Wanted! A Horse

John Phillips is the only kid in the district without a horse. Every Saturday, he sits on his front fence and watches the riders go past: Shetlands, Welsh Mountain ponies, expensive part-Arabs, all clip-clopping to the riding school or Pony Club without him. His parents won't budge, his small blue heeler Blue barely counts as company, and the weekend stretches ahead, empty and useless.

Then a wild chestnut gelding bolts from the local riding school, and one ordinary Saturday explodes into ad...