Stolen Pony

About a blind horse that grew up on the range but now lives on a ranch. It’s been taught to ride by a kid, and there’s a dog devotedly attached to it, that carefully leads it around places. On the first few pages, horse thieves come in the night. When much later they realize the horse can’t see, they figure he’s worthless to sell, and set him loose. The dog had run after and snuck aboard the truck, so now he’s out there with the horse too. (Thieves couldn’t get rid of the dog though they tried). The rest of the story is about how this odd pair survives on the dry range while trying to make their way back home. Blocked by fences, and later by the threat of wildfire. Encountering coyotes, badgers, the dangers of broken fences show more and traps left for wolves. Once the horse gets stuck down in a wash after a rainstorm. The horse often runs into accidents because it can’t see obstacles, but can always find grazing whereas the dog is always near starving, being a poor hunter. He gets a little better near the end- catching hares and mice or finding bird eggs and a few carcasses (though they’re mostly so well-picked-over there’s nothing left to eat). On one occasion he steals meals from another ranch’s dogs. Eventually the two do make it home alive, to the amazement and joy of the rancher and the kid who had trained the blind horse.

Best part of the story was reading all the details how the horse could safely (for the most part) make its way about, and the particular care the dog took to watch out for it, and all the little natural things about the environment and wildlife. Sage grouse and pronghorns. Owls and prairie dogs. For such a little book it was quite interesting, especially the animal behavior. show less

First of all I keep forgetting that this is truly like the sequel of "The Blind Colt" for the author and the publishing company don't put much emphasis on it. To quite understand this book I recommend reading the first one to see the adventures that led the blind pony to the situation where he is and then to read this but both can work as standalone books without truly relying on the other book.

The book's age is going to be a make-or-break deal for many. Being directed to children the plot is quite simple and quite undramatic compared to some of today's reads for children so it isn't one that you will have to rush to grade or worry about how it is going to affect your children.

Furthermore continuing on the same page as "The Blind show more Colt" there are plenty of drawings in the bottom of the pages but they are simplistic and in sense primal to what you would see in other books but it adds to the charm.

Finally the last thing I have to give for this book is that it is an animal-directed book where it is told from the viewpoint of both the pony and the dog. Glen Rounds, though, does a good job of not truly humanizing the creatures even though he gives them feelings of a sort while allowing us to get inside what they have to face with the dangers on the range. Truly a unique take on books in a "Western" theme. show less

Last night I read "Stolen Pony", a simple story that lovers of horses, dogs, cowboys, and the like, should also enjoy. It is about a pretty pony that is stolen by horse thieves, but abandoned once it is discovered that the pony is blind. Assisted by his friend, a dog, the pony tries to find his way home. Cute story, I liked it.