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Pony Jumpers #1
First Fence
All of AJ’s dreams seemed to be coming true when her parents bought her a pony of her own, but the reality has turned out to be quite different. Squib is young and difficult to ride, and without enough knowledge and support to know how to fix things, AJ feels like she’s just going around in circles without any hope of ever improving.
Then a chance encounter leads her to Katy, who has practically grown up on horseback and has a string of talented jumping ponies. The two girls quickly become friends, and soon AJ is making the kind of progress she’d only ever dreamed was possible. As the world of competitive show jumping is opened up to her and Squib begins to show his true potential, AJ starts looking forward to a fun season ahead.
But there’s something that Katy’s not telling her, and it’s going to change everything between them…
Reader comments for FIRST FENCE:
"REALLY GOOD! Love it!"
"So well written, and also very instructive for the young rider/reader."
"I love your characters, human and equine. AJ is learning at the speed of knots, and so would your young readers be."
"Your writing is fabulous, it flows so effortlessly."
"You must have met some stubborn/naughty ponies in your time, you describe their behaviour very well!"
"Ah, horse people. Outwardly wealthy, inwardly scraping money together. Your characters are so believable!"
"I loved this! So glad it's going to be a series!"
About the PONY JUMPER series:
Each book in the Pony Jumper series will focus on a new character and tie into the books and characters that have gone before. Set in New Zealand, the series incorporates information about training and riding show jumpers that will hopefully give help and guidance to readers, as well as each telling a great story!
Then a chance encounter leads her to Katy, who has practically grown up on horseback and has a string of talented jumping ponies. The two girls quickly become friends, and soon AJ is making the kind of progress she’d only ever dreamed was possible. As the world of competitive show jumping is opened up to her and Squib begins to show his true potential, AJ starts looking forward to a fun season ahead.
But there’s something that Katy’s not telling her, and it’s going to change everything between them…
Reader comments for FIRST FENCE:
"REALLY GOOD! Love it!"
"So well written, and also very instructive for the young rider/reader."
"I love your characters, human and equine. AJ is learning at the speed of knots, and so would your young readers be."
"Your writing is fabulous, it flows so effortlessly."
"You must have met some stubborn/naughty ponies in your time, you describe their behaviour very well!"
"Ah, horse people. Outwardly wealthy, inwardly scraping money together. Your characters are so believable!"
"I loved this! So glad it's going to be a series!"
About the PONY JUMPER series:
Each book in the Pony Jumper series will focus on a new character and tie into the books and characters that have gone before. Set in New Zealand, the series incorporates information about training and riding show jumpers that will hopefully give help and guidance to readers, as well as each telling a great story!
138 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 8, 2015
33 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Kate Lattey
22 books55 followersKate lives in Waikanae, New Zealand, and has ridden horses since the age of 10. After several years competing as a teenager, she went on to work with horses in England, Ireland and the United States, as well as various horse jobs in New Zealand.
Kate's published works include the Dare to Dream series, the Clearwater Bay series, and the new Pony Jumpers series. All of her books tie into one another, so there is always a familiar face in whichever book you decide to read next. Find out more on her website at http://nzponywriter.com
Kate's published works include the Dare to Dream series, the Clearwater Bay series, and the new Pony Jumpers series. All of her books tie into one another, so there is always a familiar face in whichever book you decide to read next. Find out more on her website at http://nzponywriter.com
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 5, 2016
This is the first book in Kate Lattey's Pony Jumpers Series, and it's adorable. If the rest of the series goes along like this, I'm in for a serious treat. But, let's stop fawning all over it and talk sensibly for a second!
First Fence is the story of AJ, an overhorsed rider trying to get it together with her pony, the rambunctious and naturally talented Squib. AJ comes from a non-horse family, and is one of five children, so her support network when it comes to the equestrian world isn't the strongest and most of the time she feels like she's taking on Squib alone. Her parents can't help and everyone at her barn seems to think Squib is only an annoyance not worth the time or effort to train.
Her fortunes turn when she runs into Katy and her mom, both obsessive equestrians with ponies. They immediately see what's up with Squib, and through them AJ starts finding workarounds, slowly showing improvement. Katy and AJ become thick as thieves, but soon the question becomes who is Katy really there for? AJ or Squib?
The majority of the book is dedicated to AJ coming to better work with her pony, so the horse element is strong with this one. Younger, horse-loving teens will definitely see themselves in AJ as she struggles with the best way to train, or otherwise figure out Squib. But it also does an excellent job of showing the start of a friendship between two very different people, and the hiccups that can cause. Katy and AJ are nothing alike. In fact, their one thing in common seems to only be the horses. So that crux of the story is exceptionally hard for AJ to muddle her way through.
I especially liked AJ's family, despite all of the kids having names starting with the same letter. So often you see books about kids desperate for horses who have to go around their parents' refusal through completely unrealistic subterfuge to get a horse. This is a more realistic portrayal--cash-strapped, too big family did everything they can to get AJ that pony, but AJ is on her own after that. This is certainly no horse story fairy tale. Kate Lattey shows realistic horse ownership, and I think readers will appreciate that. No riding princesses to be found here, and no magic fixes. Everyone works for what they have, and there's no one who knows that better than a horse girl.
Definitely reading the rest in this series. On to book 2!
First Fence is the story of AJ, an overhorsed rider trying to get it together with her pony, the rambunctious and naturally talented Squib. AJ comes from a non-horse family, and is one of five children, so her support network when it comes to the equestrian world isn't the strongest and most of the time she feels like she's taking on Squib alone. Her parents can't help and everyone at her barn seems to think Squib is only an annoyance not worth the time or effort to train.
Her fortunes turn when she runs into Katy and her mom, both obsessive equestrians with ponies. They immediately see what's up with Squib, and through them AJ starts finding workarounds, slowly showing improvement. Katy and AJ become thick as thieves, but soon the question becomes who is Katy really there for? AJ or Squib?
The majority of the book is dedicated to AJ coming to better work with her pony, so the horse element is strong with this one. Younger, horse-loving teens will definitely see themselves in AJ as she struggles with the best way to train, or otherwise figure out Squib. But it also does an excellent job of showing the start of a friendship between two very different people, and the hiccups that can cause. Katy and AJ are nothing alike. In fact, their one thing in common seems to only be the horses. So that crux of the story is exceptionally hard for AJ to muddle her way through.
I especially liked AJ's family, despite all of the kids having names starting with the same letter. So often you see books about kids desperate for horses who have to go around their parents' refusal through completely unrealistic subterfuge to get a horse. This is a more realistic portrayal--cash-strapped, too big family did everything they can to get AJ that pony, but AJ is on her own after that. This is certainly no horse story fairy tale. Kate Lattey shows realistic horse ownership, and I think readers will appreciate that. No riding princesses to be found here, and no magic fixes. Everyone works for what they have, and there's no one who knows that better than a horse girl.
Definitely reading the rest in this series. On to book 2!
January 17, 2016
This is the type of book I longed for when I was in elementary and middle school--a book with strong heroines who are passionate about what they do--riding. I particularly loved the New Zealand setting. It was nice to be a part of a world where children are allowed a certain amount of freedom of motion (no 'helicopter' parenting) and also the freedom to make mistakes on their ponies. The two main protagonists--AJ and Katy--are both likable yet have very distinctive personalities. The details of riding a course and bits are informative yet seamlessly woven into the story. And I particularly liked the fact that while the scenes of the two girls schooling their ponies are funny and delightful (who wouldn't want to live with world-weary Katy and her farm full of sale ponies with shows every weekend) they are also realistically and believably written. The book is filled with the tiny details about clothes, food, and social rivalries that are so important to the perspective of girls of this age group yet as an adult I was never bored and read the entire novel all the way through. Now on to the second!
July 13, 2025
I've read so many fiction books about horse crazy kids in the UK that I automatically thought this book was set there, too. It wasn't until Chapter Nine did I realize that it was set in Australia ... and then a chapter or two later to find out that it was actually set in New Zealand.
Pony Club is much different in Australia and New Zealand than it is anywhere else. It's much more popular, taken more seriously and has more clout with local government and zoning boards. I'd never heard of a Pony Club owning land before ... but hey, it's Kiwi country.
This was a very pony-centered book about Our Young Teen Protagonist and her diamond in the rough half Connemera, half Welsh Cob Pony, Squib. Often, books aimed at young adults who like horses have very little to do with horses -- just look at many of the Saddle Club books, for instance. However, this does go into working with, riding and showing ponies.
Yes, there are non-horsey problems, too. Our Protagonist is one of FIVE kids, one of which has Asperger's. No one in the family gives a damn about horses. The Pony Club chapter she belongs to clearly hates her and her mischievous pony. Even one of the Pony Club mothers seems to enjoy nothing more than yelling at her.
She is intent on showing her pony, and finally finds a way. A way that is not as golden as it first seems.
Quite honestly, I don't see why anybody who really loves their animals bothers to show them. There's always one cheater, backstabber or abuser to ruin it for not only you, but all of the animals at the show. The author was good to include these people in the book.
I might carry on with the series, but I haven't got a good feeling about this.
Pony Club is much different in Australia and New Zealand than it is anywhere else. It's much more popular, taken more seriously and has more clout with local government and zoning boards. I'd never heard of a Pony Club owning land before ... but hey, it's Kiwi country.
This was a very pony-centered book about Our Young Teen Protagonist and her diamond in the rough half Connemera, half Welsh Cob Pony, Squib. Often, books aimed at young adults who like horses have very little to do with horses -- just look at many of the Saddle Club books, for instance. However, this does go into working with, riding and showing ponies.
Yes, there are non-horsey problems, too. Our Protagonist is one of FIVE kids, one of which has Asperger's. No one in the family gives a damn about horses. The Pony Club chapter she belongs to clearly hates her and her mischievous pony. Even one of the Pony Club mothers seems to enjoy nothing more than yelling at her.
She is intent on showing her pony, and finally finds a way. A way that is not as golden as it first seems.
Quite honestly, I don't see why anybody who really loves their animals bothers to show them. There's always one cheater, backstabber or abuser to ruin it for not only you, but all of the animals at the show. The author was good to include these people in the book.
I might carry on with the series, but I haven't got a good feeling about this.
September 2, 2016
AJ feels that her dreams have come true. In First Fence, she finally has a pony of her own. Squib, her grey Connemara cross is far from perfect – he is strong and a handful to ride. He does however love to jump. And AJ loves her gelding wholeheartedly, as much as she is struggling to control him.
Read more at http://equus-blog.com/first-fence-pon...
Read more at http://equus-blog.com/first-fence-pon...
January 22, 2016
How did I miss marking this as read? AWESOME book - great start to the series!
October 24, 2023
3.5 stars! I needed something easy to get me out of my reading funk and this was a fun choice! Flashed me back soo much to my equestrian/horse girl days + it was fun to tap into that side of me again with this read! It definitely wasn't perfect but it was just what I needed, and I enjoyed it!
April 4, 2017
I enjoyed First Fences immensely! To be fair, I'm no longer the target audience but I was once a pony-mad pre-teen who wanted nothing more than to have my own pony.
So much about AJ's story resonated with me. The non-horsy parents, having to ride to any competitions I wanted to do and wanting, but not always having the perfect gear. How I envied those riders with horsy parents and horse floats, just like AJ!
It's not a long story, but it's enormous fun. Ms Letter carries you through real ups and downs of friendship and learning to ride your pony better (although I was never as brave as AJ...).
I look forward to eating more of this series - it's very cool that this story is free to download from www.nzponywriter.com
So much about AJ's story resonated with me. The non-horsy parents, having to ride to any competitions I wanted to do and wanting, but not always having the perfect gear. How I envied those riders with horsy parents and horse floats, just like AJ!
It's not a long story, but it's enormous fun. Ms Letter carries you through real ups and downs of friendship and learning to ride your pony better (although I was never as brave as AJ...).
I look forward to eating more of this series - it's very cool that this story is free to download from www.nzponywriter.com
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews