Your love of horses is unmatched, and you feel less fulfilled when you aren’t saddling up and trotting through a pasture with the wind blowing through you and your horse’s hair. When the cold-weather season starts, or you’re stuck inside, one of the most comforting things to do is curl up with a book about horses. Whether they’re informational or fictional, these are some of the best horse books to read in the year 2021. We’ve read all the reviews and summaries provided and have come up with books that help you understand horses in new and exciting ways.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites
The 10 Best Horse Books to Read – Reviews 2021
1. From the Horse’s Point of View – Debbie Steglic
| Genre: | Non-fiction |
| Publisher: | Perigan Press |
From the Horse’s Point of View is a book that may not be on the best seller’s list but is a fantastic tool for understanding your horse and why they may be having problems. This book does in-depth about why your horse acts the way they do and how you as the owner might be miscommunicating with them.
The author, Debbie Steglic, is a horse instructor that has written a book armed with knowledge and insight about your horse’s personality, learning style, gestures, and body language. People have used this book for a variety of behavioral issues and swear by its effectiveness.
This book is a fairly quick read with only 174 pages. There are both paperback and Kindle versions available, and the prices are affordable for the amount of material packed inside.
Pros
- Two affordable options
- Informative
- Helps you understand your horse on a deeper level
- Medium-length read
Cons
- Not written by a highly recognizable trainer
2. The Complete Book of Horses – Debby Sly
| Genre: | Non-fiction |
| Publisher: | Lorenz Books |
If you’re interested in learning as much about horses as you possibly can, this is the book for you. The Complete Book of Horses is an encyclopedia overflowing with as much information about horses as you could find.
Debby Sly didn’t leave out a single detail when it came to horses. This book is packed with over 1,500 pictures for easy learning about horse breeds, care, riding techniques, and saddlery, so even someone with zero knowledge about horses can learn to understand them.
The Complete book of horses comes in hardcover and paperback forms. It is a larger book and a little more challenging to hold for casual reading. At 512 pages long, this isn’t the book for you if you’re looking for a quick read. However, it is one of the best horse books around if you’re looking for basic horse knowledge.
Pros
- Highly informative
- Pictures for easy learning
- Paperback and hardback cover available
- Great for novices and experts
3. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse – Charlie Mackesy
| Genre: | Fiction |
| Publisher: | HarperOne |
Non-fiction books packed with too many details aren’t for everybody. Sometimes horse lovers want to sit down and read a book that appreciates horses for their personalities and friendship. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse is a #1 New York Times bestseller and the perfect activity for someone who wants to escape to a world where horses are shown in their true light.
Charlie Mackesy creates the story of a boy and some animals who find themselves together on rugged terrain. He uses the animals as a way to teach lessons about kindness, love, and friendship. This story is excellent for readers of all ages and a great way to teach children valuable life lessons.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse comes in either hardcover or Kindle form. There is also a free audiobook download when you sign up for a free trial. With only 128 pages, it is a quick read and small enough to travel with or take on your own adventure.
Pros
- Compact for travel
- Teaches valuable life lessons
- New York Times bestseller
- Affordable
Cons
- Not informative
- No paperback option
4. Animalkind – Ingrid Newkirk and Gene Stone
| Genre: | Non-fiction |
| Publisher: | Simon & Schuster |
It was only recently that new information came out about animals and how they are, despite some people’s beliefs, highly intelligent, empathetic, and aware. One of the writers of Animalkind was the founder of PETA and has paired up with Gene Stone to present their findings on how animals, including horses, have more human-like qualities than ever believed.
On top of learning some of the newest discoveries about horses, this book equips you with changes to make in your everyday lives to ensure that their world is healthy and protected. For those who are passionate about animal treatment, this is the book you’ll want to read.
Animalkind comes in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook versions. At 304 pages, it is a medium-length read that may take longer to get through than other books. It doesn’t focus directly on horses, but there is still some valuable information about them spread throughout the pages.
Pros
- Subject matter written by experts
- Affordable
- Uncommon topic
Cons
- No paperback
- Not about only horses
5. Horses Never Lie: The Heart of Passive Leadership – Mark Rashid
| Genre: | Non-fiction |
| Publisher: | Skyhorse |
Training horses isn’t something that anyone off the street can do. It takes years of acquired knowledge and practice to understand horses and how they learn. The author, Mark Rashid, is a recognized horse trainer who uses his experience to teach readers about his approach to horse training.
Rashid specializes in a gentler approach to training. He believes that even the toughest horses can learn from his sensitive training methods, and this book allows horse owners around the world to train their pets in a more kind and loving way while still being effective.
Horses Never Lie is a #1 bestseller on Amazon and uses both facts and storytelling to compel readers to finish the book. With only 240 pages, you won’t get to become an expert trainer or understand everything there is to know about horses, but it makes for an exciting read that helps you learn a few things along the way.
Pros
- Quick read
- Gentle approach to training horses
- Written by recognized horse trainer
- Bestseller on Amazon
Cons
- Slightly pricey
- Not as in-depth as other training books
6. Anne Kursinski’s Riding and Jumping Clinic – Anne Kursinski
| Genre: | Non-fiction |
| Publisher: | Trafalgar Square Books |
Did you ever dream about soaring through the air on the back of the horse like they do at horse shows? Anne Kursinski is an Olympic show jumper and has written the most straightforward guide to riding and jumping horses. The book is packed full of colorful photographs for visual learners with an effortless step-by-step writing style.
This book covers a wide range of topics, from adjusting stride length to perfected distances and counting strides. With that said, the only real way to learn how to do these things is to get on the horse and do them. While the book has a lot of helpful tips, there is only so much a book can do for you until you get out in the arena.
There are a few downsides to this book. First, both the paperback and Kindle options aren’t the most affordable of all the books on the list. Second, these tips focus on English-style riders only. And third, some of the riding techniques are slightly outdated despite being published in 2020.
Pros
- Written by professional rider
- Helpful writing style
- Lots of tips and pictures
Cons
- More expensive than other similar books
- English-style riding tips only
- Some outdated advice
7. Wild Horses of the Summer Sun: A Memoir of Iceland – Tory Bilski
| Genre: | Memoir |
| Publisher: | Pegasus Books |
Wild Horses of the Summer Sun is the first memoir on our list. Of all the horse-related books out there, there aren’t a whole lot that are written in the memoir genre. This book is about the author, Tory Bilski, and how she escapes her ordinary life to live on a horse farm. The book is full of self-discovery and a deep appreciation for horses and our complicated relationship with them.
This book is the first on the list that comes in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle forms. Although this isn’t the book for someone looking for information on horses, it is a one-of-a-kind story that takes a new approach towards them. This book may not be on the bestsellers list, but it is one that horse lovers will have a deep appreciation for.
Pros
- Uncommon genre for horse material
- Hardcover and paperback available
- Fairly priced
Cons
- Storytelling opposed to informative
- Not super popular
8. Horse of My Dreams – Callie Smith Grant
| Genre: | Non-fiction |
| Publisher: | Revell |
As a horse lover, you already know that each individual has their own personality. And with those unique personalities comes mind-blowing stories about animals and their owners. Horse of My Dreams is a read full of true stories about horses and their majestic, inspiring, and silly characteristics.
This isn’t a super light read, but it is light on the heart and a great book for when you simply want to feel good and forget about the stresses of life. Callie Smith Grant isn’t a horse expert, but has written several books about animals to create fun reads for all.
This is one of the cheapest books to make the list but is only available in paperback and Kindle forms.
Pros
- Lighthearted
- True stories
Cons
- Not written by horse expert
- Only two forms available
- Longer read
9. The Original Horse Bible – Moira C. Reeve and Sharon Biggs
| Genre: | Non-fiction |
| Publisher: | CompanionHouse Books |
This book is excellent for learning the basics of horses like care, riding techniques, and horse communication. It is written by two highly-regarded women in the horse world and is a fun read for when you have some downtime and want to learn something.
The Original Horse Bible has a lot of information on a wide variety of topics, so it isn’t the book for you if you’re looking for something more specialized.
This horse book is pretty heavy and not the easiest to travel with, so we wouldn’t buy it if you’re looking for a new book to go on vacation with. It has 480 pages and may take a while to get through if you aren’t committed to learning more about these animals. Paperback and Kindle are available, but for prices that are hard to justify.
Pros
- Great for beginners
- Written by highly-regarded women in the horse community
Cons
- Heavy
- Long read
- Not specialized
- No hardcover
10. Black Stallion Adventures – Walter Farley
| Genre: | Fiction |
| Publisher: | Random House Books |
A lot of us have children who have expressed an interest in horses and are looking for a few stories that are easy to read. The Black Stallion Adventures are fictional tales that teach kids about instinct, survival, and bravery with a horse as one of the main characters.
Though these are fun books for kids, they only have an 8 to 12-year-old reading level and aren’t the best fictional horse books for adults. Despite the younger audience, kids love them, and they have gained popularity over the years. If you are trying to find some horse-related stories for your kiddos, this set of books is full of horse-filled adventures.
Pros
- Three books for the price of one
- Fun stories for kids
Cons
- For young readers
- Purely fiction with no factual backing
- Not popular among children’s books
Final Thoughts on Buying Books
Buying books isn’t hard to do. So long as the summary captures your attention, it’s always worth it to pick up a book and read it. Horse lovers don’t always have the best book selection, so we’ve read all the online reviews and found some of the best horse books of 2021.
We found that From the Horse’s Point of View by Debbie Steglic is one of the best choices for readers. This book is full of information and helps people understand these beautiful creatures on a much deeper level than other books. For those who are looking for some more factual information, The Complete Book of Horses by Debby Sly is an affordable and knowledgeable fit you might be looking for. Out of the top horse books on the market, these are the ones that will make you laugh, love, and appreciate horses in a new way.
Featured Image Credit: Pezibear, Pixabay
Oliver (Ollie) Jones – A zoologist and freelance writer living in South Australia with his partner Alex, their dog Pepper, and their cat Steve (who declined to be pictured). Ollie, originally from the USA, holds his master’s degree in wildlife biology and moved to Australia to pursue his career and passion but has found a new love for working online and writing about animals of all types.
