Joan Houston

"Horse Show Hurdles" is a worthy continuation of Joan Houston's first book, "Jump-shy". It's summer again, so Cynnie and Tam are back in Vermont visiting with their uncle. The Leroy stables has become the popular place to be, so after a dispute with the owner of the Wilby Stables, Uncle Peter moves his nieces' horses to Leroy's. Cynnie is thrilled due to her friends already being there, but Tam's loyalties are to Frank Wilby and his stable hand, Steven. The climax comes at the annual horse show, when Tam "grabs the reins" of a serious problem in an effort to protect her "big" sister.

I enjoyed this sequel almost as much as the previous book. All the characters are back, although the younger sister, Tam, is showing more maturity than her sibling, who can't say "no", no matter what the cost. The people are real, as are the situations, and the result was a very enjoyable read. I'll be looking for a copy of this book to add to my library for a future reread.… (mere)

Some books read as a youth can stay vivid in the mind. For me, "Jump-shy" was one of those, a story that I reread repeatedly, until at one point it was lost, and no longer a part of my library. I have recently acquired another copy of this sweet and charming story, and discovered that the years have been kind...it transcends the years between childhood and middle age, and remains on my favorite list.

Tam and her older sister Cynnie are spending the summer with their uncle in Vermont, which means riding lessons! Cynnie has worked hard at her horsemanship, and is rewarded with her own dressage horse. But Tam likes the older neglected and mistreated Merlin, once a champion jumper, but now a ruined "jump-shy" horse. She and the stable hand Steve concoct a plan to reteach Merlin how to jump again, so her uncle will buy him for her own.

Nice story, good characters, and lots of humor. Recommended.… (mere)