Phyllis R. Fenner (1899–1982)

Eight short stories from the 1930's-'50's. Most of them deal with a man's relationship to a horse, often revealing the man's heart beneath a rough exterior or the lengths to which a horse will go to aid its owner. There's actually more to the man's story than to the horses.
In "Breakneck Hill" by Esther Forbes, Geth takes a favorite old horse out for one last ride before planning to shoot and bury it (better than selling it to the soap factory) but the horse has it's own plan.
"Lanko's White show more Mare" by H.E. Bates also deals with a horse's last day and the closeness felt by his carnival owner.
"Chiltipiquin", by William Brandon, has a spirited colt teaching Don Luis lessons.
"Throw Your Heart Over" by Stuart Cloete depicts a young girl in South Africa overcoming an illness by learning to ride.
'jeremy Rodock" by Jack Schaefer is the story of a fair but tough rancher who supplies horses for stagecoaches and who cares more for his horses than his employees. When a trio make off with a group of mares and young colts Rodock lays a trap, planning to catch and hang them.
"The Last Bronco" by Colin Lofting has a worn out rodeo champion considering if he has one more ride for the money left in him. show less

1. The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship, by Arthur Ransome. "This is a story that shows that God loves simple folk, and turns things to their advantage in the end."
2. Hudden and Dudden and Donald O'Neary, by Joseph Jacobs. "One day Hudden met Dudden and they were soon grumbling as usual and all to the tune of 'if we could get the vag"Seven at a Blow, by Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm. " 'Seven at a blow! The town did I say!' said the little tailor, 'the whole world shall know it'. And his heart show more quivered with joy, like a lamb's tail."
4. The Calabash Man, by Charles Finger. "This is a land where men believe in golg alone, and much blood is spilled because of it. Far better is it that men should choose that which is in the earth."
5. Budulinek, by Parker Fillmore. "One old fox and two, three, four, and Budulinek he makes one more."
6. Four Generals, by Arthur B. Chrisman. "--a thousand years ago all this, but very learned men still dispute as to which was the greatest, Lang, Mang, Tang, or Wang--which of the four generals."
7. Gears and Gasoline, by Caroline Emerson. "Off he went to California with the open road ahead. There was power in his battery, air in his tires, and gasoline in his tank, and the smell of spring in the air."
8. The Stolen Turnips, The Magic Tablecloth, The Sneezing Goat, and The Wooden Whistle, by Arthur Ransome. "But God is good to old men. And God led the old man through the forest, though the old man thought he was just wandering on."
9. The Bremen Town Musicians, by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. "I am going to Bremen, and shall there become a town musician; come with me and take your part in the music. I shall play a lute and you shall beat the kettledrum."
10. Rory the Robber, by Seumas MacManus. "Rory had to confess that Billy was by far the cleverest thief he ever met, and even cleverer than himself."
11. The Tinderbox, by Hans Christian Andersen. " 'Good evening, soldier!' she said.'What a fine sword and knapsack you have! You are something like a soldier! You ought to have as much money as you would like to carry'! "
12. Tzarevich Ivan, the Glowing Bird and the Gray Wolf, by Post Wheeler. "Who rides straight forward shall know hunger and cold. Who rides to the right shall live, though his steed be dead. Who rides to the left shall dies, though his steed shall live."
13. Antti and the Wizard's Prophecy, by James Bowman & Margery Bianco. "Man is happiest when he plows the fields, clears the soil, piles the rocks in heaps, and plants seed that will grow into food for himself and his cattle."
14. The Terrible Stranger, by Robert Hyatt. "I am looking for a man who will keep this agreement with me: he is to cut off my head tonight; I to cut off his head tomorrow night." show less