Handsome but headstrong, a retired racehorse finds a second chance in eventing in this affecting, fast-paced novel told straight from the horse's mouth. When Dante's Inferno is born early, on a February night, there are great expectations for him. He may be the grandson of the greatest racehorse in modern times, but Dante's start proves a rough one: he doesn't bond with many people, as they always seem to be either poking and prodding him or trying to get him to fulfill their dreams. When Dante fails to live up to his bloodline, he ends up at a Thoroughbred rescue facility run by rehabilitating prisoners and is later adopted as a project horse for a student named Ashley at the Maury River Stables. It's not easy for Dante to befriend other horses, but slowly Daisy and Napoleon let him into the fold, and Ashley begins to work with him to learn dressage and jumping in hopes that he'll find redemption as an eventing horse. Can Dante put his fears aside enough to succeed on the cross country course? Narrated from Dante's point of view, this is a story that animal lovers will cherish.
When Macadoo is just a colt, he challenges his father, a huge Belgian stallion, in order to protect his mother and the rest of the herd. From that moment on, Mac knows that his purpose in life is to help and serve others however he can. Though Macadoo endures much adversity — leaving the only home he’s ever known, being separated from his dam, and surviving an auction that for many horses is their final stop before the slaughterhouse — he finds the courage to “walk on” through even the most difficult circumstances. And he eventually finds a sense of home and good companions, first with Izzy, Poppa, and their mules, then at the Maury River Stables, where he learns to teach children therapeutic riding and vaulting. Told from Macadoo’s point of view and featuring beloved characters from Chancey of the Maury River, this is a story that horse lovers will cherish.
On the night Chancey is born, a fire star gallops across the sky. But many years of hardship will pass before the orphaned albino Appaloosa can believe the prophecy his dam foretold — that his fire star was a beacon for a horse of profound wisdom and extraordinary potential, one who will eventually change the lives of two children forever. Told through Chancey’s eyes in the classic tradition of great horse stories, here is a tale about bravery, destiny, and hope — and about sharing the magic of a second chance.
“Injects a dose of modernity into the old hard-luck horse story. . . . Delightful.” — The Chronicle of the Horse
“The horse story is revived to magnificent effect in this moving novel.” — The Horn Book
“Many details about equine behavior and horsemanship lend authenticity. . . . A highly enjoyable read.” — School Library Journal
“Earnest, heartfelt, and uplifting.” — Voice of Youth Advocates
