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For anyone who didn’t know, I am an avid reader. While I tend to lean towards Fantasy & Romance, nothing quite beats a good horse themed story. Some of my all time favourite books have revolved around horses. So if you are like me and love a good read, these are my must read horsey books and series by genre.
Classic: Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
We have to start with a classic don’t we? And can you think of a better horsey classic than Black Beauty?
I grew up watching and adoring the film. I only recently read this book for the first time and honestly, I don’t know why I never read it sooner. Despite being published nearly 150 years ago, this book is still incredibly relevant. It was ground breaking in how it highlighted the many welfare issues horses faced at the time. And while many of those issues do not exist in modern day England, they still exist in other parts of the world. (And some do still happen here too.)
It’s sad but hopeful and if you enjoyed the film, you just have to read the book.
Modern Classic: War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
Many people, myself included, consider War Horse to be a Modern Classic. For me, it is a must read for every horse lover.
You may have seen the film, you may have seen the play. And while they are beautiful adaptions, they don’t quite live up to the joy and heartbreak of the book. It is not for the fainthearted as you will sob your eyes out! There is something special about how many lives Joey the horse touches during a world war. And how the humans who love him go above and beyond to give him the best outcome possible. It shows the joy and kindness horses can bring in even the darkest times.
Historic: I Am The Great Horse by Katherine Roberts
This is my last recommendation from a horse’s POV, and it is one of my all time favourite books. If you enjoy a bit of ancient history, I Am The Great Horse is the book for you.
Follow Alexander the Great’s rise from the POV of his loyal and legendary horse Bucephalas. Being fiction, there is a nice twist on some of the rumours surrounding this legendary pair. Legend says Bucephalas was scared of his own shadow and Alexander turned him into the sun, becoming the only person to ride him. Was he scared of his shadow? Or was he seeing something the humans couldn’t see?
Yes it’s a kids book. But I adore it. Fancy a few more details without any spoilers? Read my full review.
Romance: Rutshire Chronicles series by Jilly Cooper
Have you watched Disney’s recent adaption of Jilly Cooper’s Rivals? If you loved it then you’ve got to take a look at the Rutshire Chronicles series of books!
I have so far read the first 3 (Riders, Rivals & Polo) and have LOVED them! They are fun, sad, frustrating & heartwarming. There are characters you will love, hate and love to hate. Each book follows a slightly different world, with a few characters, such as the infamous Rupert Campbell-Black, reappearing throughout the series. You can also dip in and out a bit. After a bit of research, I plan to skip books 4-8 which aren’t focused in the horse world and jump (pun included) with number 9, Jump!
Crime/Thriller: Duncan Claymore series by A.P. McCoy
If a tense crime/thriller is more your speed, I have really enjoyed the Duncan Claymore series by A.P. McCoy. I reviewed the first book in the series here.
Duncan is a jump jockey trying to make it in the UK racing industry. Racing is in his blood, his dad being a successful race trainer… until he wasn’t. Duncan knows who is to blame and is desperate to avenge his father. But he has to balance his own racing career with trying to take down some powerful figures corrupting the racing industry.
Contemporary: Heartland Series by Lauren Brooke
The Heartland book series is what inspired me when I was younger. It made me think about alternatives to normal horse care and training. It showed me that there are careers in the horse world away from riding or being a groom. And I think it is a big part of the reason I ended up studying Equine Science.
Yes, they are kids/teens books. But they cover a lot of important topics. They are incredibly sad at times, where the main character Amy has to deal with the loss of both familiy members and horses. She sees first hand the impact poor welfare has on horses. And most importantly, she demonstrates who every horse can improve with patience and the correct care.
If you fancy a bingeable book series of short easy reads, I think most horsey adults would still get a lot of joy out of this book series.
Ever wondered how the books compare to the TV series? Find out here.
Coffee Table: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse Books by Charlie Mackesy
I have followed Charlie Mackesy on social media for years now. I loved his drawings and his quotes & I particularly love his The boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse series. You may have seen his short film on BBC a few Christmas’s ago.
These short stories are feel good with the most gorgeous illistrations. If you are looking for a beautiful horse themed coffee table book, look no further.
You can find more horsey fiction reviews and recomendations here. If you’re interested in what else I am reading & reviewing, you can follow me on StoryGraph.
Last Updated on 17/10/2025