Darswords

Girl On Horseback – Volume I by Eileen Tidwell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My 12-year old self would have loved this book!

When I was in fifth grade and sixth grade, I had a friend who lived next door and she had a horse and a donkey. I would help her every day to feed, brush and clean up after these two. My friend, whose name was Marlene, told me I owned half of the donkey, Jenny. I never knew which half I owned but we would go riding a lot together and I preferred the donkey. One day we were riding on the hill behind our grade school. Marlene coaxed her horse to gallop downhill. I wasn’t about to be outdone, so Jenny and I started our run. But Jenny had a sense of humor. She stopped mid-stride and I tumbled head over hers and landed in front of her. Jenny hee hawed her amusement as did Marlene. I wanted to cry but couldn’t be seen as the cry-baby so I started laughing too. Jenny was forgiven immediately and we continued our trek, more slowly.

Anyway, like all girls that age, I spend my days drawing donkeys and horses. Still do in my doodling times. I dreamed of our times out riding. I still wish I could get out and ride horses. So this book gave me that experience. I was impressed with how vivid the author, Eileen Tidwell, painted the pictures of how to bridle or saddle or otherwise deal with horses.

Though this is labeled as a Christian book, it isn’t preachy. It merely states that the main character, Abby, went to church on Sunday and so didn’t get to ride her horse at that time, and she prayed when her horse was ill. I didn’t think that either of those story items necessary, but it didn’t distract from the story. The book is mostly about the girl learning her way around being with horses.

Maybe because of my age, I found the book less than exciting. I kept reading because it was about horses. But except for the bit about a flood near the end, the excitement just wasn’t there as I would have liked. Even so, I have book two ready for when I can get to it!

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