"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Old Black is an eighteen-year-old Quarter Horse who holds the world record time in the calf-roping event, won with an explosive response to a near disaster that calf ropers still rave over. Old Black fairly relishes rodeo life with its invigorating aromas and the symphonic clamor of the rodeo grounds, horses and cowboys aplenty to socialize with. But what he positively savors is the raging action in the arena. Just this last month he and his master, Buck Jones, won second money in calf roping at Houston, the world's largest rodeo this side of the National Finals. As the cowboys were disbanding, Buck merrily forewarns one and all: "Me'n Old Black'll see you fellers in Austin," the next rodeo on the circuit.
Buck doesn't show up at Austin, and Old Black's lifelong rodeo career is over. Buck has discovered he has cancer. Before entering the hospital for what might be a one-way trip, he begins a desperate search for a good home for Old Black, not in rodeoing, though, where purse-hungry cowboys might ride the aging campaigner into the ground. He finds the ideal new life for his beloved horse in the hands of ten-year-old Jim Bradley. Jim and Old Black will compete in youth horse shows.
Like latecomers to the cast of a school play, Jim first sees himself and Old Black as mere bit players, which is the impression some contestants have of them. Old Black is no longer the flyer he once was, but the gritty old campaigner makes up for waning speed with cunning and determination.
One of the regular contestants is a boy who rides a superb, lightning-fast chestnut gelding outfitted with silver-mounted tack. He and his band of unruly followers amuse themselves by ridiculing Old Black's funny way of running. But they have seriously underrated the savvy old pro. He's been in mortal combat with the clock all his life and, once introduced to the youth events, it takes him no time to figure out this new kind of rodeoing. Before long, the boy on the flashy racehorse begins to find himself running second behind the new kid riding that old black gelding.
It is not in an arena, though, that Jim and Old Black face their most crucial challenge ever, but during a bloody, horror-filled afternoon at the spooky, deserted settlement of Klanke's Mill. Out exploring deep in the woods one day, they stumble onto the County Sheriff, who has been gravely injured in an ambush by dope smugglers and left to die in an abandoned well. Certain that his mighty horse can hoist the sheriff to safety in no time, Jim begins a rescue that starts out well, but then deteriorates into an ordeal that he soon despairs is doomed to fail. Through grit and ingenuity they succeed, but the totally exhausted horse is down and gasping what Jim dreads are his last breaths.
Old Black recovers over time, and when he returns to the games he's stronger and perkier than ever. But it's Jim Bradley who seems to have been left marked by that dreadful day at Klanke's Mill. The first time he laid eyes on Old Black he knew the horse would never have made it in the halter arena, even in his prime. And that was fine with Jim -- he wanted a performance horse and a pal. But now he astounds everyone when he begins showing Old Black at halter.
Jim's friend Alexandra Meridith is a wondrously adorable teenage girl who also competes in the games. Alexandra knows Old Black doesn't stand a chance at halter; she positively dreads to see Jim lead him into an arena. Once, she even withdrew her horse from a class to reduce the entries to nine: Old Black would win a ninth-place ribbon at last. But it was not to be. Before the judging even began, Old Black was excused from the arena on account of his battle scars, going out the gate amid hoots from the taunting bunch about a horse that couldn't win ninth place in a nine-horse class.
In the end, Old Black does win at halter. He wins big, and in the biggest youth Quarter Horse show of them all. It turns out, too, that the hot-dog in the silver-mounted saddle isn't really a bad kid, after all.
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Book Description Condition: Fine. Jouannet, Monique Louise; Cramer, Edsel M.; Briggs, Doug; Louis, Jean-Claude (illustrator). First Edition. Houston: Beverly Publishing Company, (1997). 1st Edition. 387 p. Hardbound with Dust Jacket. A bright and clean copy. Illustrations by Edsel M. Cramer, Monique L. Jouannet, and Jean-Claude Louis. The author's second novel. Fine/Fine. Seller Inventory # 500
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. Jouannet, Monique Louise; Cramer, Edsel M.; Briggs, Doug; Louis, Jean-Claude (illustrator). May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.85. Seller Inventory # G1881287122I4N00
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: As New. Dust Jacket Condition: As New. Jouannet, Monique Louise; Cramer, Edsel M.; Briggs, Doug; Louis, Jean-Claude (illustrator). 1st Edition. As new in as new dustjacket,inscribed by author on title page,great book,we are professional booksellers,100% refund,T680. Seller Inventory # T680
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. Jouannet, Monique Louise; Cramer, Edsel M.; Briggs, Doug; Louis, Jean-Claude (illustrator). Limited Edition. A clean tight copy with promo letter tucked inside, and original Limited Edition Post-It still attached to front cover. Light shelf and edge wear only. Seller Inventory # 17132
Book Description Hard Cover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. Jouannet, Monique Louise; Cramer, Edsel M.; Briggs, Doug; Louis, Jean-Claude (illustrator). Limited Edition. CS4 - A limited edition hardcover book signed and inscribed by author to previous owner in very good condition in very good dust jacket that is mylar protected. Dust jacket has small tear on the back bottom right corner, a few stains, light discoloration and shelf wear. Book has light discoloration and shelf wear. Book lightly cocked, dust jacket and book have some light discoloration and shelf wear. 9.5"x6.5", 387 pages. Satisfaction Guaranteed. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Signed by Author. Seller Inventory # EC32803BB
Book Description hardcover. Condition: Good. Jouannet, Monique Louise; Cramer, Edsel M.; Briggs, Doug; Louis, Jean-Claude (illustrator). Signed. Inscribed by author. Seller Inventory # mon0003117814
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. Cramer, Edsel M.; Jouannet, Monique L.; And Louis, Jean - Claude (illustrator). Limited Edition. Limited edition, hardcover. Black cloth with silver ttiles. Map endpapers. 387 pages. B&W illustrations. Fine in a fine, mylar-covered dust jacket. The story of a young boy and his rodeo horse Old Black. Seller Inventory # 011129
Book Description Hard Cover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. Jouannet, Monique Louise; Cramer, Edsel M.; Briggs, Doug; Louis, Jean-Claude (illustrator). Signed by Author Signed by author with an inscription. Dust jacket in Brodary cover. Book and jacket near fine. ISigned by Author. Seller Inventory # 10716
Book Description Condition: Good. Jouannet, Monique Louise; Cramer, Edsel M.; Briggs, Doug; Louis, Jean-Claude (illustrator). SHIPS FROM USA. Used books have different signs of use and do not include supplemental materials such as CDs, Dvds, Access Codes, charts or any other extra material. All used books might have various degrees of writing, highliting and wear and tear and possibly be an ex-library with the usual stickers and stamps. Dust Jackets are not guaranteed and when still present, they will have various degrees of tear and damage. All images are Stock Photos, not of the actual item. book. Seller Inventory # 10-1881287122-G
Book Description Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. Novel of a young boy and his rodeo horse, Old Black. Set in modern times. Nicely done b/w sketches. SIGNED & INSCRIBED by the author. Fine/Fine. Dj in protective mylar sleeve. Item # B4108. **SAVE MORE** Additional books in the same order ship for FREE via Standard Shipping. Seller Inventory # B4108