When you love horses, you love horses, and there’s no other feeling in the world like the special connection you can have with yours. It’s beautiful and inspiring, and easily one of the most rewarding things you can do in the modern age.
If you share this passion for horses and always share a passion for reading, you’ll love the fact there are so many horse-related books out there for you to dive into. Today, we’re going to explore eight of the very best that every horse rider and lover should fill their bookshelves with!
1. The Faraway Horses – Buck Brannaman
Buck Brannaman, one of the most iconic horse riders in the world, even featured in the aptly named iconic documentary Buck back in 2011, has now written his own book that will change your life.
“Easily one of the most intense rollercoasters of emotion, you’re sure to laugh, cry, and feel like a different person once you’ve flicked through the pages of what this book has to offer you,” says Veronica Emobi, a writer at Assignment Help and State Of Writing.
2. Riding Lessons – Sara Gruen
If you’re in the mood for a bit of light-hearted reading and you simply want to unwind and take a breather from life, riding lessons is the book for you. Now, don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of misinformation in this book, including some of the myths about horse riding you might laugh at, but as a far as a story goes, this is one of the best and most gripping.
3. Sgt Reckless America’s War Horse – Robin Hutton
Based on the true tale of one of the most defining and courageous warhorses to grace America, this story follows the steps of Sgt Reckless, who served with the Marines during the Korean War and is still, to this day, the only animal to have been given the official rank of a Marine Corps.
4. Chosen by a Horse – Susan Richards
Chosen by a Horse is a captivating horse-based novel that will have you hooked from start to finish. Written with grown-ups in mind, the story follows Lay Me Down, a retired and forgotten about racehorse, now with a foul which is then rescued and shown the love it so desperately needs. A heartfelt tale through and through.
5. The Horse Whisperer – Nicholas Evans
The chances are, as a horse lover, you’ve seen the major motion picture of the same name, the one starring Robert Redford, but have you given yourself the time to read the book? Set in the heart of Montana, the story recounts the events of Tom Booker, a horse whisperer who could be an injured horse’s last hope.
6. Borrowed Horses – Sian Griffiths
A classic tale for horse lovers, the story here follows Joannie Edson, an Olympic hopeful who is torn between her love for the sport and being there to support her family, including her ever-increasingly sick and poorly mother. Time goes on, and as her horse gets older and further away from being able to complete, the time comes for Joannie to make a life-changing decision.
7. Shadow Horse – Alison Hart
While this list has focused on adult horse riding books, if you’re looking for a book that will satisfy both adults and children alike, this is the book for you. “With plenty of classic horse references, such as the Devon Horse Show, this is a genuinely accurate book that’s captivating enough to keep you turning the pages and loving every single word,” explains Daniel De Silva, a blogger at Essay Services and Revieweal.
Beautifully written and a real page-turner, this is a book every horse enthusiast is going to love.
8. The Complete Horse Riding Guide – William Micklem
To finish off our list, I’m going to draw your attention to this book, which is exactly as the title suggests. Of course, reading is no match to actual experience, but if you’re looking to master your craft, learn new techniques, and mindfully sharpen your skills, there’s no better book than this.
This book contains everything from how to look after your horse and find the right horse for a rider and then goes onto how to show jump and participate properly in events. Everything you’ll need is right here.