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The Best Children’s Books About Horses

“What are the best Children’s books about Horses?” We looked at 209 of the top Kids Horse books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top 29 titles, all appearing on 2 or more “Best Kids Horse” book lists, are ranked below by how many lists they appear on. The remaining 175+ titles, as well as the lists we used are in alphabetical order at the bottom of the page.

Happy Scrolling!



Top 29 Best Children’s Books About Or Featuring Horses



29 .) Ancient Thunder written by Leo Yerxa

Ancient Thunder

Lists It Appears On:

  • Goodreads
  • Softonic

A colorfult art book that celebrates horses.



28 .) Cowardly Clyde written by Bill Peet

Cowardly Clyde

Lists It Appears On:

  • Goodreads
  • Softonic

For a war horse, Clyde is an abysmal coward, but he finally decides that even if he isn’t brave he can at least act brave.



27 .) Every Cowgirl Needs a Horse written by Rebecca Janni

Every Cowgirl Needs a Horse

Lists It Appears On:

  • Barnes & Noble
  • Goodreads

Nellie Sue, who fancies herself a real cowgirl, wants a horse for her birthday, but she discovers that a brand new bicycle–her first–takes almost as much taming as a filly.



26 .) Firehorse Max written by Sara London

Firehorse Max

Lists It Appears On:

  • Books For Keeps
  • Goodreads

When an old peddler needs a new horse to pull his heavy wagon, he buys one named Max from the firehouse auction. All’s well until one day Max hears fire bells clanging.



25 .) For Sale or Swap written by Alyssa Brugman

For Sale or Swap

Lists It Appears On:

  • Books For Keeps
  • Children’s Books Daily

Shelby is convinced her reliable but ugly pony, Blue, is holding her back at Pony Club. If only she had a beautiful horse, everyone would see what a great rider she is. But how can Shelby buy a new horse when her parents can’t even afford to pay her Pony Club fees? When she sees an ad for an eye-catching brown pony for sale or swap, Shelby thinks she’s found the answer to all her problems. Maxshine Celtic Copper – otherwise known as Brat – seems perfect. But swapping a pony who’s your best friend for a highly strung horse whose beautiful brown coat washes out with shampoo turns out to be a really bad idea. The race is on for Shelby and her friends to catch a horse thief, find her beloved Blue and return Brat to her rightful owners.…



24 .) Hush, Little Horsie written by Jane Yolen

Hush, Little Horsie

Lists It Appears On:

  • Goodreads
  • Softonic

Rhyming text assures foals that their mothers are watching over them while they leap on a farm, frolic on a beach, gallop on a plain, and sleep in a stall.



23 .) Little Black, a Pony (Little Black Pony, #1) written by Walter Farley

Little Black, a Pony (Little Black Pony, #1)

Lists It Appears On:

  • Carrieelle
  • Goodreads

When a small boy graduates from his little pony to a big horse, the pony is sad until the time comes when he is able to do something the big horse cannot do.



22 .) National Velvet written by Enid Bagnold

National Velvet

Lists It Appears On:

  • Bustle
  • Read Brightly

In mid-twentieth-century England, fourteen-year-old Velvet Brown, determined to turn the unruly horse she wins in a raffle into a champion, learns that she needs more than hard work and dedication to achieve her goal of riding her horse in the Grand National steeplechase.…



21 .) Riding Freedom written by Pam Munoz Ryan

Riding Freedom

Lists It Appears On:

  • Barnes & Noble
  • Read Brightly

A fictionalized account of Charley (Charlotte) Parkhurst who ran away from an orphanage, posed as a boy, moved to California, and fooled everyone by her appearance.



20 .) Robert the Rose Horse written by Joan Heilbroner

Robert the Rose Horse

Lists It Appears On:

  • Barnes & Noble
  • Goodreads

Robert’s allergic reaction to roses gets him in trouble repeatedly.



19 .) Rosie’s Magic Horse written by Russell Hoban

Rosie's Magic Horse

Lists It Appears On:

  • Children’s Books Daily
  • Goodreads

When Rosie’s popsicle stick turns into a horse named Stickerino, they have a lot of adventures.



18 .) Running with the Horses written by Alison Lester

Running with the Horses

Lists It Appears On:

  • Goodreads
  • Softonic

Nina is determined to save the horses at the famous Spanish Riding School in Vienna during the war.



17 .) Seabiscuit the Wonder Horse written by Meghan Mccarthy

Seabiscuit the Wonder Horse

Lists It Appears On:

  • Goodreads
  • Softonic

The true story of Seabiscuit, the grandson of one of the greatest racehorses of all time. But he’d lost nearly every race he’d run. Automobile tycoon Charles Howard took a risk and purchased Seabiscuit for a bargain price. With a clever new trainer and a loving jockey, Seabiscuit began winning. But could he really beat the Triple Crown Champion?…



16 .) Silver Snaffles written by Primrose Cumming

Silver Snaffles

Lists It Appears On:

  • Carrieelle
  • Horse And Hound

Silver Snaffles was a beloved pony book for many generations and is finally back in print via Fidra Books. Anyone who has learned to ride must have wondered quite what the horse thinks of her: children must long for the ponies they love to talk to them.



15 .) Spud & Charli written by Samantha Wheeler

Spud & Charli

Lists It Appears On:

  • Children’s Books Daily
  • Readings

Does your imagination ever run wild? Charli is at riding camp, where her dream is about to come true, she will finally learn to ride a real, live horse. But when show-off Mikaela picks the horse Charli wants, her heart bungees to her toes. Instead of the beautiful palomino Razz, Charli?s stuck riding the massive retired racehorse Spud. And what about the bats that fill the night sky. Don’t bats spread deadly diseases? Riding camp isn’t turning out the way Charli planned, especially when she finds herself in the middle of a life-threatening disaster. An action-packed adventure about horses, bats and getting carried away by your imagination.…



14 .) Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening written by Robert Frost

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Lists It Appears On:

  • Goodreads
  • Softonic

Illustrations of wintry scenes accompany each line of the well-known poem.



13 .) The Gift of the Sacred Dog written by Paul Goble

The Gift of the Sacred Dog

Lists It Appears On:

  • Goodreads
  • Softonic

In response to an Indian boy’s prayer for help for his hungry people, the Great Spirit sends the gift of the Sacred Dogs, horses, which enable the tribe to hunt for buffalo.



12 .) The Horse in Harry’s Room written by Syd Hoff

The Horse in Harry's Room

Lists It Appears On:

  • Goodreads
  • Softonic

Although no one else can see it, Harry is very pleased to have a horse in his room.



11 .) The Quicksand Pony written by Alison Lester

The Quicksand Pony

Lists It Appears On:

  • Children’s Books Daily
  • Readings

After her pony Bella, trapped in quicksand, is rescued by a mysterious unseen person, ten-year-old Biddy follows the trail into the Australian bush and discovers the solution to a disappearance that happened years ago.



10 .) The Winter Horses written by Philip Kerr

The Winter Horses

Lists It Appears On:

  • Read Brightly
  • Readings

In the midst of another freezing winter, Max, the devoted caretaker of a wildlife reserve, must learn to live with the Nazis who have overrun his land. He must also learn to keep secrets, for there is a girl, Kalinka, who is hiding in the park. Kalinka has lost her home, her family, her belongings ? everything but her life. Still, she has gained one small, precious gift: a relationship with the rare wild and wily Przewalski’s horses that wander the reservation. Apart from Max, these endangered animals are her only friends until a Nazi campaign of extermination nearly wipes them out for good. Now Kalinka must set out on a treacherous journey through the frozen Ukrainian forest to save the only two surviving horses ? and herself. This sensitive, inspiring tale captures the power of sacrifice, the endurance of the human spirit and the astonishing loyalty of animals.…



9 .) Thoroughbred Series written by Joanna Campbell

Thoroughbred Series

Lists It Appears On:

  • Carrieelle
  • Not Consumed

After disease wipes out her family’s breeding farm, Ashleigh determines she will never care for a horse again until a small, sickly foal is born at the new farm that her family manages.



8 .) Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa written by Erica Silverman

Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa

Lists It Appears On:

  • Barnes & Noble
  • Goodreads
  • Softonic

Cowgirl Kate and her cowhorse Cocoa, who is always hungry, count cows, share a story, and help each other fall asleep.



7 .) My Friend Flicka series written by Mary O’Hara

My Friend Flicka series

Lists It Appears On:

  • Bustle
  • Horse And Hound
  • Read Brightly

Through his intense devotion to the colt Flicka, a young boy living on a Wyoming ranch begins to learn about responsibility and gain a better understanding of his brusque father.



6 .) Noni the Pony written by Alison Lester

Noni the Pony

Lists It Appears On:

  • Barnes & Noble
  • Children’s Books Daily
  • Readings

Introduces Noni the pony, who is friendly and funny and lives at Waratah Bay, where her best friends are Dave Dog and Coco the cat.



5 .) One Horse Waiting for Me written by Patricia Mullins

One Horse Waiting for Me

Lists It Appears On:

  • Carrieelle
  • Goodreads
  • Softonic

A rhymed counting book from one to twelve celebrates horses, real and imaginary.



4 .) War Horse written by Michael Morpurgo

War Horse

Lists It Appears On:

  • Books For Keeps
  • Read Brightly
  • Readings

World War I has started and the military needs horses to move equipment, charge the enemy, and carry wounded soldiers off the battlefield. Joey, a farm horse is sold to the Army. Joey misses the farmer’s son, Albert, and spends the war years wondering if the war will ever end and if he will ever see Albert again.…



3 .) Misty of Chincoteague written by Marguerite Henry

Misty of Chincoteague

Lists It Appears On:

  • Bustle
  • Carrieelle
  • Not Consumed
  • Read Brightly

Paul and Maureen Beebe’s determination to own a pony from the herd on Chincoteague Island, Virginia, is greatly increased when the elusive Phantom and her colt are among the ponies rounded up for the yearly auction.



2 .) The Black Stallion written by Walter Farley

The Black Stallion

Lists It Appears On:

  • Bustle
  • Carrieelle
  • Not Consumed
  • Read Brightly

Young Alec Ramsay is shipwrecked on a desert island with a horse destined to play an important part in his life. Following their rescue their adventure continues in America.



1 .) Black Beauty written by Anna Sewell

Black Beauty

Lists It Appears On:

  • Bustle
  • Carrieelle
  • Children’s Books Daily
  • Goodreads
  • Read Brightly
  • Readings

A horse in nineteenth-century England recounts his experiences with both good and bad masters.




The 175+ Additional Best Children’s Books About Horses



#BooksAuthorsLists
3016 Hands Between Your LegsJulian SeamanHorse And Hound
31A Field Full of Horses: Read and WonderPeter HansardGoodreads
32A Friend for Einstein, the Smallest StallionCharlie CantrellGoodreads
33A Great Big Ugly Man Came Up and Tied His Horse to Me: A Book of Nonsense VerseWallace TrippGoodreads
34A Horse Called WonderJoanna CampbellBustle
35A Horse Story: Sami and Thomas meet PascalJames McDonaldGoodreads
36A is for AmosDeborah ChandraGoodreads
37A Pony for Jean Readings
38Adventures of the Little Wooden HorseUrsula Moray WilliamsGoodreads
39All the Pretty Little HorsesLinda SaportGoodreads
40Amy’s Three Best ThingsPhilippa PearceGoodreads
41Animal Ark: Not Consumed
42Animal Stars: The Horse Who Bit a BushrangerJackie French.Children’s Books Daily
43Appaloosa Zebra: A Horse Lover’s AlphabetJessie HaasGoodreads
44B is for BuckarooLouise Doak WhitneyBarnes & Noble
45Battle of the Jade HorseAlison Lloyd.Children’s Books Daily
46Being Bindy Books For Keeps
47Breyer Horse Collection Not Consumed
48Breyer Stablemates Series: Not Consumed
49Calico the Wonder Horse, or The Saga of Stewy StinkerVirginia Lee BurtonGoodreads
50Call the Horse LuckyJuanita HavillGoodreads
51Carrie and Bandit Sonrise Stable
52Catch a Winner Leaves the RanchPat Eytcheson TaylorGoodreads
53Circle C Adventures Not Consumed
54Circle C Beginnings Not Consumed
55Clarence Goes Out West & Meets a Purple HorseJean Ekman AdamsGoodreads
56Clip-ClopNicola SmeeGoodreads
57Clothed With Thunder Sonrise Stable
58Coming HomeLauren BrookeBustle
59Cowboy SmallLois LenskiGoodreads
60Do You Dare? The Last Horse RaceJames Moloney.Children’s Books Daily
61Donkey’s Kite (Horse Valley Adventure #2)Liana-Melissa AllenGoodreads
62Encyclopedia of the HorseElwyn Hartley EdwardsCarrieelle
63Every Cowgirl Loves a RodeoRebecca JanniGoodreads
64Everything but the HorseHolly HobbieGoodreads
65Facts About Horses: 50 Amazing Illustrated Facts for KidsAmy LyonsGoodreads
66First Book of Horses and Ponies Readings
67Flutterby FlyStephen CosgroveGoodreads
68Fly-by-Night Books For Keeps
69Follow Our Leader Sonrise Stable
70For Horse-Crazy Girls Only: Everything You Want to Know About HorsesChristina WilsdonBarnes & Noble
71For Love of a Horse Books For Keeps
72Fritz and the Beautiful HorsesJan BrettGoodreads
73From Appaloose to ZebraJessie HaasCarrieelle
74Giddy Up! Let’s Ride!Flora McDonnellGoodreads
75Girl Who Loved Wild Horses Softonic
76Hello, Horse’ Children’s Books Daily
77Hiding that HorseDavid MetzenthenChildren’s Books Daily
78Hoofbeats Not Consumed
79HorseMalachy DoyleGoodreads
80Horse CrazyBonnie BryantBustle
81Horse Crazy: The Complete Adventures of Bonnie and SamAlison LesterChildren’s Books Daily
82Horse Diaries Not Consumed
83Horse in the HouseBen M. BaglioBustle
84Horse Song: The Naadam of MongoliaTed LewinGoodreads
85Horse With the Easter BonnetJane ThayerGoodreads
86HorseflyAlice HoffmanGoodreads
87Horses!Gail GibbonsGoodreads
88I Believe in GenevieveJenny CraigGoodreads
89I Want a PonyJeanne BetancourtBustle
90If I Had a HorseJonathan LondonGoodreads
91JerryUrsula DubosarskyChildren’s Books Daily
92John and TomWillem LangeGoodreads
93Justin Morgan Had a HorseMarguerite HenryBustle
94Keeping Secrets: Timber Ridge Riders (Book 1)Maggie DanaBarnes & Noble
95King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin ArabianMarguerite HenryBustle
96Ladybird Classics: Black Beauty Readings
97Leonardo’s HorseJean FritzGoodreads
98Leroy Ninker Saddles Up: Tales from Deckawoo Drive, Volume OneKate DiCamilloBarnes & Noble
99Lightning JackGlenda MillardChildren’s Books Daily
100Little Red Cowboy HatSusan LowellGoodreads
101Loyal CreaturesMorris Gleitzman.Children’s Books Daily
102Magnus at the FireJennifer ArmstrongGoodreads
103Mercenary (Longsword Saga, #1)R.J. ConnorGoodreads
104Mi Reino Por Un Caballo/ My Kingdom for a HorseAna Maria MachadoGoodreads
105MidnightMark GreenwoodChildren’s Books Daily
106Milkman’s BoyDonald HallGoodreads
107Mister Penny’s Race HorseMarie Hall EtsGoodreads
108Mrs. MackPatricia PolaccoGoodreads
109MumkinStephen CosgroveGoodreads
110Mustang CanyonJonathan LondonGoodreads
111My Australian Story: The Phar Lap MysterySophie Masson.Children’s Books Daily
112My FarmAlison LesterGoodreads
113My PonySusan JeffersGoodreads
114Mystic HorsePaul GobleGoodreads
115Nitter PitterStephen CosgroveGoodreads
116Nobody’s Horse Books For Keeps
117Noni the Pony Goes to the Beach Readings
118Old Thunder and Miss RaneySharon DarrowGoodreads
119Operation Christmas Spirit Sonrise Stable
120Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill FarmAlice ProvensenGoodreads
121Outward Appearances Sonrise Stable
122Phantom Stallion Not Consumed
123Phar Lap The Wonder HorseJackie KerinChildren’s Books Daily
124
Phoebe and Her Unicorn (Phoebe and Her Unicorn Series Book 1)
 Readings
125Pocket Genius: Horses Read Brightly
126Pony Club CampJosephine Pullein-ThompsonHorse And Hound
127Pony Pals Not Consumed
128Pony Problem Readings
129Race with MidnightRob SauberGoodreads
130Rejoice With Me Sonrise Stable
131Rosie and Scamper Sonrise Stable
132Run with the WindCaroline PitcherGoodreads
133Saddle ClubBonnie BryantCarrieelle
134Scamper and the Horse ShowJessie HaasGoodreads
135Sea Star: Orphan of ChincoteagueMarguerite HenryBustle
136SenecaKaren Lee BakerGoodreads
137Sheltie the Shetland PonyPeter CloverHorse And Hound
138Silver Brumby Centenary Edition Readings
139Smoky the Cowhorse Read Brightly
140Snow PoniesCynthia CottenGoodreads
141SnowyBerlie DohertyGoodreads
142Sonrise Stable Series Not Consumed
143Splish-SplashNicola SmeeGoodreads
144StableTed LewinGoodreads
145
Stallion by Starlight (Magic Tree House #49)
 Read Brightly
146Star Horse Readings
147Stay Well Soon Readings
148Step Right Up: How Doc and Jim Key Taught the World about KindnessDonna Janell BowmanGoodreads
149Sugaring Books For Keeps
150Tender Mercies Sonrise Stable
151That’s Not My PonyFiona WattChildren’s Books Daily
152The Artist Who Painted a Blue HorseEric CarleGoodreads
153The Best Book of PoniesJackie BuddGoodreads
154The Biggest Horse I Ever Did SeeSusan CoutureGoodreads
155The Black HorseMarianna MayerGoodreads
156The Black StallionAnna SewellBarnes & Noble
157The Book of Horses and Unicorns Readings
158The Bride’s Farewell Books For Keeps
159The Damage Done Books For Keeps
160The Finest Horse in TownJacqueline Briggs MartinGoodreads
161The Georges and the Jewels Books For Keeps
162The Girl Who Loved Wild HorsesPaul GobleGoodreads
163The GloryLauren St. JohnGoodreads
164The Good-Luck HorseChih-Yi ChanGoodreads
165The Heartland seriesLauren BrookeHorse And Hound
166The Horse and Pony Creativity Book Children’s Books Daily
167The Horses Didn’t Come HomePamela Rushby.Children’s Books Daily
168The Ice HorseCandace ChristiansenGoodreads
169The Island HorseSusan HughesGoodreads
170The Jill seriesRuby FergusonHorse And Hound
171The Jinny seriesPatricia LeitchHorse And Hound
172The Kids’ Horse BookSylvia FunstonGoodreads
173The little horse busGraham GreeneGoodreads
174The Little Unicorn That Had No HornJames McDonaldGoodreads
175The Little White Horse Readings
176The Mare on the HillThomas LockerGoodreads
177The Mud PonyCaron Lee CohenGoodreads
178The One Dollar Horse: Book 1 Readings
179The Palomino Pony Comes Home Readings
180The Palomino Pony Rides Out Readings
181The Perfect PonyKimberly Brubaker BradleyGoodreads
182The Polka Dot HorseElizabeth TheilGoodreads
183The Princess and the PonyKate BeatonBarnes & Noble
184The Red PonyJohn SteinbeckBustle
185The Silver Brumby Readings
186The Silver Horse Switch (Horse Crazy, #1)Alison LesterGoodreads
187The Smallest HorseLorie ListGoodreads
188The Snake Who Wanted To Be A HorseValerie HarmonGoodreads
189The Snow Pony’: Children’s Books Daily
190The StormMarc HarshmanGoodreads
191The Team Books For Keeps
192The ThunderherdKathi AppeltGoodreads
193The Wild Little HorseRita GrayGoodreads
194The Wild OneTerri FarleyBustle
195The Wish Pony Children’s Books Daily
196The Word on the Yard Books For Keeps
197Thinking RacehorseJimmy TudeskiGoodreads
198Tilly’s Horse, Magic: Team Spirit: Book 1 Readings
199Treasured Horses Collection Not Consumed
200Twenty HeartbeatsDennis HaseleyGoodreads
201Uni the Unicorn Readings
202WarhorseMichael Morpurgo.Children’s Books Daily
203We Go In A CirclePeggy Perry AndersonGoodreads
204When Wishes Were HorsesSharon Hart AddyGoodreads
205Who Was Seabiscuit? Read Brightly
206Why Don’t You Get a Horse, Sam Adams?Jean FritzGoodreads
207Winter Shoes for Shadow HorseLinda Oatman HighGoodreads
208With All You Are Sonrise Stable
209Wonder Horse Softonic


12 Best Kids Horse Book Sources/Lists



SourceArticle
Barnes & Noble 11 Books for the Horse-Obsessed
Books For Keeps Children’s Books – Articles – Ten of the Best Horse and Pony Books
Bustle 15 Books About Horses Every ’90s Kid Definitely Read In Their
Carrieelle 10 Horse Books for Kids
Children’s Books Daily Top Twenty Horse Books for Children
Goodreads Best Picture Books About Horses
Horse And Hound The books that every horsey child needs to read
Not Consumed Good Horse Books for Girls
Read Brightly Giddy Up, Readers! The Best Horse Books for Kids Ages 8 – 12
Readings Children’s books about horses, ponies and unicorns
Softonic 12 Best picture books about horses 2019
Sonrise Stable Horse Books for Girls | Christian Horse Books