Best of Family & Relationships
Best of Family & Relationships
"So Many Books, So Little Time!"
The Horses of Saddlers Ranch: Cloud
Book One
by
Alison Bellringer
Genre/s
Fiction, Action and Adventure, Children's Books, Teen and Young Adult, Western
Publish Date
July 17, 2025
Short Description
"Come on, you beast!" The man mumbled under his breath, quite unaware that he was being observed by several rather stunned onlookers. "Get over here!"
Despite his terse command, as if sensing the man's edginess, the gelding merely laid his ears back and started shaking his head, soon lashing out with his long, delicate legs. High-pitched squeals of outrage soon followed, and at the disturbance, another person's face suddenly peered out of the passenger window of the cab.
"You see, Daddy? That kind of behavior is exactly why we can't keep it! I need a reliable horse that I can depend upon at all times." The blonde-haired girl stared at the scene, almost in disdain, and then immediately continued whining again. "Hurry up, Daddy! I want to ride Secret Service again as soon as we get home. That horse is so much better behaved!"
$9.95
Book's Awards
Description
Coral Johnson and her friends are genuinely shocked when a strange horse with an unpredictable temperament is suddenly thrust under the care of those living at her parents’ busy cattle ranch. Surprised and amazed to find themselves looking after an elegant Arab, the fifteen-year-old girls struggle to understand why the impressive show horse was always so difficult for the gelding’s previous owner to handle when he almost instantly appears to be the most charming and sweet-natured animal at Saddlers Ranch. Tilly Carpenter decides to take matters into her own hands, but is Cloud really as violent as the condescending owner claimed, or is there some other reason for why he never likes being ridden?
Book Trailer
Reviews Of The Book On BooksShelf
Alison Bellringer’s The Horses of Saddlers Ranch: Cloud is a wholesome equestrian story about friendship, responsibility and learning to understand an animal’s behaviour rather than judging it too quickly.
We enjoyed the distinct personalities of Coral, Lexie and Tilly, whose humour and loyalty make their ranch holiday engaging. Cloud’s arrival introduces both excitement and conflict, while the girls’ mistakes teach valuable lessons about patience, safety and respecting the experience of responsible adults. The ranch setting and detailed knowledge of horse care will particularly appeal to young readers who love animals.
Some conversations and daily activities receive more detail than necessary, causing the central storyline to progress slowly in places. A little tightening would strengthen the tension and give Cloud’s journey greater impact.
Warm, accessible and filled with affection for horses, The Horses of Saddlers Ranch: Cloud is an enjoyable beginning to a promising series. We are pleased to recognize it as the Second-Place YA/Coming-of-Age Winner in the BooksShelf Writing Contest.
- The BooksShelf Editorial Team
