Shelby Simone is a horse-crazy kid living in the city with her parents. Despite having the best friends ever at the exclusive Metro School for Girls, she can’t help but feel something is missing from her life. When her parents break the news to her that they’re moving to a nearby rural community, Shelby is devastated… until her parents promise she can take riding lessons at Old Quarry Lake Farms, one of the best-known riding stables in the state! Shelby only has a month to say goodbye to city life and hello to a new world that includes horses. After a rough start at Old Quarry Lake, Shelby starts to wonder if horses are really as wonderful as she imagined. As the summer days creep closer and closer to her first day at the Old Quarry Lake school, she worries if the trade-off was worth it. Join a group of pre-teen girls who build a bond through their love of horses. Together, they tackle situations like moving to a new town, feeling different, and accepting themselves and each other just as they are—while sharing everyday adventures with their horses! This book is perfect for: Girls ages 9-12 - Young readers who have experienced moving to a new home, making new friends, and feeling awkward in new places - Readers who love horses and want to learn more about them - Aspiring horseback riders and those who want to try horseback riding lessons - Parents who have children who are obsessed with horses - Teachers looking for materials that deal with sensitive emotional issues - Families of young readers who are experiencing anxiety over a change “I read this book with my 10-year-old horse lover of a daughter. It was such a sweet, heartwarming story! Would definitely recommend it to anyone with a young daughter!” - Amy Buxman, mom. “Shelby and the First Ride sucks you in from page one. Immediately you get a sense of who Shelby is and her struggles as an adolescent. When she and her family make a big move, you are transported to their new town and immersed in her first riding lessons. While dealing with being a little different, Shelby soon makes new friends and finds she IS a horse person. A very quick read and I was sad when the book suddenly ended. Looking forward very much to the next book in the series!”- Brittney Menzel, entrepreneur. “I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the book, even as a 34-year-old woman. I look forward to my daughter being a little older so that I can present these books to her. The writing was fantastic! It was detailed and vivid, and I could picture the storyline as if I were watching it live. Furthermore, the themes of this book are wonderful for the targeted audience. Self-esteem issues, family matters, saying goodbye to friends, making new friends, and achieving dreams are all things that pre-teen girls are faced with at their age, and I believe this book does a wonderful job at introducing these topics in a meaningful way!”- Shana Micheal, registered nurse, mom. “The novel I read was an absolute delight from start to finish. The author's writing style is captivating and immersive, effortlessly drawing me into the story. Overall, this novel is a masterful piece of storytelling that thoroughly satisfies the reader's imagination and leaves a lasting impact” - Hannah Butler, writer. For young readers, pre-teens, tweens, and teens, the Old Quarry Lake Farms Tales are not just warm-hearted stories about girls and their horses, but provide information and insight about horses and the world of riding. This is the first book in the The Old Quarry Lake Farms Tales Series. "Shelby is settled into her new home and connecting with new friends, Katherine and Rose, at Old Quarry Lake Farms. Her passion for horses is finally taking root as she starts her summer learning everything she can about horses, horse care, and riding. She's living her dream. In Marty Kay Jones' Shelby's Horse-Filled Summer, the bond of friendship between Shelby, Katherine, and Rose deepens as they work around horses and explore the town, introducing Shelby to her new community. But, just when things couldn't be better, a glitch interrupts their almost perfect summer: construction in the town delays the start of the new school year, and Katherine is dragged away on a family vacation. Does Shelby have the horse skills she needs when disaster strikes? Marty Kay Jones' middle-grade novel, Shelby's Horse-Filled Summer: An Old Quarry Lake Farms Tale, is the second book in the series, picking up where the first book finished with "Shelby's introduction to riding. The author weaves character development through dialogue and friendship vibes as the three girls, Shelby, Katherine, and Rose, bond at the stable. The plot includes detailed info on horses, horse care, and riding in a way that will spark growing interest in young readers who love horses. Shelby displays some awkward moments as she sometimes feels overwhelmed next to her new friends who have more experience around horses than she does. It's interesting how t