World Book Day this year is on the 3rd of March! It’s a great time to find new books and encourage reading as there are so many benefits to it. Reading can help you exercise the brain, improve your ability to focus, improve sleep, reduce stress; the list goes on! We’ve compiled a list of the Best Horse-Themed books to read this world book day.
Black beauty by Anna Sewell
Considered one of the first fictional animal autobiographies, this book narrates the life of a horse named Black Beauty, from his perspective. Black Beauty encounters many hardships as it shows the conditions among old London horse-drawn cab drivers. A well-loved story by many, Black Beauty is a great read enjoyed by children and adults alike.
There have been many different film adaptations of this wildly popular book. This novel by British author, Anna Sewell, has sold over 50 million copies and is an all-time best seller.
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
This young adult fiction novel tells the story of the Scorpio Races that begin every November. The race with water horses is known to be brutal and often life-threatening. The two protagonists, Sean Kendrick and Puck Connolly enter with the hope of changing their lives forever, that is if they can survive.
The award-winning novel was inspired by the Celtic legend of water horses that emerge from the sea once a year. Packed with actions and sure to keep you on edge, this is definitely one to read if you enjoy books like The Hunger Games.
Unbreakable: The Woman Who Defied the Nazis in the World’s Most Dangerous Horse Race by Richard Askwith
Based on the life of Lata Brandisová, this book takes place in 1937 Czechoslovakia. Lata enters the nation’s most prestigious sporting contest, the Grand Pardubice Steeplechase. Race was considered the ultimate test of manhood and fighting spirit, which our protagonist, Lata, must fight against and face the SS Officers sent by Nazi Germany.
The book has strong themes of fighting the sexism, class hatred, and nationalism of the time and still resonates with many today. This brilliant book, about a woman whose name has almost been erased from history, comes highly recommended with a unique hero and a unique bond between a woman and a horse in such conditions.
Chosen by a Horse by Susan Richards
An autobiographical book about how Susan Richards took in a former racehorse that was malnourished and sick and began to form a special bond with the horse as she nursed it back to health and takes care of it. Along the way, the bond begins to help Susan heal some of her trauma too.
This book explores the bond between humans and animals and will resonate well with anyone who has ever had a strong bond with a beloved pet (especially horses).
Wild Horses of the Summer Sun: A Memoir of Iceland by Tory Bilski
As detailed in this memoir, each June, Tory Bilski meets up with fellow women travellers in Reykjavik, where they head to northern Iceland, near the Greenland Sea. These women meet as complete strangers to get away from their lives once a year and have extraordinary adventures as they stay on the horse farm and bond over their enthusiasm for Icelandic Horses.
This book has an engaging story about the friendship between these women and their passion for Icelandic horses. This thought-provoking memoir is definitely worth a read, ideal for horse lovers and those who were fans of books such as Eat, Pray, Love.
There are many books out there for readers who love horses. Have you read any of the books on our list? Or are there any horse-themed books you think deserve mentioning? Why not let us know by commenting on our Facebook page here!
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