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Saddle Club #4
Horse Power
Carole, Stevie, and Lisa have been looking for a fourth member to join the Saddle Club. So when Carole introduces her friends to Kate Devine, the championship rider, the girls know they've found the perfect fit. Except that Kate doesn't want to ride ever again. . . .
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
About the author
Bonnie Bryant
390 books202 followersAmerican author of children's books. She is best known for creating the intermediate horse book series The Saddle Club, which was published from October 1988 until April 2001. The Saddle Club chronicled the adventures of thirteen-year-old Lisa Atwood and twelve-year-olds Stephanie "Stevie" Lake and Carole Hanson. The series was static in time; the girls never aged in 101 books, 7 special editions, and 3 Inside Stories.
Bonnie Bryant also wrote two spin-off series: Pony Tails, aimed at beginning readers, and Pine Hollow, aimed at teenage readers. The 16 Pony Tails books followed the lives of eight-year-olds May Grover, Corey Takamura, and Jasmine James. Pine Hollow featured Carole, Lisa, Stevie, and their new friends in a series set four years after The Saddle Club. Unlike The Saddle Club, Pine Hollow conformed to a realistic timeline. The 17 books took place over the span of less than a year. Later a television show called The Saddle Club, based on the books, was filmed in Australia.
Bonnie Bryant wrote at least 38 The Saddle Club books and 2 Pine Hollow books herself; after that they were taken over by a team of ghostwriters, a common practice in long-running children's book series. Ghostwriters for the Saddle Club and Pine Hollow books included Caitlin Macy (sometimes credited as Caitlin C. Macy), Catherine Hapka, Sallie Bissell, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Helen Geraghty, Tina deVaron, Cat Johnston, Minna Jung, and Sheila Prescott-Vessey.
Bonnie Bryant is also the author of many novelizations of movies, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Karate Kid, and Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, written under her married name, B.B. Hiller. She also collaborated in the ghostwriting of The Baby-sitters Club Super Special #14: BSC in the USA, published under the name of its creator, Ann M. Martin.
Bonnie Bryant was born and raised in New York City. She met her husband, Neil W. Hiller, in college, where they both worked on the campus newspaper. They had two sons, Emmons Hiller and Andrew Hiller. Neil Hiller died in 1989. Many of Bonnie's books are dedicated to him.
***from wikipedia.org
Bonnie Bryant also wrote two spin-off series: Pony Tails, aimed at beginning readers, and Pine Hollow, aimed at teenage readers. The 16 Pony Tails books followed the lives of eight-year-olds May Grover, Corey Takamura, and Jasmine James. Pine Hollow featured Carole, Lisa, Stevie, and their new friends in a series set four years after The Saddle Club. Unlike The Saddle Club, Pine Hollow conformed to a realistic timeline. The 17 books took place over the span of less than a year. Later a television show called The Saddle Club, based on the books, was filmed in Australia.
Bonnie Bryant wrote at least 38 The Saddle Club books and 2 Pine Hollow books herself; after that they were taken over by a team of ghostwriters, a common practice in long-running children's book series. Ghostwriters for the Saddle Club and Pine Hollow books included Caitlin Macy (sometimes credited as Caitlin C. Macy), Catherine Hapka, Sallie Bissell, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Helen Geraghty, Tina deVaron, Cat Johnston, Minna Jung, and Sheila Prescott-Vessey.
Bonnie Bryant is also the author of many novelizations of movies, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Karate Kid, and Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, written under her married name, B.B. Hiller. She also collaborated in the ghostwriting of The Baby-sitters Club Super Special #14: BSC in the USA, published under the name of its creator, Ann M. Martin.
Bonnie Bryant was born and raised in New York City. She met her husband, Neil W. Hiller, in college, where they both worked on the campus newspaper. They had two sons, Emmons Hiller and Andrew Hiller. Neil Hiller died in 1989. Many of Bonnie's books are dedicated to him.
***from wikipedia.org
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 28, 2024
The Saddle Club books are mostly written to be stand-alone books, but it helps to read the first four in order. Those books set up the rest of the series. This book is significant in that introduces Kate Devine, the fourth member of the Saddle Club. However, she would only appear every now and then in the series. Three of the first four books are currently available at The Open Library. The entire series used to be available, but most have been removed recently.
This is the weakest book in the first four. A good series needs a good villain or some sort of major problem to overcome. Veronica, the horse-killing rich bitch, plays a minor role here. The most she does is cheat at a gymkhana game.
There is an A and B plot, like in most Saddle Club books. The A plot is meeting champion rider Kate ... and then finding out that she's quit riding. The B plot is Lisa's first date, with Stevie's brother Chad. Lisa is 13, which I think is old enough for a first date, but what do I know? There is a funny bit where Lisa is genuinely mystified why her mother is upset about her being alone with Chad in a dark movie theater.
Reading between the lines, I think we just found out what Lisa's Mom liked to do with her dates in darkened cinemas.
This is the first book that was more about people than horses. There were still some nice parts about riding and competitions, but not much about the horses. Bryant didn't even bother to describe any of the ponies this time around. The only horse given much of any description is Samson, who is about a month old. The horses age in this series, but not the people.
The About the Author feature at the end was different than in the first two books. Unlike most of the series, the first four books (at least) were written by series creator Bonnie Bryant. Kids today will wonder how the heck Bryant rode in New York City, but until recently, there used to be a riding school in the city near Central Park. This rather crappy stable featured in a few young adult horse series, such as The Galloping Detective and Thoroughbred.
This is the weakest book in the first four. A good series needs a good villain or some sort of major problem to overcome. Veronica, the horse-killing rich bitch, plays a minor role here. The most she does is cheat at a gymkhana game.
There is an A and B plot, like in most Saddle Club books. The A plot is meeting champion rider Kate ... and then finding out that she's quit riding. The B plot is Lisa's first date, with Stevie's brother Chad. Lisa is 13, which I think is old enough for a first date, but what do I know? There is a funny bit where Lisa is genuinely mystified why her mother is upset about her being alone with Chad in a dark movie theater.
Reading between the lines, I think we just found out what Lisa's Mom liked to do with her dates in darkened cinemas.
This is the first book that was more about people than horses. There were still some nice parts about riding and competitions, but not much about the horses. Bryant didn't even bother to describe any of the ponies this time around. The only horse given much of any description is Samson, who is about a month old. The horses age in this series, but not the people.
The About the Author feature at the end was different than in the first two books. Unlike most of the series, the first four books (at least) were written by series creator Bonnie Bryant. Kids today will wonder how the heck Bryant rode in New York City, but until recently, there used to be a riding school in the city near Central Park. This rather crappy stable featured in a few young adult horse series, such as The Galloping Detective and Thoroughbred.
February 21, 2019
Another delightful edition to the series. I forgot that Kate showed up this early in the series! Some of my favorite books take place on her ranch, so I was really excited to see her.
One of the things that I think this series does really well is handle the idea of dating and romance from the perspective of girls so young. I think a lot of authors forget how innocent and uncomplicated feelings about boys can be for 12-year-old girls and I loved how most of Lisa’s arc in this story was about her excitement for her first date as a milestone of growing up, rather than actually having much to do at all with the boy in question. It felt authentic and very sweet.
One of the things that I think this series does really well is handle the idea of dating and romance from the perspective of girls so young. I think a lot of authors forget how innocent and uncomplicated feelings about boys can be for 12-year-old girls and I loved how most of Lisa’s arc in this story was about her excitement for her first date as a milestone of growing up, rather than actually having much to do at all with the boy in question. It felt authentic and very sweet.
September 28, 2020
These books are great for horse crazy kids. My riding stables was the stable from hell but I loved horses so I put up with it, these books gave me more information about horses than my teacher ever did, though I wouldn't recommend relying on them as they can occasionally be incorrect.
This book gives a different side of competition, which I like. The Saddleclub series is stylised but doesn't shy away from the darker side of competition or the sad side of working with horses.
This book gives a different side of competition, which I like. The Saddleclub series is stylised but doesn't shy away from the darker side of competition or the sad side of working with horses.
April 25, 2025
I picked this one up solely for a reading challenge that had to do with animals. So I didn't expect to love it, but it was a decent read.
It flowed well and smoothly. I didn't know why I was expecting it to be very horse riding info geeky, since it's fourth in the series, but well. I do love learning new things.
But it did make me think. The author touches upon themes like passion vs competition, fun vs competitiveness. It is quite a nuanced topic, and the conversations are mature enough, but not delved too deep for my adult brain. For example, the person relevant to this does break character.
Speaking of characters, they're nicely crafted. Or, at least, mostly distinguishable. Stevie overshines everyone in my opinion, but I didn't mind since she was the most fun.
Another interesting topic was whether niceness vs actual connection and compatibility. The little girls are, well, teenage girls, so curious and excited. But also mature enough to accept lessons: a boy not being a jerk doesn't mean you have to date him :)
My favourite part, of course, is the girls being girls girls! The most obsessive part, after the competition, being the cool girl who they look up to.
Find out more about the challenge I'm participating in on my bookstagram
It flowed well and smoothly. I didn't know why I was expecting it to be very horse riding info geeky, since it's fourth in the series, but well. I do love learning new things.
But it did make me think. The author touches upon themes like passion vs competition, fun vs competitiveness. It is quite a nuanced topic, and the conversations are mature enough, but not delved too deep for my adult brain. For example, the person relevant to this does break character.
Speaking of characters, they're nicely crafted. Or, at least, mostly distinguishable. Stevie overshines everyone in my opinion, but I didn't mind since she was the most fun.
Another interesting topic was whether niceness vs actual connection and compatibility. The little girls are, well, teenage girls, so curious and excited. But also mature enough to accept lessons: a boy not being a jerk doesn't mean you have to date him :)
My favourite part, of course, is the girls being girls girls! The most obsessive part, after the competition, being the cool girl who they look up to.
Find out more about the challenge I'm participating in on my bookstagram
December 7, 2018
Fourth tale in the Saddle Club series and another tale of friendship
and helping each other as a part of that, of overcoming and of course of horses. Neigh!!
Anyway this is the last of the four books they had at the library so I may read some more of these at some other point but I am not holding my breath or getting excited they are pretty short and pretty average.
and helping each other as a part of that, of overcoming and of course of horses. Neigh!!
Anyway this is the last of the four books they had at the library so I may read some more of these at some other point but I am not holding my breath or getting excited they are pretty short and pretty average.
December 15, 2024
Five stars from both Frankie and I 🥰🥰🥰🥰
I love Saddle Club! Veronica got what she deserved in this cut throat gymkhana competishhhh. she dropped the egg!!!!🥚
lil bit of boy drama and romance for Lisa with Stevie’s BROTHER, but it didn’t work out for them but that’s okay because the saddle club girlies don’t need any boys
I love Saddle Club! Veronica got what she deserved in this cut throat gymkhana competishhhh. she dropped the egg!!!!🥚
lil bit of boy drama and romance for Lisa with Stevie’s BROTHER, but it didn’t work out for them but that’s okay because the saddle club girlies don’t need any boys
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2020
The Saddle Club goes from three to four in this book with the arrival of Kate Devine a champion rider, who's scared to ride anymore. The book revolves around a gymkhana competition that the girls helped create, and also trying to get Kate to join their club.
December 6, 2023
This is the last of the Saddle Club books I had as a kid. It was my favourite then, with the excitement and fun of the gymkhana. I'd say it still stands up!
From here on out all the books will be brand new to me. We'll see how they stack up...
From here on out all the books will be brand new to me. We'll see how they stack up...
June 22, 2018
Read the Norwegian edition.
September 18, 2020
Loved this series as a kid
October 20, 2020
I love reading all the Saddle Club books!!!
I LOVE Horses and used to have 3 horses❣️
I was wondering is there a way to have a list of characters and who they are in each book?
I LOVE Horses and used to have 3 horses❣️
I was wondering is there a way to have a list of characters and who they are in each book?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2023
Cute story to continue my nostalgia reading :)
Read
March 5, 2024The girls meet Kate Devine and convince her to ride again because it’s fun. They win the gymkhana.
Read
January 5, 2025has a little bit of boy/girl crush stuff
Lisa talks about dreaming of her first date.
Chad likes 3 different girls in the span of the book
Lisa talks about dreaming of her first date.
Chad likes 3 different girls in the span of the book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2026
a very simple book, but a good walk down memory lane, since I read it as a child
February 19, 2026
I just love childhood stories. I can just feel the nostalgia when reading this series. 💞
November 6, 2012
Reviewed by Andie Z. for TeensReadToo.com
Stevie, Carole, and Lisa are ready and excited for the upcoming gymkhana, a three-day event full of relays and games and fun - all on horseback, of course. The girls need a fourth team member, and surprisingly, Stevie's brother, Chad, fills in. Chad is not the most experienced rider, but he's entertaining, and they soon discover that he has a crush on one of them.
Carole also meets Kate Devine, a championship rider who is introduced in this book and later becomes a main character in the series. The girls think Kate would be the perfect fourth member to the Saddle Club, but unfortunately Kate has sworn off riding ever again.
HORSE POWER is the fourth book in THE SADDLE CLUB series, and it continues to be relatable and fun for the intended age group. With each book, readers get more and more attached to Stevie, Carole, and Lisa, while also being introduced to new characters, so it's a good thing the series is so long!
Stevie, Carole, and Lisa are ready and excited for the upcoming gymkhana, a three-day event full of relays and games and fun - all on horseback, of course. The girls need a fourth team member, and surprisingly, Stevie's brother, Chad, fills in. Chad is not the most experienced rider, but he's entertaining, and they soon discover that he has a crush on one of them.
Carole also meets Kate Devine, a championship rider who is introduced in this book and later becomes a main character in the series. The girls think Kate would be the perfect fourth member to the Saddle Club, but unfortunately Kate has sworn off riding ever again.
HORSE POWER is the fourth book in THE SADDLE CLUB series, and it continues to be relatable and fun for the intended age group. With each book, readers get more and more attached to Stevie, Carole, and Lisa, while also being introduced to new characters, so it's a good thing the series is so long!
September 13, 2017
The gymkhana is finally happening at Pine Hollow. Carole, Stevie and Lisa have made a new friend, Kate, just in time for her to help out. Except the three girls have a secret agenda: They want to convince Kate to start riding again. Due to too much competitive riding, Kate has lost her joy for riding. The girls think they can help bring it back by showing her the fun a small-town gymkhana can bring.
The main plot of this book is fun, but the side-plot, Stevie's brother's crush on Lisa, was incredibly amusing. Bonnie Bryant's take on teenage boys and their crushes, dreams of first dates and the realities of first dates, and the general newness of having feelings for people is handled very well. I could neither put the book down nor stop laughing during the build-up to Lisa and Chad's date, and definitely not during the actual date. Probably the most realistic take on this I've ever read.
A fun read, can't wait for the next book!
The main plot of this book is fun, but the side-plot, Stevie's brother's crush on Lisa, was incredibly amusing. Bonnie Bryant's take on teenage boys and their crushes, dreams of first dates and the realities of first dates, and the general newness of having feelings for people is handled very well. I could neither put the book down nor stop laughing during the build-up to Lisa and Chad's date, and definitely not during the actual date. Probably the most realistic take on this I've ever read.
A fun read, can't wait for the next book!
September 28, 2019
The One Where the Girls Meet Kate Devine
Should be read as a pair with Book 3, Horse Sense, as the girls of the Saddle Club compete here in the Pine Hollow gymkhana (horse games). Horse Power is notable for introducing the 4th and rarely seen Saddle Club member, Kate Devine, when the girls help Kate remember the spirit of horseback riding and friendship. Carole and Stevie have some great, trademark one-liners in this one.
Should be read as a pair with Book 3, Horse Sense, as the girls of the Saddle Club compete here in the Pine Hollow gymkhana (horse games). Horse Power is notable for introducing the 4th and rarely seen Saddle Club member, Kate Devine, when the girls help Kate remember the spirit of horseback riding and friendship. Carole and Stevie have some great, trademark one-liners in this one.
August 13, 2009
I'm not sure, but I think this was adapted from a movie or tv series, but for that I think the author did a good job considering. Usually any adapted book was done by an non-creative author who isn't all that talented. I think I rather enjoyed this book, though it's been sitting on my shelf gathering dust for the past 5 years cuz I never bothered to read it. I finally ran out of options cuz there are no good bookstores anywhere nearby. My favorite part was the gymkhana games, that was fun. I think the Saddle club (I've already forgotten the girls' names) are very lucky to know how to ride horses. That's always been a secret desire of mine.
January 23, 2017
I like how the first date and first crush thing was handled. it sets an appropriate expectation for 12 year old girls. the competition was fun to read about and the interacting with Kate was well developed. I so hate the way veronica is depicted.
June 4, 2019
Tak jako všechny díly Dívek v sedlech, je i tenhle prostě milý. Strašně příjemné čtení, takové jednohubkové, ideální ke kávě na balkon nebo pro zkrácení dlouhé chvíle. Šampionka mě moc nenadchla, ale ani nevybočila z průměru ostatních dílů.
August 4, 2011
A good series for horse crazy young teens. I loved it when I was younger.
July 29, 2013
I love the saddle club
April 9, 2014
i found that this one dident keep me as inrestted at the ones before. it dident make me want skip ahead just to stop the tension i know shouldent be brocken until i read up to when it snaps.
May 28, 2016
Good for before bedtime. It's a quick but lovely read!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews