Throughout recorded history, the horse has played many roles in human life. He has been mans partner in war, his servant in work, his teammate in sports, his inspiration in art. So it is only natural that literature includes many masterpieces about horses and horsemanship.
The Greatest Horse Stories Ever Told gathers together the best of the equestrian genre. It includes stories and articles by Pulitzer Prize-winners Red Smith, Maxine Kumin, and Jane Smiley, and tales by jockey-turned-mystery novelist Dick Francis and veterinarian-turned-writer James Herriot. Here also are reflections on fox hunting by Steven Budiansky and Anthony Trollope; a profile of Buck Brannaman, the inspiration for The Horse Whisperer; an inspirational piece from Ellie Phayer, and a story about the Spanish Riding Schools dancing white horses by Felix Salten (author of Bambi), as well as writing from Tom McGuane, Bill Barich, humorist Cooky McClung, and classic western authors Will James and Zane Grey.
Heartwarming, adventurous, profound, and funny, this anthology is a treasure trove that includes favorite writers and little-known or long-forgotten gems, illuminating our fascination-and captivation-with horses.

Steven D. Price is the author of eighteen books on equestrian subjects, including The Horsemans Illustrated Dictionary, Essential Riding, The Quotable Horse Lover, and The American Quarter Horse. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Travel & Leisure, Practical Horseman, and Americas Horse. He lives in New York City and rides horses wherever he can.

Introduction.............................................ix
Mr. Ts Heart.............................................1................ Jane Smiley
The Lady Who Rides to Hounds...........7................Anthony Trollope
Pure Heart..................................................12..............William Nack
Nona Garson.............................................27...............Nancy Jaffer
A Royal Rip-off at Kingdom Hill............32...............Dick Francis
Breakneck Hill...........................................40...............Esther Forbes
The Horse Whisperer..............................49...............Paul Trachtman
A Vote for Ta Wee...................................61...............Red Smith
The Imperial Spanish Riding School.....64...............Felix Salten
Sleeping Sickness.....................................69..............Ben Green
Tallyho and Tribulation...........................81..............Stephen Budiansky
Why Is It that Girls Love Horses?.........89..............Maxine Kumin
Mustard-Pot, Matchmaker......................94..............Gilbert Frankau
Horses and Horsemen.............................108............Andy Russell
All Horse Players Die Broke...................114............Damon Runyon
Dreaming...................................................128.............Bill Barich
Was There A Horse with Wings?.........136............Beryl Markham
On Winning..............................................145............William Steinkraus
Buster........................................................149............Tom McGuane
All Things Bright and Beautiful............161............James Herriot
Tips on Horses.........................................171...........Ring Lardner
The Champion...........................................173..........Gene Smith
School Horses...........................................183..........Colonel Alois Podhajsky
Horsefolk are Different.............................203..........Cooky McClung
The Diverting History of John Gilpin.....207..........William Cowper
Tip on a Lost Race....................................216..........CArey Winfrey
The Ponies are Talking.............................221..........Holly Menino
Personals....................................................236...........Melissa Pierson
Good Horse Keeping................................242...........Paul Zarzyski
Two Sisters................................................251...........Ellie Phayer
Acknowledgments....................................254

"Every once in a while, a book publisher comes up with a great concept for a series of books that deserve more than superficial recognition. Such a series is "THE GREATEST (fill in the blank) STORIES EVER TOLD", anthologies that should win places on many bedside tables. On the long winter nights that lie ahead, such stories make great reading." --The Lexington County Chronicle