Rocko's First Horse Show: Hoofbeat Buddies, #1

By E.S. Damon

Horse shows are fun, but they can also be nerve-wracking.
 

It's Emma's first year in the walk-trot division and her pony's first show. Rocko is a very handsome pony, but he is pulling all his tricks and Emma has to figure out how to help him. Luckily, she has her best friend there with her.
 

Lucas has been in this show before and has some tips to offer, and helping his friend might just help him forget his show-day nerves.
 

A day full of surprises and excitement shows both riders that teamwork and good horsemanship can turn a tough situation into a great day.

• Language: English
• Publisher: E.S. Damon
• Release date: Feb 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223649502

Book preview

Emma and Lucas looked out the back windows of the truck as Emma’s mom drove their trailer down the dusty lane and onto the show grounds. Emma leaned forward in her seat to look out the front window. The big red arena was directly in front of them and long red barns were off to the side. Horses and kids were already walking around.

Lucas, we’re here! she said. It was Emma’s first big 4H show now that she was eight and out of lead-line. Plus, it was her new pony, Rocko’s first show ever. She didn’t have to share a pony with her best friend Lucas anymore.

She was a little nervous, but having Lucas with her helped. Lucas was a year older and his palomino pony, Honey, had been to lots of shows.

Her mother parked and turned toward them with a big smile. Remember that horse shows are for fun. We’re here to make friends, learn, and have a great time with your ponies. Are you excited?

Emma looked over at Lucas. He nodded with a smile on his face. He stuck out his hand for a fist bump. So excited!

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They found their stalls in the barn next to other kids from their 4H club and set up the hay, water, and wood shavings for their ponies. They had come last night to decorate them with an under the sea theme. Rocko’s had a puffer fish, and Honey’s had a clown fish.

With the ponies off the trailer, Rocko seemed to have grown with all the excitement. Honey whinnied loudly when Rocko paused to look around, raising his head so high Emma almost couldn’t keep a hold of his lead rope. Emma gulped, her eyes almost as wide as Rocko’s.

It’s okay buddy, your stall’s over here with your hay. She led Rocko to the stall, and the black pony grabbed a huge mouthful.

Lucas laughed when Honey tried to pull him into Rocko’s stall, too. They want to share, he said.

Finally, he got Honey into her stall and she went straight for her own hay. She tried to stick her head out the door, but Lucas closed it. Instead, she went to the side of her stall and looked at Rocko through the bars above the wall that separated them.

Emma watched Rocko for a few more minutes. He was a good boy, even though he was only seven.

Lead-line had been much easier. Her mom had led her around on Honey. As practice, in her last lesson, they pretended to do a show with all the