Pony Palace Camp: Pony Friends Forever

By Pauline Burgess

The Pony Palace is the best riding school ever, and there's no better time to visit than during Summer Camp. Holly, Carrie and Patrick all love riding more than anything, and during camp they get to have a pony of their own and ride every single day! But the riders and their ponies, Barney, Biscuit and Kaz, aren't perfect, and there'll be tumbles and tears, as well as rosettes and clear rounds before the day of the camp show . . .

Join all the gang at this magical time of year and maybe, just maybe, you'll find your new PFF – Pony Friends Forever! 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blackstaff Press Ltd
• Release date: May 30, 2014
• ISBN: 9780856405808

Pauline Burgess

Pauline Burgess is a school teacher, which she says has ‘fed her writing and passion for children's literature’. Having taught many reluctant readers over the years she truly believes in promoting the idea of 'reading for enjoyment'. Pauline’s previous work including, Hipp-o-dee-doo-dah and Gentle Footprints, have been published in numerous magazines and anthologies. She recently received the ACES Award (Artist Career Enhancement Scheme) from the Arts Council NI for her writing, and her writing for children in particular.  She is the mother of one pony-mad daughter.

Book preview

Imprint Information

First published in 2014

by Blackstaff Press

4D Weavers Court

Linfield Road

Belfast BT12 5GH

With the assistance of

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland

© Text, Pauline Burgess, 2014

© Illustrations, Karen Harbinson, 2014

All rights reserved

Cover design by Anne Glenn Design

Cover and internal photographs by www.prime-photography.com

Pauline Burgess has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act to be identified as the author of this work.

Produced by Blackstaff Press

A cip catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

epub isbn 978 0 85640 580 8

mobi isbn 978 0 85640 598 3

www.blackstaffpress.com

www.ponyfriendsforever.com

Author Information

I have loved ponies since I was a little girl and now, happily, my daughter does too. I was never taught to ride properly, though, whereas my daughter is very lucky to learn everything there is to know about ponies and horses at Lessans’ Riding Stables, near Saintfield. This is the place that inspires my Pony Friends Forever books.

None of the children or adults in my stories are based on real people, but Barney, Biscuit and Kaz, who feature in this book are all real ponies who live at Lessans’. In fact, all the ponies you’ll meet in my books live there. Maybe, just maybe, some of them will become your new PFFs – Pony Friends Forever!

Pauline

Dedication

For Emma (my inspiration)

and for Rachel and Niamh

Pony Sisters Forever

The Pony Palace

Chapter One

Monday morning, first thing

They call me Bronco Barney here at the Pony Palace – just because I like to buck a little now and again! Kate says I’m not going to be used in any more beginners’ rides until I learn my lesson. Kate owns this riding school and she’s pretty cool most of the time.

‘Barney, you kick, you take off, you rear – I’ve had enough! All you have to do is walk around the arena and go into trot when you’re told to. Stop acting like you belong to some rodeo show in the Wild West! Summer Camp starts today and I just can’t have you behaving like this!’

She’s exaggerating of course. Kate wants us all to be so careful with the kids, but hey, who doesn’t like a bit of fun? I’m sure their mums and dads love to see some action! I definitely don’t want to miss Summer Camp, though, so I’d better pull my invisible socks up and put my best hoof forward. Well, all four of them I suppose.

‘Who’s a naughty boy then?’ says Olivia, one of the volunteers here at the