Horsey books for children? Boys as well as girls!

[Liza]

I'd like to get some horsey books for my husband's grandchildren for Christmas.  The children were here earlier on this week and although they go to an expensive London riding school to ride every week they appear to know nothing about horses   They have no idea the difference between a mare, stallion and gelding.  They don't know that they are measured in "hands".  They don't know how the colours are described.  They know nothing about the hard work involved in looking after horses.  I have a horrid feeling the poor ponies they ride are looked upon rather like bikes - something you take out of the shed, ride and then just put away until next time
Having spent the morning with us, mucking out, preparing feeds, picking out feet etc. they now hopefully have a slightly better idea
Anyway, it occurred to me that at their ages a lot of my knowledge came from books.  The oldest boy is nearly 11, extremely intelligent and says he wants to be a vet.  So I'd love something interesting to encourage him.
His 9 year old brother has been put off riding having been bolted with - so perhaps I need to get something non horsey for him.
The next one down is a boy of 7.  Extremely enthusiastic about horses but less enthusiastic about reading, so perhaps something with plenty of pictures
Then there are the two girls - 7 and 5!
Not asking much am I?

[SNC]

I think the threshold books are quite good. 

[rhillahorse]

I've got a brand new copy of Think Like a Pony (kind of NH for children), I'll send it to you if you like for a donation to the Donkey Sanctuary?

[intouch]

Elaine Heany's Gentle Horsemanship for Young Riders is quite good, usually available on ebay, or the Pony File, from www.pcuk.org, series of pamphlets with cartoon ponies, good info for the younger reader.

[sayyadina]

My favorite horse books when I was growing up were the Billy & Blaze books by CW Anderson, anything by Marguerite Henry, and the Black Stallion series.

Can't remember anything more off hand, and I can't look through my old horse books since they're packed away who-knows-where.

[heidi66]

Would second the Black Stallion series - plus the Monica Edwards stories too (boys & girls & ponies - set locally in East Sussex) 

Good luck 

[Claire]

and of course the jill books for the girls ....if they can still be had!

[SNC]

and of course the jill books for the girls ....if they can still be had!

I used to read those too, when I was wonder 

[intouch]

There's a lovely wee book called Dandelion by Sheelagh Mawe, sort of cross between Black Beauty, The Maltese Cat and Jonathan Livingstone Seagull (all of which I would recommend as well!)

[Liza]

Thanks everyone - I should find a good selection amongst that lot 
Glad I'm not the only one to remember the "Jill" books!  I was brought up on them!
Will PM you rhillahorse

[Emma_R]

The Silver Brumby books are brilliant if you can get hold of them, really well written and as they are about wild horses I would think probably suitable for both girls and boys but children aren't my strong point so don't take my word for it!

There are quite a few horsey computer games out there too - I don't know if there are any that are educational but possibly worth considering for children that aren't too keen on reading - some of them are quite expensive but others are available for the same price as a good hardback book.

The Saddle Club books are probably still easy to get hold of but I would definitely say more for girls, I don't know what reading age they are suitable for, I just read anything I could get my hands on when I was younger....and now I'm reading all my kids animal stories again 

Joyce Stranger has written some brilliant animal stories, some horsey and some not, she writes from her own experience and has a common sense approach to animals, again I'm not sure of reading age, I think she's done a few for younger children, The Secret of Hunter's Keep is aimed more at younger readers I would say and the main character is a boy, it's got secret passageways and unexpected discoveries as well as the sort of writing about animals (dogs and wild animals rather than horses in this case) where you learn as you're reading it without even realising. I rediscovered Joyce Stranger's book when I found a couple in a National Trust second hand book shop and then made the mistake of looking on eBay/Amazon to see what else she'd written, turns out she wrote quite a bit  I'm on my 3rd...or maybe 4th reading of The Stallion now 

If you want any more info on any of the books I've mentioned feel free to pm me but I will warn you I have a degree in English Lit so you may get an essay for a reply 

Have you thought about horse DVDs? I think there is a series called The Stables which is aimed at kids that you can buy in Robinsons where I did not spend over £100 on mostly DVDs and the latest Pippa Funnel PC game  It might be funny if I actually had a job to pay for all this!   

[Liza]

Yes, I had wondered about DVD's too Emma.
I was quite recently introduced to the Silver Brumby books by Niki as easy reading when I was convalescing earlier on in the year.
I now have a wonderful excuse to spend ages on Amazon and ebay looking for everyone's suggested books

[SNC]

Sorry to hijack thread, but can you still get the Jill books 

[1 morejump]

Anything by Marguerite Henry She has fantastic stuff!
Misty of Chincoteague
Justin Morgan had a Horse (all about the beginnings of the Morgan, great book)
King of the Wind
Sea Star
Born to Trot (Fantastic one!)
Album of Horses (lots of short stories about different breeds)
Brighty of the Grand Canyon (IMHO, the very best book she wrote!)
Misty the Wonder Pony
Black Gold (about the famous race horse)
White Stallion of Lipizza
Mustang, Wild Spirit of the West
San Domingo, The Medicine Hat Stallion
Misty's Twilight

All are great, fun reads about horses and you do pick up quite a bit of knowledge from them.   

[Emma_R]

Born to Trot (Fantastic one!)
Album of Horses (lots of short stories about different breeds)
Brighty of the Grand Canyon (IMHO, the very best book she wrote!)
Misty the Wonder Pony
Black Gold (about the famous race horse)
White Stallion of Lipizza
Mustang, Wild Spirit of the West
San Domingo, The Medicine Hat Stallion
Misty's Twilight

1 morejump what have you done!!!  I had never heard of these books before, didn't realise Marguerite Henry had written so many books but seeing as I loved the ones I have read I am now going to have to buy even more books!