With the weather changing and the days shortening, it is the perfect time to curl up with a good book! There are several horse novels out there and many are classics. I feel like if you own horses, some of the books and movies can be hard to get into. Many of them, and I'm just going to say it, are either cheesy or not accurate in the slightest. However, there are true gems out there that will touch your heart and imagination. I put a little spin on it with some of my favorite horse books. Although it is a shorter list, these are wonderful stories for the whole family to enjoy. 

Fire Horse

By: Diane Lee Wilson 

I will start off by saying, Fire Horse is not one of the old classics. It is harder to find and not a lot of people have heard of it. When I was younger, I loved to read, but I was very picky with my choices. I searched and searched and found this book on the clearance rack many years ago. It is still one of my all time favorites. 

It is about a young girl in 1872. She lives on a farm in the country with her beloved horse. This is her paradise, but it all comes crashing down when her father forces her to move to Boston. She had to sell her horse and leave behind everything she loved. In Boston at this time, there were several fires and they all seemed to be set intentionally. Back then, horses pulled the fire engine. The young girl came across one of the horses and she was badly injured. The girl took her in and cared for her. It sparked ambitions to become a veterinarian. The story goes deeper in and even includes the Great Boston Fire in 1872. This girl uncovers the person behind it and tends to all the sick or injured fire horses. It is a great read and gives a way different point of view in the horse industry.

Paint the Wind

By: Pam Munoz Ryan 

Paint the Wind is a story about a young girl who's mother sadly dies. She lives with her grandmother and is treated horribly. She is abused, lied to, sheltered, and basically held captative. She gets the opportunity to move to Wyoming with her mother's long lost family. These people are kind and help her see the truth in her own life. She faces hardship and has to face a lot of things she thought were lies. While there, she comes across a mysterious Mustang, Artemisia. This horse holds the keys to her freedom, but she has to uncover it. 

Chosen by a Horse

By: Susan Richards 

This is a true story that the author, Susan Richards, actually went through personally. She tells the story of how she decided to rescue a horse. When she goes to get this rescue, the particular horse would not load in her trailer. Instead, an old racehorse squeezes past and gets in her trailer, with her young foal. Susan decides to take them home and she endured a lot with this horse. There were lots of close calls and tears, but she never gave up on this pair. She nurses them to health and begins to bond with them. She battled so much with this horse, but in the end this horse really did choose her. This story will give you goosebumps and might make you shed a few tears. It is an extremely related book and very heartwarming. 

War Horse

By: Michael Morpurgo 

War Horse is one of the best, in my opinion. It is about a horse in 1914. A young boy owns this horse, Joey. They share an incredible bond, but this was a scary time in history. There was a war going on and the Army was in desperate need of men and horses. The boy's family sadly sold Joey to the Army. This horse endures battle, death, insane events, and meets many different people along the way. At one point, he barely survives. He looses people to close to him and fellow horses as well. But he never stopped searching for his boy. It is AMAZING. Literal goosebumps, but it will definitely make you shed some tears. This is one of the few that I will suggest reading the book and seeing the movie because they are equally good.  

Black Beauty 

By: Anna Sewell 

Black Beauty is a true classic. The book and movie are very good and they have always held a special place in my heart. This book was written in 1877. It tells about a beautiful gelding, Black Beauty. He is owned by great people at the start of his life and then is sold to a cruel, abusive owner. He is passed around to quite a few homes and each treats him different. It is told from Black Beauty's point of view and the story really gives an understanding and empathy for working horses. It is an eye opener to read this horse's experience and how kindness goes such a long way with animals. 

Misty of Chincoteague 

By: Marguerite Henry 

Misty of Chincoteague is an older tale. On the Island of Chincoteague, there is a band of wild ponies. They are majestic, but unhandled. There is one in particular, Phantom, who can never be captured. She is a rare mare and has a beautiful filly, Misty. A young boy and girl see Phantom and fall in love. They have to have her. They do end up capturing her and the foal. Misty is extremely gentle and the kids go on a wild adventure with these wild ponies. 

The Black Stallion 

By: Walter Farley 

I think every horse person knows the story of The Black Stallion. It is another classic with a touching horse story. It was first published in 1941 and it tells the tale of a young boy who is ship wrecked. It is a tragic event and this young boy is stranded on a desert island. He is completely alone. Or is he? He notices a wild Arabian stallion with a lot of spirit. He is beautiful and jet black. The boy tames the horse and they become bonded.