The Snow Pony

by Alison Lester

The fifteenth-anniversary edition of Alison Lester's The Snow Pony - a tough and tender novel about fourteen-year-old Dusty's faith in a wild horse they said could never be tamed.

ALISON LESTER: AUSTRALIA'S CHILDREN'S LAUREATE 2012-13

Only Dusty can ride the wild Snow Pony. And no one but Dusty will trust her. Three years of drought have reduced the Riley's farm to a dirt patch and strained the family to breaking point. A trip to the mountains to muster their cattle promises a fresh start, but sudden violence erupts into the peaceful landscape. Now Dusty and her beautiful brumby are tested as never before.

'Lester tells a gripping yarn, brimming with classic pictures. Dusty emerges as a true mountain girl with a new friend who can match her in courage.' Australian Book Review

Genres: Horses, Childrens, Animals, Middle Grade, Fiction, Young Adult, Family

212 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Has a son Lachie Hume, who is also a published children's book author.

Reviews

[Amy Laurens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those lovely, poignant stories that linger with you for a long time afterwards. I had to read it over a period of days, even though it was physically a short book, just so that I could savour it and let it all sink in. And after I finished, I literally couldn't pick up another book that night; my mind was too full of all I'd read. Beautiful.

Set in the highlands of Australia, The Snow Pony tells the story of Dusty and the beautiful mountain brumby that only she can ride. Despite the potential in that concept for romantic sap (which Dusty herself is disparaging of), the story is real and gritty, showing the pressures of the farming life in drought-ridden Australia and the way that it can drive families apart - or force them together.

This is a beautiful, beautiful book, full of real, broken characters, moments of stunning imagery, and written in a poignant, lingering style that haunted me for days afterwards. I love this book :)

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a childhood favorite of mine that I decided to re-read and I'm glad that I did. I enjoyed it just as much this time around as I did as a kid. The book is really well written and it's interesting. It deals with some tough issues tactfully enough for the YA crowd it's intended for, as well as just being a good book. I suppose the idea of a wild pony that only Dusty, the young protagonist, can ride is a little cliche, but isn't that the dream of every little girl? The author has brought that to life without being totally naive and this is just generally a really good book that I still enjoyed as an adult. It's always kind of a relief to find you still love a childhood favorite.

[DylanD · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE SNOW PONY, written by Allison Lester, is based in the countryside of Australia. The Riley family runs a farm with Jack operating the Farm. The protagonist is a eleven year old girl named Dusty. Her brother is Stewie and life long friend is Sally. The way I found this book is a friend of mine suggested that I read it.
The majority of the book is based on the Riley farm or nearby the farm. One of the main conflicts early on in the book is Dusty was attempting to tame her Snow Pony and keep her for her own. Dusty, the main protagonist, spends the entirety of the book growing with the Snow Pony while enduring a three year drought. Rita helped and encouraged Dusty to start jumping the Snow Pony for Dusty to earn some cash on the side, learn, and grow with her Snow Pony.
I enjoyed the book there was a few parts i disagreed with, but accurately portrayed how life can change drastically with a single event, such as taming the Snow Pony. I would change nothing in the book, it is a good children's book and has many lessons to be learned in it. This book could be a pathway for younger generations to help them understand some of the hardships that is endured. Dusty never realized that "horses were that clever." I grew up on a ranch and horses are some of the smartest animals and can remember any wrong every done to them.
My personal opinion over the book is that it is a very descriptive, and understanding book. Dusty grows through out the course of the book. She grows with the Snow Pony and the Snow Pony grows with her. Jack was not encouraging that Dusty ride the Snow Pony. Dusty bonded with Snow Pony better then any other family member. without the Snow pony Dusty may have never learned any of the lessons the Snow Pony offered. A similar book to THE SNOW PONY is THE SILVER BRUMBY/WILD ECHOES RINGING BY Elyne Mitchell. This book is more geared for the younger generation closer to the same age as Dusty. The book has many lessons and many morals that can be learned from this book.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alison Lester is one of my favourite childhood authors - her picture books are wonderful, but this is the only novel of hers I've read. It's a well-paced, engaging story of a young country girl and the wild pony she tames. They go through lots of different challenges together, eventually becoming the heroes when her family get snowed in on a remote snowy plain. Lester excels at writing the wintery alpine region of Victoria, and obviously knows her stuff about horses! The relationship between Dusty and her Snow Pony is lovely; surely it's the dream of many to have a close, trusting connection with a wild animal (I definitely wanted a horse after reading this as a kid).

I'd forgotten how much serious stuff is dealt with in the story. Dusty's father is depressed and abusive, and the other men in the story sexually abuse her friend Jade (also a child). Unfortunately I think there is an underlying assumption that that's just how 'true-blue Aussie men' are, and the responsibility to deal with this is left very much to two adolescent girls. Dusty's dad frequently apologises, even seeks external help (which is good?) but continues to be up and down and really quite awful to his children. We are clearly meant to think that he's a good guy in the end. Honestly, I wouldn't have minded if the heroic moment had been Dusty and the Snow Pony getting everyone except her father out of trouble on the mountain.

ALSO - at the end, Jade's mother announces that her ex-husband is moving back home because clearly "you need TWO parents". Sorry, but ugh. What needs to happen is Jade's ADULT brother - who put her in an extremely dangerous situation - needs to take some responsibility for his actions, rather than a huge compromise of independence for their mother. Yep, she was flawed, but a nuclear family model is so not the magic wand this suggests it is.

Tl;dr - good adventure story with lovely themes of human/animal connection; flawed approach to abuse and family dynamics.

[Elizabeth Newton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Snow Pony is a beautiful Australian novel by Alison Lester about a girl and her horse. But it is about so much more than this. It is about the hardship of farming during the Australian drought season. It is about the tension and depression that creeps into families because of this struggle. It is about a family, so close at one moment and hanging together by a thread the next. And it is about friendship and learning not to judge others by appearances.

Dusty falls in love with a wild, magical brumby the colour of snow and despite her father's wise warnings against keeping it, he ends up endeavouring to break her in and train her up for showjumping. While he has next to no luck, and knows that it would be too dangerous to let his daughter near it, Dusty feels confident, and despite the warnings of her parents, tries riding the Snow Pony herself. And, just as her instincts told her, the Snow Pony responds to Dusty as though they were one. And it is this relationship that will one day save her dad's life.

I enjoyed reading The Snow Pony; I enjoyed all the horsey smells and sounds of the book, and I very quickly grew close to the characters. My heart went out to Dusty and her family when the hardships of farming life nearly destroyed them. Although this is marketed for pre-teen and teen kids, I would strongly advise caution, as the themes and some mild course language throughout are quite adult. There are strong references to depression, suicide and sexual assault, and you wouldn't know just by looking at the beautiful enchanting cover or the synopsis in the blurb on the back.

It's a lovely, heart-warming, sometimes suspenseful story, with realistic drama, down-to-earth characters and some poignant moments that made my heart smile.

[Nadia Taranta · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like it very much. It was about a girl who got a pony and her dad captured it from the wild. I think she should just have left it there and go and get her own horse at a breeder or something. It was more about the girl then the horse. It was short. I didn't like it. It was easy to read.

[J. Jammy May · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ve been trying to find and think of this book for yonks! And the title finally came to me all these years later.
This book traumatised me as a child 😂 I still remember reading it at 11 years old to this day at 24 because of the jump-scare sexual assault on the child FMC. That scene scarred me and stayed in my brain. Definitely shouldn’t have been in a primary school library 😬

Turns out I’m the reason this book was banned at my school because my reaction was essentially along the lines of “you guys are not gonna believe this!” and proceeded to make almost all the other girls in my year aware of or read the book before actually telling an adult about it.
Even as a kid, when I read something that affects me, my immediate reaction is to go to my friends and say “you have to read this!” 🤣

[Cara · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was ok

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Alison Lester’s picture books to my children and we enjoyed them very much. I have read Magic Beach to my grandsons and it is great to see them interested too. So when I picked up Snow Pony I was expecting a beautifully written story - but it is so much more than that.

The book recounts the saga of a rural family struggling with the ramifications of longstanding drought with a backdrop story of growing up and learning about hardship, love, family and courage.

I would highly recommend Snow Pony for the justice it does to life on the land, as well as for the vivid descriptions of landscapes, and finally for illustrating so poignantly the human side of rural Australia.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Snow Pony was once a wild horse and is now Dusty's horse. Every thing seems perfect, except for the drought. Many people are leaving the town and everyone with cattle is losing money. Dusty understands this when her father is depending on her to make money for the family through horse jumping contests. These two are unstoppable and might just save the day.

Reasons why I like this book-

Reason 1- I could imagine what was happening.

Reason 2- I couldn't stop reading.

Reason 3- I felt as if I was there.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much. Very interesting. Overall, it is a good read, somewhat bitter-sweet at certain times. At first it can be a lot to comprehend, because when I first read it, I didn't fully understand what it was about, but then I read it again, and it was so much clearer. I love the friendship that is between Dusty and Jade, it grows a lot stronger throughout the book and more towards the ending. If you love horses, this is a book for you.

[Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful book set in the country side of Australia and it was one that really stuck with me. I loved the story line and how really it was with the animals, friendships and family’s. It showed peoples perspective of the right and wrongs of their life and turned it into a beautiful book which has a little adventure in it too. Definitely recommend!

[Claude's Bookzone · Rating 1 out of 5]

CW: Attempted sexual assault

[Jill Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dusty and her family are doing it tough. The drought has dragged on for nearly three years. They had bought down a brumby from the mountains for her to ride. No one else could ride the snow pony. She's too wild. When the family plans to bring down their cattle from the high plains, Dusty knows nothing is the same as the year before. Her father had changed. Her mother will stay home instead of joining him and the children on the muster. Dusty and Stewie are going with him to bring down the cows.

School is difficult for Dusty. Her best friend from primary school has gone to boarding school. Her family is not able to send her to the same school. She's lonely at school, no one talks to her. There is another girl called Jade, who is alone most of the time too. Dusty sees her at the shows and her mother is in a tent selling crystals.

In the mountains Jack, Dusty, and Stewie find the gate of the hut has been forced open. The ride will be tough because the cows will want to stay where the lush grass is and not move to the dry paddocks. Jack finds out from the police that it's likely the cut chain on the gate was done by people in a four-wheel drive. A couple of rough-looking men with a younger boy and girl. When these people confront Jack, he sends them on their way. Dusty is surprised to see Jade is the girl with the roughies.

Accidents can happen in the high country and when they do the two girls become friends and ride to send a rescue party for the injured Jack. Stewie stayed with him to feed and care for him, the remaining horses and cattle.

Alison Lester writes about the country, drought, the horses, and living in remote locations. It's a wonderful book and as a 15th Anniversary Edition, another family classic.

[Emmaby Barton Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 gosh this was so much more intense than i expected! but a sweet horsey read - and set in australia nonetheless woohoo (even got a mention of my hometown haha)

- lots of deep themes - alcoholism, money issues, sexual assault, mental health (including the impact of the drought on farmers)
- v jealous of them getting to live somewhere with horses and snow?? in australia? crazy
- the snow pony being grey white some white spots is basically my ideal colouring hehe
- the pics throughout are so fun! more books should have pictures!
- benefits of horses - learning patience, learning to lose gracefully
- tim tams being called ‘happy tablets’ <3
- friendships/relationships - sally making her better, learning to take the good and the bad in friends (and mothers/parents), neglecting sally for her horse
- mixed feelings about horses - such a deep love for them but “she wished there was room in her life for something else”
- “now she realised how impossible the task was, to save someone who didn’t want to be saved”
- “you have to make that phone call… ask for help, admit that you’re not perfect”
- “she remembered jack’s smile when she said ‘my dad taught me to run’. it was like saying, ‘i’m special. someone cares for me. i can do something really well’. it made her feel good”

[Debbie Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is more suited for readers 12+ years old. There are a couple of more mature themes running through the story that younger readers may have trouble understanding. Discretion is advised. Alison Lester has lived and experienced life in the high country and this comes through in her description of life looking after cattle in remote areas during the snow season. Young protagonist, Dusty is tough and courageous and her Dad's right hand man. She loves, respects and admires him, but during the events in this story, Dusty must deal with the realization that her father is human, with human traits. This is particularly difficult for Dusty. The Snow Pony is well worth a read, especially if you love the wilderness areas, horses and the country life of farms. This book deals with relationships between family and local communities and was an enjoyable read.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay i read this in highschool, and i wasn't going to review it but... a lot of this book stuck with me?

It's clearly a YA to maybe teenager book, and it's writing is good and it's very emotional and makes you think about the trials of growing up plus farm life. You do form a connection to the characters and how things effect them, especially the main character. It's an amazing Australian novel, i enjoyed reading it and it was easy to read.

The only reason im rating it a bit low is because of the sexual assault? this book is very much based for a younger audience and it felt like it came very much out of the blue. the swearing and such fits in but that elements was very confronting.

[Amy Phair · Rating 1 out of 5]

The detailed descriptions of and referenced to sexual assault/s against young girls in the book make it truly inappropriate for tender young girls to read recreationally without some foreknowledge of this by the parents etc. my daughter wasn’t happy to have found this in the book and neither was I. There was no alluding to this in the blurb or cover so it was an unpleasant shock. We would not have brought this book into our home had we known of this content, a warning to other parents to consider this before giving to your child.

[Tricia Greig · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book to my 10 yr old daughter and she loved it, she is loves horses, so the idea of a young girl taming a wild horse was heaven to her.
I spent some time pre reading as the book goes on as there are some moments where I needed to shield my girl from some tragic moments , but I carefully skipped a few pages but explained them and had conversations about personal safety.
We enjoyed the book together and couldn’t put it down toward the end.

[Summer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sweet little book about a pony, huh? Good book for my eight-year-old, maybe? Sure, if I’d like your kid thinking about her parents screaming at each other and dad threatening to kill himself because he’s so stressed out about the family farm. Dude. So glad I was pre-reading this. It’s a DNF several chapters in with a s*** in it. I’m sure eventually it’ll rain and the calves will sell for good money again BUT I won’t be there for it. Get out of the children’s section. SMH.

[Shelly Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only Dusty can ride the wild snow pony, and no one but Dusty will trust her. The snow pony is the story of a mountain girl called Dusty and her wild Brumby mare.
But when drought has struck and the Riley's farm has turned to a dirt patch and Dusty's father gets injured it's up to Dusty and Jade to get help.

[Ann Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt like I was there, is there any greater accolade for an author?! Didn’t quite capture me like the Quicksand pony probably only because I could relate more to the quicksand story having grown up riding my horse at the beach. Both of her novels would make awesome movies, if I was a director I’d be asking for rights to make them!

[Lauren Pavlovich · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was not really what I expected when I first picked up this book, and it was quite exciting or shocking in places. Not the best book I've ever read, but one I will probably go back to at some stage.

It did take me a long time to get through, but I would say that was more because of exams rather than story pacing.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had lots of themes that I wasn’t expecting- domestic violence, alcohol abuse, depression and men behaving badly…. But overall, it is an excellent novel, beautifully written, painting an accurate picture of the Australian high country and the challenges of farming.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like this as much as the Quicksand pony, but it was still good. It is just set in a more modern time.
I wouldn't say this is a kids book either. There are mature themes so I think around 13.
I enjoy the way the author writes about the bush.

[Deepa]

A mesmerising book for kids. I had read out this book for my kid and we both were hooked.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book and I enjoyed the large majority of it, but there were some strange parts in it.

[Cordelia Hurrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting. Modern and family issues

[Jordan C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

March Book Report, The Snow Pony, Alison Lester

When Dusty was young, a beautiful white pony showed up in their yard. Dusty is now 13 years old and her family is not doing well financially. They live in Australia and currently, Australia is going through a drought which is destroying the land that feeds their cows. Dusty starts jumping Snow Pony like her mom to earn money. One day, Dusty, her dad, and brother head up into snow covered mountains with their horses, including Snow Pony, to retrieve their cows. When Jade is attacked by some family friends that she is being babysat by, she jumps out of their truck and somehow, runs until Dusty finds her. When Dusty's dad is kicked by a cow, Dusty and Jade have to ride out into the wild, snow covered woods to find help.

I think that the theme of this book is to never give up. When Dusty decided to help her family financially, it took a lot of work, but she never gave up. Also, when she and Jade are searching for help, they encounter wild horses and almost are killed, by they keep moving forwards. The two of them conquer their fears and keep going to save Dusty's father.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe that the writer wanted to show how the characters felt, and how they care. The author also did a good job making it realistic, but i think he could have also added a bit more action.
While reading there were a few parts that were hard for me to understand. When the snow pony attacked one of the characters-Dusty- I didn’t understand why, until i went through it again.
The author did a good job making the reader connect with the characters, and did an even better job explaining how their farm worked without making the book boring or adding too much detail. The author explained why they brought their cows up into the plain, and why the father acted the way he did.
Throughout the book, they also made the problem clear and showed how people were reacting to it. The town acted together to make life better for them, but people with still falling, and having trouble with their situation, because there was no water for their cows, or themselves so people were selling their thing for money, and water.