Historic book donation, made in partnership with The Black Stallion Reading Project and the Ocala Horse Alliance, brings equestrian literature into every Marion County elementary school and into the personal libraries of thousands of young readers.
OCALA, FL — The Plaid Horse magazine has announced a landmark literary donation that will put a love of horses and reading directly into the hands of Marion County’s youngest students. The publication has donated 4,000 copies of Show Strides: To Save a Stable, written by Rennie Dyball and The Plaid Horse publisher Piper Klemm, to be distributed to every fourth grader in Marion County through a partnership with The Black Stallion Reading Project and the Ocala Horse Alliance. Each child will receive a copy to keep as their own.
In addition to the student copies, The Plaid Horse has donated the complete ten-book Show Strides series to all 36 school libraries across Marion County, ensuring that readers of all ages will have ongoing access to the full collection for years to come.
Marion County is widely recognized as the Horse Capital of the World, home to world-class breeding farms, Olympic-level equestrians, and a deeply rooted equine culture that touches nearly every corner of the community. This donation reflects a shared belief among its partners that stories about horses belong in the hands of the children who grow up in that tradition, and that every child deserves to see their community reflected in the books they read.
“We believe in the power of books to open doors, spark imagination, and connect young people to something bigger than themselves,” said Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid Horse and co-author of the Show Strides series. “Marion County is a community built on horses, and we wanted every fourth grader there to have a book of their own they can keep, return to, and grow with.”
Show Strides: To Save a Stable follows a group of young riders navigating friendship, competition, and the challenge of protecting a beloved barn. With authentic equestrian detail and relatable characters, the book has resonated with young readers across the country, making it a natural fit for a community where horse culture is part of everyday life.
The Black Stallion Reading Project, which has long championed equine-themed literacy initiatives, and the Ocala Horse Alliance, a dedicated advocate for the region’s equine community, will coordinate the distribution of books to students and libraries throughout the county.
“We are both honored and grateful for this fabulous donation to our fourth graders, The Black Stallion Reading Project and the Ocala community. Piper Klemm understands the magic of the horse and its ability to relate to all demographics. There is no doubt that this book will help inspire our children to read and will open doors to new worlds. We believe that when the horse industry steps up for literacy, children read and the horse industry grows. We are tremendously appreciative,” stated Ellie Trueman, President of The Ocala Horse Alliance Foundation.
The complete Show Strides series will be available in all 33 Marion County school libraries, providing students access to the full arc of the series as their reading grows alongside them.
For more information about The Plaid Horse, the Show Strides series, or this initiative, please visit ocalahorsealliance.com/black-stallion-reading-project/
