A Year of Reading: Clare Balding's The Racehorse Who Wouldn't Gallop, reviewed by Katherine Roberts

To mark the halfway stage of my reading year and Derby month, I'm reviewing not one but TWO titles by Clare Balding. Both are for young readers and inspired by horses, which fits perfectly with the author's background as the daughter of a racehorse trainer.

First up is fiction, and it's a fun read for ages 7+.

The Racehorse Who Wouldn't Gallop
by Clare Balding
illustrated by Tony Ross

10-year-old Charlie Bass lives on the family farm with her annoying brothers Harry and Larry, a dog called Boris, and a herd of milking cows named after celebrities. When their farm is in financial trouble, the whole family is invited to think of ways to raise some cash. So Charlie buys a racehorse entered for the Derby... bear with me, this is fiction! The only problem is, Noble Warrior ('Noddy' for short) won't go anywhere without his pony friend Percy, and the Bass family can only afford to buy him because several trainers have already given up on him.

To be fair to our plucky young heroine, bidding for Noddy at the horse sale was an accident. But there is plenty of room on the family farm for both Noddy and Percy, so she recruits her brothers to help research the Derby and farm boy Joe to be his jockey, then mounts the pony herself and sets out to train Noble Warrior to gallop fast enough to win a race. Against all odds, they apply for the necessary licences and manage to get Noddy as far as Epsom, where the queen has just arrived... Noble Warrior can gallop fine now, but will Percy behave? 

Clare Balding's jaunty, no-nonsense style works brilliantly for this story, and the characters (both two- and four-legged) spring to life from the page along with Tony Ross' illustrations. The horse racing background, while not overdone, is faithfully reflected throughout the book, and at the end of the paperback edition you'll find a fun quiz, author Q&A, plus pony facts and tips that should appeal to the target readership. There's also an audio version read by the author, and for young fans Charlie Bass returns in the sequels The Racehorse Who Learned to Dance and The Racehorse Who Disappeared.

Second is non-fiction, aimed at the same age group.

Fall Off Get Back On Keep Going
by Clare Balding
illustrated by Jessica Holm

Subtitled '10 ways to be at the top of your game', this one is not really a horse book at all, though the title was obviously inspired by the author's childhood experience of falling off her pony aged two and a half and breaking her collarbone. Apparently, her father popped her back in the saddle and told little Clare that to be a real jockey you first had to fall off (and get back on again) 100 times. Far from being put off by this, the author set out to complete 100 falls and remounts as quickly as possible... and, although she didn't become a jockey in the end, this attitude to life shines throughout the book.  

Clare Balding has presented for television many different sports throughout her career, including the Olympic Games. She mixes her own experiences with inspirational quotes from famous sports personalities in this practical and fun book, along with helpful suggestions for getting back on track when you 'fall off' in life. Attractively laid out with inspiring chapter titles such as 'The Cake of Kindness' and 'The Cloak of Confidence', the book also includes practical exercises some of which I hadn't come across before - so you might want to borrow this one from younger members of the family for tips on keeping going, even if you're a grown-up!

Phew, made it through to June! Now, for the next six months...

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Katherine Roberts writes fantasy and historical fiction for young/teen readers, often including horses (because she, too, has fallen off them a few times).

Her bestselling equine title is 'I am the Great Horse', which tells the story of Alexander the Great from the horse's mouth. Read by all generations, this book is suitable for readers aged 12+.

I am the Great Horse
by Katherine Roberts
* ebook only 99p until 1st July *

Find out more at www.katherineroberts.co.uk