The Show Horse - Book 2 in the Connemara Horse Adventure Series for Kids: Connemara Horse Adventures

By Elaine Heney

12 year old Clodagh begins riding lessons at the local riding school, with her Connemara pony, Ozzie. But when Clodagh and Ozzie appear at Briary riding school for their first lesson - bareback and in a headcollar - they get bullied by the Briary riding students. Clodagh leaves the school in tears, vowing never to return.

Clodagh decides to enter Ozzie in the Manor horse show to prove Briary riding students wrong. But just how far is she willing to go to win? And who can save the Manor and Mrs. Fitz from a huge disaster? Join Clodagh and Ozzie on their next exciting adventure to find out. This wholesome and beautifully told horse story is perfect for horse-crazy kids aged over 8. Written by international horsewoman and award-winning documentary director, Elaine Heney, this tender and touching story explores the depth of the relationship that can be created between girl and horse - that can last a lifetime. This book follows the success of the first book in this series - The Forgotten Horse. This is the perfect children's equestrian book for young readers, girls, boys, tweens and teens to curl up with and enjoy. Enjoy the second book in the Connemara Horse Adventure Series for Kids.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elaine Heney
• Release date: Mar 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201203863

Book preview

The Show Horse

The Connemara Adventure Series

The Forgotten Horse

The Show Horse

The Mayfield Horse

The Stolen Horse

The Adventure Horse

The Lost Horse

The Coral Cove Series

The Riding School Connemara Pony

The Storm and the Connemara Pony

The Surprise Puppy and the Connemara Pony

The Castle Charity Ride and the Connemara Pony

Horse Books for Kids

P is for Pony – ABC Alphabet Book for Kids 2+

Listenology for Kids age 7-14

Horse Care, Riding and Training for kids 6-11

Horse Puzzles, Games & Brain Teasers for kids 7-14

Horse Books for Adults

Equine Listenology Guide

Dressage Training for Beginners

The Listenology Guide to Bitless Bridles

Ozzie, the Story of a Young Horse

Conversations with the Horse

Horse Anatomy Colouring Book

Discover all Elaine Heney’s books at www.elaineheneybooks.com

iPhone & Android Horse Apps:

www.poleworkapp.com

www.horsestridesapp.com

www.dressagehero.com

www.rideableapp.com

The Show Horse

Elaine Heney

Copyright © 2022 by Elaine Heney

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

First Edition March 2022

Published by Grey Pony Films

www.greyponyfilms.com

ABOUT ELAINE HENEY

Elaine Heney is an Irish horsewoman, film producer at Grey Pony Films, #1 best-selling author, and director of the award-winning 'Listening to the Horse™' documentary. She has helped over 120,000+ horse owners in 113 countries to create great relationships with their horses. Elaine's mission is to make the world a better place for the horse. She lives in Ireland with her horses Ozzie & Matilda. Discover Elaine’s books at her online book: www.elaineheneybooks.com

Online horse training courses

Discover our series of world-renowned online groundwork, riding, training programs and iPhone and Android apps. Visit Grey Pony Films & learn more:www.greyponyfilms.com

Table of contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

You did it...

Chapter 1

Clodagh laughed out loud as Ozzie shook himself from nose to tail making her wobble gently on his back.  She instinctively grabbed a tuft of his silky grey mane to keep herself from sliding off him.

The perils of bareback, eh Ozzie? she giggled, and he snorted.

She urged the little grey pony into a trot and they headed up the gentle incline of the paddock away from home up towards the old manor house.  The spring breeze pulled at her long blonde hair, tugging it straight back.  For a moment she thought back on the drab winter and grey days that had marked the time when Ozzie hadn’t been hers. She smiled. Things were looking up.  Ozzie had put weight back on, the grass was looking greener and some of the tulips had even sprung to life around the gate house and manor.  Everything seemed hopeful, she thought.  Ozzie tossed his head a little eager to go a bit faster.

You want to canter? she smiled.  At the word his ears pricked and they finished the way to the top of the paddock with a few strides of canter.

Clodagh reached down carefully and unlatched the gate between the paddocks, letting Ozzie into what would be his summer grazing.  They had taken to riding the whole field since Mrs. Fitz from the manor had said they could graze it all and Ozzie was loving it.  He walked through the gate and turned around waiting patiently for her to close the gate before they headed off around the top half.  He cheekily snatched a few young leaves from the pear tree as they rode by it and Clodagh shook her head giggling.  Life was so much better with an Ozzie in it.

Mrs. Fitz was in the garden as they rode up, her grey hair in its usual bun with Pip, the spaniel darting around her as she tidied up a few weeds that had sprung into life.  She looked up as Clodagh called good morning to her.

Good morning, she replied.  Aren't you getting a little bored of riding loops of the field yet?

Clodagh smiled and absently began to scratch Ozzie’s soft grey neck.  I don’t think I’d ever get bored of riding Ozzie.

Mrs. Fitz raised her eyebrow a little.  Still, you can ride through the woods you know, or down to the riding school on the track by the paddocks.

Clodagh smiled.  Thanks, I will.

Did you know the riding school is opening again this weekend? the old lady added.  Clodagh had known that; in fact, it was the one dark spot in her mind.  The girls from the riding school had been awful but it had been very quiet since it had closed: the thought of it reopening made her worry a little.  Mrs. Fitz seemed to read her mind.  The new lady isn't like Clair was, her name is Bell, Sandra Bell, I believe she owes you a good turn as well.

Clodagh frowned; she was sure she didn’t know a Mrs. Bell.  Had she come into Farmer Bob’s shop where she worked?  Maybe she’d helped her then, but if she had it wasn’t something she remembered.  Mrs. Fitz smiled.

She was the lady you met at the sale, the one you recommended the bay Welsh too,  Mrs. Fitz said.  Suddenly everything fell into place.  Clodagh remembered her well. So that's what she had meant at the sale when Clodagh had asked her if she had a riding school and she’d said she hoped so.

Is she the one renting the manor fields like Briary did? Clodagh asked, piecing things together.

She certainly is and at a much better price than Clair did, Mrs. Fitz replied. Clodagh wondered if that was a better price for Mrs. Bell or for Mrs. Fitz but decided not to ask.  Perhaps you could see if she would let you use the arena down there to ride in for a change.

You think she might? Clodagh asked.  It would be nice to pop over a few little jumps every now and then.  Though I’m not sure how happy Ozzie would be to go back there, even if it was just for a visit.

Nonsense. Mrs. Fitz said.  The pony is with you he’ll be fine as long as you are, they pick up on our nerves.  If you are confident, he will be too and I shouldn’t see why you couldn’t go down for a lesson on him.

Clodagh smiled.  It would be nice to have a few lessons on Ozzie. Sure she’d prefer it if Aunt Lisa taught her, but it was a lot more difficult when she was so far away.  Her brother Sam had suggested using online videos, but she wasn’t sure if that would work very well.  He knew much more about computers and things than she did so it was possible to do it she guessed, she just wasn’t sure Aunt Lisa would be able to see her and Ozzie well enough to give her instructions.  Besides, she had the money to pay for lessons now. Thanks to a bit more overtime from Farmer Bob she'd managed to repay Sam the money he’d given her to buy Ozzie and save up a little towards a rug to keep him dry in really wet weather.

Thanks, I think I will go, Clodagh said, smiling at Mrs. Fitz.  It crossed her mind that the Briary girls may go back there, but this time it would be different, this time when she went it would be Mrs. Bell in charge. Besides, she owned Ozzie now.

Clodagh rode home in the sunshine feeling happy.  She slid off Ozzie by the gate opposite her house.  The B&B was packed with guests and several cars were parked up outside along the wide gravel drive.  A couple with a cute little sandy blond-haired boy was just crossing the yellow stones ready to go for a walk.  The little boy jumped up and down pulling at his mother's hand.

Mummy, mummy look Clodagh rode her pony with no saddle!  he said.  And no head thingy!

Clodagh stifled a laugh and the mother explained what a bridle was.  The little boy waved at her frantically and she waved back.  He really was a cute kid, maybe she’d ask if he wanted to meet Ozzie later and give him a treat.  Ozzie nudged her gently in the back and she turned around giving him a scratch on his neck, his nose twitched and wiggled as she found his itchy spot.

I haven't forgotten you, buddy, she said.  You want a carrot; I think you deserve one.

Clodagh climbed over the brand-new fence glad that Dad had finally got around to replacing it.  The new wood felt reassuringly solid and much less slippery than the old moss-covered one had.  She rummaged around in the bag that held her brushes and pulled out a carrot.