Sunshine Stables: Willow and the Whizzy Pony E-Book

Olivia Tuffin

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

Seitenzahl: 64

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

At Sunshine Stables, dreams become adventures! Young pony fans will love this fantastic pony club series from Olivia Tuffin. Pony camp is the best thing Willow has ever done. She adores Luna, her chestnut pony, and just like her, Luna loves to run. Together, Willow feels they can do anything! When an older pony gets into trouble, Willow and Luna will need all their skills to save the day. 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 - Jess and the Jumpy Pony - Amina and the Amazing Pony

Leseprobe

 

Luna started to canter down the narrow path that led away from Sunshine Stables. Willow tucked in close, trying to shield her arms from brambles laden with unripe blackberries, clinging on to Luna’s red mane. Luna’s ears were pricked forwards, and she seemed to know exactly where she was going.

FOR DOREEN, FOR YOUR KINDNESS, ENCOURAGEMENT AND ENDLESS PATIENCE!

CHAPTER 1

“That’s it, girl, go for it!”

Willow crouched lower over Luna’s withers, feeling the silken strands of red mane whip her face as the little mare thundered on. Luna was a fast pony, whippet slim and a striking chestnut, and she and Willow both loved to run. The faster they went, the better.

As they galloped on, Willow glanced over her shoulder at her friends from pony camp: Gracie on Bobby, who was already trotting; Sophie on the gorgeous Exmoor, Gorse, who was bumbling along in a steady canter; and Poppy, Amina and Jess now trailing behind. They all had lovely ponies, but no one could catch Luna. Together, they were unstoppable. When Willow galloped on Luna, she could run from everything.

Willow had been thrilled when Lainey, who ran the Sunshine Stables pony camps, had paired her with Luna. Willow loved ponies, all ponies, in every shape and size, but there was something special about the chestnut mare who whickered softly as Willow approached her stable. Luna had a beautiful dished face and large amber eyes, and her coat was almost red, turning copper as the day wore on and the sun set. She looked as though she was always on high alert, her eyes searching for things Willow couldn’t see, ready to gallop. But she was safe too. Although she was the fastest pony at Sunshine Stables, Willow felt as though they worked as a team, as if Luna was looking after her. She trusted the little red mare totally.

There was something about Luna that reminded Willow of herself. But while Luna ran for fun, seemingly enjoying the thrill of it, Willow ran because … why? She wasn’t entirely sure. All she knew was that when she was running around the local athletics track, or galloping on Luna, she felt as though she could do anything. All of the name-calling, the mean remarks, they didn’t matter when she ran. But when she stopped, everything caught up with her again.

For a couple of minutes, as they reached the top of the meadow, Willow and Luna were completely on their own, waiting for the others to catch up. Luna was barely puffing and Willow was sure they could have done another lap around the field, even two. As she watched her friends amble up the hillside, bright-eyed, windswept and laughing as they trotted side-by-side, she smiled. Pony camp had been the best thing she’d ever done, and she was so thankful her mum and dad had suggested it, when she’d been having a really tricky time.

Meeting a bunch of strangers had been the scariest thing Willow had done since switching schools. However, unlike her new classmates – who’d all looked at her curiously, probably wondering why she was joining a new school right in the middle of term – everyone at Sunshine Stables had accepted her immediately, all drawn together by a love of horses, and bonding on the very first day by the discovery of a horseshoe they’d hung on the camp barn wall for luck. Willow had made friends right away, from Sophie, who loved playing tricks, to Poppy, who had shared her stash of sweets and pony magazines, and Amina, who was endlessly cheerful. No one laughed at her, or called her names and, as the week went by, Willow had relaxed, certain she was safe here, in her happy place. Almost…

A bit later, as they clattered back into the yard, all on loose reins, the ponies’ ears pricked as they spied full hay nets in clean stables. Willow gave a sigh of contentment. It was practically perfect.

Perfect – apart from one thing.

“Oh, Luna!”

She was doing it again, and at the worst moment too. As Willow had jumped down from the saddle, Luna had spotted her best pony friend and, giving a shrill whinny of delight, towed Willow across the yard to greet the little grey, who snuffled and whickered back affectionately. Luna was surprisingly strong for such a fine pony! It could have been a really sweet moment, two ponies reunited after a morning apart, had the grey pony not been held by the grumpiest-looking girl ever.

“Fable, stop it!” The girl gave the lead rope a tug, but it was no use. She was clearly having as much trouble as Willow was! The ponies snuffled noses adoringly, before starting to groom each other’s necks. There was nothing Willow could do. Not for the first time, she thought how different the two ponies were. Luna, so feather light and red-gold in colour, compared to the chunkier grey Fable, a solid Welsh mountain pony who was almost thirty years old. She looked in great health, only her slightly dipped back and pure-white coat giving away her age, and her expression was always cheerful – cheeky even. Fable’s mother had died when Fable was just a foal. It was Fable’s mother’s horseshoe which now hung on the camp barn wall. Willow really liked Fable, and was fascinated by her story. She was clearly very special to everyone at Sunshine Stables. She wanted to give her a hug, but didn’t think it would go down well with the girl who was now glaring at her.

Emily.

Emily was the only bad bit about Sunshine Stables. She was Lainey’s daughter, and had a twin brother, Jack, who was really nice. But Emily had been grumpy from the start because she had found Sunshine Stables’ change from private stables to riding school hard and didn’t like other people looking after the ponies. But she had warmed to the gang throughout the week, even helping Jess with the rescue of Bandit, a beautiful grey pony. Emily now seemed happy to chat to them throughout the day. Everyone, but Willow.

Willow knew she hadn’t exactly been friendly either. But how could she, when Emily made her feel exactly like she’d felt so many times in the past? Swanning around her gorgeous stables with her nose stuck in the air, looking down on Willow, who in return glared back at her. When she felt intimidated, she got defensive, put up a guard. And Emily was definitely the worst sort of bully. It would be so easy to avoid her if their ponies weren’t the best of friends!

Finally getting Luna to follow her, Willow put the little chestnut in her stable, turning her back on the other girl. She knew some people thought she was aloof, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Inside she was trembling. The taunts and the name-calling and the sneers were so fresh in her mind, and Emily just reminded her of it all.

She hugged Luna tightly, breathing in her safe, comforting pony scent, her red coat warmed by the sunshine, and she gave a deep sigh. No wonder she was always running, she thought to herself. Would she ever escape?

CHAPTER 2

“Hey, Willow!”