A Horse To Remember

by Juliana Hutchings

Tennessee seems a world away from Hockessin, Delaware. Hilary's surgeon-father has been transferred from the hospital in the city where he worked to rural Tennessee. Their new home is adjacent to a horse farm, and thirteen-year-old Hilary, who is fascinated by a wild mustang that she sees running in the field next to their house, applies for a job at the stable, even though she knows nothing about horses.

The wild mustang stallion, Satan, had just arrived at the stables for training. Jeremy, the owner's son, is to train the aggressive and uncontrollable animal. Jeremy and the horse do not bond, and it looks like Satan is destined to be sent to a slaughterhouse. Recognizing the horse’s loneliness and need for friendship, Hilary befriends Satan and secretly begins training him. She finds that she is challenged in unexpected ways. Hilary and the horse form a close bond as their affection for each other grows. As Hilary is beginning to gain skill and confidence, Jeremy discovers what she is doing. Since he cannot manage the stallion, he blackmails Hilary into helping him. When he is hurt by the horse in a fall, Jeremy admits to his mother that Hilary is the one who's been training the horse all along.

Hilary is asked to ride Satan in a championship jumping competition. Her main competitor is the beautiful but haughty Elise, who also shares an interest in Jeremy. Hilary and Elise have an abrasive relationship that heightens their competitiveness.

Photo silhouettes created by Isabelle Hutchings add visual meaning to the story, and a glossary of horse terms is included at the end of the book. Though Juliana Hutchings was only fourteen years old when she wrote this story, she capably portrayed the emotional turmoil of change and the teen angst that Hilary experiences when she has to move away from her friends, as well as the courage of commitment to her new endeavors. The life-changing experiences teach Hilary about unconditional love in this heartbreaking and heartwarming story that is full of exciting characters. It’s a fast-moving story that is impossible to put down.