Joe and the Lightning Pony: Book 2 (The Horseshoe Trilogy)
#2 in The Horseshoe Trilogy Series
on Goodreads (16)
What’s inside...
Joe is delighted that his pony, Lightning, is brilliant at mounted games. The two of them make a great pair and Joe can't wait for them to try out for the Prince Phillip Cup team. There's just one problem - Lightning seems quite small now that Joe is growing so fast. What will he do when he's too big to ride her? And what will happen to Lightning if she is sold? The second in a pony trilogy for boys and girls from the author of the Katy's Ponies trilogy.
Discussion points
How do you think Joe felt when he first met the Lightning Pony? Can you relate to his feelings?
What challenges did Joe face in the story, and how did he overcome them?
What lessons do you think the Lightning Pony taught Joe about friendship and trust?
If you were in Joe's shoes, how would you handle the responsibility of caring for a pony?
What did you learn about horses and ponies from this book?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings about the story and relate them to their own experiences.
Discuss the importance of perseverance and resilience as demonstrated by Joe throughout the story.
Highlight the themes of friendship and trust, asking your child how they build and maintain trust in their own relationships.
Talk about the responsibilities involved in caring for animals, drawing parallels to responsibilities your child might experience.
Encourage your child to ask questions about horses and ponies, and explore the answers together through books or online resources.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: The protagonist, Joe, demonstrates responsibility through caring for his pony, Lightning. He learns about the commitment required to look after an animal.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by taking responsibility for their own tasks, such as maintaining cleanliness in their room or taking care of a family pet.
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Joe faces various challenges in preparing for his first race with Lightning. His journey teaches the importance of perseverance in overcoming obstacles.
Real-World Application: This lesson can encourage children to persist in their efforts, whether it's learning a new skill, participating in sports, or coping with academic challenges.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: Joe learns to understand and react to the feelings of others, including his horse and his peers, which highlights the value of empathy.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to identify and respond compassionately to the feelings of friends and family members, fostering better interpersonal relationships.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: Throughout the book, Joe works closely with others in his community and his family to train Lightning, showing that teamwork is essential to success.
Real-World Application: This promotes cooperativeness in group projects or team sports, teaching children that working together can achieve greater outcomes.
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: When faced with difficulties, Joe demonstrates resilience by adapting to new challenges and maintaining a positive attitude.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children understand that setbacks are a part of growth and that resilience can help them face daily challenges more effectively.