Suggestions for horse mad 8 year old

[judetheobscure]

My dd (8 years) loves horses and would read horse books all year long if she could. Only problem is she reads most of them in less than a day (eg. Heartland, Sheltie, Sandy Lane Stables) and wants something a bit more complex (and would give me better value for money if bought!). For example, she is currently reading Lord of the Rings, which she is enjoying but would rather it was about horses.

For information, she has already read Black Beauty, My Friend Flicka (and sequels) and Silver Brumby. She also has the Flambards series but doesn't like them (presumably because they're too much about the people and not the horses!).
She does also like fantasy books so any suggestions for these welcomed.

Elizabeth Goudge, The LIttle White Horse would be top of my list. Also anything by Ruby Ferguson or the Pullein-Thompsons (probably out of print, but try charity shops).

Will ask dd1 for more recommendations when she gets back from school.

How about My Secret Unicorn by Linda Chapman (series) about a horse that changes into a unicorn at night (my DD read these just as she turned 7 so might be light for your DD)
Or there is a series of 3 books about a girl who goes to stay with her grandma and there is a statue of a horse that get broken and then the girl has to fight it with her own horse.....and I cannot remember for the life of me what it is called - Moonlight or Moonsilver - more grown up but again fantastic read. Wil try to find out what it is, but I know it has hor

Argh - what was I writing then - I know it has hor.... (blame it on the pregnancy) I think it was I know it has horses on it!

The Black Stallion books by Walter Farley were excellent when I was that age. Also look for anything written by Marguerite Henry - Misty of Chincoteague, Stormy: Misty's foal. They are WONDERFUL (in a league with Flicka et al) but american so I don't know if you can get them here.

Thanks for speedy responses. I've been searching Amazon for ages for horse books and it couldn't come up with much and you lot have already given me some new leads

Moon -whatever it is sounds good
Is Christine Pullein-Thompson better than Sandy Lane Stables?
Not heard of Ruby Ferguson - I'll look her up, thanks.
She's got The Little White Horse - loves it - especially as it was recommended (on the cover)
by no less than JK Rowling!
Secret Unicorn takes about an hour to read
She brought one home from school last week which is what prompted me to do something about this!

You lot are wonderful
Pph - those sound right up her street. Thanks.

ooooh national velvet! has she read that? book much better than the film. and not a particularly quick read.
pullein-thompson written in the 60s - very pony club ish - jolly hockey sticks with horses!

by the way all the pullein-thompsons were at it. Christine, Josephine and I think there was another one as well. Fiona? search them all!

how about the Tamara Pierce books - about a girl and a horse - sort of fantasy/warrior type stuff but plenty of mentions of a horse.

horse and his boy by CS Lewis - part of the Narnia series

The "Jill" books were brilliant, can't remember who by though. Also a "Punchbowl"series - Monica Edwards? She also did some good ones on ponies and smugglers on the Romney Marsh. All quite old fashioned even when I was young though, but it didn't matter. The other P-T sister was Diana - her books were the best I thought.

and you could get her onto proper literature with Steinbeck's "The Red Pony"... a classic

heresJill

Monica Dickens? Really old fashioned stories. Can't remember what any of them were called. Hmmmm

Didn't Monica Dickens write the Follyfoot books? They were good (as far as I remember). I was still reading the "Jill" books into my early teens even though I was a voracious reader, so I would guess she'd like them.

shew wortes for adults deosnt she?

heres Monica Edwards

She does indeed worte for adults coddy, you're right Actually, you can virtually guarantee that there will be at least one of her adult books in any second hand book shop for some reason- usually one called "One pair of hands". Strange but true.

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would she be too young for the horse whisperer?

Ruby Ferguson wrote the Jill books which are fab, if slightly dated -- it is Enid Blyton with horses, but like EB there are lots of them, and when you finish you can start again at the beginning!

Dd1 has an enormous collection of these and the Pullein-Thompson's books, mainly left over from me and my sisters, and added to from jumble sales/Oxfam. She also has Horse & Pony Stories , a slightly tacky-looking hardback, which actually contains horse-related extracts from some quite challenging sources (Steinbeck, Kipling). Worth a look.

Jude - I had loads of these as a kid (probably almost everything which has been mentioned here, and more), and I'm pretty sure that most of them will still be in a box somewhere in my parents attic. Would you like me to ask if they could locate them?

I used to love the Jill books too - also loved this series too which I don't think has been mentioned Jinny

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I'm sure I read somewhere that Jill Ferguson actually was Enid Blyton witing under a different name. I'm not sure i beleive this as the Jill Ferguson books were very funny - anyone remember April, May and June Cholly-Sawcutt?

How about Watership Down? Although she might find it emotionally challenging - I did at that age. But then I am really soft !!