The Plaid Horse Official Bio

Show Strides is a middle grade novel series about riding, showing, horsemanship, and the special friendships we form with our animals and fellow horse lovers. On the pages of Show Strides, you’ll meet Tally Hart, a hard-working middle school student who mucks stalls, bathes ponies, and fills water buckets in exchange for an extra riding lesson each week. Jacob Viston faces criticism at school for being a boy in a “girl’s sport.” Maggie Edwards finally gets a horse of her own after years in the barn’s lesson program—only to learn that there’s a steep learning curve to horse ownership. And top show rider Mac Bennett struggles with body image after a tack shop employee makes an insensitive comment while fitting her for new riding gear.

The Show Strides characters are all invested in horse showing, striving for that perfect jumping round. When there are problems to be solved, in the saddle and out, they work together toward their goals, and discover that the power of horses—and friendship—is more important than any blue ribbon.