Description
The happiness of a young girl and a pony in desperate need of saving depends on the other.
Essie doesn't believe in signs or wishing on stars. She likes facts, and the fact is, she's left her love of horses firmly in the past. She doesn't want a new horse and she certainly doesn't need one, not with the price she'd have to pay. That's a line she just won't cross. But the universe has other ideas.
Essie may not need a pony, but there's a pony that needs her. But taking on a pony without a past brings a lot of unanswered questions, and in searching for answers Essie is going to have decide if to go forward, she is able to forgive the past.
Review
Twelve-year-old Essie is establishing a new life in the country with her Mum, Francesca, whose furniture recycling business is just starting to take off.
Then along comes an accidental purchase at auction of a neglected pony.
Essie used to love riding, but that was two years ago - before her super-competitive Dad gave Essie’s horse a drug that got Essie banned from competition for a year.
But now her Dad has remarried and moved on to a new life. Her Dad always wanted the best and the newest things. This neglected pony is far from that. Can Essie overcome her fear of being discarded too, and can the neglected pony help with that?
This is a fantastic, horse story with so much more. It does touch on horsemanship and competition, but it is also a story of family values and seeing the goodness in people and animals.
It has wonderful characters and a hopeful story with a great ending. Will most appeal to horse lovers aged 9 - 13 readers.
Reviewed by Rob
