Post by tintin on Mar 5, 2015 13:46:07 GMT 1
One of our local railway stations has a book shelf for the Red Cross and I was very pleasantly surprised to pick this one up
The book is set in Virginia and Cara is a girl at secondary who loves horses. She is from a working class background and can only afford one lesson a week with the splendid Mrs P
She gets her big break when a local worthy's daughter allows her to exercise her horse when she goes to college
Lucas the horse, a chestnut with flaxen mane and tail, is the star of the book. He is adorable (and credible). The love of rider for horse is very well done here, reminiscent of General Seely and Warrior.
Cara works hard and becomes a talented showjumper, but then disaster strikes. Lucas's owner stays in California for some bloke (who although he is never described I cannot help but imagine to have unkempt bleached hair and say "dude" too much) and Lucas is sold. His new owner is a social climbing lady who is not that bright.She has two daughters who she thinks teaching to ride will help her advance in society. Cara is, fortunately engaged to look after the horse and rides him in competition.
One daughter Sophie, who is nervous of horses, becomes her friend and overcomes her distrust to enjoy riding. The other one, Vanessa, is pure evil.She tries to sabotage Cara's success in an effort to get back to the city and her boyfriend.
So far, perhaps so pony book stereotypical. However, several things raise the book above the average. There is a lot of good detail on show jumping and aspirant competitors will love this. The supporting characters - the groom, Cara's parents and school friend and Sophie are lovely. Mrs P the Riding Mistress is best though ("what sort of men do we want as Warrant Officers and NCO's on our Army? - b******s with hearts of gold" - that is very much the mold she is in)
Vanessa is a truly awful villain - up their with Charlie from the Augusta and Christina series and Angela from Timber Ridge.
All turns out well in the end. Only one thing I was less than keen on the sub-text that when a girl gets a man she turns into an unfeeling brute.
It would be nice to see this turn into a series - perhaps Cara could have a horsey boyfriend, preferably from a less frenetic discipline than show jumping - heavy draughts perhaps?
The book is set in Virginia and Cara is a girl at secondary who loves horses. She is from a working class background and can only afford one lesson a week with the splendid Mrs P
She gets her big break when a local worthy's daughter allows her to exercise her horse when she goes to college
Lucas the horse, a chestnut with flaxen mane and tail, is the star of the book. He is adorable (and credible). The love of rider for horse is very well done here, reminiscent of General Seely and Warrior.
Cara works hard and becomes a talented showjumper, but then disaster strikes. Lucas's owner stays in California for some bloke (who although he is never described I cannot help but imagine to have unkempt bleached hair and say "dude" too much) and Lucas is sold. His new owner is a social climbing lady who is not that bright.She has two daughters who she thinks teaching to ride will help her advance in society. Cara is, fortunately engaged to look after the horse and rides him in competition.
One daughter Sophie, who is nervous of horses, becomes her friend and overcomes her distrust to enjoy riding. The other one, Vanessa, is pure evil.She tries to sabotage Cara's success in an effort to get back to the city and her boyfriend.
So far, perhaps so pony book stereotypical. However, several things raise the book above the average. There is a lot of good detail on show jumping and aspirant competitors will love this. The supporting characters - the groom, Cara's parents and school friend and Sophie are lovely. Mrs P the Riding Mistress is best though ("what sort of men do we want as Warrant Officers and NCO's on our Army? - b******s with hearts of gold" - that is very much the mold she is in)
Vanessa is a truly awful villain - up their with Charlie from the Augusta and Christina series and Angela from Timber Ridge.
All turns out well in the end. Only one thing I was less than keen on the sub-text that when a girl gets a man she turns into an unfeeling brute.
It would be nice to see this turn into a series - perhaps Cara could have a horsey boyfriend, preferably from a less frenetic discipline than show jumping - heavy draughts perhaps?