All About Animals discussion

Has anyone read the Thoroughbred series by Joanna Campbell? They are young adult novels about horse racing and as the series goes one one girl grows up and another young girl comes in to take her place. I read many many many of them back in the day and really enjoyed them. Now on Good Reads I've discovered that there are about a dozen more after I stopped collecting them.

I'm thinking about spending the money to finish the collection of the series. Was just curious if anyone else or even their kids had read the series.

I have not read them. How many books in the series?

I think at this time I have read them all. I also used to collect them but I stopped when I started reading them from the library and later did a major cleanout of all the books I owned and read with the exception of a few favorites in order to make room for my new habit of buying boxes of books at all three library's which I have friend memberships for.
I remember that while I wasn't highly into horse racing I really loved this series. I especially loved how Wonder never needed or responded well to a crop as I once rode a pony that was terrified of crops and have often felt that while it can be a useful tool the crop is really overused in riding. This was the second horse series I ever found myself getting into as the first was Bonnie Bryant's Saddle Club. Later I got interested in the Heartland series but I didn't get very far in it even though I liked it and found the same with The Black Stallion, and Phantom Stallion Series. These three series I have now gotten back into and am slowly reading through the books I haven't read yet as well as discovering new horse series along the way.

Barb wrote: "I have not read them. How many books in the series?"

Goodreads has 72 books listed for the series though I don't really know for sure how many books it had.

I attempted to read Heartland but really couldn't get into it. I did read a lot of The Saddle Club as well and enjoyed them but not as much as Thoroughbred

I just think Joanna Campbell did a really nice job focusing more on the horses and I thought it really transitioned well between the main characters.

I'm not really into horse racing either but I have found I like to read books about it.

I read a few of the Thoroughbred books when I was young and really enjoyed them. I've also read some Saddle Club, and I LOVE the TV show that came on PBS for awhile. I've read all the Heartland books and loved them too, but (in a very rare instance) I love the TV show more. Does anyone remember a book series that had a girl and her Palomino horse? I'm pretty sure the horse's name was Amber. I read several of them when I was a tween in the late 80's/early 90's and I loved them, but I can't remember the name of the series.

I agree Kim I love the Heartland TV show so I was very surprised when I didn't care for the books all that much.

Leah wrote: "I agree Kim I love the Heartland TV show so I was very surprised when I didn't care for the books all that much."

There are HUGE differences between the books and the show. I think the changes actually make the show better.

Kim wrote: "I read a few of the Thoroughbred books when I was young and really enjoyed them. I've also read some Saddle Club, and I LOVE the TV show that came on PBS for awhile. I've read all the Heartland boo..."

I watched the Saddle Club when it was on PBS and later ended up buying the first and second seasons on DVD. It was funny when I first watched it though as it was the first time I watched something where the characters didn't speak with American accents as I was used to.

Kim wrote: "Leah wrote: "I agree Kim I love the Heartland TV show so I was very surprised when I didn't care for the books all that much."

There are HUGE differences between the books and the show. I think th..."

I for some reason never made the connection between the books and the show. I always thought they just had the same name and horses in them but then again I also didn't watch Heartland so I probably would have figured that out if I had.

I GREW-UP on the Thoroughbred Series!! LOVED IT!! Although, when I was reading it there were only about 15 books ... now there are like 50!

Reading this series as a teen, I always wanted to write an equine-themed series for teen girls ... hence, my novel "Lucy's Chance (Red Rock Ranch Series)"...



Red Rock Ranch: Lucy's Chance

My granddaughter is almost 8 years old and is infatuated with horses. She has been taking horseback riding lessons for almost 2 years and is going into a "show" this month. Your book would interest her when she's a little older but the thoroughbred series would that be something a 8 year old would enjoy? Ed

Edward wrote: "My granddaughter is almost 8 years old and is infatuated with horses. She has been taking horseback riding lessons for almost 2 years and is going into a "show" this month. Your book would intere..."

I was probably around 8 years old when I read the Thoroughbred series. I think she would enjoy them.

I agree I was an elementary student when I started reading them. Loved them! She may enjoy The Saddle Club as well.

Leah, thanks for the suggestion- the holidays are coming and these would be a perfect present. Thank you very much!

I had mentioned above that I read a series about a girl with a Palomino mare. Last week, my mom told me that she found one of them in my old bedroom and had given it to my 8 year old daughter to read! I was SO excited! They were called "The Linda Craig Adventures" and I'm not sure how many they made, but I think I had 7 or 8 of them. I think a trip home to explore my old bookshelf is in order!