Some books read as a youth can stay vivid in the mind. For me, "Jump-shy" was one of those, a story that I reread repeatedly, until at one point it was lost, and no longer a part of my library. I have recently acquired another copy of this sweet and charming story, and discovered that the years have been kind...it transcends the years between childhood and middle age, and remains on my favorite list.

Tam and her older sister Cynnie are spending the summer with their uncle in Vermont, which means riding lessons! Cynnie has worked hard at her horsemanship, and is rewarded with her own dressage horse. But Tam likes the older neglected and mistreated Merlin, once a champion jumper, but now a ruined "jump-shy" horse. She and the stable hand Steve concoct a plan to reteach Merlin how to jump again, so her uncle will buy him for her own.

Nice story, good characters, and lots of humor. Recommended. ( )