Horse Fever

Girl Talk #25

by L.E. Blair, Katherine Applegate

What do you do when the most beautiful horse in the world scares you to death?
When Randy and her friends decide to take riding lessons, Randy's determined not to let a secret from her riding days in New York City ruin her fun. But can Randy manage to overcome her past for the love of a horse?

Genres: Young Adult, Childrens

114 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1991

About the author

A pseudonym used by Katherine Applegate.

Reviews

[Tiffany Spencer]

Horse Feve
Rolling Hills has opened and there’s a discount on horse riding lessons. Sabs wants to go for it. The idea doesn’t do anything for Al because she doesn’t like horses. Katie says it might be fun but she doesn’t have the team what with hockey practice coming up. Then she asks Randy. Randy surprisingly says she prefers riding English. She use to ride in Central Park with her dad. Randy tho says she’s not interested. After that the subject drops and they start talking about homework.

At home, M gently prompts Randy to take the lessons because it’s something she loved in the past. Without saying it we kinda get the hint that something happened to make Randy stop riding. Maybe she had a bad fall. But M says it’s ok if she doesn’t want to. But Randy knows what she’s not saying is she won’t be ok until she faces her fear again. At school, Sabs keeps hinting (aka nagging) and Alison suggests (what I was thinking) why does she need them. If she wants to take the lessons so badly do it by herself. But Sabs says she doesn’t want to. She wants to do it with them and it’s a good way to meet boys (rolling my eyes. Is this all this girl thinks about?) Randy agrees to take the lessons. All the while her conscious is telling her no. Then Al agrees because she feels like the Chipawahs missed out. Katie tho holds out and sticks to her original decision.

On the first lesson, Sabs wants to jump right into it. There are eight people in the class. The instructor is a sixteen-year-old guy named Richard. The horse’s name is Pumpkin. Randy zones out because she has her eye on another (black) horse. Randy shows off a little her knowledge of Western and English. Then Richard shows them the tack room. The black horse isn’t all that impressed with Randy. Its name is Thunder. Turns out he and Randy have common interest. They both have their own mind. R Richard them tells them about grooming and it’s importance. Then he shows them how. Then he says he’s going to match each of them up with a horse. Eight of them. Nine horses. Sabrina gets a little chestnut horse named Bilbo. Al gets a horse named Sweetheart (the horses resemble the girls). To the surprise of Richard, Randy picks Pumpkin.

While shpping, Randy confesses to Al that she was riding a horse in Central Park and a kid threw a frisbee at it’s head. The horse took off running and jumped the rail. Randy fell of and when she looked up the paramedics and her dad were around her. She makes Al promise not to tell the others.Al thinks she’s brave just to get back on a horse after that. Randy decides by the next lesson to conquer her fear. She’ll start with Pumpkin but end up riding Thunder.

The lesson starts off with how to put a saddle on a horse. There’s a commotion and they see Sabs horse trying to eat her hair. Richard tells her she has to take control and let the horse know whose boss. After this, they learn to put on bridles. Sabs tries to get on Bilbo but ends up on her back. Randy is hesitant but she successfully is able to get on Pumpkin. r One night, Randy goes to visit Thunder to offer him a “peace offering” (a carrot) but he doesn’t take it. So, Randy turns her back on him and leaves the carrot on the railing. He takes the carot but shies away from Randy touching him. She understands that he isn’t friendly and doesn’t take to well to people. (Just like her). Randy hopes they can be friends. Eventually as Randy goes back to the stables, Thunder starts to warm up to her. He takes the carrot and lets her scratch his ears. There’s a girl in the class named April whose as good a rider as Randy. She wants to ride Thunder. Everyone else thinks Randy should but she isn’t ready. Richard finally agrees to let April ride Thunder but in a de ja vu moment Thunder takes off running and April starts to fall. Randy wants to chase after her but Richard stops her. April is thrown and Richard is apology (but really April was the one who keep insisting she ride him. Richard warned her thoroughly). The father gets on his son’s case and tells them they have to let Thunder go.

Randy gets encouraged when she sees Katie stand up to a guy called “Bad Bart” on an opposite hockey team. Al and Randy go to the stables. Randy is determined it’s now or never. But she does hope Richard is there to stop her. Richard isn’t there and Randy says (even though she wanted Richard to stop her) she knows he’ll stop her. Randy is convinced she knows Thunder but Al isn’t sure. Once Randy gets on, all of a sudden he takes off running. Randy can’t get control of him. The fence comes up fast and then they’re flying through the air. Randy’s foot slips. She flies through the air and falls. Richard sees and comes over to her. Randy starts to laugh her head off. Richard says that’s the last straw and he’s gotta go. He needs a horse that needs to be able to be ridden by students. Randy is upset by this. She might not get to see Thunder again. So Richard tells gives Randy instructions and Thunder obeys. She says she’ll work with him. But Richard doesn’t think his father won’t go for it.

Randy says she wishes there was something she could do to change Mr. Coles's mind. She feels like she owes it to the horse for him helping her get over her fear. The girls have a sleepover and watch horse movies. They talk about the show coming up. They all think Randy should be riding Thunder. Sabs (whose idea this was says it wasn’t what she thought it was. She might ride horses sometimes but basically she’s over horse riding). Randy realizes that just like when she needs to let off steam she drums, Thunder lets off steam by running before a ride.

At the show, Randy gets a letdown because April’s parents have bought him for her. Randy test her theory and then puts him through all the show’s requirements. After the show, Mr. Cole says (to April’s parents) he’s no longer for sale. He’s going to take him and train him and he’ll be his horse. April says she can train him and take him to regionals. But Randy says she’ll be the one riding him at regionals. Mr. Cole seems to like this and says Richard can train her. Richard says Thunder and Randy are a show-stopping team and Randy thinks this is just the beginning.

My Thoughts:
A pre-teen girl series must have 1. Something about a sports team 2. A plot about a class election and 3 a book about a horse. I’m not a huge horse lover so this one drug just a slight bit. I already knew that Randy would get the horse in the end. What I didn’t see (slightly different) was that she’d ride the horse and fall off again. I thought she’d get on the horse and ride him and realize it was all in her head. Sabs iis really starting to annoy me. For one she’s always trying to drag her friends into EVERY SINGLE THING in this series she’s gone out for. Does she think when she auditions her friends are gonna be there to audition with her? Or even be there with her period when she’s older. She’s just a little too co-dependent for me. Then in EVERY SINGLE BOOk, it’s some different guy. She even wants to learn to ride horses so she can MEET a guy. And if I’m not mistaken she has Arizona and he seems cool enough.

Rating: 5

[Heather Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember reading this series when I was a kid in the 90s.
The books hold up even now that I'm old (er) as a cute, nostalgic trip down memory lane, but they are definately written with the tween audience in mind.
The only harsh criticism I have for this book is that the editing, the lack of rather, is atrocious. Which, I may not have realized earlier on in life but now, it bothers me.
So.
If anyone would like to hire me on as a copy editor for a relaunch of the series, I'd happily oblige.
😅😅

[Macaylan]

the last two books I read sent me back to my middle school shelf I need to go through 💀🤣

[Sheila Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

these books were like reading a diary each book was different though it was like you were in school again.

[Martina Fuskova · Rating 4 out of 5]

all books from this serial were with me in my childhood and puberty-time ;) and in that time it was great. One time...I will read it with my daughters