Horses Forever

Lisa Arsenault is an elementary-school teacher in Ajax, Ontario.

The timeless bond between humans and horses is addressed in this book.
The two most intriguing aspects of horses—their sense of danger,
because they are big, strong, and fast, and also their generosity of
spirit—are the focus.

The close association between people and horses is traced from its
origins about 30,000 years ago to the present. A helpful timeline
indicates that humans began riding horses about 6000 years ago and that
horses were repatriated to the New World 500 years ago. The author
describes the exploits of famous war horses, great journeys conducted on
horseback, the roles horses have played in movies and books (Black
Beauty is the sixth-best-selling book of all time), the sensational
accomplishments of such famous racehorses as Northern Dancer and
Secretariat, and the less sensational but nonetheless important
activities of cattle-herding quarter horses.

Scanlan employs a straightforward, expository style. He is at his
strongest when detailing the more unusual connections between people and
horses. For instance, several prison programs use convicts to train wild
horses—an activity that teaches the prisoners patience, gentleness,
and trust. Riding can also be of great therapeutic benefit to disabled
children. Color and black-and-white photographs enhance the text.
Recommended for children with an interest in the relationship between
people and horses.