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Grabbing Mane #2
Flying Dismount
Starting over was the hard part . . . right? When Casey started riding again, she thought she'd nailed the tough part. That was before she tried starting over at a new farm, with a new job, in a new city. Casey's horse, James, seems happy enough at Twin Palms Ranch. And Casey's boyfriend, Brandon, is loving his dream job saving the ocean. Casey knows she should love her job marketing for a growing horse show organization. If only she had known how fast they'd be growing! Suddenly, her weekends are full of flights to distant cities instead of hanging out with James. She doesn't seem to know anyone at her new barn. And Brandon--is Brandon wearing cowboy boots? Casey thought she could have it all. Now, she can barely keep up. Can a working girl be a horse show girl, too? For every equestrian who has ever tried to balance work and horses, and for every adult who has tried to hang onto a hobby, Flying Dismount is a relatable romp through the tangle of responsibilities and fun we call life.
- GenresHorses
316 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 28, 2021
55 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Keller Reinert
53 books536 followersNatalie Keller Reinert is the award-winning author of more than twenty books, including the Eventing series and Briar Hill Farm series. Drawing on her professional experience in three-day eventing, working with Thoroughbred racehorses and mounted patrol horses, therapeutic riding, and many other equine pursuits, Natalie brings her love of equestrian life into each of her titles. She also cohosts the award-winning equestrian humor podcast Adulting With Horses.
Natalie lives in north Florida with her family, horses, and cat.
Natalie lives in north Florida with her family, horses, and cat.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 8, 2021
A great sequel to a great read with Book 1. This story follows Casey through a difficult set of circumstances, and we are swept along in a fine story. Nothing is predictable here, and that's part of the enjoyment for me. Never sure where the story leads. The journey allows us to actually feel what is transpiring, at least it was for me. That's a good experience for me. Highly recommend this author, and this book. Ms Reinert is a gifted writer, and I've enjoyed every one of the 15 or so novels I've read of hers to date. Thank you so much.
October 11, 2021
She’s done it again!
I know when I open a Reinert book, I’ll be entertained the first page to the last. She’s never failed me, and this book was no exception. Brava!
I know when I open a Reinert book, I’ll be entertained the first page to the last. She’s never failed me, and this book was no exception. Brava!
March 23, 2022
Yet another engaging and easy to read book from Natalie. I loved going back into Caseys world, you also get to know Brandon a bit more in this one too.
Overall another enjoyable read!
Overall another enjoyable read!
September 6, 2021
I loved Grabbing Mane and was thrilled to be given the opportunity to read and review the sequel, Flying Dismount, in advance of its official publication. In the previous novel, the protagonist, Casey, rediscovered her childhood passion for horses and riding, eventually purchasing an off-the-track Thoroughbred named James. Without giving away too much from the first book, Casey struggled to decide what kind of life she wanted, ultimately finding a new “dream job” and choosing to move two hours south to West Palm Beach with her boyfriend, Brandon.
Flying Dismount picks up several months later. Casey has moved James from a busy barn full of serious (though mostly teenage) riders to Twin Palms Ranch, where the adult boarders prefer quiet trail rides and ambles around the not-so-well maintained arena. The only other “serious” rider is a teenager named Hannah, who has great enthusiasm but much less skill. Without riding lessons or a trainer’s advice, James’ behavior deteriorates, and Casey finds her confidence slipping.
While Brandon is thriving in his job “saving the oceans” and has made some friends, Casey is exhausted from the constant and growing demands of her job. She has no friends except for Hannah, and doesn’t have much time for Brandon. She feels she must prioritize James, but even that gets more and more difficult as her bosses expect her to travel across the country to do a job she doesn’t feel qualified to do, and isn’t part of her job description.
In the first book, Casey struggled with building kind of life she wanted. In this novel, she discovers that what she thought she wanted might not be what she really needs! I found myself relating to Casey’s frustrations and fears, her desire to prove herself, her need for female friendships, and the realization that she desperately needs help—if only she knew how and where to find it. So many women are caught in the place where the demands others place upon them feel overwhelming, but they don’t have the confidence to say “no”. I love how Casey eventually finds this confidence, which leads to some unexpected and positive changes, especially in her relationship with Brandon and her horse, James.
While Flying Dismount is quite horse focused, I think it is less technical than Grabbing Mane, making it more accessible to readers with less equestrian experience.
Flying Dismount picks up several months later. Casey has moved James from a busy barn full of serious (though mostly teenage) riders to Twin Palms Ranch, where the adult boarders prefer quiet trail rides and ambles around the not-so-well maintained arena. The only other “serious” rider is a teenager named Hannah, who has great enthusiasm but much less skill. Without riding lessons or a trainer’s advice, James’ behavior deteriorates, and Casey finds her confidence slipping.
While Brandon is thriving in his job “saving the oceans” and has made some friends, Casey is exhausted from the constant and growing demands of her job. She has no friends except for Hannah, and doesn’t have much time for Brandon. She feels she must prioritize James, but even that gets more and more difficult as her bosses expect her to travel across the country to do a job she doesn’t feel qualified to do, and isn’t part of her job description.
In the first book, Casey struggled with building kind of life she wanted. In this novel, she discovers that what she thought she wanted might not be what she really needs! I found myself relating to Casey’s frustrations and fears, her desire to prove herself, her need for female friendships, and the realization that she desperately needs help—if only she knew how and where to find it. So many women are caught in the place where the demands others place upon them feel overwhelming, but they don’t have the confidence to say “no”. I love how Casey eventually finds this confidence, which leads to some unexpected and positive changes, especially in her relationship with Brandon and her horse, James.
While Flying Dismount is quite horse focused, I think it is less technical than Grabbing Mane, making it more accessible to readers with less equestrian experience.
October 13, 2021
I usually—enthusiastically—give Reinert’s books five stars. She develops engaging, memorable characters and her plotting is accurate and entertaining in all of the horse sports she writes about. Her books are usually satisfying and make me glad I read them. That said, I liked Casey better in her debut (Grabbing Mane Book 1), in which she follows her heart and returns to horses after a 15-year absence. She doesn’t care that her friends and boyfriend Brandon are confused by this sudden change. She doesn’t care that it affects her work (at a job she realizes she doesn’t like). She has the courage to buy an off-the-track Thoroughbred, knowing she’s taking on a big challenge.
What happened to that mature, decisive woman between the end of Grabbing Mane and start of Flying Dismount? Sure, she’s left her best friends and a supportive stable environment to move with Brandon in pursuit of both of their dream jobs. The reality is a wake-up call on steroids: over-reaching bosses, a cranky horse who’s very unhappy with her workaholic attitude toward riding, a too-small apartment for two adults needing home offices and—most of all—a lack of friends she can trust.
Casey becomes whiny and insecure—not like the take-charge woman in Book 1. As I read, I became irritated and disappointed in her—and fearful that Brandon would get fed up with her. Then I remembered having similar feelings about Jules at some point in the Eventing series. Jules grows up--and reading about her evolution was rewarding. The same is true of Casey, though I think it took her too long—more than half the book—to come to her senses. It was trying. Which is why I gave the book four stars instead of five. I noticed that another reviewer, Alison, felt the same. “The whole book is better than the beginning—keep reading,” she said. Bottom line, read the book, but be prepared for some rough going that has nothing to do with horses. It’s worth it.
What happened to that mature, decisive woman between the end of Grabbing Mane and start of Flying Dismount? Sure, she’s left her best friends and a supportive stable environment to move with Brandon in pursuit of both of their dream jobs. The reality is a wake-up call on steroids: over-reaching bosses, a cranky horse who’s very unhappy with her workaholic attitude toward riding, a too-small apartment for two adults needing home offices and—most of all—a lack of friends she can trust.
Casey becomes whiny and insecure—not like the take-charge woman in Book 1. As I read, I became irritated and disappointed in her—and fearful that Brandon would get fed up with her. Then I remembered having similar feelings about Jules at some point in the Eventing series. Jules grows up--and reading about her evolution was rewarding. The same is true of Casey, though I think it took her too long—more than half the book—to come to her senses. It was trying. Which is why I gave the book four stars instead of five. I noticed that another reviewer, Alison, felt the same. “The whole book is better than the beginning—keep reading,” she said. Bottom line, read the book, but be prepared for some rough going that has nothing to do with horses. It’s worth it.
September 28, 2021
At the end of Grabbing Mane, Casey’s life couldn’t be better-a new horse, a horse-related job in social media, and a new barn. But things quickly grow sour as she faces every equestrian’s challenge of a less-than-perfect boarding situation, a horse that seems to get slightly less trained with every ride, and the discovery that working with horse people on the business side of things makes riding an OTTB without a trainer seem comparatively easy.
A book for every adult grateful just to get a 6th place ribbon in a walk-trot class competing against children.
A book for every adult grateful just to get a 6th place ribbon in a walk-trot class competing against children.
October 18, 2021
a new fave writer for me!
Hoping the rest of Ms Reinert’s canon is as delightful as her two Casey / James / Brandon books. And I’m hoping there’s another planned in this series because I’m dying to see what kind of dog they end up with. I still don’t get Casey’s dislike for cats, with her having grown up as a horse girl—doesn’t every horse barn need at least one barn cat? Cats or not, Ms Reinert’s work has been a great escape and I look forward to more of the same.
Hoping the rest of Ms Reinert’s canon is as delightful as her two Casey / James / Brandon books. And I’m hoping there’s another planned in this series because I’m dying to see what kind of dog they end up with. I still don’t get Casey’s dislike for cats, with her having grown up as a horse girl—doesn’t every horse barn need at least one barn cat? Cats or not, Ms Reinert’s work has been a great escape and I look forward to more of the same.
September 10, 2021
This is the 2nd book following 'grabbing mane' -these two books are absolute must reads for adult riders, especially adult re-riders like myself. This book is packed full of wit and wisdom and is so relatable for adult amateur equestrians.
All of Natalie's books are must reads for grown up horse girls, but don't miss this series in particular!!
All of Natalie's books are must reads for grown up horse girls, but don't miss this series in particular!!
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November 23, 2021Loved this sequel! The situations Casey gets into are totally relatable. I definitely saw some parallels between her life and mine. I found myself cringing with her, feeling anxious with her and relaxing when she did as I read.
October 7, 2021
A great read
This was such a fun story I could hardly bear to put it down. Nice to read about someone coming back to horses as an adult.
This was such a fun story I could hardly bear to put it down. Nice to read about someone coming back to horses as an adult.
October 11, 2021
Casey would be a great barn buddy. She was a very relatable character to me as an adult amateur. I really enjoyed reading about her and James and hope there's more to read in the future!
October 29, 2021
5 stars
I loved the continuation of Casey's story. I never would have guessed how things would have worked out for Casey, James and Brandon.
I loved the continuation of Casey's story. I never would have guessed how things would have worked out for Casey, James and Brandon.
November 16, 2021
I love Natalie Keller Reinhert's books!
March 10, 2024
I know these books are for a super niche audience. But dang these equestrian books are so good!!!! I just eat them up! I think the grabbing mane series has been my favourite yet.
September 13, 2025
An improvement on the first book in the series.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews