SOLVED. Western about a orphan boy who has a big, gray horse. There was a horse or castle ranch and bullying, but the boy wins a horse race and finally finds a home. [s]

[Belynda]

I read this in the early/mid 70s and would like to read it to my grandkids now: A Western about Dusty, who was either the main character or his horse. The book started with the main character, an orphaned boy, dizzy with heat and hunger, looking down from the top of a hill at a herd of either horses or cattle somewhere hot, possibly Texas? He was debating on whether or not to trust the people and approach. Next I remember, he was entering his huge, gray horse into a local horse race to win the money. The wealthy entered thoroughbreds into the race and gave the kid a really hard time for the size of his huge horse. There was bullying, race cheating, fights, and guns involved, but in the end he found a home.

[Rainbowheart]

The Outlaw?

Desert Storm?

The Flag Is Up?

[Belynda]

Those sound like good books, too, thank you, but not the one I'm looking for, unfortunately.

[Rainbowheart]

It's long, but does anything on the Horse Books/Novels list look familiar?

[Stephanie]

Sounds like The Wild Horse Trap by Dale White (which until this moment I did not know was a pseudonym for Marian T. Place). You can check it out on OpenLibrary to be sure, but it has the same beginning and a gray horse named Dusty.

[Rainbowheart]

Also later published as Mystery of Wild Horse Trap, in case that edition looks more familiar.

[Belynda]

YES!! That's it!! I read the 1971 edition. Thank you so much!!