Good Horse Books for Kids

Do your kids love horses? We put together a list of the BEST Horse Books for Kids that they will absolutely love, with options for every reading level!

When my oldest daughter gets a new horse book, she camps out on the couch for days or as many hours as it takes to finish the whole book in one sitting! Yes, she is absolutely horse crazy. She has literally read every horse book for kids that she has been able to get a hold of, and she’s always asking for more. If you have a child who loves horses, you can probably relate!

There are so many horse books out there, but it’s hard to know what is good and what is not. If you need help finding the good ones, this is the resource for you! We’ve created a list of some great horse books for kids.

The books below are listed in order of reading difficulty using the Scholastic Books reading level scale. The number corresponds with the recommended grade level. Of course, this doesn’t mean that your 4th grade child can’t read 6.0 level material. As the parent, you can decide if your child is ready for the next level.

Breyer Stablemates Series

This is a great series for the youngest of readers. Each book is about 30-35 pages, making it perfect for the horse lover who is still developing her reading skills. The books are fiction, but each one features a different breed of horse as the main focus. The book ends with facts about that breed. Titles include: Starlight, Patch, Snowflake, Diamond, Dash, Stormy, Belle, Lucky, Fancy, Penny. (Some of these books are out of print, but can be found used.) Reading Level 3.0

Pony Pals

The Pony Pals series contains 30+ simple chapter books for your horse lover. My daughter loved these books all through elementary school. She would sit down with one and read it in under an hour. The plot is child-friendly and exciting. They are easy to get at the local library too! Reading Level 3.0

Circle C Beginnings

Targeted for early chapter book readers, this series is about a sweet and lovable 6-year-old girl named Andi who lives on a ranch in California. Set in the Old West of the 1800s, each of the 6 books in the series features a beautiful biblical lesson that Andi and her friend Riley learn as they grow. This series is the earlier or “younger” days for Andi and Riley, the same characters in the Circle C Adventures listed later in this list. You can find the whole set of Circle C Beginnings here. Reading Level 3.0

Horse Diaries

“For anyone who’s ever dreamed of hearing a horse’s story” is the tagline for this series. There are 10 volumes, each featuring a fictional story rooted deep into a particular breed and time period. What makes this series different is that it is written from the perspective of the horses. Set in the time period and the part of the world the breed originated in, you’ll travel everywhere from Iceland (c. 1000 AD) to Alabama (c. 1856 AD) as you venture through this exciting historical fiction.

The words are fairly large and the chapters are short, making it a good fit for struggling readers too. Titles include: Elska, Bell’s Star, Koda, Maestoso Petra, Golden Sun, Yatimah, Risky Chance, Black Cloud, Tennessee Rose, Darcy Reading Level 3.0

Breyer Horse Collection

This is a favorite series because they can be purchased with a matching model horse. My daughter constantly put these horse books on her wish list. Each story is a fictional adventure about a particular breed. Titles in the series include: Little Prince, Wild Blue, Chico’s Challenge, Samirah’s Ride, Mercury’s Flight. Reading Level 3.5-4.0

Animal Ark

This series is about a little girl named Mandy who helps her parents treat animals of all kinds in their veterinary clinic. It’s a great way to learn about different horses as well as veterinary care. If you have a child interested in being a vet, this is a great series for them! Our favorite horse selections are: Horse in the House, Foals in the Field, Shetland in the Shed, Pony on the Porch, Pony in a Package, Mare in the Meadow, Racehorse in the Rain. Reading Level 4.0

Sonrise Stable Series

The Sonrise Stable Series is a Christian horse-lover’s series that wore the proud title of my daughter’s absolute favorite! Author, Vicki Watson, combines everything we love in life: God, family, friends, horses, and good-wholesome fun! Each book is based on a focal scripture that teaches a beautiful truth through two lovable young girls, their grandma, and HORSES! As the series continues, the characters grow up and learn more about horses and their God in a way that kids of any age would enjoy. Titles include: Rosie and Scamper, Carrie and Bandit , Clothed with Thunder, Tender Mercies, Outward Appearances. Reading Level 4.0

Treasured Horses Collection

This historical fiction series is truly a treasure! Sadly, the books are out of print, but I had no trouble finding them used and in the library. Titles include: Ride of Courage, Pride of Green Mountains, Changing Times. There is also a box set, Treasured Horse Collection, which includes 4 books: Riding School Rivals, Pretty Lady of Saratoga, The Stallion of Box Canyon, and Kate’s Secret Plan. Reading Level 5.0

Phantom Stallion

A series full of mystery and adventure, Phantom Stallion leaves you wondering if 13-year-old Samantha’s missing horse really could be the wild “phantom” that she so longs to touch. A classic horse story filled with themes of the wild west and mustangs that all horse girls love, this story is a great option. Some of the titles include The Wild One, Mustang Moon, and Dark Sunshine. There are 20+ exciting titles for your adventure! Reading Level 5.0

Hoofbeats

Another historical fiction series, Hoofbeats promises adventure, history, and horses. There are two stand alone books: Silence and Lily, and Margret and Flynn. Also part of this series are two sets of four books that follow the stories of two girls, Lara and Katie.  Lara and the Gray Mare is about a young girl who is captured with her beloved horse’s foal by a rival clan. Katie and the Mustang is about the struggles of an 9-year-old orphaned girl and the wild mustang she learns to love. Reading Level 5.0

The Black Stallion

For over 65 years, Walter Farley has captivated readers with his adventure filled Black Stallion series. There are 20+ horse books written in this series full of bravery, instinct and survival. The first 4 are included in a best-selling Black Stallion Adventures set. Get your sense of adventure peaked with the set, or buy them all! Reading Level 5.5

Thoroughbred

Written in the early 1990’s, this series is truly all about horses. The characters are teenage girls who are avid horse lovers. The story focuses on drama involving the horses and not the teenage girls, which is nice. Horses fall ill, win/lose races, and face many other challenges of equestrian life. These stories are not connected, so it is not mandatory to read them in order. Some of the books are harder to find available online; however, we still have a good selection at our local library. The first in the series is A Horse Called Wonder. Reading Level 5.5

Misty of Chincoteague

Based on a true story, this is possibly one of the most beloved horse series ever written. It all starts with Misty of Chincoteague, the story of how the wildest horse in all of Assateague Island is pinned with her precious colt, Misty. It’s a story full of dreams, determination, and blessing. Stormy, Misty’s Foal is then born in the aftermath of a great storm that devastated Chincoteague Island. Readers are captivated as the islanders rebuilt their land.  The story continues as Paul and Maureen rescue yet another wild colt in Sea Star: Orphan of Chincoteague. Written nearly 50 years later, Misty’s Twilight is the story of another of Misty’s foals who has the chance to become a dressage champion. There are also many resources out there to use Marguerite Henry’s books as an excellent literature course for your horse-loving middle or highschool student. Reading Level 5.5

Circle C Adventures

This is the series that kept my 4th grader mesmerized for days. The books captivate with their fast-paced tales about Andrea (Andi), a 12-year-old girl living on a California ranch in the 1880’s. The content is definitely for an older reader (I’d say 10-14) as Andrea encounters real-life issues that might frighten a younger reader, such as bullies, a horse thief, the perilous choice to run away from home. However, the scenes deal with these difficult topics in a way that isn’t obscene or inappropriate. The author weaves a beautiful Christian message through each one of the books as Andrea learns to choose the right thing even when the circumstances are hard.

This thrilling and engaging series follows the teenage years of Andi and her beloved mare Taffy. Titles include: Long Ride Home, Dangerous Decision, Family Secret, San Francisco Smugglers, Trouble with Treasure, Price of Truth. The boxed set is also an option: Circle C Adventures. Reading Level 6.0

Keystone Stables

The Keystone Stables series is great for horse-loving teens or preteens. It follows the story of a girl named Skye who has a painful past and is placed in a foster home with Christian foster parents who have a horse farm in their backyard. Her love for one of the horses compels her to stay and eventually allow her life to be changed by the gospel. Well-written in a contemporary time period, this story accurately informs about foster care, living out the Christian life, and of course, horses.

Stories from Kim Meeder

In Hope Rising and Bridge Called Hope, Kim Meeder shares stories from her experience rescuing horses from neglecting and pointing children to Christ. These are beautiful stories of redemption all centered around her ranch, which exists to use horses to help kids and families experience the saving hope of Jesus Christ. Due to the nature of some of the stories, it would be best suited for teens or could make a wonderful family read aloud.

Of course, there are many more great books for horse lovers not mentioned here. These are just a few treasured favorites ranging from more than half a century old to new,  but all are still just as special. Your horse lover’s shelf will be full of beauty, majesty, and adventure!

As much as my daughter loves fiction, she also very much enjoys reading factual books about horses. She has learned much about caring for horses, riding horses, and even what the various breeds are most known for. Here are some of her favorites.

Do you have a favorite horse book that we forgot to mention? Share it with us!