The Adventures at the Short & Sweet Ranch: Tough Competition

It's summer time in Nebraska, and Sweet Pea and Kobe are headed to the horse show ring! Sweet Pea loves showing off her skills in the arena, almost as much as she loves being the boss mare at the Short & Sweet Ranch. It's Kobe's first year as a show horse, and he's nervous that he won't perform well. Luckily, he has Sweet Pea as his coach, and his favorite cowgirl, Reinette, as his trainer.

The best competitors of the season are Winona and her black gelding, Steele. They are known for two things: winning every event they enter and using dirty tricks in the arena. Unfortunately, Kobe becomes the target for these arena bullies. As the season progresses and Kobe begins to improve at the shows, their tricks turn from mean to dangerous.

Kobe struggles to find a balance between competing to win and being a good horse for Reinette. Is it okay to do bad things if it means taking home a trophy? Or is it better for Kobe to focus on doing his best, even if it means he doesn't win?

Helping Kobe and Sweet Pea on this adventure are old friends Fergus the Corgi and Shamrock, as well as several new friends. Includes "Hoof Notes" to explain horse terms such as colors, body parts, and gaits. The included glossary helps increase vocabulary, perfect for readers transitioning from picture books to novels.