About the author
Nikki Tate is a pseudonym used by author Nicole Tate-Stratton for her children’s books.
Nikki was born in Birmingham, but after travelling the world, has settled in Canada. Her favourite book when she was a child was Black Beauty. She’s gone on from reading that to rescue a whole host of animals, not all of whom have repaid the experience with gratitude or indeed affection. She’s been “kicked, bitten, stung, pecked, and sprayed”, but still has a menagerie despite.
She’s written a fair number of children’s books, which include standalone stories for teenagers, historical fiction, and the Stablemates series. Stablemates has as its heroine a Grade 6 girl who is horse mad, but who, in true ponybook fashion, does not have one of her own.
Finding the books
All are easy to find, and most are in print. Some are now available as ebooks.
Links and sources
Nikki Tate on Wikipedia
Nikki Tate’s blog
Series
Jo
Jo’s Triumph
Jo’s Journey
Stablemates
Rebel of Dark Creek
Team Trouble at Dark Creek
Jessa be Nimble, Rebel be Quick
Sienna’s Rescue
Raven’s Revenge
Return to Skoki Lake
Keeping Secrets at Dark Creek
Bibliography (horse books only)
Rebel of Dark Creek
Sono NIS Press, 2000
Jessa loves ponies, but they’re expensive. However, she finds a pony named Rebel… and then the adventures begin. On with the gumboots, up with the pitchfork and Jessa has to learn to work for Rebel’s room and board while keeping up in school and coping with some strange behaviour from a few classmates.
Team Trouble at Dark Creek
Sono NIS Press, 2000
Two giant draft horses take up residence at Dark Creek Stables, the trouble starts. Fences
collapse, Mrs Bailey can’t keep up with the feed bills and Jessa’s pony, Rebel, finds himself out in the cold during the worst blizzard of the century. To make things worse, Jessa and her best friend can’t seem to get along and a surprise visitor nearly ruins Jessa’s Christmas vacation. Will Dark Creek ever be the same again?
Jessa be Nimble, Rebel be Quick
Sono NIS Press, 2000
Jessa has terrifying dreams about water jumps, and they grow worse as the eventing clinic gets nearer. At school, she’s helping a new girl from Japan settle in, but all she seems to do is make Midori unhappier. Jessa’s best friend, Cheryl, is no help at all – she’s too busy trying to land a juicy part in a play.
Sienna’s Rescue
Sono NIS Press, 2000
Four neglected horses are seized by the Kenwood Animal Rescue Society, Jessa thinks DarkD Creek Stables would be a perfect foster farm for one of them, but nobody is prepared for the challenges of Sienna’s rehabilitation.
Raven’s Revenge
Sono NIS Press, 2000
Jessa wins a trip for two to horse camp, but Camp Singing Waters may not be a blissful getaway. Feuding campers, a lame horse and draughty cabins are bad enough, but should they have listened more carefully to Mrs Bailey’s ominous warnings about witchcraft? Or, are the late-night ghost stories around the campfire just fuelling their overactive imaginations?
Return to Skoki Lake
Sono NIS Press, 2000
Jessa’s has a week’s trail riding in the Rocky Mountains. Jessa feels very ill, but is determined to enjoy herself despite it. She finds herself regaining consciousness in an Alberta hospital. This is only the beginning of her recovery. It turns Jessa’s life upside down and threatens even her desire to ride.
Keeping Secrets at Dark Creek
Sono NIS Press, 2002
Jessa continues to struggle to control her new mount, Jasmine, as she tries to control her jealousy of Molly, who has been having lessons on Jessa’s beloved pony, Rebel.
Jo’s Triumph
Orca Books, Canada, 2002, 144 pp.
Jo disguises herself as a boy, and joins the Pony Express.
Jo’s Journey
Orca Books, Canada, 2006, 128 pp,
Jo is now 14, and is determined to find a pot of gold in the Cariboo.
Venom
Orca Books, Canada, 2009, 176 pp,
Spencer is sure someone is doping the racehorses at the stable where he works, but no one will listen to him until he gets some proof.
Razor’s Edge
Orca Books, Canada, 2009, 168 pp.
Travis and his friends train and race horses at a harness-racing track. When someone starts
hacking off the horses’ tails, Travis must solve the mystery before he loses everything he has worked for.
