A Happy Horselover

by Catherine Martin

Susan trudged home from school, somewhat tired. Nothing but homework to do! She dreaded the thought. She really needed a boost. "That you, Susan? There was a book for you in the mail today", her mother called, as Susan entered the house. "Thanks Mom", she called back, throwing her schoolbag down on the floor. There it was - her latest Horselovers book. She excitedly opened the covering. This made her day! Since reading a friend's Horselovers book at her barn, Susan had become a 100% fan, desperate to be a member. She'd told all her horsey friends about the Horselovers Club and they'd also become members. They all agreed it was the best club around. They loved getting the fantastic books in the mail, entering all the competitions, and sending off their letters full of horsey news to other horselovers - all around the country.
Susan had managed to persuade her parents to give her a years Club Membership as a birthday present and she had her very own membership certificate pinned proudly on her bedroom wall. Now, leafing through the latest book, she came to the "Winners are Grinners" page and ran her eyes down the winners of the latest 10 competitions. She'd entered all of them in the last issue in the hope that she'd win something. A couple of her friends had already won ribbons and lucky horseshoe tokens, which they were saving up to send in for their lucky charms. Susan had collected three charms herself and hoped for another three. Six was the number you had to collect. She saw Cheryl's name down as the winner of a drawing competition and was thrilled. Cheryl tried very hard, loved horses and was great at drawing and colouring in. She'd be sooo pleased with her ribbon. Theresa was listed as a winner of the Brainbuster. Good for her! Susan read on rapidly, then went over the winner's names again. And there she was - right there in black and white!! Her very own name published in a Horselovers book! A winner of the colouring in competition. How could she have missed her name? But where was her ribbon? Putting aside the book, Susan realized there was another envelope addressed to her as well. In her excitement, she hadn't bothered to see if there was any other mail. But there, on her bureau, sat the envelope, with the Horselovers stamp on the front. "Fantastic!" Susan yelled, ripping open the envelope. A beautiful, lush, satin wall ribbon revealed itself, plus a card congratulating her on winning the colouring-in competition.Grabbing the shiny new ribbon, she ran to show her parents. She couldn't wait to tell all her friends. "Mum, Dad, look! I've won. I've won!" Susan cried, waving the ribbon in the air.		"Goodness, Sue, you almost knocked me over! What have you won?" her mother asked, as she placed a plate on the table. "It's for the colouring-in contest I entered!" Susan said, proudly showing her mother the ribbon. "Well done. It's lovely! Show your father, he's in the living room," her mother said, smiling. "Good work, Susie. Go hang it up on your wall, " her father said, admiring the shiny red ribbon. "Thanks Dad", Susan said, taking the ribbon to pin up on her wall. It looked great, just like she'd won it at a show or gymkhana. That night, the phone was incredibly busy. Cheryl phoned Susan, then Susan phoned Theresa after her talk with Cheryl. The friends all excited about their wins. "I'll always be entering Horselovers competitions from now on," Cheryl said. Theresa agreed and the friends kept their word. They all found new friends, by writing to Pony Pals and learnt a lot from the Horselovers Books. When Susan finally got a pony of her own, she wrote to Horselovers and told them all about her pony and was thrilled to find the photo she sent in was actualy published on the noticeboard! "It's the best Club ever," she told her mother. "Yes, it's certainly keeps you occupied," her mother agreeed. "Being in the Horselovers Club has been thebest birthday present ever!" Susan reminded her. The two laughed happily in agreement. It really was a birthday present that lasted all year around!

Would you like to read some other Pony Tales?