The best books in which the equine temperament is the leitmotif

Carole’s protagonist, Pepper Kane, has a lot in common with my amateur sleuth—or perhaps it’s just that women who own horses are genetically wired the same way. In any case, Pepper is one feisty cowgirl who knows and loves horses like nobody’s business. Her love interest, a Lakota tribal policeman, is as enigmatic as Pepper is in-your-face, but he proves invaluable as murders seem to lead a trail to Pepper’s door. The dialogue is quick and sassy, the plots have plenty of twists and equine participation, and all five in the series are page-turners. This is a terrific go-to escapism read whether you know horses or not. Plot spoiler: If you didn’t before, you will by the end.

This is the story of a not-so-pretty, headed-for-the-slaughterhouse horse who became a champion show jumper while the world was in the depths of the Great Depression. Purchased on a whim by an immigrant Dutch farmer, the horse showed astonishing talent as a jumper, and together Snowman (the name his children give their new family pet) and the Dutchman win trophy after trophy in show venues throughout the Eastern Seaboard. Snowman loved to sail over jumps, the higher the better, but he was so much more than his remarkable talent. His heart was as big as his stride. In 1958, when Snowman won Champion of the Madison Square Garden Diamond Jubilee, a would-be buyer approached the Dutchman, only to be told, “He’s not for sale. My children love him.” I love this book.

The well-known tale of another hard-luck horse who achieves greatness on the racetrack never fails to inspire me. Like Snowman, Seabiscuit is another American icon, beloved for his tenacity and drive to win in the years that bridge the Depression and lead up to World War II. Hillenbrand is rightly praised for her breathtaking, heart-pounding descriptions of the race around the track, but we’re rooting for both the horse and the jockey, Red Pollard….not to mention the trainer behind the scenes, Tom Smith. Both Seabiscuit and Pollard bring a lot of baggage to the stable. Each has self-destructive vices, temperamental issues, and a whole lot of physical challenges. For me, the beauty of this book goes beyond the finish line. It meticulously chronicles the intricate relationships that develop between man and horse as they work toward a common goal. By the end of the book, the inevitable win at Santa Ana is pure lagniappe. 

Although considered a children’s book, I never read Black Beauty growing up. I knew the general story line and simply thought it would be painful to ingest. I later learned that Sewell originally intended it as a book for adults, “to induce kindness, sympathy, and understanding of horses.” Fifty years later, I finally picked up the book and found my childhood instincts were right on. It was an exceedingly difficult story to read, particularly since we are learning the story through the eyes of the horse. Of course, when Sewell wrote Black Beauty, horses were used primarily for work, not ridden for pleasure. Kindness toward horses and humane training methods were in style then, as they are now. But the maltreatment Sewell describes is still far too prevalent, as any equine rescue center knows. 

Henry Blake is a very likeable, witty writer from Wales who has produced three classic books on understanding the horse temperament. I discovered them when I was a first-time horse owner and devoured this and his other two titles, Thinking with Horses and Horse Sense. Blake’s books are peppered with self-deprecating anecdotes on how he fumbled his way from the age of four to understanding the animal that would become the center of his working life. His books are worthy precursors to the many “horse whisperer” books that have emerged since Robert Redford played the role.  There is strong, practical, usable advice in what Blake says—because he’s done it all, and is letting us in on his secret, which is really quite simple—learn to think like a horse, honor his approach to life, and always keep a treat of two in your corduroy jacket.