Troy Nesbit (1907–1995)

I greatly enjoyed Sand Dune Pony by Troy Nesbit (real name Franklin Folsom). As a horse-crazy teen I devoured everything horsey - Black Beauty, Zane Grey, Louis L'amour, and in college I discovered more wide-ranging westerns from the 1920s/30s/40s and a variety of authors. So, Sand Dune Pony had quite a high bar to live up to! I was quite glad to realize, very quickly, that this was quality writing and an engaging story. Young Pete, from Chicago, is left adrift on his Aunt & Uncle's ranch show more when circumstances leave him without a horse to ride. Fortunately for Pete (and us!), a friend stops by the ranch on his way to a fishing spot, and offers Pete a chance at an adventurous summer and the possibility of a horse of his own. We are then treated to a wide-ranging series of believable adventures (given the time period), from interacting with wild ponies to fishing, scouting, tracking, and even skiing in the summertime! And of course, lots and lots of horsey goodness. The illustrations are lovely - simple pen sketches that give a quick view of a scene, but don't intrude on the book. I liked how Hatsy insisted on a cooperative, demonstrative, learning & trusting method of "breaking" a horse/pony, instead of breaking their spirit by physical abuse. There were a few scenes that might upset younger or sensitive readers - I know I cringed, even as an adult, when Pete comes upon some animals that were killed by a human, or left orphaned by the same. So be aware of that, otherwise I'd recommend this book to young and old. Sand Dune Pony favorably reminded me of The Blind Colt by Glen Rounds from 1960. show less

Overall just an okay read--very well written, but the plot and characters are rather flat. The mystery isn't very mysterious, as the bad guy is revealed very early in the book, and once bad things start happening, well who could doing such bad things except the bad guy? All that's left is to prove it, which is quickly done. I suspect I would have enjoyed this more as a kid, particularly since I loved horses.

However, do check out other books in the Wilderness Mystery series--The Diamond Cave show more Mystery (#5 in the series) is seriously brilliant. show less

I was unsure if I would like this book given its age and content. I don't often read stories about horses and the "Wild West." Once I began the book, the story kept me interested. I enjoyed reading a story set in the early 1900s and learned about the way of life back then. Nesbit was a progressive of his time and that is portrayed throughout the story. Pete and Hatsy were well-developed and likable characters, while Moore was a definite villain. This was a great story and will be loved by show more children. show less

This adventure about a boy and his (intended) horse also features some tall tales, an old cowboy, and an incidental mystery. Pete is at loose ends on a visit to his aunt and uncle in Colorado when an old friend of the family, Hatsy, stops by, and offers to take Pete camping. The camping trip turns out to be more interesting than Pete had guessed it would be, as they encounter wild mustang ponies and a mean man. As Pete learns a few things and grows up a little, the friendship that develops show more between him and Hatsy includes deadpan humor (rag rugs) and more seriously, concerns for local wildlife and history.

I read this book when I was growing up. I got this Early Reviewer copy and it holds up pretty well. I like the easy-going pace of the book, as Pete rides around drinking in the countryside, and has to practice patience as he works toward his goals. I was also pleased that the illustrations I remembered seemed to make it into this edition (uncredited, though). Note, Troy Nesbit was a pen name for Franklin Folsom. show less