Libby of High Hopes, Project Blue Ribbon by Elise Primavera

Libby loves Princess.  There couldn't be a better horse in the world.  She doesn't even really have to guide her and she's very gentle.  So when Sal tells her that Princess is too old to be in the competition and she'll have to ride Saddleshoes, a very difficult pony, she's very disappointed.  How's she going to tame him enough to ride him the show?

Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published September 15th. This is a companion book to Libby of High Hopes, so you might want to get them both.

Not only does she have a hard horse to ride, there's a new student in school who is very good rider and she's getting trained by Sal, too.  Sal is worried about losing his business due to lack of horses boarding so Libby knows she needs to get a blue ribbon to bring attention to his business.  Her best girlfriends are irritated with her because she's only doing the horse thing and hanging around with the new girl.  Libby's life is tough right now...

Libby doesn't get everything she wants but she gets enough.  She learns why Saddleshoes acts the way he does, she learns you don't achieve all your dreams, and she also learns why it's good to hold onto to friends.  The ending is even better.  Sometimes you get surprises, too.