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Riding with Reka

Eyre & Spotiswoode 1937, illus by Lionel Edwards 

Dandy Girl has a black foal, called Smut. He has an idyllic foalhood, and when his master dies, he is sent away to
be broken.  However, he has always had a tendency to rear, and bad treatment by the breaker’s hired man confirms
him in it.  After an unsuccessful stint in a riding school, Smut is bought by Jack Deane. He’s renamed Reka (Greek
for “I’ve found it) and gets on well with Jack and his cousin Pat. Then Jack has to leave England suddenly when he
gets a job and Reka is sold on, not happily.  He is then bought by Mr Dixon, who, it turns out, is helped by Pat.  Pat
buys him, and together they have some success at gymkhanas and shows.