SALISBURY has provided inspiration for the very first children’s book written by broadcaster and best-selling author Clare Balding.

The Racehorse Who Wouldn’t Gallop is the focus of a one-off special event at Salisbury Playhouse on Saturday, September 24, 11am.

Speaking about the release of her latest book she said: “I’m very excited and a little nervous but based on the feedback I’ve had from children who have read it, I’m hoping that it introduces them to a world they know very little about.”

It is the story of independent spirit Charlie and racehorse Noble Warrior as Clare explains.

“She may not be academically clever but she has a lot of emotional intelligence — she loves to find a solution to a problem and is very good at getting people to work together.

“She has not grown up with horses but she has a natural affinity for animals and transfers her knowledge of cows and pigs to a nervous and reluctant racehorse. She has read books on the Olympics and believes that we all have an Olympic champion within ourselves — the trick is to find it.”

Growing up Clare says she had plenty of experiences of horse racing. “My father trained a racehorse called Lochsong who wouldn’t go onto the gallops at home without her best friend Quirk, who was a rather round homebred hunter, leading her onto the gallops.

“There have been racehorses who have needed a sheep or a goat or a Shetland pony to keep them company so the idea behind Noble Warrior was an extension of that.”

Clare has memories of riding at Salisbury races.

She added: “Noble Warrior goes to Salisbury races to run in a prep race for The Derby. I rode in my very first race at Salisbury so I know the course well and the frying pan shape of the course was perfect for the plot. Also, it was geographically close to where I have set the farm.”

Explaining her reasons for writing a children’s book she said: “I have three niblings (nephews and a niece) so I wanted to write a book they would enjoy reading. I love telling stories to children and I think it’s a real challenge to hold their attention.

“I will be writing more books and Charlie will have more adventures.”

Join Clare Balding for inspirational stories and family entertainment to mark the publication of The Racehorse Who Wouldn’t Gallop at 11am on Saturday, September 24.

For tickets call the box office on 01722 320333.