Equestrian Fiction

Remember how much you loved pony stories?

What happens to all those spunky girls and boys when they grow up?

Is their adulthood just as horse-obsessed as their childhood?

Natalie Keller Reinert Horse Books for Horse People

Click to see my entire range of equestrian fiction at Amazon.

Those are the stories I write. From horse racing to eventing, my novels explore what happens when pony kids (like you!) grow up.

Choose from more than a dozen novels, spanning the horse show life, three-day eventing, and horse racing!

Grabbing Mane cover

Grabbing Mane: One of my most popular novels, Grabbing Mane takes a look at amateur equestrian life. When Casey decides to take up riding again, it’s a spur-of-the-moment decision. After fifteen years out of the saddle, she’s astonished to find out how quickly horses can take over a person’s life… and so are her parents, partner, and friends! Anyone who has ever dreamed of horses, given them up, or gone back for more will relate to this one! Find paperback and Kindle editions at Amazon.

The Hidden Horses of New York book cover

The Hidden Horses of New York: This one-of-a-kind novel travels from Ocala, to Manhattan and Brooklyn, and on upstate to Saratoga Springs. Jenny is a new college grad determined to use her journalism degree for the good of horse racing. A slow-burning romance, plus the stories of horses from every corner of urban and country life, makes for one incredible ride. Winner of the 2019 American Horse Publications’ Equine Media Award: Equine-Related Fiction and the 2020 Equus Film & Arts Fest Award: Horse Racing Fiction. Find paperback and Kindle editions at Amazon. 

Forward: The Eventing Series Book 5

The Eventing Series: Follow the adventures (and misadventures) of Jules and Pete, two hardworking event riders trying to make it to the top of their sport. Begin with the acclaimed opening novel Ambition, spotlighted in Horse Illustrated and other publications! Find paperback and Kindle editions at Amazon.

Show Barn Blues cover

The Show Barn Blues Series: Meet Grace, the lifelong equestrian who thought she had mastered the art of making money in the show horse business… until the landscape of Central Florida shifted under her feet. Begin with Show Barn Blues, the beloved novel HorseNation called “delightfully addictive barn drama.” Find paperback and Kindle editions at Amazon.

The Alex and Alexander Series: Two trainers, two generations, an unlikely love affair. Alex and Alexander is a wry and heartfelt journey through the world of horse racing. From the all-new opening of Runaway Alex, to the original novella, The Head and Not The Heart, to the award-nominated novels Other People’s Horses and Turning for Home, you’ll recognize the heart and soul of equestrian life in these stories. Find paperback and Kindle editions at Amazon.

Ready for more? Join me at Facebook, on Twitter, Instagram, and at Patreon, where you’ll discover exclusive writing.

Shopping small? Visit my page at Taborton Equine Books and support one of the USA’s favorite equestrian bookshops.

Book by Book: The Backlist

Get the details on each of my books, and find the perfect equestrian novel for your tastes and passions!

Award Winning! The Hidden Horses of New York: A Novel

The Hidden Horses of New York book coverJenny’s a horsewoman, born and bred. Aidan’s a photographer, with a passion for sleek thoroughbreds. Lana has business brains and start-up cash. Together, they’re going to bring horse racing’s best stories to life. Best friends working on a passion project together: it could be the perfect post-grad life in New York City… if only Jenny wasn’t hopelessly in love with Aidan.

A colt’s bid for a Breeders’ Cup championship, a racehorse with no name, a charming police mount on Amsterdam Avenue, a carriage horse clattering through Central Park: the horses of New York are clamoring to have their stories told. Jenny just has to find the words, and the courage, to give them a voice.

Winner of the 2019 American Horse Publications’ Equine Media Award for Equine-related Fiction, and Winner of the 2020 Equus Film & Arts Fest Award for Horse Racing Fiction.

The Show Barn Blues Series

Show Barn Blues coverGrace has built her life on show horses. It’s been a good life, too — she mounts her wealthy students on European warmbloods, competes her horses on Florida’s rigorous A-circuit, and runs the nicest barn in the neighborhood. Then, suddenly, it’s the only barn in the neighborhood.

“Delightfully addictive barn drama.” – Horse Nation

“I was immediately drawn into the world of Grace and her barn, and felt I was there with them.” – Kim Walnes (Eventing Rider & Trainer)

Horses in Wonderland book cover

Not ready to cede the area’s equestrian experiences to the local theme parks, Grace begins to think she can beat them at their own game.

Trying to balance a barn full of boarders, aggressive new neighbors, a troublesome staff and a relationship with a man whose business model is in her crosshairs isn’t easy. Grace has been in the horse business a long time… but it’s never looked like this before.

“Readers who don’t consider themselves “horse people,” fear not: the author’s latest has something for everyone, whether your particular cup of tea is later-in-life romances, complex female relationships, settings as powerful as any character, or Disney World.” – Amazon

The Eventing Series

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000040_00016]

Set in the world of competitive eventing, Ambition follows a young horsewoman who sets out to set the world on fire with her eventing career — no matter what.

Featured in Horse Illustrated’s best horse books issue!

“Natalie weaves the story of Jules, her horses, and their uncertain road to the upper levels of eventing with realism and detail.” – The Equine Insider

Pride (Book 2: The Eventing Series)

Jules is back! After a successful season, she’s ready for her close-up when a sponsorship from a top saddlery company comes calling. What she didn’t count on? A summer-long apprenticeship in dressage, riding for the one and only Grace Carter (Show Barn Blues.) This is not what Jules had in mind.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34043647-courageFor Jules Thornton, courage means riding her horses forward through the most daunting cross-country courses in the sport. Now she’s back in Ocala and ready to tackle the winter eventing with her usual bravado, but neither she nor her partner, Pete are ready for the next struggle the eventing gods have cooked up.

“This series keeps getting better.” – Amazon

Luck Kindle Cover

Jules is used to starting over. With her horses, her dreams, and Pete by her side, they’re making a new go of eventing life in an unlikely setting. After years of riding for trainers and owners, their isolated little farm feels like a luxury to her. Unfortunately, not everyone in the business agrees that less is more. Jules has never thought of herself as lucky, but now she’ll need all the luck — and hard work — in the world to hang on to the horses she loves.

Forward: The Eventing Series Book 5

Things have been looking up for Jules and Pete, although it’s definitely not anything they could have predicted for themselves. Another hot summer descends across North Florida, and trouble is brewing with new owners and old horses.

They’ll need some help from old friends — and maybe some old enemies, too — but Jules and Pete are going to keep moving forward, no matter what.

The Alex and Alexander Series

Head and Not The Heart, The - Natalie Keller ReinertIs there an escape from the equestrian world? And if there is, would you even want to take it? Alex never wanted anything but a life with horses, but the tumultuous highs and lows of life on an Ocala Thoroughbred training and breeding farm is starting to take its toll. When a chance sighting of a long-lost horse sends her to New York City, she has to take stock of just what she wants out of life.

“This is one of those books that stays with you, long after you’ve turned the last page.”

“This book really is one that speaks directly to the heart and soul of someone who feels so passionate about the thoroughbred horse.”

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000032_00035]Semi-finalist, 2013 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award

Six horses and Saratoga. At last, Alex can take a step out of the shadows and into the limelight. But even the fairy-tale setting of Saratoga Springs, New York is full of hurdles for a young woman trying to prove herself as a racehorse trainer. Alex is determined to prove herself–and a little obsessed with a funny-faced filly all of Saratoga seems to think is insane.

“This is a horse story for grown-ups. The Black Stallion for adults.”

“Written by a horse person for horse people”

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All Alex wants for Christmas is a little peace and quiet. A call from a local charity upends that plan, though. From the beautiful pastures of Ocala’s finest Thoroughbred farms to underground racing in the back corners of an uncharted Florida, Alex finds herself on a mission to make one girl happy.

“Great book for the horse hungry person.”

“A heart-warming read for any season.”

“Sweet story and filled with beautiful writing. You can tell the author truly loves horses and understands the hold they have on our hearts.”

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000040_00016]Finalist, 2015 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award

What happens after the races? If you’re one of Alex’s racehorses, you go on to a fulfilling new career as a broodmare or a sport horse. Or so she’s always thought. Blamed for a disastrous abuse case, Alex has to remake her reputation as a horsewoman, or risk losing everything she’s built for herself.

“Another Lushly Written Novel for Horse Lovers.”

“In Turning for Home Natalie tackles the all-important issue of finding second careers for Thoroughbreds when they are not competitive enough to pay the bills and keep their owners interested.”

Horse-Famous: Stories

“Reinert explores the bond that keeps those with the calling-to-horses embedded in that difficult, fraught yet rewarding world, sometimes despite themselves.”

Amazon (Kindle and Kindle Unlimited)

Visit my pages at Barnes & Noble.com or Amazon.com to see reviews and order your copies!

17 thoughts on “Equestrian Fiction

  1. Dotty Lacey says:

    I’ve always been horse crazy. I’m 69 now and don’t think it’s going away. I love these books. I worked at Tropical Park, Cleveland, and Detroit as a kid. I loved every minute of it. I often wish I’d stayed. Your books let return to that wonderful time. Thank You

    • Natalie Keller Reinert says:

      Hi Yvonne! Unfortunately Nook sales were very low for me and prevented me from joining Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program. Nook also pays much lower royalties than Amazon. I couldn’t make the math work to continue offering books on their platform.

  2. Maggie says:

    Is book 5 of the Eventing Series still available on Audible?? Or can I purchase the audiobook elsewhere? I can’t find it and Amazon only has it listed as a Kindle or paperback option.

    Are you planning on having any of your other series made available on Audible? I do most of my “reading” in the car and am completely hooked!

  3. Kathy Schmitz says:

    Natalie,
    I have so enjoyed your books and looking forward to Prospect which I have pre-ordered on Amazon.
    You faithfully capture every single detail and sentiment of a real horse person – something so rare in horse stories. I can tell you are a very experienced horse person.
    I am 67 and have retired both my last rides after 25 years of show jumping and cross country riding in Barcelona, Spain.
    My life is outside the horse world now and oh how I miss it!
    Your books have provided me a wonderful opportunity to return there and relive so many feelings from the past. Your characters are so well developed and your story lines are so flowing. Once I begin a book it’s impossible to put down.
    I highly recommend your works to all who are passionate about the horse world.
    Looking forward to your next read!
    Kathy

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