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Saddlestone Connemara Pony Listening School | Sinead and Strawberry
Nine year old Sinead lives in Waterford with her much loved Irish Connemara pony Strawberry. After falling off Strawberry yet again, her parents decide that Strawberry is too dangerous and will have to be sold. But when Sinead finds a Golden Saddlestone Ticket and wins a place at the famous Connemara Pony Listening School in Galway, her parents give Strawberry one last chance. Can Sinead save Strawberry? Or will she lose Strawberry forever? Join Sinead and Strawberry in this Saddlestone Connemara Pony Listening School Adventure to find out!
This wholesome and beautifully told horse story is perfect for horse-crazy kids aged 7 upwards.
Written by international horsewoman and award-winning documentary director, Elaine Heney, this tender and touching story explores the depth of the relationship that can be created between child and pony - that can last a lifetime. This book includes educational horsemanship and horse training lessons, including tips on feeding, vet care and saddle fit, based on the principles of good horsemanship. This is the perfect children’s equestrian book and gift for young readers, girls, boys and all who love great horse stories to curl up with and enjoy. By listening to the horse everything becomes possible.
This wholesome and beautifully told horse story is perfect for horse-crazy kids aged 7 upwards.
Written by international horsewoman and award-winning documentary director, Elaine Heney, this tender and touching story explores the depth of the relationship that can be created between child and pony - that can last a lifetime. This book includes educational horsemanship and horse training lessons, including tips on feeding, vet care and saddle fit, based on the principles of good horsemanship. This is the perfect children’s equestrian book and gift for young readers, girls, boys and all who love great horse stories to curl up with and enjoy. By listening to the horse everything becomes possible.
- GenresHorses
121 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 25, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 24, 2024
Great for anyone who loves horses
This is a really good book for anyone, of any age, who loves horses. It shows you the value of hard work and understanding your horse and how your horse thinks. In this case, Sinead's parents are determined to sell Strawberry because they think she is not well suited for their daughter. At Sinead's new pony school, she learns the importance of well-fitting equipment, the right feed for Strawberry, and how to show Strawberry what she wants so Strawberry understands what to do. In the process, they develop a bond and sense of trust that help them work together.
This is a really good book for anyone, of any age, who loves horses. It shows you the value of hard work and understanding your horse and how your horse thinks. In this case, Sinead's parents are determined to sell Strawberry because they think she is not well suited for their daughter. At Sinead's new pony school, she learns the importance of well-fitting equipment, the right feed for Strawberry, and how to show Strawberry what she wants so Strawberry understands what to do. In the process, they develop a bond and sense of trust that help them work together.
May 13, 2024
A.I. warning, all artwork (aside from the cover) in this book was created by AI. And I think the writing was as well. Lost 3 stars for being A.I. fiction
This series is a first for me, and it all has to do with AI.
While reading book 5 in this series, I finally noticed that the interior artwork was created by Artificial Intelligence. Once you know what to look for it’s not too hard to tell. Always look closely at faces and hands, two areas where AI struggles. Hands are often misshapen, mis-sized, backwards, or have other obvious defects. In images with more than one person, look closely at faces, especially in larger groups (say an audience at a lecture, or students in a classroom), faces will be missing parts, malformed, often grotesquely.
Checking the credits in the front of the books, there is only an acknowledgement for the cover artist. None of the interior art is signed.
Once I started looking it became obvious to me that ALL of the interior artwork is created by AI. I find this disappointing, mostly because it is unacknowledged. If you are going to use AI at least admit it.
Then I started wondering about the actual stories. Did the author use AI software for the words as well? I think she might. There are some pretty big “typos” in all of the books in this series, things that any decent beta reader, or proofreader would certainly have caught. Could the “author” not even be bothered to proof her bot’s work? It doesn’t seem so.
This is not to say I didn’t enjoy the stories, but…for a self-published author, there is no governance on the work, plainly no editor, or proofreader. To use so much AI without acknowledging that use, seems like a major misrepresentation, if not an outright lying.
I’m not sure this is how and where I want to spend my reading dollars.
That being sad, the story is adorable! Aimed at younger kids than the Connemara Horse or the Coral Cove series. There are A.I. almost-great illustrations throughout. The one I loved the most was the non-A.I. cartoony horse and kid on the cover of my Kindle version (unfortunately not yet available as a choice here on Goodreads.)
Sinead, a young Irish girl, has some problems with her beloved pony Strawberry. Mom & Dad are threatening to sell Strawberry. But then Sinead finds a Wonka-style golden ticket in her pony magazine. She has won a place at the Saddlestone Connemara Pony Listening School, a boarding school in Galway!
You will enjoy what happens next.
This series is a first for me, and it all has to do with AI.
While reading book 5 in this series, I finally noticed that the interior artwork was created by Artificial Intelligence. Once you know what to look for it’s not too hard to tell. Always look closely at faces and hands, two areas where AI struggles. Hands are often misshapen, mis-sized, backwards, or have other obvious defects. In images with more than one person, look closely at faces, especially in larger groups (say an audience at a lecture, or students in a classroom), faces will be missing parts, malformed, often grotesquely.
Checking the credits in the front of the books, there is only an acknowledgement for the cover artist. None of the interior art is signed.
Once I started looking it became obvious to me that ALL of the interior artwork is created by AI. I find this disappointing, mostly because it is unacknowledged. If you are going to use AI at least admit it.
Then I started wondering about the actual stories. Did the author use AI software for the words as well? I think she might. There are some pretty big “typos” in all of the books in this series, things that any decent beta reader, or proofreader would certainly have caught. Could the “author” not even be bothered to proof her bot’s work? It doesn’t seem so.
This is not to say I didn’t enjoy the stories, but…for a self-published author, there is no governance on the work, plainly no editor, or proofreader. To use so much AI without acknowledging that use, seems like a major misrepresentation, if not an outright lying.
I’m not sure this is how and where I want to spend my reading dollars.
That being sad, the story is adorable! Aimed at younger kids than the Connemara Horse or the Coral Cove series. There are A.I. almost-great illustrations throughout. The one I loved the most was the non-A.I. cartoony horse and kid on the cover of my Kindle version (unfortunately not yet available as a choice here on Goodreads.)
Sinead, a young Irish girl, has some problems with her beloved pony Strawberry. Mom & Dad are threatening to sell Strawberry. But then Sinead finds a Wonka-style golden ticket in her pony magazine. She has won a place at the Saddlestone Connemara Pony Listening School, a boarding school in Galway!
You will enjoy what happens next.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews