As a self-confessed horse girl, since the age of five I read every single book I could get my hands on that featured horses. I talked of nothing else, and begged and harrassed my parents until the age of 11, when they finally relented and bought me a pony. These days, I can’t afford to own horses, but I still practically gallop towards any book that features the noble steed. I can definitely recognise a writer who lives with horses, unlike those who may only admire them from a distance. It’s all in the tiny, intimate details between horse and human, not to mention the correct usage of the terminology of the numerous items of expensive equipment (tack) that having horses requires.

I think horse lovers are probably born that way, but being surrounded by lots of horse books is a way of furthering the passion, and since being horse crazy affects a small but significant (and very passionate!) percentage of the population, we necessarily need books for horse enthusiasts at every age. Here are my favourite horse books for all ages, beginning with adult fiction and going backwards till birth. Yes, (in case you were wondering) a book about a pony is an excellent gift for a newborn!

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

Brooks’ latest novel has plenty of beautiful horsey moments set on the racetrack and in the incredibly close relationship between the racehorse Lexington and his rightful owner and groom, Jarrett.

Jarrett is there at the horse’s birth and stays with him throughout his successful racing career, but he is not legally allowed to own Lexington and is constantly exploited due to the colour of his skin. While this book is very much an indictment of racism, both in the past and present, the intimate relationship between Jarrett and Lexington is its moral heart and soul, infusing the narrative with the scent of the stables. The author’s acknowledgements tell us that she owns horses and rides regularly. You can absolutely tell.

The One Dollar Horse by Lauren St John

Fifteen year old Casey Blue lives in East London’s grimmest tower block and volunteers at a local riding school, but her dream is to win the world’s greatest Three Day Event: the Badminton Horse Trials. When she rescues a starving, half-wild horse, she’s convinced that the impossible can be made possible.

A contemporary National Velvet, this rags to riches story set in the world of elite equestrian competition is a thrilling read. The author grew up on a farm, and horses feature in most of her books, including another personal favourite, The Glory, set in America during an incredibly demanding endurance race.

For readers aged 13 and up.

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

The world’s most famous book about a horse is also the first book written from an animal’s perspective. Author Anna Sewell wanted to alert people to the abominable treatment of horses in Victorian England and intended it for an adult audience, not children. Her book was instrumental in the animal rights movement.

I read this book hundreds of times as a child and, as a consequence, know how to harness a horse to a carriage, along with the dangers of blinkers and bearing reins. Life is horrendous at some moments for Beauty and tears might be shed reading it, but fear not, Beauty eventually gets his well-deserved happy ending.

For readers aged 10 to adult.

Horse Crazy: Bonnie and Sam stories by Alison Lester

Alison Lester has serious kudos when it comes to horse knowledge, since she first rode a horse at the age of three and has owned horses her entire life. She also writes about them with a knowledge that no other Australian author can rival, in my opinion. So, its a terrible decision to choose between her many horse books. So I didn’t (please see below)!

But this collection of stories about two horse-loving country kids who look after and ride the many horses and ponies in their town just oozes with first-hand knowledge of a knockabout pony-loving childhood and it was so delightful I honestly tried to drag out reading it as long as possible.

For readers aged 5 and up.

Noni the Pony by Alison Lester

This is the prefect present for the earliest horse appreciator (or a baby you are secretly trying to indoctrinate into the horsey world!). Its about a barrel-chested pony who frolics with her friends, including a dog and cat, and has wonderful adventures. She is so delightful, there is an entire series based on Noni. Even a newborn baby will coo over this charming pony.

Suitable for ages 0-3.

In Lester’s incredible horse oeuvre, its also hard to go past The Snow Pony, based on a true story in Alison’s own childhood, and Running with the Horses, based on the escape from Vienna of the famous Lippizaner horses of the Spanish Riding School when the Nazis invaded in 1945.

I also need to mention one of the most beautiful Australian books on the wild horses that roam the Australian Alps, The Silver Brumby, and you can read my review of this book here.