Rodeo Rocky

Thirteen-year-old Kirstie Scott and her mother, the owner of Half Moon Ranch, have taken their guests to see the local rodeo. Kirstie, however, is not enjoying the events as much as the guests are. She feels sickened watching the poor treatment of the animals, especially when they bring out the recently captured wild horses for the wild horse race. Kirstie is taken by the beauty of a spirited bay stallion who gives his handlers a lot of trouble before winning the race. When she sees that they plan to use him for another event, Kirstie pleads with the organizer to let "Rodeo Rocky" rest. He refuses, saying that they plan on making him a champion so that they can sell him at auction for a high price. Kirstie's mother, seeing her daughter in distress, offers to buy Rocky from the organizer on the condition that he not participate in another event. After some haggling, he finally agrees, and Kirstie is absolutely elated. The other ranch workers protest that buying an untrained horse is a humongous waste of money, but Kirstie is determined to turn Rocky into a good working horse without the usual, harsh methods. She finds that breaking in a wild horse may be tougher than she'd thought. Having recently attended the Tucson Rodeo, I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the portrayal of the rodeo personnel, since most rodeos do not go to such violent extremes with their animals, and have strict regulations to keep the animals safe and healthy. Putting that aside, I think most animal lovers would empathize with Kirstie's struggle to find a kinder way to break in a horse. Reviewed by: Allison Fraclose

this book it great.kirsty gets upset by what she see's at a rodeo and decides to do sum thing about it. when everyone looses faith in her horse she is determined to prove them wrong. it will capture the hearts of all horse lovers.

I love that book on Rodeo Rocky (Horses of Half Moon Ranch series) by author Jenny Oldfield & it must be a great book.At a local rodeo contest, Kirstie is horrified to spot one badly-cut horse being forced back into thr arena.She pleads for him to be withdrawn from the rodeo and persuades her mother to buy him for Half-Moon Ranch.But training an ex-rodeo pony is not easy, and when Rocky throws Kirstie on a steep mountain trail, his fate hangs in the balance once more. Will Kristie win her fight to keep & tame the problem horse?Some people will have to read this book to find out if Kirstie will win her fight just to keep and tame the problem horse.In this book on chapter 1, Kirstie at the rodeo was watching the team roping & two riders had entered chutes to either side.They all roped the steers legs & horns & in the book it said "I always feel sorry for the steers," she told Hadley quietly.This is an intereasting rodeo & it kind of makes me want to go to the Ellensburg Rodeo & do calf roping there & Ellensburg is in Washington.This is a great book & I loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!