Chasing Gold

Ponies of Chincoteague #3

by Catherine Hapka

When all of Haley’s time goes to training her pony, keeping an eye on the prize causes problems in this third book in a contemporary middle grade series in the tradition of Marguerite Henry’s Misty of Chincoteague.

For months, Haley Duncan has been saving up to ride with her pony Wings in a clinic with a world-famous event rider. On top of that, she wants to make sure Wings is as fit and ready as he can be, which means extra trot sets before school and training and cleaning tack all weekend. So what if Haley’s friends complain that she doesn’t have time for them anymore? So what if she has to miss her very first ever school dance, or skip a favorite family tradition, or leave early from her BFF’s first boy-girl party? Everyone will get it when they see her in the Olympics someday. But when Haley’s overscheduled existence and exhaustion causes an accident, she may have to say good-bye to her dreams…

Genres: Horses

193 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 2, 2014

About the author

Catherine (Cathy) Hapka has written more than one hundred books for children and adults, as a ghostwriter for series as well as original titles, including the Romantic Comedies Something Borrowed, The Twelve Date of Christmas, and Love on Cue. She lives in Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Jenna Marie ~Scheming Scribbler~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A childhood favorite series of mine, this book struck home so deep with how Haley had to constantly decide what was most important in her life, and it only got more relatable over the years. I was obsessed with Wings, and the idea of having such a cool barn and riding space in my backyard. Haley's struggles are so real, her character came to life on the page. I also have to say, this author obviously knows her horses. In so many horse books, the horse descriptions are so stilted, but the horses seem so realistic in this series! Definitely a win for my past horse-crazed kid self!

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

This isn't nearly as good as the previous two books in the series. It's predictable for the most part -- and has a completely unrealistic ending. This was more people focused than horse focused. There was also an almost total lack of description for Wings the pony-- yet we got descriptions of party clothes, for fuck's sake. What kid reading this book wants to read about clothes?

There was a significant cameo made by a dog. What happens to the dog was really predictable.

And why do all of these families have more than two kids? That's too many characters to sort out. The average family only has two kids, anyway.

Free advice, kids: You'll hear people lecturing you about having "balance" in your life. Ignore them. They don't know shit. They want you to fail, because it will make them feel better about themselves.

Our Protagonist would've had an easier time if it by dropping all her school "friends" and not wasting time at church.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very interesting! The author Chatherine Hapka creatives a wonderful novel filled with excellent vocabulary! I never wanted to put this series down! This book is a realistic fiction, and one of my favorites. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves horses and books!

[Ava]

I love Haley and Wings! They have a great time together.

[Renata Shura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really relatable story. Fun to pretend to be a kid again. The best of the three I’ve read so far.

[Natalie Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's pretty emotional. And the story is faced with how young adults can handle hard choices in life.

I would recommend this to all horse lover girls 5th grade and up.

[Debbie Tink · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, at first she is over doing it to try to pay for a riding corse with a up and coming Event rider.