Jane Ryan has always dreamed of owning a horse–but so long as she gets to ride her favorite, Beau, at Sunny Acres farm, she’s content. And this is the summer she means to try out for the advanced riding class.

But just as summer begins, Jane receives heartbreaking news about Beau. Now, she loses not just her favorite horse, but also her chance to ride in the end-of-summer competition. When her trainer asks her help with an out-of-control chestnut warmblood, Lancelot, a newcomer to the barn, she has no choice but to say yes.

Only Jane’s faith in Lancelot, and her own rediscovered skill and strength, can see her through the hard journey toward a horse of her own.

Kirkus Reviews (starred):

Ever since her first riding lesson six years ago, 14-year-old Jane Ryan has wanted two things: acceptance from the clique of wealthy girls with whom she trains and a horse of her own, preferably Beau, the elderly school horse she understands completely. Over the course of six weeks of camp, Beau is sold out from under her, and she’s given the difficult task of restoring Lancelot, a show horse belonging to one of the rich girls, to his former brilliance. Gradually Jane comes to see herself as adrift in the middle of a river of change; with grit and courage, she learns to paddle. Sensitive, sophisticated and lyrically written, Wedekind’s debut portrays the typical teen struggle for self-awareness in an anything-but-typical fashion. Possibly the most honest horse book since National Velvet, from an equestrian point-of-view, this offering’s riding scenes combine accuracy with seat-of-the-pants excitement. A champion. 

Click here for the lovely review from Kidliterate.

My publisher made me do this:

A Horse of Her Own was also published in German by Arena Verlag.