Little Squire the Jumping Pony

Little Squire was born in an Irish meadow on an early spring day. The colt was beautifully formed with strong, straight legs and a pretty head. But due to his small size, it was unlikely he would be more than a nice child’s riding pony. By the following spring, the yearling was separated from his mother and turned out to pasture with the other weanlings. Little Squire wasn’t happy to be away from his dam so he charged the high stone wall and cleared it easily. Little Squire had just shown an astonishing side of himself that would eventually bring him greatness.

Over time, the young horse traded hands, crossed an ocean, and ended up on the American show-jumping circuit. That was when he met another diminutive Irish immigrant, Mickey Walsh.

The two were inseparable until, at Mickey’s request, Little Squire was retired at the top of his game, and while he was still sound. He went out in a blaze of glory, though, ending his last performance with Mickey by jumping a six-foot-two fence — rider-less — in front of a packed arena. During the war-torn 30s, Little Squire had given people something to cheer about.

Children's Literature

Mickey Walsh leaves Ireland for America after an argument with his father, struggles when he tries to find work because of prejudices against the Irish, and then copes with the Great Depression. With his winning smile and amazing talent with horses, he eventually wins a name for himself and finds himself training and competing with the nation's best horsemen. Meanwhile, a small pony, expected only to be a child's toy, proves his masters wrong by jumping over a tall stone wall the first time he is taken away from his mother. After a few years of passing from one owner to another, Little Squire finally finds his perfect match in Mickey Walsh. Mickey sees him compete with a poorly-suited rider and convinces his boss to purchase the young pony. Together this Irish team jumps its way into the hearts of many, and they become the best known team to win at the national Open Jumper Championship in Madison Squares Garden. Horse lovers will enjoy this lesser-known story. The reading level is simple enough for younger readers but the story line intriguing enough to make it suitable for even young teenagers. At times the narration awkwardly draws attention to itself with explanations of common-place expressions and a slightly slower pace than is necessary. The story line also includes a number of incidents that could have been expanded to a greater extent into the story, such as connections with Mickey's family, adding more human interest. Nonetheless, the delightful characters, both of Mickey and of Little Squire, and the hope of their success pull the reader along and the style soon becomes less distracting.

Judy Andrekson grew up in Nova Scotia with a pen in one hand and a lead rope in the other. She moved to Alberta at the age of twenty to pursue her greatest passion — horses, and by her thirties, she had begun to write seriously. She now works as an educational assistant and writer. Judy Andrekson lives in Sherwood Park, AB.

David Parkins is the award-winning illustrator of over fifty children’s books. He began his career at Dyfed College of Art in Wales, studying wildlife illustration. He then went to Lincoln College of Art for three years, and has been a freelance illustrator since his graduation in 1979.