The Horses of Saddlers Ranch: Cloud
Alison Bellringer
Austin Macauley Publishers
ISBN: 978-1037102950
Reviewed by Shawna Thompson for Reader Views (09/2025)
The Horses of Saddlers Ranch: Cloud by Alison Bellringer is an exciting horse adventure that will captivate young kids’ attention from the first page. Join best friends Lexie, Tilly, and Coral as they spend every spare moment riding at Coral’s dad’s beautiful cattle ranch. Lexie loves the steady, calm Striker, who matches her quiet personality. Coral’s wild and playful horse is Firestorm, a bubbly five-year-old filly, and Tilly enjoys racing across the fields with Navigator, a young and speedy black gelding. Together they share trail rides, laughter, and plenty of ranch chores. When a mysterious new horse named Cloud arrives, one mistake sets off a chain of events that will test their friendship.
Alison Bellringer’s book reminded me of the Heartland book series my daughter loved growing up. Creating three wonderful characters that girls can look up to, learn from, and connect with. It’s a fun and wholesome horse story featuring both geldings and fillies, and it gives readers a glimpse into life on a large cattle ranch in Kentucky.
Growing up on a cattle ranch myself, I know firsthand the hard work it takes to keep things running. I loved how Bellringer weaves this into the story. The girls have real chores and responsibilities, and they learn to work together every day to care for the animals, help with dinner, and pitch in with housework. When mistakes are made, this book doesn’t sugarcoat the consequences, whether it’s losing a chance to ride or risking the danger of falling off a horse. One of my favorite moments is when one of the girls got hurt; the others’ concern for her safety showed how much they care for one another.
I loved getting to know Lexie, Tilly, and Coral, and I felt like I was right there with them. Smelling the hay, the leather of the saddles, and brushing down the horses after a long ride. Young readers will connect with the girls’ friendship, their love for animals, and the challenges they face. The story shows that making mistakes, learning from them, and growing stronger together is a valuable lesson for every young rider.
I highly recommend Alison Bellringer’s The Horses of Saddlers Ranch: Cloud to any young reader who loves horses, adventure, and friendship stories. It kept me smiling, laughing, and cheering until the very end. I can’t wait to see what happens next at Saddlers Ranch!