The Castle Charity Ride and the Connemara Pony - The Coral Cove Horses Series: Coral Cove Horse Adventures for Girls and Boys, #4

By Elaine Heney

12 year old Ciara and her friend Molly are planning a seaside charity horse ride as a fundraiser for their local animal rescue centre. Disaster strikes after a late summer storm washes away part of the coast road into the sea. Will Ciara and Molly have to cancel their charity ride and let down the animal rescue? Or can they get a little help from some new friends to save the day? Join Ciara and her Connemara pony Misty in their next heart-warming adventure to find out.

 

This wholesome and beautifully told horse story is perfect for horse-crazy kids age 8+ and the young at heart. This is the fourth book in the Coral Cove Horses series and the perfect gift for birthdays and Christmas. This unmissable story underlines the importance of kindness, resilience and never giving up - even in times of adversity. Perfect for middle school kids who are set on horses and all those who love young adult fiction.

 

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elaine Heney
• Release date: Mar 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215982112

Book preview

The Castle Charity Ride and the Connemara Pony

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 Castle Charity Ride and the Connemara Pony

Elaine Heney

Copyright © 2023 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 2023

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

Chapter 1

Ciara let her eyes close for just a second as the cool breeze streamed over her face and tugged at her hair just a little.  Misty shifted a little beneath her and she smiled.  They had ridden to the bluffs in relative silence, happy just to be in each other’s company.  As they had reached the top of the little bank, they had paused and looked out over the gentle waves and the sandy bay.  It was warm and sunny and perfect, Ciara thought.  Tomorrow was the first day of school. She wouldn’t be able to ride up to the cove or the bluffs in the early afternoon for a while.  Soon enough, she thought, they would only be able to ride there on the weekends, when the nights drew in, although Grandad had said he used to ride there by the moonlight, which sounded exciting. Still, Mum had looked disapproving.

I wonder what school will be like? Ciara mused.  Misty snorted and stamped a hoof and Ciara smiled.  I suppose Molly will be there, at least I know someone.  Misty flicked her ears and Ciara rubbed her neck.

She gently urged Misty down the little trail that wound through the edge of the dunes towards the cove.  The thought of a new school had terrified her when they had first moved in with Grandad.  It had been this looming threat, somewhere new with new unknown people.  Would she make friends? Would the teachers be nice or awful?  Now though she felt much less nervous.  For a start there was Misty.  No matter how bad things could possibly be there would always be the little bay Connemara mare to come home to, to talk to, to gallop along the sands with.  At the thought of that, Ciara smiled and set the pony off in a steady canter over the firmer sand by the lapping waves.

The second reason sprang into view as they were almost at the edge of the cove.  Molly.  She appeared, sat on Ranger, her chestnut Arab gelding, and waved happily.  It was much easier, Ciara thought, to start school with a friend.

Hey, Molly called, trotting over.  Sorry I couldn’t ride with you; I had to go and get new socks for school.  Mum says I lose them, but I'm pretty sure there are some little gnomes or something that live in the cottage and steal them at night. She grinned and Ciara laughed.  Are you ready for school tomorrow?

Ciara nodded.  I was just thinking about it.  Mum’s frantically rushing around getting everyone’s uniforms sorted.  Kit pinched Maddy’s tights and dragged them into the garden.  Ciara tried not to laugh, as the image of the little German Shepherd puppy dashing out of the kitchen door, tights trailing from his mouth, his ears flopping, Maddy and Mum chasing after him. Grandad suggested I go for a ride and get out.

They began to ride back along the beach together.  I'm glad you're going to be at my school, Molly said suddenly as she looked out over the waves.  Ciara frowned, she'd never seen Molly look sad, but she did a little.

Me too, she said with a smile.

Molly sighed.  You know, I wasn’t looking forward to school starting before you moved here, she looked down at her reins for a second.  My best friend moved not too long before you arrived and I was already pretty new...

Molly trailed off and Ciara understood.  Molly hadn’t made that many friends at school yet, they were in a similar boat, but at least they were in it together.

Are the other kids ok? Ciara asked, realising she hadn’t actually enquired before.

Molly nodded with a slight smile.  Yeah, it’s just they already have groups of friends, so, well, I guess everyone was nice to me, but I was sort of on the outside.

Ciara nodded.  It’s like being the new horse in the paddock.

Molly laughed out loud.  It is!  It really is!  Everyone greets you and then keeps you on the outside of the group for a while.

For a few moments, they rode quietly along the beach, before Molly looked over at Ciara again.  You think we'll be able to sort the charity ride out while we're at school?  she asked, changing the subject.

I think so, Ciara said.  I mean, we've got most things sorted already.  Molly nodded.  How's Niblet settling in?

Niblet was a donkey the girls had met at a local animal rescue when Ciara’s sister had adopted Kit the puppy.  He’d had no friends at the rescue centre and Ranger had no company at home, so, with the approval of her parents, Molly had adopted him.

Really well, Molly giggled.  He's become Ranger's best friend forever.  It's so odd though, Ranger has more of an issue leaving Niblet in the paddock to go for a ride than Niblet does him leaving.  Ciara smiled.  I think it’s because Niblet has all the green stuff to himself.  Ranger snorted and the girls laughed.

They had turned at the end of the curved beach and headed back the way they came.  The sun was still shining brightly and Ciara looked out at its rays dancing on the sea.

I hope we still get to ride as much when school starts, she mused.

I guess we might have to do some shorter rides when winter comes in.  The cove’s not so much fun when it does, Molly said.  At least not when the sea is rough and it’s raining.  The thought of dark miserable days almost made Ciara shudder.  Still, that’s a ways off and at least we have the ride to look forward to.  I can't wait to go and try the trail out.  Oh, and for you to see the castle!  It's reopening, you know?

Ciara had never been down to the castle that looked over her new school.  It had been closed over the summer, Grandad said it was because the manager in charge had left abruptly and there was no one to take over as she’d taken a few staff members with her.

When? Ciara asked with a grin.

I think next weekend, Molly said.

That’s good.  I mean the opening weekend will be before the ride so it won’t be massively busy, but there’ll still be some extra people around who might donate when they find out what we’re doing, Ciara said.

I never thought of that, Molly replied with a smile.

They reached the dunes and stopped.  Well, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, Molly said, glancing up the track towards her home.

Ciara nodded.  Meet me outside the gates?

Sure, Molly replied and