Meet Ellen: a spirited - and occasionally misbehaving - young horseback-riding
student. In the spring of fourth grade, Ellen's life
feels like a balancing act: she is only allowed to go to riding
lessons when she behaves at school and at home. But it's much
harder than it sounds! Ellen has a knack for speaking out of turn
in class, and with a new sibling on the way, she can't resist taking
advantage of her parents' distraction.
Then, on one perfect day - when Ellen has minded her manners - she
sees Ned for the first time. Ned is a beautiful colt who used
to be a racehorse, until he hurt his leg. They seem to understand
each other immediately, and all Ellen wants to do is spend more
time with her new friend.
But will she be able to keep up her best behaviour at school? And
will her parents ever let her have a horse of her own?