The One Dollar Horse: Book 1

Casey Blue lives in a small flat in the bad part of London's East End and volunteers at a low end riding school—so of course she dreams of riding (and winning!) at Badminton. When she hears the scream of a terrified horse and sees the big, skin-and-bone gray racing down a busy street, she grabs his rope and the disgusted slaughterhouse owner sells her the horse for $1 after the horse injures several employees. So with a starved and weak rescue horse, no money, no trainer, and no experience, the stage is set.The good: the horse parts are well done, both the actions of the individual horses and the scenes at the barns and at the shows. The descriptions of the horse trailers (and of difficulties loading horses!) and things that happen during the different phases of the shows were especially good. I loved the horse himself, big brave boy. The story was interesting and the book held my attention throughout. And I loved that it was about eventing, a sport which isn't written about as much as it deserves.The bad: The plot is very typical: horse is rescued from slaughter, forms a bond with his rescuer and they become champions. Girl's friend and neighbor turns out to be skilled trainer. Anonymous benefactor provides money. Girl's love for her horse triumphs over other riders—they have more experience and fancy horses but Casey has LOVE for her horse, which trumps all. It was also unrealistic in the extreme that a 15 year old girl who's had ten riding lessons in her life could take an inexperienced horse to Badminton in two years. Most annoying, they go to their first event (at Novice level UK, which is Prelim level in the USA) without ever schooling a single cross country fence. In fact there is not a single mention of any training over fences in the book. Since they contstantly get rails in stadium, perhaps some schooling might have helped? Maybe? But I guess when your coach is a champion dressage rider you can just skip the jumping training...sigh.Overall I really enjoyed the book. Despite the unrealistic parts—and most horse fiction IS unrealistic, nobody'd read a book where the heroine and her horse never got anywhere—the story was fun and exciting. Looking forward to the second book in the series!

Loved every part, what a great read. Thank you. I can see why my late daughter, Jenna, was gripped when she read this at 11 years old. I am sure it inspired and motivated her. I look forward reading the next book.

Very fast great product

When Casey stumbled across this horse worn out and about to be put down it is impossible to believe this will be the one that will take her to the top of her game.This is a story of the amazing bond between a horse and a girl. This is a story that will not be forgotten

My teenager loved this book.

I enjoyed this book,

This is a nice horsey book, with a theme of hard work and dedication to a special horse taking a girl from rags to riches. The setting is London's multicultural east districts and rural England. I found it suitable for children rather than young adults, with one-dimensional characters.I would have liked the book more if it was not so full of clichés. Growing up I always wore a belt in case I would find a horse running wild down the street and have to catch him and lead him. (I never did; there were no horses on the streets, but they were in the books I read about a previous generation's adventures.) The best books showed a horse rescued from a cruel heartless owner, who is only out for gain, from Black Beauty to Smoky to King of the Wind to the Black Stallion. The fiery untameable horse falls into love and trust with the patient young rider, and the two become unbeatable, from National Velvet to Thunderhead to Misty to the Golden Stallion to the Black Stallion and a dozen pony books. The ownership of the horse may change and take him away from the young rider, like the Black Stallion or multiple pony books. In pony books (still today) or Jilly Coopers there may be an obvious antagonist who is a wealthier and nastier version of the young rider (because it is easy, meaning lazy). I was checking off each of these experiences all over again.I know it's hard to write an original book, but this one is really close to International Velvet with the eventing, the dead American mother, the sponsorship issues, lack of friends and top competitors. All we were missing was the Olympics. We also get a hint of Great Expectations. There is just one original sub-plot, which is the rider's father having spent time in jail and trying to find work, only to have a brush with unsavoury associates.I would have supposed that the hard work and training would have included reading horsey schooling books, eventers' autobios and stable management books. We don't hear of any, just magazines, although some eventers are named. And the author should have stressed the safety vests that are obligatory wear in any cross country from Riding Clubs upwards. Some of the eventing fences should also have been described for those who have never seen them, and I would have assumed that the girl and horse would have been competing in indoor jumping shows during winter.Yes, I did come up through showjumping, on a Thoroughbred mare, bringing her from half-starved quick sale to Grade A. So it does happen. But not in two years. And you have to work as well. And nobody throws money at you, and the professionals with the lorry load of horses to your one have a far, far better chance than you. And your horse goes lame so you miss shows, and you have no money or socialising time ever, because everything you have goes on the horse.Read One Dollar Horse, enjoy it and I hope you don't feel as gypped as I did when I realised that I'd read the story many times before over the years.

This is an utterly fantastic horse book I read in the span of a weekend. I picked it up at a small local book store while I was visiting Hexham, and I'm so glad I did!Any horse - or animal lover - will adore this book. But it's not just about animal love. Human relationships are woven into this in such a lovely, tangled way that it adds to the good feelings from the story instead of taking away from it.There were two slow points for me, but I found that easy to forgive in light of a great overall story. It's been too long since I've had a good weekend book. Thank you!

I loved this book because it felt so realisticAnd true.I would recommend this book to any one particularly if horse madBecause it has sent me into this world of Casy and storm .I felt so engaged with the story and I could see what was in front of me .the excitement was almost physical ,the adrenalin of the final competition was AMAZING!!!

Read all three books in three days - one per day! Was immediately gripped and loved all three books so much!

Bought as a gift, and was truly appreciated

Twas a v v v good book plz read it! It really makes you think about how much she loves storm

I absolutely loved this book, me myself being a huge fan of horses and wanting to win Badminton one day made me even more determined! This book was very emotional with lots of different emotions, yo will love this book. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series, THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH LAUREN ST JOHN!!!!!!