A story to share together
Pippa's First Gallop
A brave young girl learns the gentle steps of riding a horse, discovering that patience and kindness are the secrets to a great partnership.
Watch the story
Page 1
The morning sun sparkled on the green hills of Sunny Farm. Pippa stood by the fence with her auburn pigtails bouncing. She was ready to meet Barnaby, the kindest horse in the whole wide world.
Page 2
Before riding, Pippa had to say hello properly. She reached out her hand slowly for Barnaby to sniff. The big horse breathed softly on her palm, his black mane flowing in the gentle morning breeze.
Page 3
Next, it was time for a good brushing. Pippa used a soft brush to make Barnaby’s reddish-brown coat shine like a new penny. Helping him feel clean and happy was the first step to being a great rider.
Page 4
Her teacher helped her lift the heavy brown saddle onto Barnaby's back. Pippa made sure the straps were snug but comfortable. Safety was very important, so she checked her purple helmet one more time before starting.
Page 5
Pippa put her left foot into the metal stirrup and pulled herself up. She felt as tall as the trees! Sitting in the saddle, she held the leather reins lightly in her small, steady hands.
Page 6
To make Barnaby move, Pippa gave a very gentle squeeze with her legs. She whispered a soft 'walk on' to her friend. Barnaby flicked his ears back to listen and began to walk forward slowly.
Page 7
Pippa learned to steer by moving the reins. When she moved her hand left, Barnaby followed. They moved together like a team, navigating around three bright blue cones placed in a straight line on the grass.
Page 8
Suddenly, Barnaby started to trot a little faster. Pippa felt bumpy at first, but she remembered to find the rhythm. She moved up and down with the beat, feeling the wind against her happy face.
Page 9
When the lesson was over, Pippa gently pulled back on the reins and said 'whoa.' Barnaby stopped perfectly. She patted his strong neck to thank him for being such a wonderful and patient teacher today.
Page 10
Finally, Pippa slid down and gave Barnaby a crunchy red apple. She had learned that riding was about more than just sitting; it was about love. And so, the two friends walked back to the barn together.
