New Beginnings by Christine Meunier is another hit for this Australian equine author. This one is an educational and fun read, more for Middle Grade horse lovers.
Ten-year-old Jacqui just moved with her family to a 100 acre farm in Victoria due to her father's transfer. Her mom plans to set it up as a boarding stable (agistment in down under language) so horse loving Jacqui is thrilled and willingly helps to clean up and repair the property.
At her new school she meets a few other horse crazy girls in her class, but Jacqui doesn't have their riding experience. Fortunately, she meets a neighbor who attends high school with her brother and has a quiet horse for Jacqui to learn on. Soon she is trotting and cantering and even jumping low fences.
The ending is abrupt, with the reader wondering what happens on the horse camp vacation with Jacqui and her friends. Maybe that's in the next book?
