We can’t learn enough about horses in our house! Everything is horse related, from horse coloring, to horse movies, horse stories, horseback riding lessons, 4-H club, and even horse apparel. Not only are we doing equine science as our science this year, but we are also using some other horse stories and books for some more horsey fun and hands on learning.
We have an extensive collection of fiction books with horsesas the primary focus, as well as a collection of non-fiction horse books for reference and learning purposes.
Despite all of this, we can never have enough horse books in our house!
Lucky for us we have found some new horse books to add to our collection! Candlewick Press has both fiction and non-fiction horse books that we are using to extend our fun reading and increase our basic horse knowledge.{I received copies of these books and was compensated for my time in writing this review. All views are my own and I was not required to write a positive review. Please see my full Disclosure Policy for more details.}
Horse Stories
1. Chancey: Horses of the Maury River Stables (ages 9-12 years)
On the night that Chancey is born, a “fire star” gallops across the sky, a signal that a great horse has entered the world. But it will take many years of slights and hardships before the orphaned albino will believe that the prophecy is truly meant for him. First he must find a home at the Maury River Stables and a girl named Claire who needs him as much as he needs her. Then, when his aching joints and impending blindness bring an end to their training together, he must start a new chapter as a therapeutic horse, healing people with wounds both visible and unseen. In the manner of a latter-day Black Beauty, Chancey’s observant voice narrates this absorbing story, filled with fascinating details of life at the stable and keen insight into equine instinct, human emotion, and the ineffable bond that connects them both.
On the night that Chancey is born, a “fire star” gallops across the sky, a signal that a great horse has entered the world. But it will take many years of slights and hardships before the orphaned albino will believe that the prophecy is truly meant for him.
2. Macadoo: Horses of the Maury River Stables (ages 9-12 years)
When Macadoo is just a colt, he challenges his father?—?a huge Belgian stallion?—?in order to protect his dam. From that moment on, Mac knows that his purpose in life is to help others. From surviving a kill auction to learning how to be a vaulting horse to giving therapeutic riding lessons, Mac is always patient and never loses hope in his mission to serve others?—?and he finds the courage to “walk on” through even the most difficult circ*mstances.
3. Dante: Horses of the Maury River Stables (ages 9-12 years)
Dante’s Inferno may be the grandson of the greatest racehorse in modern times, but his start proves a rough one, both in life and on the track. When Dante fails as a racehorse, he lands briefly at a Thoroughbred rescue facility run by rehabilitating prisoners before being adopted as a project horse at the Maury River Stables. It’s not easy for Dante to make friends — horse or human — but slowly, horses Daisy and Napoleon bring him into the fold, and the girl Ashley begins to work with him. Can Dante put his fears aside and find redemption as an eventing horse?
Handsome but headstrong, a retired racehorse finds a second chance in this affecting, fast-paced novel that comes straight from the horse’s mouth.
Why We Love These Horse Stories
One of the coolest things about these three books is that they are told from the perspective of each horse. Because they are all set at the Maury River Stables you also get to hear about all 3 of these horses in each of the three books, seeing each one from the other’s perspective and hearing their continued stories.
Each of these books is full of horse facts, terminology, and information. From the places and food they are fed, the tack that is used to ride them, their types of gaits, breeds, colors and more. Seeing as I have a love of historical fiction because it brings history to life, I love these books because they bring the horse world to life.
Horse Fun Word Search
I have created a Horse Fun Word Search Printable(this is a pdf of the Word List Page above and the letter search box) that includes some of the horse terminology found in each one of these books.
Besides just doing the word search there are some other things you can have your children do with horse terminology:
- Have them find the terms in the books as they go.
- Write each word on a separate piece of paper and write definitions for them.
- Have them create their own list of horse terminology as they read through the books.
- Create a horse terminology book by using the list they have made. They can use these FREE Notebook Pages to draw or print picture of the terms and write a description of each term.
Horse Non-Fiction
While both of these books are listed for younger ages, they can be used for older children as well. While the information is presented in a fun and engaging way for little kids, the information covered it relevant to all equine lovers.
Our 4-H group has boys and girls from ages 8-13 and these books were a wonderful reference as we work through our 4-H book in the hopes of earning their first star!
1.A Field Full of Horses(ages 4-8 years)
“Every child who has ever clambered up the back of a pony or dreamed of owning a horse will delight in A FIELD FULL OF HORSES. Full of interesting facts about horses, this handsome book captures the very essence of horses for the very young.”
With pretty painted images, and tons of information sprinkled throughout this book makes a great lap time read aloud, a fun book for younger kids to flip through on their own, and a good reference for basic horse knowledge.
2.Horse: The Essential Guide for Young Equestrians (ages 6-9 years)
“Two experienced stable hands pass on their hard-won knowledge about such tasks as grooming and feeding, tacking up, and keeping equipment in top shape, along with tips on how to mount and dismount and perfect your riding posture so it seems you were born with a set of reins in your hands.” Among this book’s many novelty features are:
- A lift-the-flap saddle
- Ribbon stickers
- Informative booklets
- Pull-out cards
- A certificate of achievement at the end
This book contains lift a flaps, pull-outs, mini books, and more, that add to the fun as well as containing tons of extra information! This book includes topics like horse markings, riding gear, breeds, tack, feeding and care, parts of a horse and basic riding skills.
Horse Knowledge Worksheet Printables
To go along with the non-fiction horse books as well as the horse stories, I have created some fun printables. All the information can be found in the 5 books (listed above) from this horse unit study.
Parts of the Saddle
In the Horse: The Essential Guide for Young Equestrians on page 8 you will find a fun, moveable English saddle diagram of which you can use to label this Parts of the Saddle Printable Worksheet.
Parts of a Horse
In both Horse: The Essential Guide for Young Equestrians and A Field Full of Horses you can find images with the parts of a horse labeled which you can use to label this Parts of a Horse Printable Worksheet.
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