Author Cynthia Hankins at Lahaska Bookshop

Join us in welcoming local author and equestrian Cynthia Hankins at The Lahaska Bookshop on Saturday, June 27th, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m, where she will be signing copies of her book Baxter Bay: A Pony’s Tale. This a signing only; there will not be a book talk. This event is free to attend and does not require registration.
*If you would like to order a signed copy of the author’s books, click here. 
About the Book:
For young horse lovers and fans of classics like The Black Stallion, Black Beauty, and Misty of Chicoteague comes Baxter Bay, a heartwarming and hilarious tale of two retired show ponies and friends reliving their glory days through storytelling.
Baxter and Windy were once the stars of the show ring—glamorous, graceful, and totally unbeatable. But now? They’re retired, furry, a little creaky, and full of opinions. Living out their golden years on a peaceful farm in Virginia, these two ponies spend their days munching hay and sharing stories of their glory days with a group of wide-eyed young colts and fillies.
Baxter is the polite, humble hero of his past—a true gentleman. Windy, meanwhile, has attitude to spare and has never had a problem doing whatever it takes to win. Together, they trade tales of young riders, sparkling ribbons, big wins, and bigger flops.
Told with humor, heart, and a little bit of sass, Baxter Bay is a story about friendship, growing older, and the adventures that make you who you are—whether you’re bay, gray, or somewhere in between—that’s perfect for horse lovers, animal fans, and anyone who knows that being different just might be your biggest strength.
About our Guest:
Cynthia Hankins is an accomplished author and hunter/jumper with a lifelong passion for horses—she began riding at the age of two. Today, she teaches, judges, leads clinics, and competes professionally both in the US and internationally. Her writing has appeared in publications including The Chronicle of the Horse, Coast, The Practical Horseman,and In Stride magazines. Cynthia divides her time between Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and Calvados, Normandy, France, where she lives with her husband and their tricolor Pembroke Corgi, Sushi, who speaks two languages but listens to neither.