Being able to talk to ponies isn't all that it's cracked up to be! Pia never thought anyone actually one magazine contests. So when her friend Beans wins a riding vacation for two, she's totally excited to go with her. A whole wonderful week riding new ponies and making fabulous new friends. But when things start to go missing around the ranch, Pia turns to the ponies to see what they have to say-and is shocked at what she hears! Can Pia and her new pony pals solve the mystery before their vacation gallops to an end? "This combination of magic and quick-moving, contemporary plot is a light and enjoyable read. The horses are particularly amusing as they reveal their complaints and requests to their owners through Pia."-School Library Journal review for The Pony Whisperer: The Word on the Yard
Janet Rising lives in the UK and is the editor of PONY, Britain's top-selling horsy teen magazine. She is also the author of Pony Talk: 50 Ways to Make Friends. Janet's work with horses has included working at a donkey stud, producing show ponies, and teaching riding to both adults and children.
Perhaps unfair for an adult to review a book aimed at youngsters. It might appeal to a horse-obsessed 8-10 year old. By age 11, at least my going on 11 year old, it wouldn't be interesting enough, nor realistic enough (dialogue for a middle schooler seemed a bit naive). Three things it's good for--an idea of contemporary British speech, at least among the young, a lesson in empathy, and a model lesson in how not to accuse someone of doing something (while still getting the desired result, but that wasn't based on a realistic means).
It was not bad, though I missed quite a few of the main characters from the barn. However thinking of the main plot point of the story the solution/resolution was very obvious.