I’ve never been a big animal lover, but I always understood the stereotypical girl obsession with horses. Horses, like girls, are a mixture of strength and grace. They’re one of the only domesticated animals that a person can ride, and they come with a rural setting that screams slow living and freedom.
A person who even better understands the dynamic between girls and horses is author Marty Kay Jones. And she explores this dynamic in her book, Shelby and the First Ride: An Old Quarry Lake Farms Tale. Below is my review of Shelby and the First Ride followed by an interview with Jones about her series.
Shelby and the First Ride plot summary
Shelby Simone is a city girl who is known as the girl who is obsessed with horses. After her last day of fifth grade, her parents meet her at school to break the news that they are going to be moving to Old Quarry Lake.
This revelation floors Shelby who had planned on spending the summer with her best friends, Jackie and Amy. Instead, she is being whisked away to a small town with a population of 2,000. The upside is that her parents allow her to take riding lessons.
Shelby is both nervous and excited leading up to her first lesson, and she divulges her conflicting emotions in her diary. When she first gets to her lesson, she finds the horses to be intimidating but soon puts her years of horse knowledge into practice.
Two experienced riders at the stables, Rose and Katherine, assume that the new girl is going to be like all of the other city girls who come into town for horse lessons: snobby and unserious about her riding. When Shelby overhears and misunderstands their private conversation, she doesn’t want to go back for her next lesson. But the stable owner, Bill Radnor, helps her through her insecurities, and she soon begins to fit right in at the stables, and with her peers.
The story
Shelby and the First Ride reminds me of a Baby-sitter’s Club book that I reread earlier this year in which babysitter Mallory finally gets a chance to take horse riding lessons after years of dreaming about it. She too has a rough go of it as she sees that dreaming about horses is a lot different from actually dealing with one face to face.
I think we all have a tenancy to place book smarts on the same level as real world experience, but that just isn’t the case. This is especially true when you’re a kid, your imagination is still large, and you have big dreams and not a lot of world experience to tell you that things don’t always work out the way you plan.
There’s a bullying subplot that also gets introduced in the series. Shelby is a nerdy girl who is on the heavy side. As a result, she has to ride a different horse than the other girls who first learn to ride at the stable. Right off the bat, that makes her different and prone to harsh comments from the other girls. Kids that age can find a flaw with anyone, but with Shelby, her outward appearance is target enough.
The story sends a message to readers who also may also struggle with their body image and appearance that a lot of people are in the same boat. And for others, it shows just how much even a gentle comment can be taken the wrong way.
The characters
Shelby takes center stage in her story. Not only is she the main character, but we also get to read diary entries as she navigates through this new town and this new world of horses.
I love Shelby’s enthusiasm and energy. I don’t feel like she talks like a modern girl going into the sixth grade, but it’s easy to blame that on her nerdiness. Shelby is the kind of girl I would have been friends with in school, but I also would have to roll my eyes at her often because she seems so out of touch with the world around her.
We don’t get too much time with Shelby’s friends, both new and old. The city girls seem to quickly forget about Shelby once she moves away as they still have each other to pal around with over the summer.
The new girls, Rose and Katherine, seem to be two peas in a pod. There’s not much that differentiates them from each other than their families.
Rose’s dad is the sheriff, and Katherine’s parents are doctors. They both have siblings, something that interests only child Shelby. But I would have liked to have seen more of a distinction between the girls, including their interests and personalities outside of horseback riding.
The writing style
Jones has a very energetic and descriptive writing style that isn’t too dense or long-winded. She’s able to work in horse terminology that still makes sense to even the most uneducated reader, like myself. I also like how the diary entries break up the story in order to really deep dive into Shelby’s thoughts and feelings.
My recommendation
I recommend Shelby and the First Ride to elementary school girls who want to learn more about horses. There are some good beginner terms and practices that are laid out in this first novel of the series.
My major criticism is that the story is over almost as soon as it begins. There are large time jumps that skip over some major story elements, such as Shelby adjusting to life in a small town and the actual meeting between Shelby, Rose, and Katherine.
Aside from a brief diary entry, we don’t even get to experience Shelby’s first time riding a horse and every detail and emotion that comes with this experience. There are so many good story elements that are packed into just a few pages, and there’s not enough time to flesh them out.
I also wish the dialogue was more up to date. The girls don’t act and talk like modern girls. It can be hard to keep up with modern slang and interactions, but they seem like kids from another time. And that’s a big part of what draws readers to a story – being able to identify with them and put themselves in their shoes.
Did you have an obsession with horses growing up? Leave your answers in the comments below!
My rating
An interview with Marty Kay Jones
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In your author bio, you write that you too are a city girl who did not start riding horses until you moved into a small town. How autobiographical is your book?
Just a little part of Shelby’s story happened to me. My family moved the summer before I turned eight, and my parents got me riding lessons to help me meet new people and enjoy something I loved. They definitely didn’t expect that it would turn into a lifelong thing!
In my life, though, I have lived in very urban and very rural areas within the same state. My friends from the country would be amazed by the view from the downtown condo I lived in, and my friends from the city would be just mesmerized by how big and intimidating cornfields can be. Somehow, I was a little bit both “country” and “city,” so I think Shelby and I share that experience.
Where did you come up with the idea to make Shelby’s parents anthropologists and make their job the reason for the family to have to move to Old Quarry Lake?
That’s a great question! I’m honestly not sure how all of those pieces came together!
I think part of it comes from growing up in a town where there are actual Native American earthworks. When I was a kid, there were often archaeological events going on in my hometown, and we took field trips to learn more about the sites and what they meant.
Probably as a result of that, I’ve always been fascinated with studies into ancient civilizations. I almost majored in anthropology in college! So, I think a part of me wanted to acknowledge my home and its historical significance, and part of me wanted to live my old dream– just a little bit– through Shelby’s parents. I definitely couldn’t be a full-time city girl, though!
What is your advice to readers who are thinking about signing up for horse riding lessons?
Oh, please do! Horseback riding lessons are the safest way to learn how to ride horses.
Working with horses has been therapeutic for me both mentally and physically. It’s so challenging to keep your mind and your body relaxed at the same time. I can’t worry about anything else when I’m working with my horses!
I think the top three things I would have wanted to know as a little girl getting ready to start taking lessons are:
- It is totally different than anything you’ve ever done before, and it’s ok to be scared! A lot of kids tell me that they’re too scared to try riding. That’s ok! With my students, I like to take it one step at a time. Some kids hop right up with no fear, while others like to spend a while on the ground getting the feel for horses and how they move.
- It’s good to speak up! Your instructor will give you the best information and advice they can, but they don’t know what’s going on in your mind or how things feel in your body. If something doesn’t feel right, let them know right away.
- It’s a pretty intense exercise. Did you know that horseback riding often involves little adjustments, like adjusting your grip on the reins or changing the horse’s direction just by shifting your balance? You won’t have to do that right away, of course, but expect some muscle soreness as your body learns.
What advice do you have for girls who are struggling with their body image like Shelby?
Trust me, girls, I know it’s rough. And unfortunately, there’s no magic wand anyone can wave that will make your body “perfect.” There’s just no such thing– if you’re not too wide, you’re too narrow, or too freckle-y, or even too cute!
And no magic wand makes it not hurt when other people say unkind things or make fun of you, either. Even if you are absolutely fine with your 100% wonderful self, it can really hurt when people are mean to you, either in person or on the internet.
I know that being super conscious of your body can make you feel like you want to hide, but if you’re a girl struggling with your body image, I want to tell you that you don’t have to hide. Go to the riding lesson. Wear a leotard into dance class. Defeat the big boss in the final level in front of all of Twitch. Try out for the solo.
I know it sounds scary. When I was your age, I would’ve gotten cold sweats just reading that. But now that I’m older, I wish I had been just a little bolder when I was younger. Having confidence when you know you might get hurt is difficult, but my advice is to try whenever you can.
I’m pretty bold now, and it really makes life more fun!
What were the most fun parts to write? The most difficult?
I honestly love writing every word, but I have to say I have the most fun writing Bill’s character. He’s kind of a combination of some of the most significant horse people in my life, so some of the things he says are advice that I’ve held near and dear since childhood. Plus, he’s never in a bad mood!
I think the hardest part has been remembering all of the names. I made a guide, of course, but I’ll still be blank on which teacher is which for a second!
When did you decide to incorporate diary entries into the story?
Shelby’s Diary has been a part of the series since before Shelby had a name!
I really wanted to dig into some of the emotions that come with being a “horse girl,” and I thought the best way to do that was to have Shelby actually take some time to sit with her feelings and thoughts about the day’s events.
I actually admire Shelby’s dedication to her diary. In the “Shelby’s Diary” bonus content, Shelby and the other girls try journaling. I love it when I do it, but I don’t have the dedication Shelby does to do it every night!
Do you have a favorite scene?
I have so many favorite scenes! If I tried to list them all, I would forget half of them. So, let’s just say that any scene that ends in a group hug is probably on that list!
If your series becomes a movie or TV show, do you have a dream cast in mind or any preferences as to how you would want the story to be adapted to the screen?
This question is actually really funny to me because when I was about Shelby’s age, I wanted to be an “Equine Consultant” for movies and television. I totally made that title up, but I was super frustrated by all of the inconsistent, incorrect, or historically inaccurate things I saw whenever horses were involved.
So, if Old Quarry Lake becomes a movie or show, I would just beg the production team to make the horsey parts as accurate as possible. In fact, I know a fantastic “Equine Consultant…”!
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