Sunshine Stables: Jess and the Jumpy Pony E-Book

Olivia Tuffin

• Herausgeber: Nosy Crow
• Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
• Serie: Sunshine Stables
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 67

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

At Sunshine Stables, dreams become adventures! Young pony fans will love this fantastic pony club series from Olivia Tuffin. Jess is thrilled to ride beautiful iron grey Bandit at pony camp. He is so sweet and they have a natural connection. But when Bandit unexpectedly throws Jess, his future at the stables is put in doubt. Jess is sure he's a safe pony and he must have bucked for a reason - and she sets out to prove it. Packed with adventure and full of heart, Olivia's huge knowledge and passion for ponies shines on every page. Beautifully illustrated throughout by Jo Goodberry, this is a perfect pony story for readers aged 7+. Don't miss the other Sunshine Stables stories! Poppy and the Perfect Pony Sophie and the Spooky Pony Gracie and the Grumpy Pony

Leseprobe

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Jess was aware of being thrown backwards and forwards, as Bandit first bucked with such ferocity that his nose almost touched the sand, then humped his back and leapt upwards, throwing Jess between his ears and back again. She was falling, and she couldn’t stop herself…

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FOR ISLA

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CHAPTER 1

Jess felt a rush of disappointment as she clutched Merlin’s lead rope tighter. Merlin was a beautiful grey Connemara pony, and Jess had been partnered with him for her week at Sunshine Stables Pony Camp. Merlin shifted his weight and Jess ran her hand over his neck.

“Is he hurt?” she asked nervously as Zoe, the groom, straightened up after inspecting Merlin’s foot. Zoe nodded. The kind grey pony stood quietly, nuzzling against Jess’s hand, ears pricked forwards.

Jess had known something was wrong the minute she had gone to get Merlin in from the 2field. They had enjoyed a brilliant cross-country lesson that morning. Merlin had been flying over everything – the brush, the tyres and even the tricky drop fence. Merlin was a talented pony and Jess knew it was a real honour to ride him.

Lainey, who owned the riding school where the camps were held, kept all sorts of ponies, mostly safe schoolmasters or mistresses. From dear Henry, a trustworthy dark bay, to Gorse, a cheeky Exmoor. But Lainey also had a couple of ponies suitable for more experienced riders. There was Misty, another grey, and Merlin, standing about fourteen hands. He was a brilliant jumper, and had won loads of events.

“He’s not a novice ride,” Lainey had explained. “But he’s willing and fun. You’ll have an amazing time!”

And Jess had had an amazing time so far. With lessons, and hacking, and looking after a pony for a 3whole week as if it was your own, Sunshine Stables Pony Camp was every pony-mad child’s dream!

Zoe’s voice cut through her thoughts.

“It’s a bruised sole, I’d bet,” the groom said in a matter-of-fact voice. “He was fine when you turned him out. I expect he’s trodden on a stone. I’ll get Angie, our farrier, to have a look.”

Zoe gave Merlin a pat, and then seemed to 4notice Jess’s downcast expression.

“There, there,” Zoe said in a kind, but firm voice. “These things happen. Just horses, I’m afraid!” She gave a wry smile.

She’s probably dealt with a hundred lame horses over time, Jess thought. She knew it was no one’s fault, but it didn’t make it any better. And Zoe didn’t know how much was at stake. Jess had been so wrapped up in caring for Merlin that it had been easy to keep the promise she’d made her parents…

“Pop him back into his stable, and give him some more shavings to make his bed extra comfortable,” Zoe continued.

Feeling miserable, Jess clucked for Merlin to follow her. Merlin did so obediently, walking just a little more carefully on his sore foot. It could have been easy to miss, Jess thought. But she was really good at noticing things. Asia, her big cousin, often 5praised Jess for her attention to detail.

Asia was a vet. She worked in a surgery nearby and Jess spent every minute she could there. She loved helping out, making beds for the dogs who had to stay in, playing with kittens, and best of all, going out to help Asia look at horses. Sometimes she’d even get to hold their lead ropes as Asia examined legs or stitched up wounds. When she was with Asia and the animals, she was at her happiest.

But it hadn’t been easy recently. She was getting into loads of bother at school, although she didn’t mean to. Wherever there was some sort of animal-related trouble, Jess found herself in the middle of it! Like the time she’d found some older children in the playground teasing a pigeon with a damaged wing. The poor bird hadn’t been able to fly properly and the children had been swooping in and scaring it. Jess had seen red and 6got between the horrid group and the bird. She hadn’t meant to push the biggest of the boys, it had just sort of happened, but as a result she and the gang had been hauled into the headteacher’s office.

“A pigeon?” The headteacher had peered at Jess over his glasses.

Jess had nodded, but had felt the swell of rage again. “It was hurt, and they were chasing it!” she’d cried as the gang shuffled their feet and avoided each other’s gaze. There was no way to prove it. Jess had got away with yet another detention, but it had only made her more determined. If an animal was in danger, she would do anything to help!

But that detention had been the final straw for Jess’s parents. Jess had known she was in trouble the minute she’d walked back into the house swinging her book bag. Her mum had 7been standing against the kitchen counter, her lips tight.

“Mr Peters phoned earlier,” she’d said, referring to Jess’s headteacher. “Jessika, I’m not happy.”

Uh-oh, her mum had used her full name, she was in big trouble. But Jess also knew her mum usually tried to see her side. Her mum loved animals too. It ran in their family.

“Sorry, Mum,” she’d mumbled. “It was…”

“A pigeon,” her mum had sighed, her face softening. “I know. Mr Peters explained. Jess, you know how proud I am of your passion for animals. But…” Jess had winced at the change of tone as her mum continued, “It’s no good if you get into trouble, or don’t concentrate on your schoolwork. Mr Peters said you didn’t make any effort in your maths test.”

“I did!” Jess had protested, but she knew she hadn’t, not really. She’d spent most of the time staring out of the window at a lady walking a 8gorgeous retriever around the edge of the playing field.

Her mum had then given her that look. “I’ve been chatting to your dad,” she’d said, and Jess had inwardly groaned. She loved her dad, who lived nearby, but he was even hotter on schoolwork than her mum. Her parents got on pretty well despite their divorce, but Jess knew if her mum and her dad had joined forces, things were serious.

“Mr Peters told me about a homework club they have on Monday nights,” her mum had continued. “I think it would be a good idea. Then we thought you could join netball on Wednesdays. Mr Peters said you’re 9really good, and don’t you think it would be nice to see the girls in your class outside the school day?”

Jess had known what her mum was implying. She never went shopping in town or hung out at the rec. She liked her classmates well enough, but there was no one she was particularly close to. She often talked about what she did at Asia’s, but the last time she’d come into school totally enthused about something she’d watched, her friends had been completely grossed out.

“Ewwwwww!” Mollie, one of her classmates had visibly paled as Jess described the blood. “That’s disgusting! Ew, don’t tell me any more – I’ll throw up.”

So Jess hadn’t. No one really understood anyway. And shopping and hanging out at the rec felt like a waste of time when there were animals to look after. 10

“So Mondays, and Wednesdays,” her mum had said. “From September. I don’t think we’ve got a choice.”

Mondays and Wednesdays, Jess had thought in horror. Those were the days Asia had asked her to help with the new puppy classes, starting in the autumn. They were her first big responsibility. She’d felt her stomach drop.

“No, Mum,” she’d said. “I can’t. I’d miss the puppy classes – the ones I told you about. I promise, I promise I’ll try harder at school.”

But Jess knew her mum was considering it, and as a result of the detention, Jess had been banned from Asia’s surgery for a week. That had been the worst bit. But then her mum had seen an advert for pony camp in the paper.

“I think you’d love this,” she’d said one 11