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Eventing #1
Eventer's Dream
Elaine has a burning ambition to be an event rider but first she needs a sponsor, a suitable horse, and somewhere to keep it. A job in a private yard or livery stable seems a logical step but numerous unsuccessful interviews leave her feeling desperate. As a stopgap she accepts a position with the impecunious and eccentric Fane sisters, caring for their stable of pathetic, unsound, aged and often downright dangerous horses at their once grand but now ruinously dilapidated manor house in High Suffolk. But when the perfect job opportunity presents itself can she actually free herself from the Fane sisters? And can she bear to leave the stable of hopelessly endearing equines to their fate? Is this job really the first step towards achieving her ambition? Or is it the end, the absolute finish, of an eventer's dream?
- GenresHorsesFictionYoung Adult
212 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 1981
56 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Akrill
23 books22 followersCaroline Akrill has been a riding school proprietor, an equestrian journalist, a publisher and a hotelier.
She lives in Suffolk. You can talk to Caroline on Facebook.
She lives in Suffolk. You can talk to Caroline on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
February 12, 2021
A total winner!
I held off on reading this book for several years because I was just a little afraid of the title and the cover. It looked a bit cheesy. I don't come from the grand tradition of reading English pony novels and maybe that has something to do with it. I come from the awful tradition of reading saccharine American middle grade novels from the 90s. So I tend to be a little wary of horse books from the 20th century unless I am convinced otherwise.
But Eventer's Dream is a hilarious English farce, with all of the necessary characters: the crumbling manor housing two completely off-the-rails old maids, the elderly lady of the house who still spends all of her time on Good Works, the handsome but troublesome staff of the local hunt, the wealthy industrialist who could save the day if he only wanted to. And then there's just a whole cast of other incredible characters to round it out.
And the horses! Splendid, unmoved, Comet, staring off into space! The mare who sometimes slips a stifle! The bad-tempered chestnut! Nelson!
Absolutely a MUST-READ.
I held off on reading this book for several years because I was just a little afraid of the title and the cover. It looked a bit cheesy. I don't come from the grand tradition of reading English pony novels and maybe that has something to do with it. I come from the awful tradition of reading saccharine American middle grade novels from the 90s. So I tend to be a little wary of horse books from the 20th century unless I am convinced otherwise.
But Eventer's Dream is a hilarious English farce, with all of the necessary characters: the crumbling manor housing two completely off-the-rails old maids, the elderly lady of the house who still spends all of her time on Good Works, the handsome but troublesome staff of the local hunt, the wealthy industrialist who could save the day if he only wanted to. And then there's just a whole cast of other incredible characters to round it out.
And the horses! Splendid, unmoved, Comet, staring off into space! The mare who sometimes slips a stifle! The bad-tempered chestnut! Nelson!
Absolutely a MUST-READ.
January 16, 2016
If you love British humor (Fawlty Towers, P.G. Wodehouse, Cold Comfort Farm) and horse-related books set in the British countryside, this novel is for you! The aspiring eventer of the title, a teenager named Elaine makes the hilariously imprudent decision to cast her lot with the Fane sisters, a group of struggling, dotty old women trying to run a livery stable. To keep creditors at bay, the Fanes rent out their horses (all of whom are either homicidally unsafe or chronically unsound) and sell various antiques from the corners of their sprawling, shabby once-magnificent home. As wonderful as the human characters are, however, what I will remember best are the comic yet realistic descriptions of the horses, particularly the "mare-who-sometimes-slipped-a-stifle" and "the Comet." I do agree with the other reviewers that there is a great deal of British slang in the book--I'm an American who lived in England for two years and I'd never heard of a shooting brake. But I enjoyed learning the new terminology and would recommend this book to anyone, particularly Anglophiles like me who love (and write about) horses.
August 13, 2023
An outstanding horse story
August 28, 2023
It's a short and fast read but I didn't find it funny enough to carry on with the series. A shame as 'Not Quite a Horsewoman' is a favourite of mine.
November 29, 2016
Deliciously written, tight storyline, astonishingly memorable characters both human and equine. This is just a treat for any pony lover.
December 29, 2018
First part of a trilogy will review the whole together. I am reading it all in one book but GR will not let me put that up!!
October 21, 2023
Wow, I never expected a pony book to be this insane and funny. This reminded me so much of Cold Comfort Farm.
Elaine is a pony-mad girl who wants to ride a horse of her own. She’s a very take charge, stubborn, no-nonsense kind of person. She replies to an ad for what she thinks will be a great opportunity but ends up meeting Nigella and Henrietta Fane who own a dilapidated house with everything in disarray. The place is falling apart and so is their stable. They’ve got no money and don’t know how to care for themselves or their horses. Elaine spends the entire book fixing everything in what amounts to a collection of madcap horsey shenanigans.
I grew so fond of everyone, every character has a very definite personality and this was hilarious to read. Super unique in any genre, this is a great find!
Elaine is a pony-mad girl who wants to ride a horse of her own. She’s a very take charge, stubborn, no-nonsense kind of person. She replies to an ad for what she thinks will be a great opportunity but ends up meeting Nigella and Henrietta Fane who own a dilapidated house with everything in disarray. The place is falling apart and so is their stable. They’ve got no money and don’t know how to care for themselves or their horses. Elaine spends the entire book fixing everything in what amounts to a collection of madcap horsey shenanigans.
I grew so fond of everyone, every character has a very definite personality and this was hilarious to read. Super unique in any genre, this is a great find!
June 4, 2016
Absolutely loved this book! What an unexpected gem of a find after reading so many "formula" equestrian books. I am a big BBC fan and love all things British. The new vocabulary mixed with unique characters and great horses was perfect. Can't wait to read the others in the series. Two thumbs up!
September 4, 2019
A great read for people who have grown up with pony books and want something a little more adult, yet still want to escape into a world of horses. Whilst the book’s narrator dreams of becoming an eventer this book follows as she takes her first job and mainly focuses on hunting. Akrill really knows how to balance a storyline with humour; there are some brilliantly funny bits involving escaped hounds and unamused relatives. The author creates some fantastic unconventional charters in the Fanes who really make the story unique. The horses themselves are also great and funny characters. This does not have the beauty, power or poetry of Flying Changes but is a fantastic read and I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.
February 7, 2020
Ahh finally got my hands on some more old horse books! I love love this genre, have ever since I was young and I first got my hands on the Jill series so taking the first bite of a new to me series is amazing and it didn't disappoint.
Elaine is really fun to follow, she's got a brain and the kind of willpower someone would need if they were going to work for the Faynes!
I wish I was more like her, if I was in her spot I think the yard would have been condemmed or something.
The characters are all fun, the Faynes themselves and their yard full of broken horses, each having their own weird quirk that makes for a very entertaining story.
Now to read the next ;D
Elaine is really fun to follow, she's got a brain and the kind of willpower someone would need if they were going to work for the Faynes!
I wish I was more like her, if I was in her spot I think the yard would have been condemmed or something.
The characters are all fun, the Faynes themselves and their yard full of broken horses, each having their own weird quirk that makes for a very entertaining story.
Now to read the next ;D
May 7, 2017
Gritty horse girl meets British wit
This novel is delightful! Elaine is a driven young Eventing aspirant thrown into a wild scenario worthy of stories like GOODNIGHT SWEETHEART or DAD'S ARMY. The humour is quintessentially British, the writing crisp and literate and the story full of fun. I look forward to the rest of this trilogy.
This novel is delightful! Elaine is a driven young Eventing aspirant thrown into a wild scenario worthy of stories like GOODNIGHT SWEETHEART or DAD'S ARMY. The humour is quintessentially British, the writing crisp and literate and the story full of fun. I look forward to the rest of this trilogy.
August 2, 2020
What a delight!
I very much enjoyed this book. It certainly does cover the struggles of starting out in the horse world as a young professional, but I was pleasantly surprised with the steady action and abundance of humor. I loved the characters and can't wait to see what they do next.
I very much enjoyed this book. It certainly does cover the struggles of starting out in the horse world as a young professional, but I was pleasantly surprised with the steady action and abundance of humor. I loved the characters and can't wait to see what they do next.
October 22, 2023
Frustratingly funny
The main character comes across as a young, talented, somewhat daft, horse lover who gets herself into situations where she is torn by what she wants and where she is needed. It’s frustrating because she makes many poor choices, but it leads to numerous funny situations. An absolute rollercoaster and fun read.
The main character comes across as a young, talented, somewhat daft, horse lover who gets herself into situations where she is torn by what she wants and where she is needed. It’s frustrating because she makes many poor choices, but it leads to numerous funny situations. An absolute rollercoaster and fun read.
February 19, 2021
Horses are expensive at any level. They require hard work, exercise, training, riding skill, and added commitment if you are competing with them. Elaine feels the meets most of the requirements, except financially.
December 11, 2018
Look yes the twists of it are lazy but so what? I still don't think Forrester is shit but there's no love triangle. The language and slang is of the era.
March 27, 2021
Classic for horse lovers
I loved this book as a teenager and love it now. A timeless classic, every bit as wonderful as I remembered
I loved this book as a teenager and love it now. A timeless classic, every bit as wonderful as I remembered
November 17, 2021
Love the Fanes.
August 13, 2022
Horsey thrilling read
This is an old book I read as a horse mad tween - ignore the hunting references and it is still as relevant and fun as ever! Brilliant characters!
This is an old book I read as a horse mad tween - ignore the hunting references and it is still as relevant and fun as ever! Brilliant characters!
October 8, 2022
I’ve read this many times since I bought it, oh dear, nearly 40 years ago. An absolute classic.
June 3, 2023
Funny and tragic and truthful
Young rider accepts a job in a dilapidated stable. Through hard work, she improves conditions for the horses and finds a way to follow her dreams.
Young rider accepts a job in a dilapidated stable. Through hard work, she improves conditions for the horses and finds a way to follow her dreams.
February 6, 2025
Fantastic Read!!!
I loved every single book in this series. I wish there were more!!! They are just wonderful books, very well written.
I loved every single book in this series. I wish there were more!!! They are just wonderful books, very well written.
March 18, 2015
I thought I'd read this as a kid, but I was wrong. Possibly it came out after my pony book days (I'm not sure when this was originally published, although from some of the phrases and the emphasis on fox hunting, it wasn't in the last few years). Either way, it was new to me.
And it's terrific! 17 year old Elaine wants to be an eventer, but her new employers, the Fane sisters Nigella and Henrietta, have a run down livery yard, a crumbling mansion, and no money. Elaine comes across as a little bossy boots, with her insistence on change and doing things by the book, which can be a wee bit irritating at times (the book is written in first person from her POV), but she's likeable enough and that it's not a put off.
What makes this so utterly delightful and so hugely readable is Akrill's marvellous comic touch. Not laugh out loud guffaws, but one long chuckle. The eccentric Fane sisters are wonderfully portrayed, a vivid larger than life contrast to the rather mousy Elaine. With outlandish clothing, bizarre ideas and a dislike of combing their hair, all they need to complete the picture is a large gin and tonic. Add in the run-down horses with their own personalities and names that are not names ("the-bad-tempered-chestnut" and "the-mare-that-sometimes-slips-a-stifle") and this is a great read from start to finish.
I'm no kid, but this is one of the best books I've read this year so far. Will be reading the sequels quick smart.
And it's terrific! 17 year old Elaine wants to be an eventer, but her new employers, the Fane sisters Nigella and Henrietta, have a run down livery yard, a crumbling mansion, and no money. Elaine comes across as a little bossy boots, with her insistence on change and doing things by the book, which can be a wee bit irritating at times (the book is written in first person from her POV), but she's likeable enough and that it's not a put off.
What makes this so utterly delightful and so hugely readable is Akrill's marvellous comic touch. Not laugh out loud guffaws, but one long chuckle. The eccentric Fane sisters are wonderfully portrayed, a vivid larger than life contrast to the rather mousy Elaine. With outlandish clothing, bizarre ideas and a dislike of combing their hair, all they need to complete the picture is a large gin and tonic. Add in the run-down horses with their own personalities and names that are not names ("the-bad-tempered-chestnut" and "the-mare-that-sometimes-slips-a-stifle") and this is a great read from start to finish.
I'm no kid, but this is one of the best books I've read this year so far. Will be reading the sequels quick smart.
May 15, 2017
Really liked this, the only thing that lost it a star is the ambiguity of the era and of the characters involved....If Emily was really 17, would she have had the authority she did? How old are the Fane sisters? Their dress code is awful but they are gorgeous????Loved the descriptions of the yard and the hunt etc, but got annoyed by the fact that most of the horses didn't have actual names! Really good read for pony girls of all ages though!
August 23, 2015
Complete unexpected gem! Loved it!!!
I picked this one up as light horsey reading. didn't expect a tale that moved me so, that I won't soon forget. So many unexpected delightful twists! Took me right into a special world, don't want to leave it. - so happy to find it is part of trilogy!
I picked this one up as light horsey reading. didn't expect a tale that moved me so, that I won't soon forget. So many unexpected delightful twists! Took me right into a special world, don't want to leave it. - so happy to find it is part of trilogy!
January 8, 2015
querkey characters horses with personalities good read
Read
February 26, 2015No go. Rate -1
April 2, 2015
This the book that began my anything-with horses-book phase and I still love it today too bad I could never find the rest of the trilogy
April 18, 2015
such a cute quick read
Read
July 25, 2015Love it, A fun read.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews