The Wild Pony

Pony Pals #9

by Jeanne Betancourt, Paul Bachem (Illustrator)

While out riding Lightning one day, Pam stops at a run-down farmhouse and meets an elderly couple and their old pony. In this touching story, the Pony Pals learn about helping others less fortunate through the shared love of a pony.

Genres: Horses, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Contemporary, Chapter Books, Novels

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

When I was growing up I never thought of being an author. I was a terrible speller and didn't want to write any more than I had to. I wanted to be a tap dancer when I grew up. After a few years of teaching junior high and high school, I wrote my first novel. It was a surprise to discover that I liked making up stories and writing them down. I liked it so much that eventually I stopped teaching and became a fulltime writer.

Besides novels for children and young adults, I've also told stories by writing scripts for television and the movies.

I live on the top floor of a sixteen-story building near the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. From my apartment I have a view of Manhattan that includes the Empire State Building and the Plaza Hotel. In my free time I draw, paint, and read. I still love to dance.

Some people think that a writer's life is lonely. But when I'm writing a story I don't feel lonely because I am actively involved with lots of interesting people – the characters in my books. I love knowing that some day readers will get to know these characters, too. If you are one of my readers I hope you have as much enjoyment in reading my stories as I have writing them.

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is probably my least favorite so far. Not to say I didn't still enjoy it, but it seems the most... unbelievable? It's odd no one is concerned about a neglected animal aside from the girls (as it's against the law to neglect animals), and then the stuff with the horse seemed to happen just a little too quickly (vague because of spoilers). I mean, I know the girls are pretty knowledgeable for their age, but it all seemed a little too good to be true.

Also, they brought up the fact that the horse was going to be sold for meat so many times... Why would anyone want to buy a skinny, malnourished horse for meat? Initially, yes, but not after spending all winter alone. You would get hardly any money for the thing. This wouldn't be too much of an issue if it had been shown/implied she would be fattened up first, but it seemed like she was going to be sold almost as soon as they got her. My experience with selling animals comes solely from county fairs, but why buy something you have to spend time and money fattening up, rather than something that's all ready to go?

[Hayley (hayleys.little.library) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since the weekend I’ve been sick with the spicy cough 🤦🏼‍♀️ Not a whole lot of reading has been going on, BUT I did feel like picking up a few pages and this was the perfect short nostalgic read and it was due back at the library so it was a win win 😅 When I was younger I read every single Pony Pal book, I loved them so much! I’d recommend them to a young horse lover that might be getting into chapter books, or even an adult looking for a fun, easy to read novel about friendship and horses with some problem solving thrown into the mix. Did anyone else read these books too? 🐎🐎

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book felt rushed a bit like a couple of others in this series. Considering the suspense that was built up throughout the book it was a tad disappointing for it to all come to a close within the last two pages.

[Brynn]

Read one evening July 2020 | This is the first Pony Pals book I ever read so I thought it'd be fun to re-read. First read in 2005 or 2006, more likely 2006.

[Kathryn (Dragon Bite Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my series review on my blog Dragon Bite Books .

[JoReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Childhood favourite series (haven't read in a long time) giving all four stars unless it was a favourite as a child.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a chapter book and book 9 of the "Pony Pals" series. My now grown daughter LOVED these books as a child (she begin to read them when she was about 8) and read all of the ones in the series. I found her copy of many of them and decided to try and read them to see what they were like. You can read these as stand alone books; but the reader would understand and relate to the girls better if you read them in order. If you have to miss one 'here and there' it's not big deal; you won't be lost but just get the full effect better in order.

It's a nice storybook of friendship for three girls (all 5th graders) and the bond they form with each other and each of their ponies. In this story the girls find an abandoned pony that is very malnourished and very timid. But they want to work with the pony to have her 'come around' so they start setting out food for her and get her to trust them again. All the while they work together and do research to find out who's pony she was. The owner had moved away and thought the pony went to a place for 'salvage' The girls are sad 'cause they know the pony is a good one just needs worked with. So instead of having her be sold to be killed they talk a neighbor woman that lost her pony (in the previous book) to old age and needs another pony for a companion horse for her other horse that misses the elderly pony too. So at the last minute the lady decides to take the abandoned pony and saves her life all because of the Pony Pals compassion toward the pony.

As a mother reading these books I really appreciate the way Ms Betancourt has written about the girls putting their heads together and trying to work out problems together and coming up with solutions themselves. As the young adults they are becoming it gives the girls in the story the opportunity to think things through. Which helps readers know they could do the same thing to try and find solutions as the young adults they will be in a few years. Thus far in each of the books I've read of this series the girls have tried to come up with solutions to problems and that is such a good thing to teach children

[Melissa Namba · Rating 3 out of 5]

the girls find an abandoned pony who is head shy. they work with the pony to try to get over this, but the owner is determined to sell it. Lucky for them, Ms Wiggins saves the day. in the course of the book, pam goes against her friends and does what she thinks best. I've said it before, but these girls are not girls that I'd want my nieces to be friends with. they aren't the nicest and they behave in a spoiled manner a lot of the time. I like when they collaborate, but it's often in a self motivated manner.

[Horace Mann Family Reading Challenge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whena girl named Pam is on a trail ride she sees a pony she never saw before. She finds it's Mr. Kennedy's horse. Mr. Kennedy moved away and left it behind. She and her pony pals, Anna and Lulu try to tame the wild horse and make it healthy before she is killed and sold for salvage (horse meat). C.M.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked it because it was about horses and I liked the way it ended. I like these books because the endings are not too fast but I didn't like how the characters were being so negative with each other.
B., age 9

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

read them all

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

read a couple years ago so can't remember what is about

[Twyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

pam found a wild pony she trained him so he could be a pony with a home they fed him and brushed him so he could have a home

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book with a very happy ending.

[Juliana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeanne Betancourt was my favorite author when I was in elementary school. I loved the Pony pal series! :)

[Alexandra Lindner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the series!!

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accelerated Reader Level 3.6 AR points 1.0

I really liked this one. Especially the ending.

[Kate Matson · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was younger, I loved horses! I read lots of these books and really enjoyed them. Of course, it's been a long time since I've read these, but I can assure you they are worth reading.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Pony Pals find a wild pony that was neglected and start taming it. When they learn that it's going to be sold for salvage they quickly find a buyer who will take it for a pet.

[Labri Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A really good childrens book, 6 to 10 years. Not interesting for older.