Thoroughbred is a Long Runner series by Joanna Campbell. It follows several generations of equestrians and the horses they raise.
The series starts with Ashleigh, a girl who had to say goodbye to her beloved Stardust when her family sold off their horse farm to pay medical debts. They get a job at Townsend Acres, where Ashleigh rears a runt horse named Wonder, who nearly dies as a foal several times. Ashleigh worries about Wonder's future and wants to give her a chance. That's not as easy when a lot of people in the horse world, including the Townsend son, want to ruin her filly.
Tropes for this series include:
- Et Tu, Brute?: Ashleigh is devastated and furious when Caroline reveals she's been dating Brad. She calls her sister a traitor and says that Caro probably wants her and Wonder to fail.
- Fantasy-Forbidding Father: When Ashleigh spends too much time on Wonder and not enough on schoolwork, her parents tell her she can't let a horse take priority over her grades. They make her study until she pulls them back up before she can go back to caring for Wonder.
- Kick the Dog:
- You could make a drinking game out of every time Brad insults Ashleigh or Wonder. In book three, he injures Wonder while riding her, much to Ashleigh's consternation.
- There's also how Wonder's first trainer whips her for every little aggravation and makes her scared to have anyone riding her.
- Open Mouth, Insert Foot: Caroline has this problem as an older sister. She thinks the world of Brad, even though he bullies Ashleigh, and parrots his opinions about not succeeding in training Wonder.
- Pony Tale: Obviously. The formula that the first few books follow are about Ashleigh bonding with a runt named Wonder, and rearing her so she won't be sold to another farm.
- Replacement Goldfish: Subverted. Ashleigh doesn't replace Stardust with Wonder, cherishing both of the horses.
- What Does She See in Him?: Ashleigh doesn't know why Caroline likes Brad Townsend, a snobby Jerkass who mocks Wonder for being a runt.
