SUSAN AND JANE LEARN TO RIDE

It's an introductory book about riding set up in slightly fictional form--and not very satisfactory on either count. As a birthday present Susan is permitted to begin taking riding lessons with the sister of a classmate, and her best friend accompanies her. Beyond that the story simply follows their progress. The author is a well-known horsewoman, and has written some very good books relating to the subject including the excellent The Complete Book of Horses and Ponies (1963). Her explanations of horse care and of riding methods are very good; however the fact that these are all offered through forced dialogue, and that the organization is restricted by the fictional events, detracts from the book's value. Horses are so widely popular with girls of this age level that the story bribe seems quite unnecessary and is actually a detriment.