The Racehorse Who Wouldn’t Gallop: Clare Balding releases children’s book
Clare Balding has released a book that centres on a horse-mad 10-year-old with big thighs.
“The Racehorse Who Wouldn’t Gallop” is the presenter’s first children’s novel.
The plot follows the adventures of a girl called Charlie who dreams of owning her own pony and is thrilled when she accidentally manages to buy a racehorse.
The horse she buys, Noble Warrior, looks the part, but there is one problem — he won’t gallop.
In fact, he won’t even leave his stable without his best friend, a naughty palomino pony called Percy.
Charlie is convinced Noble Warrior has what it takes to be a champion.
The story follows the build-up to Derby day, when only a win can save the family farm from being repossessed.
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“The stakes couldn’t be higher,” reads the blurb. “Can Charlie turn her chaotic family into a top training team? Can Noble Warrior overcome his nerves? Will Percy the pony ever stop farting?”
Clare hopes that the novel will help children feel more positive about their bodies.
She said she “always wanted a heroine with big thighs” in an interview with Woman&Home.
“There are not enough of us in the world!” she said.
“I’m very aware of the body image issues that young girls face so I wanted to include a positive message in my children’s novel.
“One that says ‘It’s not about how your legs look, it’s about what they can do for you’.”
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Clare added that she would like to write a series of children’s books in the future.
“I wanted to create a book my nephews and my niece would enjoy reading, so the decision to write fiction for children rather than adults was because of them,” she said.
“The Racehorse Who Wouldn’t Gallop” will be published on 22 September by Puffin Books
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Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.