No Surprises in Pauline’s equine book

No Surprises in Pauline’s equine book

17 September 2014

A CASTLEWELLAN schoolteacher inspired by her daughter’s love for ponies is to launch the second in a series of books set in a Saintfield riding school.

St. Malachy’s High School English teacher Pauline Burgess has successfully combined her love for reading and talent for writing with her daughter Emma’s passion for horses to create the successful Pony Friends Forever series.

She launched the first book in the series, Pony Palace Camp, in June before putting the finishing touches to Pony Surprise, which will be launched at Lessan’s Riding Stable in Saintfield on Saturday.

The local stables, where her daughter Emma spends her Saturdays, have proven great inspiration for Pauline who was also pony-mad as a child.

Although Pauline says real people have not inspired the book, she says the Saintfield site is very much central to her story.

In her second book, Pony Palace is the best riding school ever, and the characters Sophie, Ben and Jamie are never happier than when they are practising showjumping or trotting through the countryside with their favourite ponies Skippy, Parsley and Rupert.

Preparations are underway at the stables for a very special event that will bring the riders and their families together in celebration, but the book explores how people, just like ponies, can be naughty and unpredictable sometimes.

Although billed as light-hearted series, Pauline explains that each book will deal with a key theme or situation including dyslexia, family break-up and illnesses. She has already finished her third book in the series, which will be released in April, and will soon begin work on her fourth.

Pauline’s previous work, including Hipp-o-dee-doo-dah and Gentle Footprints, has been published in a number of magazines and anthologies and she recently received the ACES Award (Artist Career Enhancement Scheme) from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for her writing.

Pauline, who is from Carryduff, has taught many reluctant readers over the years and is passionate about promoting the idea of reading for enjoyment.

“Reading is not a chore,” she says.

“It is about finding the right book for a child.

“Getting a child exposed to reading as a young child is money in the bank.”

Pony Surprise will be launched at Lessan’s Riding School on Saturday.

The school’s owner Philippa Auret, said she is very excited about the books and how they were inspired by a place she has given 40 years of her life to.

“I am honoured to have my ponies featured in these books and I am delighted that Pauline has represented the fact that children from all religions and all backgrounds come here to Lessans and make friends for life,” she said.

“It really is a place where no matter who you are, or what you are, you can find something that you love here; horse riding.

“Children and adults of all abilities ride here and they have their ups and downs and their challenges to face, but that is what life is about.

“This riding school has been in operation for nearly 40 years and I am proud of what it’s achieved and proud that Pauline was inspired to write about it.”