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Starlight Stables #1
Pony Detectives
Poppy is thrilled to be back doing the one thing she loves - riding horses at Starlight stables - especially when her aunt and uncle make all her dreams come true with a gift of her very own horse. But there's a catch . . . Poppy must look after the new scholarship girls. Will the bold and troublesome Milly and shy, sensible Katie be the pony-mad friends she's always hoped for?
When horses go missing from the local farms, Poppy worries about Crystal, her new horse. Will the girls be able to protect their ponies from the horse thief and find the missing horses at the same time?
The first book in an exciting and enjoyable Australian series about the friendship and adventures of three horse-crazy girls.
When horses go missing from the local farms, Poppy worries about Crystal, her new horse. Will the girls be able to protect their ponies from the horse thief and find the missing horses at the same time?
The first book in an exciting and enjoyable Australian series about the friendship and adventures of three horse-crazy girls.
181 pages, Paperback
Published April 18, 2016
About the author
Soraya Nicholas
6 books5 followersAs a horse-crazy girl, Soraya Nicholas dreamt of owning her own pony and riding every day. For years, pony books like The Saddle Club had to suffice, until the day she finally convinced her parents to buy her a horse. There were plenty of adventures on horseback throughout her childhood, and lots of stories scribbled in notebooks, which eventually became inspiration for Soraya's very own pony series. Soraya now lives with her husband and children on a small farm in her native New Zealand, surrounded by four-legged friends and still vividly recalling what it felt like to be 10 years old and head over heels in love with horses.
She is also a successful romance and women's fiction author, writing as Soraya Lane.
She is also a successful romance and women's fiction author, writing as Soraya Lane.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 21, 2022
This is the first book I bought at Somerset Celebration of Literature 2017! My granddaughters are mad on horses. Not having had anything to do with horses myself, I have to say it appears to me that horses are a lot of work, and each one has a different personality just as their riders do.
I loved this story about Poppy the twelve-year-old who was visiting her Aunt Sophie and Uncle Mark, who run Starlight Stables. Having had a very difficult year with her mum and brother having to move away with the tragedy of losing her father, her trip is to help her be a kid and just go riding.
Poppy gets the best present she could wish for, her own horse Crystal a Welsh/Arab. The surprises don't stop there, they introduce her to two new girls who will be working and riding with her to help clean the stables. Millie and Katie quickly become best friends and like Poppy, they have been given the opportunity to have their own horses at the stables to trail ride whenever they want to, in exchange for work and help around the stables. Milly gets to ride Joe who is three-quarters Arab with a mischievous nature, which Poppy discovers suits his rider. Then Katie gets Cody a palomino. The riding lessons commence immediately and the girls learn a lot from dressage riding champion Sophie.
When the girls hear about horses being stolen in the area they decide to find them. That's when the trouble begins. If they go to investigate they may lose all their privileges and be sent back home. They may even have their horses taken away. The three headstrong girls set out to find the missing horses.
I enjoyed the easy-flowing style of Soraya's writing showing the details of riding, sitting in the saddle, and different types of events to train for while pushing the story forward.
I loved this story about Poppy the twelve-year-old who was visiting her Aunt Sophie and Uncle Mark, who run Starlight Stables. Having had a very difficult year with her mum and brother having to move away with the tragedy of losing her father, her trip is to help her be a kid and just go riding.
Poppy gets the best present she could wish for, her own horse Crystal a Welsh/Arab. The surprises don't stop there, they introduce her to two new girls who will be working and riding with her to help clean the stables. Millie and Katie quickly become best friends and like Poppy, they have been given the opportunity to have their own horses at the stables to trail ride whenever they want to, in exchange for work and help around the stables. Milly gets to ride Joe who is three-quarters Arab with a mischievous nature, which Poppy discovers suits his rider. Then Katie gets Cody a palomino. The riding lessons commence immediately and the girls learn a lot from dressage riding champion Sophie.
When the girls hear about horses being stolen in the area they decide to find them. That's when the trouble begins. If they go to investigate they may lose all their privileges and be sent back home. They may even have their horses taken away. The three headstrong girls set out to find the missing horses.
I enjoyed the easy-flowing style of Soraya's writing showing the details of riding, sitting in the saddle, and different types of events to train for while pushing the story forward.
March 18, 2017
This is the first book I bought at Somerset Celebration of Literature 2017! My granddaughters are mad on horses. Not having had anything to do with horses myself, I have to say it appears to me that horses are a lot of work, and each one has a different personality just as their riders do.
I loved this story about Poppy the twelve-year-old who was visiting her Aunt Sophie and Uncle Mark, who run Starlight Stables. Having had a very difficult year with her mum and brother having to move away with the tragedy of losing her father, her trip is to help her be a kid and just go riding.
Poppy gets the best present she could wish for, her own horse Crystal a Welsh/Arab. The surprises don't stop there, they introduce her to two new girls who will be working and riding with her helping clean the stables. Millie and Katie quickly become best friends and like Poppy, they have been given the opportunity to have their own horses at the stables to trail ride whenever they want to, in exchange for work and help around the stables. Milly gets to ride Joe who is three-quarters Arab with a mischievous nature, which Poppy discovers suits his rider. Then Katie gets Cody a palomino. The riding lessons commence immediately and the girls learn a lot from dressage riding champion Sophie.
When the girls hear about horses being stolen in the area they decide to find them. That's when the trouble begins. If they go to investigate they may lose all their privileges and be sent back home. They may even have their horses taken away. The three headstrong girls set out to find the missing horses.
I enjoyed the easy flowing style of Soraya's writing showing the details of riding, sitting in the saddle and different types of events to train for while pushing the story forward.
I loved this story about Poppy the twelve-year-old who was visiting her Aunt Sophie and Uncle Mark, who run Starlight Stables. Having had a very difficult year with her mum and brother having to move away with the tragedy of losing her father, her trip is to help her be a kid and just go riding.
Poppy gets the best present she could wish for, her own horse Crystal a Welsh/Arab. The surprises don't stop there, they introduce her to two new girls who will be working and riding with her helping clean the stables. Millie and Katie quickly become best friends and like Poppy, they have been given the opportunity to have their own horses at the stables to trail ride whenever they want to, in exchange for work and help around the stables. Milly gets to ride Joe who is three-quarters Arab with a mischievous nature, which Poppy discovers suits his rider. Then Katie gets Cody a palomino. The riding lessons commence immediately and the girls learn a lot from dressage riding champion Sophie.
When the girls hear about horses being stolen in the area they decide to find them. That's when the trouble begins. If they go to investigate they may lose all their privileges and be sent back home. They may even have their horses taken away. The three headstrong girls set out to find the missing horses.
I enjoyed the easy flowing style of Soraya's writing showing the details of riding, sitting in the saddle and different types of events to train for while pushing the story forward.
January 3, 2018
This is the best book I’ve ever read. I didn’t really like reading until I read this book. Now I can’t stop reading. I love horses and horse riding and this book about horses and horse riding. Mum takes me to saddle club which is horse riding for a whole day with my friends, but it’s only once a month. In between that I read Starlight Stables books. When it’s book week I dress up as Poppy because she is my favourite and I want to be just like her. Tia (9 years old)
April 15, 2016
Love horses and dream of owning your own pony or escaping to riding camp for the summer? Well, Poppy answers yes to all three, and this summer her wishes are about to come true.
Poppy is going to stay with her aunt and uncle at their riding camp for the holidays and they have a very special surprise in store for her - her very own pony. But she will have to share this privilege with two other girls. When horses are stolen from neighbouring properties, Poppy and her two new friends decide it is up to them to keep their own ponies safe and maybe even rescue the missing horses.
Set in the Australian bush, this story is at once familiar and refreshingly new. Fans of the usual horsey, riding-stable series will love this new series, while Aussie readers will enjoy the familiarity of the Australian setting and references (lamingtons and Tim Tams, for example). Poppy is also dealing with a hard time at home, grieving her father and worrying about her mother. This is equally a story about family and friendship, as much as it is about horse riding and adventure.
The girls get themselves into all sorts of mischief, so there is plenty of drama and adventure to enjoy. The girls also need to learn to work together and trust each other, setting up a strong friendship that will continue in the next books. This is an exciting new series for young readers, particularly animal lovers.
Find more reviews on my blog Madison's Library.
Poppy is going to stay with her aunt and uncle at their riding camp for the holidays and they have a very special surprise in store for her - her very own pony. But she will have to share this privilege with two other girls. When horses are stolen from neighbouring properties, Poppy and her two new friends decide it is up to them to keep their own ponies safe and maybe even rescue the missing horses.
Set in the Australian bush, this story is at once familiar and refreshingly new. Fans of the usual horsey, riding-stable series will love this new series, while Aussie readers will enjoy the familiarity of the Australian setting and references (lamingtons and Tim Tams, for example). Poppy is also dealing with a hard time at home, grieving her father and worrying about her mother. This is equally a story about family and friendship, as much as it is about horse riding and adventure.
The girls get themselves into all sorts of mischief, so there is plenty of drama and adventure to enjoy. The girls also need to learn to work together and trust each other, setting up a strong friendship that will continue in the next books. This is an exciting new series for young readers, particularly animal lovers.
Find more reviews on my blog Madison's Library.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews