Did you know that horses can sleep standing up? Or that they have the largest eyes of any land mammal? Find out all about their senses, life cycle, behavior, and more in this fact-filled book. Stunning photos give readers an up-close look at these loyal, majestic companions that have been living and working alongside people for thousands of years. 4-7 years
The Everything Book of Horses and Ponies
By DK
Would you like to learn how to take care of a horse, what equipment to use, or enter the world of equestrian sports? Discover their secrets in this fun book. With colorful photos, fur-tastic facts, and bite-sized information, this book takes you into their fascinating world. Find out about favorite breeds from Shire to Shetland pony. Learn about horses and ponies from around the globe, and be amazed by their beautiful coloring and patterns. 4-8 years
Horses (Little Genius)
By Teesh Holladay, Illustrated by Amelia Herbertson
With super-simple concepts about breeds, colors, features, and more, this book is the perfect introduction for little learners. Each spread features a simple fact about what they eat, where they live, how to take care of them, and what they do, accompanied by illustrations of horses in action. 3 years+
The Book of Horses: The Ultimate Guide to Horses Around the World
By Mortimer Children’s Books
This book celebrates the world of the magnificent horse. It transports readers from the Mongolian steppe to the thrilling racetrack. Discover the white horses of the Camargue that gallop through the sea, the lithe thoroughbreds that race at 43 miles an hour, and the brave war horses that plunged into the horror of battle, and many more. At the same time, readers will learn how to care for them, keeping them in top condition. 8-12 years
The Big Book of Horse Trivia for Kids
By Bernadette Johnson
Whether you are a superfan, budding equestrian, or just plain curious, this trivia book is a galloping good time packed with fun facts. Discover the answers to questions including:
What was the their oldest known ancestor like and in what era of Earth’s history did they live?
How smart are they?
Why are Thoroughbreds called Thoroughbreds?
What’s the difference between a trot, a canter, and a gallop.
You’ll learn about famous racehorses in history: Flora Temple, Man o’ War, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, and French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte’s last horse, whose stuffed remains you can see in a museum to this day! 8-12 years
All About Horses: A Kid’s Guide to Breeds, Care, Riding, And More!
By Kelly Milner Halls
Do you know a young child who dreams of riding? Or loves to learn about what it takes to care for one? This book can teach them! They’ll saddle up and become an expert as they read up on what horses eat, all the gear that keeps them strong and healthy, and how to get started riding.
Kids will take a look at the most popular breeds and what makes them special―like the big and strong Clydesdale and the lean and fast Tennessee Walker. They’ll even learn about how they communicate with humans and how to build a loving bond that lasts a lifetime. 6-9 years
Horses
By Laura Driscoll
Saddle up for a look at kids’ favorite horses—sporting, working, and different breeds, too—in this photographic book for the youngest fan. 3-8 years
Gallop! 100 Fun Facts About Horses
By Kitson Jazynka
Calling all pony lovers, horse fanatics, and bookworms! Trot through 100 equine facts in this leveled reader for fluent readers. Packed with weird-but-true facts and lots of equestrian animal info, this Level 3 Reader gallops right into the world of horses–from wild ponies to superstar racers to the shared history of humans and horses. 7-9 years
The book descriptions used are primarily from the publishers.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and/or leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
During the Great Depression, Americans needed cheering up. They found Seabiscuit, the little racehorse with the big heart.
Seabiscuit, born in 1933, was the grandson of Man o’ War, one of the greatest racehorses. His original owners expected that he would be a winning Thoroughbred too. But he was small for a racehorse, had a bit of a bad temper, and preferred sleeping to running. He lost his first seventeen races, eventually winning some, but was inconsistent. Then, Charles and Marcela Howardbought him and hired the right trainer, Tom Smith.
Tom Smith
Tom Smith treated him gently. He let him sleep when he wanted to, fed him better quality hay, and talked to him in a quiet voice. Tom even moved, Pumpkin, a yellow horse, Pocatell, a spotted dog, and, Jo Jo, a spider monkey into Seabiscuit’s stall. The animals seemed to calm him. Then Tom found just the right jockey, Red Pollard.
Red Pollard
Seabiscuit liked Red right away. With Red aboard, he won big races. Soon, he was featured in popular magazines and movie newsreels. Americans loved him. He was like them, overcoming obstacles to succeed. When he won a race, Americans felt they were winning too.
Seabiscuit’s greatest challenge came in 1938, when he faced the tall, sleek Thoroughbred racehorse War Admiral. In 1937, War Admiral won horse racing’s highest honor, the Triple Crown. Seabiscuit, a four-year-old that year could not compete against War Admiral in the Triple Crown events, only for three-year-olds. But Americans wanted to see the two horses race.
They met on November 1, 1938. Red Pollard was injured and could not ride that day. He advised, George Woolf, his replacement how best to ride Seabiscuit. His advice worked. After running head to head for a good part of the race, Seabiscuit sped away from War Admiral to win in an exciting finish.
If you like this post, then please consider sharing it and leaving a comment below. Thank you! Barbara Lowell, Children’s Author
Watch them in action in this exceptional video from PBS’s American Experience:
