Beloved Sport Horses

If you still need possible gifts for horse lovers, why not consider a book? Olympic show jumping rider Katie Prudent of Middleburg, Va., is featured on the cover and in the first chapter of the latest book of the Beloved Horses series by children’s author, Sharon Miner. In the story, Prudent explains how her mare, Belladonna, helped her strive for excellence after a serious riding accident. Belladonna not only became successful in the Grand Prix ring with Katie, but also later with her son, Adam, in the junior division.
  
This third book of the series, “Beloved Sport Horses,” is a collection of true short stories describing a variety of horses in competitions and the special bonds they had with their riders. Among the disciplines included are show jumping, dressage, hunter, racing, polo, fox hunting, western and even trick horses. Some of the riders are renowned, such as Prudent, while others are on the way to reaching their goals. As one young rider explains, the greatest memories are not always found in the show ring, but during the journey to make it there.
  
“Each story is a snapshot into the life of a competitor and their horse, and reveals the reason why the relationship was a memorable one,” Miner explains. “This collection of 30 anecdotes comes complete with photographs rather than illustrations like the first two books.”
  
Miner currently resides in Aldie, Va., working as a barn manager and riding instructor for Pure Grace Farm. She and her husband, Bob, spend winters in Ocala, Fla., while attending the HITS horse show series. She writes adventure and mystery novels for middle grade and young adult readers as well as the Beloved Horses series.