Tom is elated when his cousin agrees to lend him Chancey, her chestnut gelding, but he is disappointed when he realizes it will take a lot of hard work to get the horse ready for the summer shows.
When the owners of Sandy Lane Stables must leave their business in the hands of Beth, a new employee, and the regular riders, Rosie Edwards gets suspicious when a couple appears unexpectedly to take over when Beth is hurt.
As Christmas approaches, Izzy is unable to convince her parents to buy the horse she has fallen in love with, while Kate is concentrating on her preparations for entering the Hawthorn Horse Trials.
Trouble arises at Sandy Lane stables when three ponies become crippled, but Alex Hardy thinks he has a solution to the problem that might lead him in the wrong direction.
Jess Adams begins to have doubts whether she made the right decision when her quick thinking helps her catch a runaway palomino and return him to his owner when she hears that a pony of that description has been stolen.