A Horse Called Dragon

I found this book at a local church thrift shop. It is an attractive slim illustrated chapter book from the Weekly Reader series, easier than _Misty_ and _The Black Stallion_, maybe about on a par with the Billy and Blaze books. The cover is illustrated in color, the inside in B & W, and the illustrator is Joseph Cellini. I don't know anything about the Pony of the Americas, so I can't speak to how many liberties the author may have taken with the tale, but it seems well done to me. The story opens with the birth of the horse who will be called Dragon (after dragone, the word for the vampire bats that threaten the newborn foals), in a box canyon down in Mexico. The tale goes on, with nicely cross-hatched B & W illustrations every so often, to tell about how he may have grown into a colt, been driven out by the stallion (another all-over sorrel spotted pony), followed the herd, finally returned to replace the stallion, had good times and lean times... in the hard times the herd raids local cornfields. At last they are captured by a team of men who plan to turn them in for bounty (crop damage) and then the horses will be made into dog food! Of course... that does not happen. They are bought by Mr. Burr who takes them back to Texas. That's the story in a nutshell. It's a nice little book. I'm going to look for more by this author. From the list inside, there are more Dragon titles: New Day for Dragon; Dragon Defiant and Dragon's Delight; as well as other titles without Dragon's name in them.

I first read this book when I was in elementary school. I was delighted to recently find an copy at a book sale. It's in remarkably good condition considering it's older than I am! I fondly remembered the story of a little spotted stallion who is beautifully illustrated on the cover and through out the book. Dragon's life story is told from his point of view and by humans. From his birth in the Sierra Madre mountains of Mexico, to being captured and learning to trust humans, then becoming a founding sire of a champion P.O.A. bloodline on a Dallas ranch, Dragon's story is timeless. Though there are some sad moments, Dragon's life is full of adventure and determination. I also recommend other stories about Dragon by Lynn Hall, New Day For Dragon, Dragon Defiant and Dragon's Delight.

It was basically the first book I read when I was given my first horse, a POA. It was a wonderful book with many good descriptions of the countryside and the destruction and refounding of the mustang horses. An easy read for young readers. I'm now 22 and still have my POA, I still even go out to the barn and read it to my horse.