The Lonely Pony

by Catherine Hapka

  “I just remembered—an old friend of mine keeps her horses at a stable not far from here,” the teacher said. “I could call her and see if she’d be willing to help find a new home for Lola.”

  “Really?” Adam said. “That would be great!”

  Janey held her breath while Ms. Tanaka pulled out her cell phone. Just then the goats started head-butting each other and making a lot of noise. Ms. Tanaka stepped away behind the barn where Janey couldn’t hear what she was saying.

  “Do you think her friend can help?” Lolli wondered, watching as her father waved his hands to shoo the goats away.

  “I hope so.” Janey gazed at Lola, who was nibbling at some grass beneath the fence. “Because it would be totally vile if Lola had to go to the shelter in Lakeville.”

  “Yeah,” Zach agreed. “Especially after all the work we’ve been doing!”

  A moment later Ms. Tanaka returned. She was smiling. “Good news,” she told the kids. “Darby is at the stable right now. She’s showing a horse to a potential buyer. But she said we could come on over and she’ll talk to us about Lola after she’s done.”

  “What are we waiting for?” Zach exclaimed. “Let’s go!”

  Ms. Tanaka left Truman at Lolli’s house so he could play with Roscoe while they were gone. Then Mr. Simpson drove everyone over in his big old station wagon. On the way, Ms. Tanaka explained that she and Darby had grown up riding together.

  “I haven’t seen her in a few years, since we’re both so busy,” she said. “But I heard she’s training horses professionally now.”

  “Just like Adam!” Zach said with a grin. “Only horses instead of dogs.”

  Mr. Simpson chuckled. “I think we’re here.”

  Janey looked out the window. They were passing a sign for the boarding stable. The driveway curved around some trees and ended by a large riding ring with a pretty green barn beyond. A woman was riding a tall, handsome chestnut horse in the ring.

  “Is that her?” Janey asked, squinting at the rider. It was hard to see the woman’s face clearly beneath her riding helmet, but she looked at least ten years older than Ms. Tanaka.

  “No, Darby’s over there, standing by the gate,” Ms. Tanaka said, pointing to a woman around her age wearing a baseball cap, tall boots, and sunglasses. “The woman on the horse must be her client.”

  As soon as they all got out of the car, the younger woman spotted them and waved. “Hi!” she cried, hurrying over to meet them as they reached the ring fence. She gave Ms. Tanaka a big hug. “It’s so good to see you! I’m glad you came. We’ll be finished here soon.”

  Ms. Tanaka hugged her back, then introduced everyone. “Don’t worry, we’ll stay out of your way until you’re done,” she added.

  “No worries,” Darby said. “Mrs. Jamison is just trying out this fellow one more time before taking him home.”

  “What a beautiful horse!” Lolli exclaimed. “Why in the world are you selling him?”

  “Lolli!” her father chided. “That’s not polite.”

  Darby laughed. “It’s okay,” she said. “I’m selling him because I love helping ex-racehorses find new careers and new people to love them.”

  “That’s a racehorse?” Adam sounded surprised.

  Janey was surprised, too. The horse was trotting slowly in a circle, his neck arched proudly. He looked nothing like the lean, fast horses she’d seen racing on TV.

  “He used to be a racehorse.” Darby smiled as she watched the horse slow to a walk. “Now Red is turning into a wonderful riding horse.”

  “Red?” Janey could hardly believe her ears. “Did you say that horse’s name is Red?”

  Zach looked excited. “And he used to be a racehorse?”

  Lolli gasped. “I think we know your horse’s best friend!”

  Janey, Lolli, Zach, and Adam all started talking at once. Darby looked confused for a second. But when Ms. Tanaka started to explain about Lola, her eyes widened.

  “Hang on,” she said. “Are you talking about the cute little Shetland pony companion I saw with Red at the track?”

  “Yes, that’s Lola!” Janey said. “Red’s old trainer gave her to some people who couldn’t keep her. So now we’re trying to find her a home.”

  Lolli’s father nodded. “The trouble is, we’re not really equipped to take care of a pony.”

  “Oh, dear.” Darby looked sad. “I wish I could have taken Lola. But I’m not allowed to keep two horses in one stall here, even if one of them is tiny. And the stable is full right now—no extra stalls.”

  Zach glanced at Red, who was walking past the spot where they were standing. “Do you think Red misses Lola? We heard they were best friends.”

  Red’s rider brought him to a stop. “Hello,” she said with a smile. “I couldn’t help overhearing some of your conversation. . . .”

  “Sorry,” Zach said. “I get that a lot. My mom says I’m louder than a howler monkey with a megaphone.”

  The woman chuckled. “No, it’s fine,” she said. “But what was that you were saying about Red’s best friend?”

  Darby repeated what the kids had just told her. “It seems Lola has lost her home, and these nice kids are trying to find her another one,” she said. “I’m hoping I can help.”

  The woman patted Red. “So this fellow had a pony as a friend? How charming!” She smiled at Janey and the others. “Is there any way I could meet this Lola?”

  Together Again

  “Of course you can meet Lola!” Janey blurted out.

  “She’s at Lolli’s house,” Zach added. “It’s only a couple of miles from here.”

  Lolli nodded. “Maybe you can help us look for a new owner, too!”

  “Maybe I can.” Mrs. Jamison winked at Darby. “There might not be any extra stalls here, but I happen to have a couple open in my barn at home.”

  “You have a barn at your house?” Janey asked, feeling a twinge of excitement. “Does that mean you’re an experienced horse person?”

  Mrs. Jamison laughed. “I like to think I know what I’m doing, at least a little bit.”

  “Mrs. Jamison is being modest,” Darby said with a smile. “She’s owned horses all her life—she’s as experienced as they come.”

  “I don’t know about that,” Mrs. Jamison said. “But I do know I have a couple of young children who might love a tiny equine of their very own.”

  Janey could hardly believe her ears. Had they just found the perfect new owner for Lola?

  “What are we waiting for?” she cried. “Let’s go see Lola right now!”

  “Calm down, Janey,” Lolli’s father said with a laugh. “These ladies need to get Red settled back in his stall first.”

  “Actually, maybe we don’t.” Mrs. Jamison glanced at Darby. “I wanted to try him out cross-country anyway. Feel like taking a hack?”

  “A what?” Janey asked.

  “She said a hack.” Zach pretended to have a coughing fit.

  Darby laughed. “Not that kind of hack,” she said. “Hacking is just a horsey word for riding out.” She nodded at Mrs. Jamison. “Let me grab a horse and my helmet and we’ll go right now.”

  She hurried into the barn and returned moments later leading a stout brown horse. “Can you give me a leg up?” she asked Ms. Tanaka.

  “Aren’t you forgetting something?” Zach asked. “Where’s your saddle?”

  Ms. Tanaka grinned. “Oh, Darby doesn’t need a saddle,” she told the kids. “She always did love riding bareback!”

  She helped Darby vault onto the horse’s back. Then she told her how to get to Lolli’s farm.

  “Great,” Darby said. “We’ll meet you there.”

  “What if they got lost?” Lolli wondered, feeling her stomach flip over with worry. They were so close to finding Lola the perfect home—Lolli didn’t want anything to ruin it now!

  The Pet Rescue Club, Lolli’s father, and Ms. Tanaka were back at Lolli’s farm waiting for Darby and Mrs. Jamison to arrive.

  �
�I’m sure they’re not lost,” Ms. Tanaka said. “Cars are faster than horses, you know.”

  Zach grinned. “Even racehorses?”

  “Even racehorses,” Ms. Tanaka replied. “I’m sure they—”

  The rest of her words were lost in a loud whinny. Lola had been dozing by the fence while Lolli rubbed her neck. But now the pony raced along the fence, staring out across the driveway.

  A second later, another whinny came from that direction. Then Red and Mrs. Jamison came into view. Red was trotting toward the Pet Rescue Club with his ears pricked forward. Darby and her horse were right behind him.

  “It looks like we found the right place,” Mrs. Jamison called. “At least Red seems to recognize his friend!”

  Lola started running back and forth on her side of the fence, whinnying and snorting. Janey had never seen her move so fast!

  “Look—Lola thinks she’s a racehorse, too,” Zach joked.

  Lolli couldn’t respond. She was too busy watching as Red reached the pen. Mrs. Jamison let the reins go loose, and Red stretched his long neck over the fence, nuzzling at Lola. She stretched up, nuzzling him back.

  “Well,” Mrs. Jamison said with a smile. “I suppose this settles it. Lola will just have to come home with me and Red.”

  “Really?” Janey gasped. “That’s awesome!”

  “Yes, it is.” Darby was smiling, too. “And to celebrate the happy occasion, I’ll throw in some free training for Lola. I’m sure we can turn her into the perfect little riding pony for Mrs. Jamison’s kids.”

  “Hooray!” Zach cheered.

  “The Pet Rescue Club did it again,” Janey exclaimed.

  Adam grinned at Ms. Tanaka and Darby. “With a little help from our friends,” he added. “Thanks, Ms. Tanaka!”

  “I’m happy to help.” The teacher winked. “After all, I owe you one. Without the Pet Rescue Club, I wouldn’t have my Truman!”

  Just then there was a flurry of excited barking from the direction of the house. Lolli’s mother appeared, with Truman and Roscoe pulling at their leashes.

  Meanwhile, Janey was still watching the happy reunion between Red and Lola. “We’ll miss you, Lola,” she said.

  “Yeah,” Lolli added. “But I won’t miss getting up at the crack of dawn to feed you.”

  Zach grinned. “And I won’t miss flinging horse poo around.”

  “If you do, you can always come by my barn to help clean stalls,” Mrs. Jamison told him with a chuckle. She glanced around at all the kids. “And I hope you’ll all come by to visit Lola.”

  “Definitely,” Janey promised.

  Lolli’s father smiled. “All’s well that ends well,” he said. “But maybe the Pet Rescue Club should stick to dogs and cats from now on.”

  Zach grinned. “We can’t make any promises,” he joked.

  “May I borrow your phone?” Lolli asked her mother. “I want to call the shelter and let Kitty know we found a perfect home for Lola.”

  “Of course.” Mrs. Simpson fished her cell phone out of her pocket and handed it over.

  Soon Lolli was talking to the shelter worker. Kitty was thrilled by the news about Lola. “Congratulations,” she said. “But Lolli, I was just going to call you.”

  “You were? Was it about Lola?” Lolli asked.

  “No, it’s about the rabbit you saw the other day,” Kitty said. “Someone wants to adopt him. It’s a lady who has kept house rabbits all her life and saw our bunny’s listing online. But since you said you might want to adopt the little guy, I thought I should check in first and see if you’re still interested.”

  Lolli hesitated, remembering how soft and sweet the bunny was. Then she shook her head.

  “Thanks for asking,” she said. “But actually, taking care of Lola made me realize I might not be the best home for a rabbit after all. And that lady sounds perfect.”

  “I see.” Kitty sounded impressed. “All right, then. The lady will be very happy!”

  Lolli hung up and turned around to see Janey staring at her. “Was that about the bunny?” Janey sounded disappointed. “Are you sure you don’t want to adopt him?”

  Lolli stepped over to pet Roscoe. “I don’t really need another pet right now,” she said. She glanced at Lola and Red. “Not when there are so many animals out there who need my time and energy to find them homes.”

  “True.” Janey smiled at her. “They definitely need you—and the rest of the Pet Rescue Club!”

  Are you ready for a horse or pony of your own? Or would a different kind of pet suit your lifestyle better? Take this quiz and find out!

  Where do you live?

  A) On a farm

  B) In a suburban house with a yard

  C) In a city apartment or condo

  How much time can you spend with your new pet?

  A) Lots of time—my pet is my hobby!

  B) An hour or so per day

  C) Only a little bit—I’m super busy!

  How would you describe yourself?

  A) I’m not afraid of hard work and getting dirty.

  B) I love to play games and run around outside.

  C) I like to relax, be comfortable, and keep my hands clean.

  How much experience have you had with horses or ponies?

  A) Tons of hands-on experience—I’ve taken riding lessons and/or worked on a horse farm.

  B) Some experience—I’ve been on a trail ride, read lots of books about horses, and/or watched plenty of movies or videos about them.

  C) Nothing—I don’t know which end of the horse whinnies!

  Mostly As: If your answers were all or mostly A, congratulations! You just might be ready for pony ownership!

  Mostly Bs: If your answers were all or mostly B, you might not be quite ready for a pony yet. Going on trail rides and reading books are good ways to learn, but you’ll want to get more experience before you take the pony plunge. Ask your parents if you can take riding lessons to learn even more. In the meantime, your lifestyle might be better suited for a lively dog, puppy, or kitten!

  Mostly Cs: If your answers were all or mostly C, you probably don’t even want a pony. They require lots of knowledge and work—and some of that work can get you pretty dirty! You might get along better with a quiet adult cat, a tank of fish, or another smaller, less active pet.

  Luckily, there are pets out there for all kinds of people! Check out the ASPCA website (www.aspca.org) for more tips on caring for horses and pets of all types.

  Lola the homeless pony was inspired by a real-life animal rescue story. A famous show-jumping rider was at a big show, where she happened to meet a miniature horse (another kind of small equine) named Lola. When she found out that Lola had been headed to slaughter—and that she had a young foal—the rider decided to adopt them both! The real-life Lola and her son, Harley, now live happily on the rider’s farm, where Harley is learning to be a tiny riding horse for the rider’s young son.

  Look for the next book in the

  PET RESCUE CLUB series!

  Book #4—Too Big to Run

  Zach’s mom has a new patient—a giant dog named Millie who has been helping her owner train for a marathon. Millie’s knees can’t handle all that running and now she needs an operation. Time for the kids in the Pet Rescue Club to help! Together they find a way to raise money for Millie’s surgery and come up with a great way for Millie to find the perfect new career!

  Look for all

  the books in the

  PET RESCUE CLUB series

  A New Home for Truman

  No Time for Hallie

  The Lonely Pony

  Too Big to Run

  cover illustration by Steve James

  photo courtesy of Geoffrey Tischman

  Published by Studio Fun International, Inc.

  44 South Broadway, White Plains, NY 10601 U.S.A. and

  Studio Fun International Limited,

  The Ice House, 124-126 Walcot Street, Bath UK BA1 5BG

  Illustration ©2015 Studio Fun
International, Inc.

  Text ©2015 ASPCA®

  All rights reserved.

  Studio Fun Books is a trademark of Studio Fun International, Inc.,

  a subsidiary of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.

  *The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA®) will receive a minimum guarantee from Studio Fun International, Inc. of $25,000 for the sale of ASPCA® products through December 2017.

  Comments? Questions? Call us at: 1-888-217-3346

  ISBN: 978-0-7944-3713-8

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

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