This is without doubt the best horsey series I've ever read. Excluding this first book (more on that later) it's not depressing.

The story follows the life of a young girl, Issie, and her beloved pony Mystic. Though it is only a children's book, you will have a hard search to find a story so poignant and heartwarming. Reading it as a young girl, I was utterly absorbed into the world of the pony club; Issie's friends were my friends; Issie's rivals and enemies and crushes were mine also. Through a gripping mystery, it teaches the young reader the quality of strong friendship; the value of unwavering support from instructor and mentor, Tom; the technicalities and realities of caring for a horse and being a part of the pony club. But most of all, it is build around the sensitive and caring relationship between human and horse. So often within the world of pony club and eventing, horses are seen as little more than furry motorbikes, or moving toys that little girls can pet and groom. But this series of stories shows the reality of how important connection and sympathy are between horse and rider, showing a variety of approaches from natural horsemanship to stunt riding to Spanish riding school, all of which, with Tom's insightful tuition, triumph over the brutal and aggressive methods. The series is varied, interesting and although I have missed out a few (Fortune and the golden trophy, Victory and the all-stars academy, Flame and the rebel riders, because I felt they were a bit unnecessary and I didn't need to read them at all to help my understanding of the next book, Angel and the flying stallions, as it explained everything. DONT MISS OUT ANY OTHERS THOUGH, or you'll be really confused when you read the others.) the series has been excellent. You don't even need to read the first book to start the series, you can read the second. That's what I did by accident, and everything from the first book was explained. I don't recommend skipping any others, except the ones mentioned above, or you won't follow the story and will get confused.

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