Books
SHOW STRIDES #1: SCHOOL HORSES & SHOW PONIES
Tally Hart loves riding in the lesson program at Quince Oaks. But when a new trainer arrives with his student, Mac, and her pony hunter, Joey, Tally will be introduced to a whole new world of horse shows. With the extra saddle time she earns working at Oaks, Tally takes advantage of every ride she gets, from school horses to show ponies.
SHOW STRIDES #2: CONFIDENCE COMEBACK
Tally Hart just went to her first A-rated show with her new trainer at her barn, Quince Oaks--and it was a competition that she'll never forget. But back at home, the working student and newly-minted catch rider faces and uncertain future. Will she get to keep riding sales ponies? Go back to lessons on the barn's school horses? Meanwhile, her good friend Mac Bennett is finding her own footing in the medium pony hunter division and working toward the biggest show goal either rider could imagine.
SHOW STRIDES #3: MOVING UP & MOVING ON
After a successful trip to Devon, the Field Ridge team returns home to Oaks for the summer, where life at the barn is as busy as ever. A jumper rider named Jacob and his horse Carlo begin trailering in for lessons with trainer Ryan, and the girls learn that being a boy in the sport has its own unique challenges. Tally and Goose are improving with each show, and Mac struggles with body confidence as they head toward their big summer finale, Pony Finals.
SHOW STRIDES #4: TESTING FRIENDSHIPS
As an eventful summer draws to a close, the Oaks riders focus on their goals for the fall. Tally gets the ride on her first project horse, Mac looks to build on her success from Pony Finals, and newcomer Maggie joins Ryan’s Field Ridge team as she looks for a horse or pony of her own. But one moment of carelessness in the ring will change everything for all three girls.
SHOW STRIDES #5: PACKER PRESSURE
It's a time for new beginnings at Quince Oaks. Tally gets noticed for her hard work and catch-riding, landing her a free lease on a packer named Cameron. Elsewhere in the barn, Tally's best friend Mac is surprised by the transition from Joey to a new partner for the Large Pony Hunters, and Maggie's parents buy her a horse of her own. But once Tally and Maggie get into the show ring, they find unexpected struggles. Tally has to deal with the stress of the "perfect packer," while Maggie's move to a more sensitive, tricky horse makes her question her ability-and her place within the barn.
SHOW STRIDES #6: TO SAVE A STABLE
The Show Strides series continues with Tally, Mac, Maggie, and Jacob all crushing their goals in the show ring. But when a storm causes major damage to the Quince Oaks school barn, the future of the lesson program is at stake. The four friends band together to save the school horses' home. Can they do enough to get the school stable rebuilt? Or will the barn be torn down, leaving kids who don't own horses with no place to ride?
SHOW STRIDES #7: BUILDING TRUST
Tally and her friends work as junior counselors at the first annual Quince Oaks horse camp. But Tally's 7-year-old camper Misha has recently fallen off a pony and is too scared to get back on. Instead of riding lessons, Tally and Misha focus on unmounted lessons in order to build trust between Misha and her pony, Gelati. In Maggie's riding, she discovers an unexpected quirk in her horse Pete that will require her to trust him, too.
SHOW STRIDES #8: HOW HORSES HELP
Tally and Kaitlyn are invited to volunteer at New Horizons Farm, an adaptive riding program where they learn about how horses work with people who have special needs. They get to know the instructors, riders, and horses at the program and learn just how much horses can help people-in ways they couldn't imagine. Meanwhile, back home at Quince Oaks, Ryan has an announcement for the riders that could change everything for Tally and her friends.
SHOW STRIDES #9: TALLY'S TURN
As Nona, the new trainer at Quince Oaks, gets settled in, she gives Tally a special opportunity. Nona's friend Emily Elek of Stonewall Ponies needs some extra help at a horse show, and Nona asks Tally to go. At the show, Tally gets to be a groom, an extra set of hands to assist the team, and even has the chance to take a lesson with Emily. But when a younger, greener rider is having trouble in the show ring with her pony, another junior rider will need to step up to help to school the pony and set up his owner for success. Will Emily ask Tally to step into the irons? And will Tally be up to the task?
SHOW STRIDES #10: DERBY DREAMS
Mac is getting ready for the national pony derby finals, so Nona decides to get her and her pony into top shape with some new lesson challenges—and the other riders get in on the fun, too. Meanwhile, Tally is getting to know two new horses at the barn, along with Nona’s daughter, Viv. Mac really wants to do well at the final and earn a ribbon, but all three girls know she needs to focus on the journey. Can Mac stay in the moment with her pony, or will her dream of a top derby finish distract her from the ride?
SHOW STRIDES: MY SHOW STRIDES JOURNAL
Show Strides readers, this book is for you. Literally! We love meeting fans of the series and learning about your own riding journeys, so we wanted to give you a chance to share your own. In this journal, you can share everything about the horses and ponies you ride, your horsemanship knowledge, your training and showing goals, and what you'd like to learn in the horse world. With 50+ prompts and lots of room to write, draw, and dream, we hope you'll enjoy making a record of your own strides-in the ring, in the saddle, and at the barn.
SHOW STRIDES: MY SHOW STRIDES ACTIVITY BOOK
Show Strides readers, this book is for you. Literally! It's all yours to fill in the blanks, fill in the boxes, and design your own courses. After publishing My Show Strides Journal, we decided to add another DIY title to our library where you get to be the author and fill in your own answers. In My Show Strides Activity Book, we challenge you to solve horse-related calculations, design your own courses, and test your knowledge with a series of crossword puzzles and word jumbles. Keep learning and keep reading!
SHOW STRIDES: MY SHOW STRIDES SCHOOL VACATION
Show Strides readers, this book is for you. Literally! This activity book is designed for horse-loving kids, ages 8-13, who want to keep their minds sharp, their math skills growing, and their connection to the barn strong, even when they are away from the horses. Every problem in this book is rooted in the real world of horse shows, barns, riding rings, and the daily life of the people who live and work in the equestrian world. Nothing here is invented just to fill a page. These are the kinds of calculations that real riders, trainers, barn managers, and horse show organizers make every single day.
Author Visits
Piper is available for author visits throughout the school year.
She speaks to elementary and middle school students to focus on the ongoing middle grade novel series, Show Strides. Piper also speaks to high school students about her extensive career in media and publishing—Publishing The Plaid Horse magazine, several equestrian themed books, and as Host of The #Plaidcast podcast.
Presentations include a book reading, Q&A, interactive exercises, and/or writing prompts, depending on the age group. A book sale can also be set up to coincide with the visit.
Please contact Piper directly for rates and more information.