Setting the Pace

High Hurdles #3

by Lauraine Snelling

Book 3 in the High Hurdles series for early teen girls. Just as life begins to settle for DJ Randall, a series of racial slurs aimed at her friend Hilary makes working at Briones Riding Academy a nightmare.

Genres: Horses, Young Adult, Christian, Christian Fiction, Animals, Childrens, Fiction

173 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1996

About the author

Award-winning and bestselling author Lauraine Snelling has over 80 books published with sales of over 4.5 million. Her original dream was to write horse books for children. Today, she writes adult novels about real issues centered on forgiveness, loss, domestic violence and cancer in her inspirational contemporary women’s fiction titles and historical series, including the favorite, Blessing books about Ingeborg Bjorklund and family.

Lauraine enjoys helping others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the county. She and her husband Wayne have two grown sons, and a daughter in Heaven. They live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a Basset named Sir Winston ob de Mountains, Lapcat, and “The Girls” (three golden hens).

Reviews

[Chloé · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was all kinds of frustrating. I remember loving this series as a younger human, but now they just don't hold up as well in my mind. I now see all the flaws in these books, and I honestly wonder how I put up with some of them when I originally read this series. For starters, all the characters easily fit into a stereotypical mold, in this book especially. I find myself highly annoyed whenever the twins Bobby and Billy are mentioned, and I also found myself wanting to throw the book across the room whenever Lindy decided to be a self-centered snob again. But, of course it takes one little cry session and two sentences for all to be forgiven and everything to be right as rain between her and DJ again. I also really got highly frustrated whenever Lindy yelled at DJ pointlessly - and even Joe got all mad at DJ for doing something that was out of her control! Another big thing that bothered me was that, being a Christian myself, I know what the Bible says and try to follow it in my own life. I absolutely hated how Hilary handled the Tony situation. It was not 'tattling' or being a better person to not tell someone about him harassing her - it would've been the right thing to do! I also find it beyond hard to believe that anyone in this book lives in California; They all act like they live in the South. If I'm being truly honest, the only reason I gave this book three stars is because I remember loving them when I was younger and can't bear to give it any lower. I hope, if I choose to continue with my reread of this series, that the writing and story gets better.

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read. Sweet story. Cozy and relatable settings. Everything turns out well by the end of the book. And more 90's nostalgia. 🙂👍

[Sarah Toton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved these books as a kid and recently started rereading them. However, a few things in them are driving me nuts. DJ's mom is intolerable and doesn't treat her like family at all. DJ is so priveleged that people who care about her a lot and have a lot of support for her and money just fall in her lap left and right. I was also teaching lessons at 14, but it seems strange to me how many adults responsibilities and worries DJ has. Also, basically everything with her horse goes perfectly except when it is her fault. Ha. Ha. Ha.

I would recommend these for kids (with some discussion about healthy relationship and habits), but not adults.

[Elivia Kanatiquelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are wonderful

[Sandra Hall · Rating 2 out of 5]

DJ's mom is god awful. That is all.

[Christine Meunier · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in the High Hurdles series by Lauraine Snelling is titled Setting the Pace. In this novel, fourteen-year-old DJ is finding life at the Briones Riding Academy difficult. She loves her work and riding the horses, but a new working student at the stables is being racist towards another worker, Hilary. DJ is unsure what to do.

Read more at https://equus-blog.com/setting-the-pa...

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts where "DJ's Challenge" ends! Bridget is giving instructions on jumping. DJ needed to do it again. she forced herself to forget the wonderful feeling, & count the paces. Bridget told DJ that she would have more joy in riding the more she concentrated on what she was doing. DJ was thrilled to finally be jumping! Amy, DJ's friend, did her best to keep her out of trouble. Most of the people at the Academy took their tack home, but DJ & Amy kept theirs at the Academy because they biked there. DJ took care of her horse, Major, and looked over the hills of northern California's Briones State Park. The black trees reminded her of her mother's black mood if she didn't make it home by dark. When she got home & announced her arrival, her mom was home. Robert had asked her mom to marry him, but DJ felt like she just got kicked by a horse!