The First Horse I See

by Sally M. Keehn

Before she died, Willo’s mother made her father promise that Willo could finally have a horse. Her grandfather warns don’t fall in love with the first horse that you see . But Willo does—with Tess, a feisty ex-racehorse who has been mistreated by her former owners. Despite her father’s doubts, Willo is convinces she can tame her. She has her trainer, Diana, and Diana’s handsome and horse-smart son wants to help. But in the end, it comes down to Willo. . . . Can she handle the wild Tess alone?
 
“Fast-moving and complex. Willo is a resilient and believable heroine with whom readers will empathize.”— SLJ , starred review

Genres: Horses, Young Adult, Childrens, Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published June 21, 1999

About the author

Sally M. Keehn is an author of children's and historical fiction books. She was born in London, but grew up in Annapolis, Maryland. At the age of 19, she left Annapolis to attend Hood College.
After college, her thirst for learning led her to Korea, where she spent a year working for the American Red Cross and traveling through Far-East Asia. She then proceeded to Drexel University for her M.S. in Library Science, and she has worked as a librarian in both Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Cait]

I think of this book every time the phrase 'don't fall in love with the first horse I see' pops into my head, which happens with surprising regularity

[Lucy M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally M. Keehn’s novel, The First Horse I See was written to inspire and entertain young readers about horses and reaching goals. This novel guides you through Willo’s adventure in training her off the track thoroughbred as if the reader was alongside them. The novel leads to the understanding that it takes sacrifice and perseverance to reach a goal. This idea is continuously revealed through Willo’s decisions regarding what to do about Tess and her relationship with her father.

At the beginning of Keehn’s story, we meet Willojean. Her mother died a few years earlier. Willojean’s relationship with her father is strained. He buys a skittish abused mare who goes by the name of Tess. Willo is challenged to train Tess on a deadline or she must give the horse of her dreams away. Right from the start, this challenge seemed impossible considering Willo couldn’t even trot

I enjoyed reading this novel because of the author’s accurate and relatable descriptions of “conflict” with horses. Keehn shows how horses act and think in a way, and I could relate because if my experience. Tess, Willo’s new horse, contributes the needed element of danger and challenge to the storyline. Tess’s difficult personality causes Willo to slow down and truly learn how to handle her. Following the change in this mare’s outlook on people through her training with Willo was inspiring. The horse had nothing at the start and then developed because of a perfect owner who needed her and believed in her.

Willo was my favorite character in the novel because she is hopeful, blunt, and passionate. She is the perfect example of someone who loves unconditionally but also believes in giving people what they deserve. I saw these characteristics in her instantly. As soon as she saw Tess, battered and skinny, she showed the horse love and compassion. Willo says, “My first thought is, whoever owned this horse should be sent to prison forever and ever. My second thought is, I want to take her home” (Keehn 1). I liked how the author didn’t make Willo a spoiled little girl who wants the perfect pony. Instead Willo is a strong girl who is willing to risk everything such as her safety and relationships to keep Tess, a horse who is unwanted and has a had a difficult life.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book because of all the relatable experiences and how the author gave each character an interesting backstory and personality. I also liked this story because it is easy to read and tells the truths about what it takes to train and OTTB whilst having an exciting storyline and plot.
--Lucy M.

[Melanie Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I have read over and over again since high school. I am now 34! Still a favorite.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was alright. Being a horse lover, I enjoyed reading it, but thought it was too similar to many other horse stories I have read. It was about a girl named Willo who has lost her mother and who's father is rarely home. She lives with her grandfather. Before her mother died, she told Willo that she could have a horse. Willo falls in love with the first horse she visits, a sickly, underfed, high-strung mare named Tess. Her father gives her one week to tame Tess, or else he will send her back. The story is about the bond they build and, finally, how her father allows her to keep Tess. I would recommend this book to animal lovers, but I would probably recommend others before it.

[Dotty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Willojean falls in love with the first horse she sees, an abused race horse. She must win her father’s trust and approval for her choice along with cope with her father’s alcoholism. And then there is her first love of a boy. Through it all stands her grandfather and her determination to ride as one with her horse, Tess. Sometimes I’m uncomfortable with this author’s style of writing but her characters and plot are excellent.

[Gabby D]

I read this book when I was a tween and was obsessed with it. The kind of obsessed where you read it over and over and never get tired of it. So this story is my a part of my childhood. The first book I really loved.

[Madelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's one if my favorite books ever, it keeps you hooked to the story not getting boring often at all I finished it in a week, probably the fastest I've read a book, I'd recommend it for 10+ as it talks about drinking, but other than that its clean.

[Zombiesheep32 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book when i was younger and I still love it! Any girl that loves horse should read this book.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for people who have a passion for horses.

[Megan Mc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked this alot as a tween, don't really know what i saw in in now. It's pretty tragic.

[L. G. Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I really loved.