INTRODUCTION

Hello, friends.

The Colt of Neighstalgia is back with another horse-book review because that’s what this blog has always been about don’t you remember?

I’m surprised it’s taken me this long to get to Thoroughbred. After all, the series belongs in the hallowed halls of fine equanimous literature alongside Black Beauty and Detective Pony. So it’s high time I buck up and jump this hurdle. Too many puns? Ah chute. I’ll try to cut down on yokes.

THE STORY

There once was a girl from Kentucky

But her fam'ly farm wasn’t so lucky

It happened real’ quick

The horses got sick

Now the whole situation is sucky

Ashleigh’s family is forced to take up work in Townsend Acres due to unforeseeable hardships. Little brother Rory is too young to understand the problem, and older sister Caroline has lost her happy glow. The family works for Clay Townsend now. And he’s a cold man. And his son is a jerk. Named Brad.

Thankfully, Ash meets a few nice people. Trainer April is nice. Peer Linda is nice. Holly the pregnant horse is… Not a person but nice nonetheless. Although, Ashleigh has a tough time adjusting to a new horse. She’s still lamenting the rise, fall, and auctioning off of her previous horsey, Stardust.

Ash takes up grooming Holly, and the mare eventually gives birth to a runty foal. Ash seems to dig this pony and unofficially names it Wonder. While Ashleigh refuses to abandon the filly, the Townsends aren’t so caring. Brad shares a bit of juicy gossip with Ash: Wonder will probably be put up for auction since she’s so small. Ash tries to ignore this, but nothing can stop the schmooze.

For a time, Wonder gets sick. Luckily, Ashleigh receives help from Charlie, a shunty old man who used to be a head trainer. Meanwhile, Ashleigh begins training on A Horse Called Dominator, a thoroughbred with an inexplicably intense name. Ashleigh dreams of some day riding Wonder as a jockey. Brad seems to think the pair would have a better chance auditioning as the Fourth Dorksman of the Apocalypse.

School starts up again, and Ash has A Report Card Blunder. Now her parents won’t let her spend time with Wonder until she can get a C+ in math.

Things start heating up by December. Metaphorically, since this isn’t Australia. Mr. Townsend says that whether or not Wonder goes to auction will be decided in a month. Rather than actually getting a C+ in math, Ash just asks her parents to lift the training embargo. They cave. No surprises here. Ashleigh commits to walking Wonder ever day but contracts A Hoarse Cold Thereunder.

When all hope seems lost, Linda and Ashleigh’s mother take up training Wonder. The horse becomes fit as a fiddle by the time Townsend comes to judge. Townsend Acts in Ashleigh’s favor, saying the horse can stay another year.

THE VERDICT

What am I supposed to do now? Review the quality of writing in a horse-book?

This blog entry has been… Weird. I have no clue why I chose this book. And I don’t think I’ll do any more in the series. I just need to shake things up. If you have any opinions of this post, let me know.

Will I review The Howler anytime soon? That’s a horse of a different color…

BEST QUOTE

She’s still a runt. You know, my father’s not even giving her an official name yet. When the registration papers are filed, she’ll be ‘Filly—Townsend Pride/Townsend Holly.’

Catchy.