Horse Illustrated Magazine

We all fondly remember reading Misty of Chincoteague, Justin Morgan Had a Horse, and King of the Wind. Those books are some of Marguerite Henry’s most popular and well-known stories.

But there’s more to Marguerite Henry than just Misty. In total, Henry penned almost 60 books, including sequels to Misty. Here are a few of Henry’s lesser-known but equally wonderful books that you may want to check out.

San Domingo, the Medicine Hat Stallion

Marguerite Henry was the queen of the underdog tale, and San Domingo, the Medicine Hat Stallion is a perfect example. Young Peter Lundy cannot please his intimidating father, and matters turn worse when Mr. Lundy trades away Peter’s beloved San Domingo, a medicine hat stallion. Furious at his father, Peter runs away–and is reunited with San Domingo when he joins the Pony Express.

Born to Trot

Gibson White has grown up in the world of Standardbreds and racing. His father is a trainer and driver and Gib dreams of following his father’s footsteps. But when Gib is hospitalized, his ambitions get put on the backburner until his father gives him a Standardbred filly named Rosalind, who just may be the horse to make all of Gib’s dreams come true.

The story of Gib and Rosalind is artfully intertwined with that of farmer William Rysdyk and his special trotting colt, Hambletonian, the “Father of the Trotting Horse”.

Misty’s Twilight

Ever wondered what happened after Misty of Chincoteague? There are a handful of sequels that continue the story, but Misty’s Twilight is particularly delightful. Misty’s descendant, Twi, is a pinto pony with no apparent talent. Adopted by the single mother of twins, Twi fails in both the rodeo arena and as a jumper, landing in the hands of a cruel trainer before being rescued again. But any descendant of Misty of Chincoteague is bound to be special, and perhaps Twi’s future lies not in the action-packed worlds of cutting and jumping, but in a more elegant sport…

Album of Horses

Album of Horses is not a single story, it’s a compilation of stories about many breeds of horses, from the circus-performing Percherons and racing Thoroughbreds to the Lipizzan dancers and ancient Arabian warriors. Some essays tell about the history of a breed, some deal more with the ways a breed is used today, but all of them celebrate the unique and wonderful aspects of each breed. This wonderful book combines fact with delightful fictional short stories.

Liked this article? Here are others on horse books:
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Samantha Johnson is a freelance writer and the author of several books, including The Field Guide to Horses, (Voyageur Press, 2009). She raises Welsh Mountain Ponies in northern Wisconsin and is a certified horse show judge. Follow her on Twitter: @miraclewelsh.