Help I'm looking for well written books with a horse theme for a bright 11 year old girl.

well they may be old ones but i always think they are better in terms of horsey books. Today just seem too....fluffy!:
1. Saddle Club
2.Novels by Pullein-Thompson sisters, these are from 1946-1999 but to me no horse books compare to these classics
3. One called no riding for ms.pobjoy i think? That was really good!

I now wish i never got rid off all these :( I had loads...

Try Timber Twig and Growing Pains by Kate McMahon, real life horse stories, mucking out stables etc, Patsi

When I was a child I enjoyed pony books written by Pat Smythe. The three Jays series. Not sure if they will have stood the test of time.

The Horses of Half Moon Ranch series by Jenny Oldfield, the Heartland series by Lauren Brooke, and the Silver Brumby series by Elyne Mitchell are very good. They're good from any age really, I still enjoy them lots and I'm 18.

The Tilly's pony tales books by Pippa Punnel are perfect - knowledgable, fun and well-written!Tilly's Pony Tails 1: Magic Spirit

I agree that the Saddle Club books are good (I am currently collecting the series), and there is the Pony Tails books for younger readers, and the Pine Hollow series (which follows the girls from the Saddle Club when they are older), all written by Bonnie Byrant.

I agree that the Heartland series by Lauren Brooke, is also a good collection, giving a good insight into the natural horsemanship sides of the industry, and the Horses of the Half Moon Ranch (although I have only two of these) are all good reads.

The Hollywell Stables and Riders by Samantha Alexander are also good, and the Horses of Follyfoot Farm, by M.Dickens. Midnight Dancer series (I have only read one book, but it was good), Blind Beauty by K.M. Peyton, Shy Boy by Monty Roberts (based on true events, but still a very good read), Blank Beauty (a classic I cant believe no one has suggested yet).

Hope this gives you some good ideas

Donkey Oaty!?

Try Monica Dickens. They're probably a bit dated now, but I seem to remember reading them, along with Pat Smythe, and I was VERY horsey!!

black beauty!! you can get abridged children's classics if you like, i remember loving the story when i was young.

Its probably a bit young for her but you could try The Enchanted Horse by Magdelen Nab and Blind Beauty by KM Peyton is an absolute must for all horse lovers.

Tilly's Pony Tails might be a bit young for an eleven year old: sticking to stuff that's in print, there's Stacey Gregg's Pony Club series for 11 year olds, and there's also K M Peyton's Fly-by-Night and The Team, now in print at Fidra Books. Six Ponies by Josephine Pullein-Thompson is still in print, as is Pony Club Team (again by Fidra) and they also do the magical Silver Snaffles by Primrose Cumming, which is an absolute must. If your daughter likes the Heartland series, the same team also do Chestnut Hill, though this I think is not up to the same standard as Heartland. Not in print here, but they are in Australia and they are some of the best pony books in print today: Alyssa Brugman's Shelby pony books. If you can get hold of them I heartily recommend them. Back to the UK: Michael Morpurgo's War Horse is also excellent, and I can recommend Janet Rising's Pony Whisperer series too. Victoria Eveleigh has just published Midnight on Lundy, which is about Lundy ponies and a fine read.

There are some excellent American books too: Diane Lee Wilson's I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade, Black Storm Comin' and Fire Horse are all absolutely superb, particularly if your daughter likes books on an historical theme. Alison Hart's Gabriel series is also excellent - it's set during the American Civil War.

I have done reviews of all of these if you want more info - not sure if I am allowed to put a link to another site so cross fingers - it's janebadgerbooks dot co dot uk, and follow the Pony Books Link, which has a section of reviews of modern pony books. I don't actually sell books in print, but all the above can be bought via Amazon, or your friendly local bookshop.

Would it be too obvious to suggest war horse by Morpurgo? wonderful. My daughters loved it. Great question by the way.

Definitely Heartland! And Lauren Brooke's Chestnut Hill ones are good too

You should try the flambards trilogy by KM Peyton, for children of maybe 12-16. These are set in rural england and are part romance, part horsey novel, probably more intersting to girls than boys, but I adored them as a child, and stayed up through the night to read them!

Monica Edwards "Wish for a Pony" and lots of others at http://www.monicaedwards.co.uk/ Although written some years ago they are still brilliantly readable today, particularly for a girl of your daughter's age as they deal with growing up very sensitively. There is a Romney Marsh series and a Punchbowl Farm series. Others - a bit dated, but still enjoyable - are Ruby Ferguson and the Jill and her pony books, and the Lorna Hill pony books.

currently unfairly out of print, but Patricia Leitch's series about Jinny and her horse Shantih are wonderful if you can get hold of them. Set in the Scottish highlands, the series draws on Celtic mythology as well as highlighting issues around animal welfare. Jinny is a fantastic character - tom boyish and independent but deeply attached to her rescued horse Shantih. I don't know if the stories have aged well, but I remember loving them when I was a kid and some of the imagery has stayed with me to this day. The first of the series is called For The Love of A Horse.

Jenny Dale's Pony Tales - These series of books are wonderful - my daughter loves them especially Sam the school pony. Hope this helps.

The Boy and His Horse from the Narnia series.

I think you may mean Monica Edwards - they were wonderful - lots of ponies but also adventures in a Sussex seaside village. ann dvery well writen. I think they stand the test of time, more than Pat SMythe, certainly

Thank you A Cavanagh, I loved those books when I was younger and have recently being trying to remember the author and character names so I could try and find some copies.

I also second the recommendations for the Pullein-Thompson books. Also 'We Couldn't Leave Dinah' by Mary Treadgold which is set on a fictional Channel Island during the German occupation and 'Moorland Mousie' and the sequel 'Older Mousie' by Golden Gorse which like Black Beauty tells the story of Mousie from colt to adult.

I have two of Pat Smythe 'Three Jays' books from 1950's. Hardback and in good clean condition.Also a Berrisford and a Boden.

What about Snow Cloud Stallion (G Rafftery), or My Friend Flicka, Thunderhead, & Green Grass of Wyoming (M O'Hara), or Black Tiger (R Colt Hoare)? The M O'Hara ones would be the most challenging to an 11 year old - probably aimed at 13- 14 year olds - but as she's bright, the others might be a bit too easy for her. Also these three have a bit of teenage romantic interest.

Stacey Gregg's Pony Club Secrets series is very gripping and a bit different. I think they would be perfectly pitched for an 11yr old who wants to read horsey books.