This website is a very early stage of an online game and 'virtual
world' that is based on the Pony Pals books. Anyone who has
read Jeanne Betancourt's series knows that Wiggins is a safe, small
town where three best friends named Pam, Anna and Lulu ride ponies
together. These girls call their riding club the 'Pony Pals.'
When this online world of Club Pony Pals is launched, everyone who
comes here will be able to adopt a virtual pony. Players will be able
to choose their new pony's color, training level and personality.
Once
someone has adopted their pony, they will need to care for it, train
it and take it out on rides for exercise. In return, their Club Pony
Pals pony will recognize and learn to love them.
Once a player has learned a few basic mouse and keyboard moves to
control their own pony, then they will be able to take it on virtual
rides along Wiggins' roads and trails.
For example, if a visitor feels like shopping, they can take Pony
Pal trail from Crandal's to downtown Wiggins. There, they can shop
at Folgers Feed for pony treats or new riding gear, Kline's Hardware
for tools, or the Green Market to buy pony carrots.
Sanders' Beauty Salon will offer makeovers.
If players are hungry, virtual snacks like the worlds' best brownies
will be for sale at the Off- Main Diner.
Outside of town, there are two boarding stables, Crandal's Stable
and Olson's Horse Farm. Crandal's offers riding lessons; Reggie Olson
always has ponies for sale.
Between those stables and around Wiggins will be dozens of riding
trails that lead kids and their ponies into ever-changing adventures,
mysteries to solve, challenges and other fun.
At Club Pony Pals, new riders will also have to learn to share pony
responsibilities.
They will need to team up with other Pony Pals to care for their animals.
Teamwork will be required to succeed at riding adventures that challenge
players' knowledge of the natural world, navigation skills and horsemanship.
If they wish, players will be able to work at stables or other places
in Wiggins to earn "Buck$." Using these in-world Buck$,
they can purchase pony treats, tack, feed, boarding fees -- or even
a new pony!
For the first time ever, Club Pony Pals will let every kid
own, care for and ride the pony they always wanted.
Aslan
Equinox, my pony
Because
Jeanne Betancourt’s Pony Pals books made me remember how badly
I wanted a horse.
When I was six or seven, I started to ask for a pony. For Christmas.
For my birthday. For graduation from second grade. For Easter.
“I’ll keep it in the backyard.” …“In
my closet”… “Across the street in the vacant lot”
… “It won’t cost that much to feed” …
“I’ll take care of it.”
No matter what I said, the answer was always the same. “No”
…“No.” … “NO.” Finally I gave
up.
But -- I grew up when I decided I didn’t need to ask permission
any more. Now I have my own pony and a horse. And you can too.
For every kid (or kid at heart) who ever wanted a pony, welcome to
Club Pony Pals.
This
game operates on the Crandal’s horse barn rules.
In
Ms. Betancourt’s Pony Pals, girls care for the same things
their horses do, like adventures and taking care of each other.
Just
like horses don’t care if their rider is pretty, perfectly
dressed or has the most expensive stuff in the barn, in Club Pony
Pals there are only two questions any horse has.
1. Who is the boss?
2. Where are we going?
Hint
-- If the answer to question number one is not “the person
riding” the answer to question number two is answered by the
pony.
But
ponies cannot be controlled with force. ‘Whip and spur’
riders will end up with mounts that react from fear and may not
be reliable. Fearful horses don’t win, or take the rider on
adventures safely.
In this world, like the real one, riding a pony comes from internal
love and strength, from a feeling of self-awareness that helps a
horse trust that “things will be okay because my rider is
in charge.”
Horses
teach their riders to have healthy boundaries, to accept responsibility
with self-confidence, to rebuff abuse and to believe in themselves.
Good riders know they can handle whatever comes their way.
Just
like in the Pony Pals books and the real world, this games’
players will win with cooperation, with care and affection for their
ponies, and by playing from a feeling of “I can do this.”
Welcome
to the barn.
