Little Homeschool on the Prairie: History on Horseback: The Early Years Review

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.

History on Horseback: The Early Years from Sonrise Stable Books has conquered my daughter’s horse blues not being able to ride her therapy horse weekly. We are staying home and safe during the covid-19 pandemic the last few weeks. I received a physical copy of the book.

History on Horseback: The Early Years: 1493 to 1866 covers the history of the horses and the vital roles they played in our history during the time period of 1493-1866. Not all history is covered only if horses were involved in the event. The history is primary American history but may involve other countries if the events tie in together. My daughter says, “It’s about the horses and helping their people out in our history.” This is a great horse series for kids. Saddle up and hold on tight to your reins as I tell you more.

The age range for this is age 12 to adults and anyone who loves horses and history. The author Vicki Watson is a homeschool mom that has written several Christian books in her Sonrise Stable fiction series. The History on Horseback: The Early Years books main focus is on history, but there are many incidents in history that happened with a horse to mention those historical events like Chapter 21-“The Whitman Mission” about the first missionaries on the Oregon Trail and settling afterwards.

History on Horseback: The Early Years can be used as a supplement to your current history curriculum or you can build your own curriculum around the historical events with the book by adding other resources both historical and geographical. You could make this into a half semester or a 36 week course easily. A companion study guide will be coming out in the future to make this a complete curriculum. Another option is that you can just read it for pure pleasure finding out more about horses in history.

We really liked the facts about each horse like when it was born, breed, and other information if it is known. A lot of research was put into this book. Each chapter also gives you information about how the horse died without graphic information: Example: The horse died in battle, the horse was abused, or sold to a slaughter house. The book doesn’t have images of dying and dead horses.

The book is a softbound 8.5” x 11” book with 206 pages. The book has 53 historical events. The stories are only a couple pages long and read easily.

Stunning illustrations & photos

Each story has black and white photos or illustrations that are relevant to the story. The chapters are laid out from a historical chronological order as closely as can be done. The author tried to keep the horses and people events as close as possible however the author had to adjust it the way she felt was best for the book due to the fact that horses and people don’t’ always weave together chronologically.

Boxes throughout with additional information or facts

What about the Stories in History on Horseback: The Early Years: 1493 to 1866?

We have lots of favorites and I’ll share a few with you. One of my favorites is actually the first story-so cliché I know but it intrigued my daughter and me. “Arrival in America” talks about how the horse came to the Americas and the breed of horses. My daughter was thrilled to learn the name, Mustang came from the Spanish mesteno and means wild, stray, or free. I didn’t realize how many horses Coronado brought over! I also learned the history of the wild horses and breed in the Outer Banks in North Carolina. I have fond memories visiting that area growing up with my family and seeing the horses. I’ll have to quiz my family in North Carolina!

Another story we enjoyed was from Chapter 11 “Morgan’s Figure” starts out in 1789 in West Spring, MA with the birth of the colt. The farmer Justin Morgan was paid with a horse he named Figure. The chapter traces from when he was stolen, sold, rented, and when he died at the age of 32 from being kicked by another horse. We also learned that each of his owner breed him and goes into several of Figures descendants. Other fun facts like musical renditions of poetry and psalms about Justin Morgan. There is a statue of Figure at a horse farm and the celebrations put on each year there. We read a book last year on Figure and we learned much more from this book.

A story that we are all familiar with is the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. What about the horse that Booth rode and the others rode to escape? One horse was a one-eyed horse, another one was a dark-bay mare, and then Charlie a racking horse. Two of the horses where rented from Nailor Stable and Charley was the owners best stable horse-find out if he got his horses back. The one-eyed horse was found east of the capital later.

There are so many stories from the gold rush, stagecoach, pony express, life in the Calvary, burros, Oregon Trail, and many fascinating horse “tails.”

How Did I use History on Horseback: The Early Years: 1493 to 1866 in my Homeschool?

My 17 year old special needs daughter struggles reading so we took turns reading back and forth to each other some days. Most days I read the book as a read-out-loud. She is crazy for horses and history. She was excited to learn how horses played a part in history. We read for pure enjoyment and at the same time we learned so much information.

Learning about horses in history had my daughter begging to read more chapters

My daughter said, “It’s about time someone took the time to talk about the horses in history. “They deserve a book to themselves!” She has been pretty passionate about horses lately and is ready to get back into the saddle herself.

This will be appealing to those who love horses and history. You won't be disappointed.

"When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk: he trots the air; the earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes." - William Shakespeare

With all of my daughters weekly appointments canceled and both kids activities canceled we have read a lot. My original plan was 3 to 4 times a week and work with it to concede with her current history and then to back track afterwards. After the first week my daughter begged me to add it to her school schedule daily. Many days we read more than one chapter. We have around 20 more chapters left in History on Horseback: The Early Years: 1493 to 1866.

We have enjoyed a different spin on history and found the details intriguing. This is a winner in my home. A second book is in the works for the History on Horseback. My daughter already has it on her wish list when it comes available.