
Set against the rolling Sussex Downs, the story follows a spirited young lad who grows up amid the thundering hooves of hunters and the quiet rhythms of a country farm. Under the watchful eye of an aging trainer, he learns the art of preparing jumpers for the spring meeting, discovering both the harsh discipline and the deep camaraderie that bind the racing community.
As the boy navigates the bustling world of steeplechases, he encounters a colorful cast—stubborn mares, seasoned jockeys, and village folk whose lives revolve around the track. His determination and keen intuition earn him a place among the seasoned riders, while the landscape itself becomes a character, offering both challenge and solace. Listeners will be drawn into a vivid portrait of rural life, where ambition, loyalty, and the love of horses shape a coming‑of‑age tale that feels as timeless as the hills themselves.
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (473K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Garcia, Graeme Mackreth and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2006-03-11
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1874–1927
Best known for the classic sheepdog tale Owd Bob, this English novelist turned a deep love of rural life into stories full of landscape, animals, and quiet drama. A riding accident ended his military path early, but helped set him on the road to fiction.
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