she can tackle anything; mean girls, family problems, and even boys.
Pony on the Twelfth Floor
Kizzy has always wanted a pony, but she lives in the city. Then, one day, she finds a pony happily gobbling up all the donuts in the supermarket. This is the opportunity Kizzy has been dreaming of, but can she keep the pony hidden in her twelfth-floor apartment without anyone finding out?
Horse Diaries #1: Elska
Fans of the Dear America series will love these books on horses and history. Written from the horse’s point of view, these stories cover a wide range of history and geography, tracking horses in Iceland circa 1000 AD, 16th century Spain, 9th century Arabia, and more.
Black Beauty
Another classic, this one written and set in 19th century London and told from the horse's point of view. When I read it, I didn’t fully understand this book as a treatise against animal cruelty — though kids know injustice when they see it (or read about it). While various versions of
Black Beauty
are out there, strive to find Sewell’s original, which helps teach children the true meaning of kindness.
Pony Camp Diaries Series
Join the girls at Sunnyside Stables, where everyone gets her own pony to take care of and ride for the week, along with a diary to write about her riding adventures. In
Sophie and Sparkle, the girls' belongings go missing, and they question
if there's a thief in the group.
Stallion by Starlight Magic Tree House #49
For horse-loving fans of the Magic Tree House series, Stallion by Starlight is the perfect two-fer. In this book, part of the Magic Tree House Merlin Mission series, Jack and Annie find themselves traveling through time on a quest from Merlin, and find themselves meeting Alexander the Great and a wild black stallion.
Horse Heroes is the nonfiction companion to Stallion by Starlight, featuring stories about famous horses and other facts for the horse-obsessed. Most recommend reading it second.
Pony
Prepare to have your heart broken and put back together again with this upcoming novel from the bestselling author of
Wonder. This extraordinary story is about a boy searching for his kidnapped father, the ghost accompanying him, and the pony acting as his guide. It’s the can’t-miss book for horse lovers.
Riding Lessons (An Ellen & Ned Book)
In this wonderful series from bestselling author Jane Smiley, readers follow spunky Ellen as she begins taking riding lessons and forms an instant bond with a colt named Ned. Occasionally Ellen’s feisty character gets her into trouble, and she isn’t allowed to go to the ranch. But when Ellen’s life gets turned upside down, it's her friend Ned that she needs to turn to the most.
Who Was Seabiscuit?
Every aspiring horse-lover should know by heart the great underdog tale of the Thoroughbred racehorse, Seabiscuit — and his race for the ages against War Admiral. For middle grade readers who aren’t anywhere near ready for the nearly 500 pages of acclaimed adult nonfiction that is Seabiscuit, by Laura Hillenbrand, there’s this highly accessible entry in the Who Was… ? series.