A Second Chance

by Vian Smith

Johnnie runs with a gang who plan a vicious assault on a horse. He rebels against the gang and tries to save the horse. He does, and ends up being taken on by the horse’s trainer. Against all the odds, he manages to prove himself.

Genres: Horses

Hardcover

First published November 1, 1965

About the author

Vian Smith was an English author and horse trainer. Spanning fiction and nonfiction, his work focuses on the relationship between people and horses and prominently features the Devon moorland Dartmoor. Smith died at 49.

Reviews

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a review of the first American edition hardback. In the UK, it was printed under the title The Horses of Petrock, which was a more logical title. If you do pick up the American edition, don't read the blurb on the cover flaps, because it gives away too much of the plot.

Vian Smith's fiction books are almost always classified as children's books, but this one certainly isn't. It's very much a book for grown-ups, even though it does not have gratuitous sex or violence. It does have a look at not only the clash of generations that occurred in the late 1960s, but a look at the class system in the UK.

And a hard look at steeplechase racing, and racing as a business. Unfortunately, here is where the book falters at the last fence. Vian Smith shows racing's evil side in the heartless death of an 11 year old owned by a couple grieving the loss of their only child -- and then, inexplicably, goes right back to championing it again.

Vian Smith, who died in 1969 at the age of 49, was a very gifted writer. He has lovely descriptions comparing things you never thought could be compared. He also clearly loved and appreciated horses. The main horse in his story, given the bizarre name of Dunfermline (try saying that three times fast) was based on his daughter's mare, who had the more sensible name of Bonny Lass.

This wasn't one of Smith's best, since it lacked focus and tried just a little too hard to be socially relevant, but a bad Vian Smith is better than 99% of other horse books out there. I do highly recommend The Minstrel Boy and Tall and Proud (originally titled King Sam).

[Dark-Draco · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book, aimed at older children or adults like me who love horses. The main character is Johnny Driscoll, a bit of a thug and member of a motorbike gang. One bang holiday, the gang force him to show them to Petrock racinng stables. When Johnny realises that they are there to have more than harmless fun, and the beautiful mare Dumfermline is in danger, he turns against his old friends. From this point, he is taken in by the stables and, despite rebelling against the idea, finds himself drawn more and more to the horses and to Jessica, the owner's daughter.

A nice, easy read, but entertaining. Deals with enough issues to keep adults reading as well as children wanting more. I love it - I hope you do too.