Horses are highly sensitive herd animals and as such, they reflect the emotions of those around them—including their human partners. To quote my latest novel, Girls and their Horses, “Horses are like mirrors. They reflect all the best parts and all worst parts of ourselves back at us.”
Horses in fiction are often used to echo the qualities of their human counterparts. They also inspire fast-paced, passionate stories of determination. Horses are often used to represent deeper emotional struggles or iron will. While perhaps not strictly thrillers, the following stories are fast-paced, thrilling and filled with twists.
Dark Horses by Susan Mihalic
\Dark Horses tells the story of a teenage equestrian prodigy struggling to escape the grip of her abusive father and coach. Evocative of Ella Berman’s The Comeback, the character’s dreams seem to hold her hostage. Mihalic focuses in on the Roan’s determination to be a champion rider to create a compelling conflict.
The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans
The Horse Whisperer tells the story of a teenage girl who narrowly survives a terrible riding accident that kills her friend, and her strong-willed mother who seeks out a ‘horse whisperer’ in a last-ditch attempt to save her daughter and their horse. The book opens with one of the most harrowing horse-riding accidents ever committed to print and continues apace from there. The Horse Whisperer was inspired by horse trainer Monty Roberts, and focuses on the emotional and spiritual connection between humans and horses.
The Black Stallion by Walter Farley
A classic novel about a boy and a wild horse who land on an abandoned island following a shipwreck and form a spiritual bond that sees them through struggles in the real world once they’re rescued. This book kicked off a series of thrilling horse racing novels. The Black Stallion dramatizes the connection between horse and rider, making the protagonist Alec the only person who can ride the titular black stallion.
The Horsewoman by James Patterson and Mike Lupica
This extremely fast-paced novel details the competition between mother and daughter equestrians leading up to the Olympics. With high-staked competitions, manipulative owners and riding accidents, The Horsewoman zeroes in on the many twists and turns of competitive showjumping.
Horse by Geraldine Brooks
Inspired by a true story, Horse features a multiple timeline narrative based around a record-breaking racehorse. Brooks imbues the narrative with suspense and twists. This beautifully-written story examines themes of racism, art and obsession.
All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy
The tale of a teenage Texas rancher who sets out on an adventure to cross the Mexican border and find work as a cowboy, All the Pretty Horses juxtaposes beautiful prose with the tragedy and brutality of the New/Old West. Here the horses seem to represent a romanticized vision of the west and the plotting is quick and filled with adventure.
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty
In a similar vein, but a heck of a lot longer, Lonesome Dove tells the epic story of aging ranchers who decide to go on one last cattle drive. The story is filled with danger and death. Here the horses are partners with their riders and share a relationship and history.
Sixteen Horses by Greg Buchanan
In this literary thriller, a police detective discovers sixteen horse heads on a farm and follows this mystery down a dark and twisted path. While a very different take from the above, here again we see horses as symbols.
The Syndicate Manager by Richard Laws
This book tells the story of a syndicate manager fighting to keep control over his star horse. It’s a deep dive into the dangerous, corrupt world of horseracing. In this highly competitive world, the horse represents money, success and power. The author is in fact a syndicate manager in England, and used his experience to create a more authentic story.
Dark Horses by Cecily Von Ziegesar
Did you know that the author of the Gossip Girl series also wrote a book from the perspective of a horse? That book is Dark Horses, which tells the story of a troubled girl who is sent to a residential equine therapy program where she bonds with a failed racehorse. Here the story gets pretty wild, because the horse falls so deeply in love with his rider that he will do anything to keep her to himself—including murder. Yes, you read that right.
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