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The books on this list are tales crafted to suit the horse enthusiast both young and old. I grew up reading and re-reading many of these top horse books to the point of pages tearing or the bindings giving out. Later, as an adult, I and went back and purchased many of them to have in my equestrian collection. These horse stories hold a special place in my heart. As a young girl I breathed horses.
When I slept they appeared in my dreams, when I was awake they were all I thought about. These books helped my horse cravings and I could disappear into another world for a while where horses existed, making me one happy little girl, and now, as I re-read them all for the millionth time, one very happy adult! Here are some of the top horse books of all time that all generations can enjoy, listed in no particular order.
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- The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Globe
This book is available in both hard cover and paperback. I devoured this book as a child. It is about a Native American girl who lives and cares for wild horses and makes a connection with the wild stallion of the herd. The book is a Caldecott winner, and while the story is delightful, the magnificent illustrations are what really create this perfect horse book. This book is suited for younger children but as a 30-something year old I still find myself opening it and enjoying this remarkable story about a young girl and her wild horses. You can find
The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses here
- Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Black Beauty is a must-read. I can’t tell you the number of times I have read this book. There are also several versions of movies created from it too. In the book, the horses show what life is like from their perspective and their story intermingles with that of each of their owners they have throughout their lives. This top horse book opened my eyes to animal cruelty, animal welfare, and how to treat both people and animals with kindness. This top horse book has sold over 50 million copies since its creation by Anna Sewell in 1877. Black Beauty is a classic and should be on every horse enthusiast’s must-read list. You can find Black Beauty here
- The Saddle Club Series by Bonnie Bryant
This is one of the very first series I read that featured a friends and horses and their horseback riding club. The Saddle Club is just that – a group of girls that rides together at Pine Hollow Stables. The series is perfect for grade-school aged girls. Drama, friends, enemies, horse issues, etc. are problems that arise during this horse-lovers series. I recall laughing, crying, and re-reading the books about a hundred times. Try the first book in the series called Horse Crazy here
- King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry
King of the Wind is probably one of my favorites. I specifically searched for and purchased this book from Amazon because I had to have it in my collection. The red stallion known as Sham was born with both blessing and a curse. The reader will see the horse and his companion, a boy named Agba plagued by both blessings and misfortunes on their incredible journey. A touching, horse-centered tale that has delighted both readers and horse-lovers since its creation in 1948. You can find King of the Wind here
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- Jodie’s Journey by Colin Thiele
Jodie’s Journey expanded my limited knowledge on horses, fire, and arthritis. This odd yet powerful combination of elements left an impression on me that has lasted for decades. This book is about a 12-year-old girl named Jodie who becomes disabled due to juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Jodi can no longer ride her precious horse Monarch, and as she battles not only the struggles with her pain and physical limitations, she is challenged to do more than she has ever done and on her own. Jodie is a fighter, and despite the obstacles she rises above all to save the one thing that matters most to her – her horse Monarch. An incredible book I have never forgotten. You can find Jodie’s Journey here
6. Man O’War by Walter Farley
Man O’War set the precedence for horse racing before Secretariat and before other legendary, mighty racers emerged. In this tale, Walter Farley weaves his magic with story-telling, giving the reader an inside glimpse into the lives this mighty race horse, trainers, care takers, and all that Man O’War touched lives with. This has made the top horse books list and is a fantastic family book that all can read and enjoy. If you’re not a horse-lover, you still may enjoy this story. You can try Man O’War here
- Billy and Blaze by C.W. Anderson
Billy and Blaze was one of the first illustrated books that I became obsessed with. Billy received Blaze for his birthday, and the dynamic duo share lots of adventures not only in this story, but in many other Billy and Blaze books too. The illustrations are black and white but very well done and the stories are beautifully crafted. This is another book I continued to check out of the school library time after time, as I disappeared with Billy on the back of his horse Blaze on their adventures. You can find the first in the series of Billy And Blaze here
- Golden Filly Series by Lauraine Snelling
The Golden Filly series is about a young girl named Tricia and her love of horses. This series is Christian fiction, and in these stories, Tricia learns to put her faith in God during trying times and spends time learning to race horses. The series is engaging, perfect for grade school ages to middle school ages, and there are 10 books in the series starting with The Race. A wonderful, light-hearted series that shows a young girl that faith in God and a love of horses can help you overcome any obstacle. Try The Race (Golden Filly Series, Book 1)
- Beauty by Bill Wallace
Beauty is another horse-lovers must read. Beauty evoked emotion in my elementary school self that I didn’t know I had. The story is about an older horse named Beauty who young Luke finds a friend in. Luke’s parents have gotten divorced and the struggle of their separation has taken its toll on the young boy. Luke finds that Beauty is a creature that can listen to all his fears without judgement. The senior horse instills hope and happiness in young Luke, but the story is not without its heartbreak. Add this to your horse books to read! You can find
Beauty here
- Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
This book is a horse classic! Marguerite Henry has many popular horse-centered books (some of which are on this list) and this is one of the most popular and one of the top horse books of all time. Paul and Maureen are two youngsters who have seen the wild pony known as Phantom and have decided that they must have her. On pony penning day, Phantom does indeed make an appearance, but what happens to Phantom and her foal Misty will forever change the lives of all involved. An excellent addition to any horse-lovers library! You can find Misty here
- Thoroughbred Series
The Thoroughbred series is an amazing series that indulged me in my horse fantasies for HOURS. There are over 70 books in the series, but it all starts with the first book – A Horse Called Wonder. Ashleigh Griffen is a young girl whose parents owned a breeding farm that was destroyed. Ashleigh is afraid to give her heart to any horse ever again, but when a foal is born that is struggling to live, Ashleigh may be the only one that can save it. This is an excellent series full of family, horses, friends, boyfriends, teenage drama, and much more. To find the first book A Horse Called Wonder click here
- The Black Stallion (and series) by Walter Farley
The Black Stallion is a book that most horse-enthusiasts know about. This epic, 1940’s tale has been made into a movie too! The Black Stallion is about a wild black stallion and a young boy named Alec Ramsey. The unlikely pair learns to trust and love each other after a horrible incident occurs that leaves them stranded. Follow Alec and “The Black” as they go from fighting to survive to participating in one of the world’s most epic horse races. This is a heart-warming story you’ll never forget. Walter Farley went on to write 20 more books in the Black Stallion series. Try the The original Black Stallion here
- Album of Horses by Marguerite Henry
The Album of Horses is perfect for any horse-crazy girl or boy. The book is filled with beautiful illustrations of horses. The book has all sorts of different breeds of horses such as the Lipizzaner, the Mustang, the Arabian, and many others. Henry does an incredible job of explain fun facts and the history behind each remarkable breed in her book. This book is perfect for both young children and adults and is coffee-table quality, especially if you acquire the hard-cover version. A visually stunning, knowledgeable book every horse lover should experience. You can find the beautiful Album of Horses here
This list represents some of the top horse books that all equestrians must read. There are many bestsellers on this list and all can help satisfy the craving to learn more about these magnificent four-legged creatures. Are any of your favorites on this list? Do you have any that are not mentioned on the list above? There are tons horse books available to readers on the market today. Hopefully, this list can get you started with some of the top horse stories for readers and riders of all ages.