Sand Dune Pony

Wilderness Mysteries #1

by Troy Nesbit, Franklin Folsom

Pete and his wild mustang pony, Sandy, find mystery and adventure at Uncle Lem's Colorado ranch

Genres: Fiction, Westerns, Horses, Young Adult, Childrens, Adventure, Animals

250 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1954

About the author

Legal name: Franklin Folsom

Also used the following pseudonyms:
Benjamin Brewster
Samuel Cutler
Michael Gorham
Lyman Hopkins
and Troy Nesbit

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My dad read this book to me as a kid. I always loved it and wanted to share it with my boys. Reading this makes me think of home and the sand dunes. Sure love this book and where it takes place.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not like that the main character lied to his Uncle and Aunt. I also felt that some of the freedoms, and responsibilities given to the boy were inconsistent with the boy's age and that he came from the city. The story line was enjoyable but predictable.

[Bobbi Martens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Troy Nesbit when I was 8 or 10 and devouring every book that came my way and romanticising about the western life I could have led. Have no clue, now, if his writing was good or poor, but the mysteries got my attention and I could hardly get my chores done on a day I was reading something like this. The next day, the book was finished and I was doing my work a little more responsibly, but already scanning my dad's shelves for my next fix.

[Amy Linton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Classic boy and horse genre story from a bygone era of innocent mid-century America.

[Rebekah Snyder]

“A book is a dream you hold in your hands.” As a writer, that quote has resonated with me, as I know all too well the blood, sweat, and tears it takes to birth a book into being. But for the first time, I got to appreciate that quote from a different perspective.

Sand Dune Pony was the book my fiancé read as a child that made him realize he wanted to train horses. In reading this book, that wild spark of an idea took root in his mind. Folks, I’m happy to say that little boy grew up to be a horse trainer.

Unfortunately, I can’t give this book the review it deserves because I know my judgement is skewed. All I know is that you may find this book to be a little ridiculous and that would be an entirely fair assessment, but I personally found it to be one of the most important stories I’ve ever read. It gave me a look into my fiancé’s past in a way nothing else could, because stories are magical like that.

Read books. Encourage your children to read books. Introduce them to a wide array of subjects because you never know when they will read a story that will sing to their soul the way this book sang to Levi.

[Suzanne Thackston · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up in a used book store, remembering it as a beloved tale from my youth. I'd certainly have rated it higher then, and it has good points. It's well-paced for a kid's book, has a reasonably likable protagonist and hits all the necessary goalposts for a children's adventure. But I can't totally discount my old lady perspective and the passage of time. It's not too ghastly a bronco busting story, at least, I've seen worse. But it's hard to get excited about a book that goes there. The breaking-in happens super quickly and easily, which I suppose those methods do produce at time, with a happy, fully socialized, loving pony at the end which is a stretch. Hatsy, the mentor, is a fun fellow with his Appaloosies, but the villain and wrap-up were pretty contrived. However, it's always interesting to visit an America where a horse was yours for the catching and a citizen could rope and tie a bad guy without a lawsuit.

[Cori Floum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love horses, and this story was the perfect horse mystery. Sure, It's a child's book, and I found in my mom's stuff from when she was a kid, but it's lighthearted and super fun to read. I couldn't help reading the whole thing in one night ;D. I would definitely recommend this book to horse crazy little girls and boys.

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great children's story!!

[Rebecca Martell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant story, if not terribly compelling. Nice details on the American Southwest and wild mustang horses.

[Caitlyn Unruh · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun children's book. clean and wholesome except for some lying.

[Marita · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son was in second grade and was lagging in reading. To encourage him, I grabbed a book and said "I'll read one chapter, you read one chapter". This was the book I chose at random. By the fourth chapter, he was hooked. In hindsight, the choice was serendipitous, as the plot involves an archeological discovery, and said son is now a grown-up archeologist.

[Maryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read this since childhood, but remember loving this story about an Appaloosa. Just ordered a copy, will update review after rereading!

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this as a child - it's sitting on my shelves now so I have to re read it

[Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a Christmas gift from a school mate when I was in Grade 4 or 5. My first "western", it was one of my favourite books. I literally wore it out reading it. For kids who love horses.