“What are the best Children’s books about Horses?” We looked at 209 of the top Kids Horse books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top 29 titles, all appearing on 2 or more “Best Kids Horse” book lists, are ranked below by how many lists they appear on. The remaining 175+ titles, as well as the lists we used are in alphabetical order at the bottom of the page.

Happy Scrolling!

Top 29 Best Children’s Books About Or Featuring Horses

29 .) Ancient Thunder written by Leo Yerxa

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Softonic

A colorfult art book that celebrates horses.

28 .) Cowardly Clyde written by Bill Peet

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Softonic

For a war horse, Clyde is an abysmal coward, but he finally decides that even if he isn’t brave he can at least act brave.

27 .) Every Cowgirl Needs a Horse written by Rebecca Janni

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes & Noble
• Goodreads

Nellie Sue, who fancies herself a real cowgirl, wants a horse for her birthday, but she discovers that a brand new bicycle–her first–takes almost as much taming as a filly.

26 .) Firehorse Max written by Sara London

Lists It Appears On:

• Books For Keeps
• Goodreads

When an old peddler needs a new horse to pull his heavy wagon, he buys one named Max from the firehouse auction. All’s well until one day Max hears fire bells clanging.

25 .) For Sale or Swap written by Alyssa Brugman

Lists It Appears On:

• Books For Keeps
• Children’s Books Daily

Shelby is convinced her reliable but ugly pony, Blue, is holding her back at Pony Club. If only she had a beautiful horse, everyone would see what a great rider she is. But how can Shelby buy a new horse when her parents can’t even afford to pay her Pony Club fees? When she sees an ad for an eye-catching brown pony for sale or swap, Shelby thinks she’s found the answer to all her problems. Maxshine Celtic Copper – otherwise known as Brat – seems perfect. But swapping a pony who’s your best friend for a highly strung horse whose beautiful brown coat washes out with shampoo turns out to be a really bad idea. The race is on for Shelby and her friends to catch a horse thief, find her beloved Blue and return Brat to her rightful owners.…

24 .) Hush, Little Horsie written by Jane Yolen

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Softonic

Rhyming text assures foals that their mothers are watching over them while they leap on a farm, frolic on a beach, gallop on a plain, and sleep in a stall.

23 .) Little Black, a Pony (Little Black Pony, #1) written by Walter Farley

Lists It Appears On:

• Carrieelle
• Goodreads

When a small boy graduates from his little pony to a big horse, the pony is sad until the time comes when he is able to do something the big horse cannot do.

22 .) National Velvet written by Enid Bagnold

Lists It Appears On:

• Bustle
• Read Brightly

In mid-twentieth-century England, fourteen-year-old Velvet Brown, determined to turn the unruly horse she wins in a raffle into a champion, learns that she needs more than hard work and dedication to achieve her goal of riding her horse in the Grand National steeplechase.…

21 .) Riding Freedom written by Pam Munoz Ryan

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes & Noble
• Read Brightly

A fictionalized account of Charley (Charlotte) Parkhurst who ran away from an orphanage, posed as a boy, moved to California, and fooled everyone by her appearance.

20 .) Robert the Rose Horse written by Joan Heilbroner

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes & Noble
• Goodreads

Robert’s allergic reaction to roses gets him in trouble repeatedly.

19 .) Rosie’s Magic Horse written by Russell Hoban

Lists It Appears On:

• Children’s Books Daily
• Goodreads

When Rosie’s popsicle stick turns into a horse named Stickerino, they have a lot of adventures.

18 .) Running with the Horses written by Alison Lester

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Softonic

Nina is determined to save the horses at the famous Spanish Riding School in Vienna during the war.

17 .) Seabiscuit the Wonder Horse written by Meghan Mccarthy

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Softonic

The true story of Seabiscuit, the grandson of one of the greatest racehorses of all time. But he’d lost nearly every race he’d run. Automobile tycoon Charles Howard took a risk and purchased Seabiscuit for a bargain price. With a clever new trainer and a loving jockey, Seabiscuit began winning. But could he really beat the Triple Crown Champion?…

16 .) Silver Snaffles written by Primrose Cumming

Lists It Appears On:

• Carrieelle
• Horse And Hound

Silver Snaffles was a beloved pony book for many generations and is finally back in print via Fidra Books. Anyone who has learned to ride must have wondered quite what the horse thinks of her: children must long for the ponies they love to talk to them.

15 .) Spud & Charli written by Samantha Wheeler

Lists It Appears On:

• Children’s Books Daily
• Readings

Does your imagination ever run wild? Charli is at riding camp, where her dream is about to come true, she will finally learn to ride a real, live horse. But when show-off Mikaela picks the horse Charli wants, her heart bungees to her toes. Instead of the beautiful palomino Razz, Charli?s stuck riding the massive retired racehorse Spud. And what about the bats that fill the night sky. Don’t bats spread deadly diseases? Riding camp isn’t turning out the way Charli planned, especially when she finds herself in the middle of a life-threatening disaster. An action-packed adventure about horses, bats and getting carried away by your imagination.…

14 .) Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening written by Robert Frost

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Softonic

Illustrations of wintry scenes accompany each line of the well-known poem.

13 .) The Gift of the Sacred Dog written by Paul Goble

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Softonic

In response to an Indian boy’s prayer for help for his hungry people, the Great Spirit sends the gift of the Sacred Dogs, horses, which enable the tribe to hunt for buffalo.

12 .) The Horse in Harry’s Room written by Syd Hoff

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Softonic

Although no one else can see it, Harry is very pleased to have a horse in his room.

11 .) The Quicksand Pony written by Alison Lester

Lists It Appears On:

• Children’s Books Daily
• Readings

After her pony Bella, trapped in quicksand, is rescued by a mysterious unseen person, ten-year-old Biddy follows the trail into the Australian bush and discovers the solution to a disappearance that happened years ago.

10 .) The Winter Horses written by Philip Kerr

Lists It Appears On:

• Read Brightly
• Readings

In the midst of another freezing winter, Max, the devoted caretaker of a wildlife reserve, must learn to live with the Nazis who have overrun his land. He must also learn to keep secrets, for there is a girl, Kalinka, who is hiding in the park. Kalinka has lost her home, her family, her belongings ? everything but her life. Still, she has gained one small, precious gift: a relationship with the rare wild and wily Przewalski’s horses that wander the reservation. Apart from Max, these endangered animals are her only friends until a Nazi campaign of extermination nearly wipes them out for good. Now Kalinka must set out on a treacherous journey through the frozen Ukrainian forest to save the only two surviving horses ? and herself. This sensitive, inspiring tale captures the power of sacrifice, the endurance of the human spirit and the astonishing loyalty of animals.…

9 .) Thoroughbred Series written by Joanna Campbell

Lists It Appears On:

• Carrieelle
• Not Consumed

After disease wipes out her family’s breeding farm, Ashleigh determines she will never care for a horse again until a small, sickly foal is born at the new farm that her family manages.

8 .) Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa written by Erica Silverman

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes & Noble
• Goodreads
• Softonic

Cowgirl Kate and her cowhorse Cocoa, who is always hungry, count cows, share a story, and help each other fall asleep.

7 .) My Friend Flicka series written by Mary O’Hara

Lists It Appears On:

• Bustle
• Horse And Hound
• Read Brightly

Through his intense devotion to the colt Flicka, a young boy living on a Wyoming ranch begins to learn about responsibility and gain a better understanding of his brusque father.

6 .) Noni the Pony written by Alison Lester

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes & Noble
• Children’s Books Daily
• Readings

Introduces Noni the pony, who is friendly and funny and lives at Waratah Bay, where her best friends are Dave Dog and Coco the cat.

5 .) One Horse Waiting for Me written by Patricia Mullins

Lists It Appears On:

• Carrieelle
• Goodreads
• Softonic

A rhymed counting book from one to twelve celebrates horses, real and imaginary.

4 .) War Horse written by Michael Morpurgo

Lists It Appears On:

• Books For Keeps
• Read Brightly
• Readings

World War I has started and the military needs horses to move equipment, charge the enemy, and carry wounded soldiers off the battlefield. Joey, a farm horse is sold to the Army. Joey misses the farmer’s son, Albert, and spends the war years wondering if the war will ever end and if he will ever see Albert again.…

3 .) Misty of Chincoteague written by Marguerite Henry

Lists It Appears On:

• Bustle
• Carrieelle
• Not Consumed
• Read Brightly

Paul and Maureen Beebe’s determination to own a pony from the herd on Chincoteague Island, Virginia, is greatly increased when the elusive Phantom and her colt are among the ponies rounded up for the yearly auction.

2 .) The Black Stallion written by Walter Farley

Lists It Appears On:

• Bustle
• Carrieelle
• Not Consumed
• Read Brightly

Young Alec Ramsay is shipwrecked on a desert island with a horse destined to play an important part in his life. Following their rescue their adventure continues in America.

1 .) Black Beauty written by Anna Sewell

Lists It Appears On:

• Bustle
• Carrieelle
• Children’s Books Daily
• Goodreads
• Read Brightly
• Readings

A horse in nineteenth-century England recounts his experiences with both good and bad masters.

The 175+ Additional Best Children’s Books About Horses

12 Best Kids Horse Book Sources/Lists