AUGUST 2025 PONY TAILS
A Letter from Alice
What’s better than a warm summer night, gathering ‘round the bonfire, and roasting marshmallows? ... Another issue of the Pony Tails Kids Club Digital Magazine!
This August edition is camping themed, as there is no better combo than horses and the great outdoors. Want to see something cool? Check out the link below to find a map of all the horse trails and campsites in BC!
HCBC Online Trail Database
Whether they have to travel near or far, Alice hopes all of her readers can get out and enjoy nature alongside their favourite pony pals.
Keep being a happy camper, And don’t forget to pat your pony!
Signed,
Alice the Pony Hello readers!
Horse/Pony Breed of the Month: ICELANDIC HORSE
Image provided via Canva
The Icelandic horse was founded in the country from which it gets its namesakeIceland! This historic, resilient breed is so special that there are strict rules about importing and exporting them. No new horses are allowed to enter the country, and no Icelandic horse that has left can ever return. This breed is also a gaited one, because it can perform both the tolt and pacing.
What breed do you want to see featured in our next issue? Reach out to Alice at ponytails.alice@hcbc.ca and let her know!
Interactive Story Feature: Campfire Tales
...
Roast your S’mores and join Alice around the crackling flame as she tells you her favourite campfire story.
Gather round the fire, kids - snuggle into your sleeping bags and listen up as I tell you a pony tale of surprises and adventure.
One warm August night at the campsite, Alice and the other horses stood in their corrals, quietly munching hay. Steph and her friends had packed their things and trailered up Bliss Mountain for a weekend of trail riding and relaxation. With their horses tucked away safely, the riders sat in lawn chairs around the bonfire telling spooky stories.
“Have you heard the one about the ghost who haunts this campsite?” asked Steph, watching everyone else’s eyes go wide. “No!” Ryan exclaimed with fear “and if I had, I probably would’ve stayed at home”. Lauren laughed and shook her head “relax Ryan, it’s only a story. Besides, I think the only creature that’s a real threat in these woods is the mosquitoes”. Lauren swatted ferociously by her head, wishing she had a horse’s tail to swish the bugs away. “You never know” countered Steph, with a mischievous look in her eye, “Nature is full of wonders. On a magical starry night like this, anything can happen.”
And with that, Steph began her retelling of the elusive White Pony.
[Are you ready to follow along with the campfire story? Follow the bolded instructions to turn this tale into an immersive soundscape.]
“There once lived a white pony, who wandered the hills, Her whole body was translucent And if you touched her, you got chills [Say “BRRRR” and pretend to shiver]
She was not like other ponies, oh so different from the rest
An iridescent beauty, deep in the forest she would nest
For this pony was a spirit from a millennium ago
A protector of the woods, she galloped to and fro [Gallop and cluck to make the noise of a horse’s footsteps] She kept out the intruders, casting their bad energy aside But because she was so different, she felt she had to hide [Hide behind your hands]
But one day a group of campers, an unsuspecting lot
Picked the pony’s woods to set up their own camping spot
[Make a triangle above your head, as if it is a tent protecting you from the elements]
They gathered ‘round a fire, that summer night was good
But everything soon changed when they went off to fetch more wood
Deep in the forest they went, as they searched for a few more logs
Ignoring the ominous, rumbling noise - it must just be bullfrogs
[Make a “ribbit” sound like a frog]
But soon came a rustling sound, made by an animal larger than that Not bear digging for garbage, nor flapping wings of bat It was the ghost of the white pony, who emerged with a mystical glow Her moonlit eyes and see-through skin, No longer afraid to show.
The campers, they were startled Jumping back with such surprise [Do your best attempt at being fake-startled] While she stared with orbs that reflected back a spirit old and wise
No one will ever discuss it; the magic they witnessed that day Their secret was discovered here on Bliss Mountain And that’s where it will stay [“Shush” and put a finger to your lips as if you’re encouraging someone not to tell a secret]
“I liked that one!” Piped up Emily, who had made a big toasty burrow of blankets around herself. “Me too,” Lauren agreed, “even though it’s not real, I liked picturing the spirit of the white pony protecting us all on our camping trip”. Steph shrugged, “Who knows... maybe she is real. But you know what’s even more real? My need for another s’more!” The campers all laughed and loaded up another marshmallow onto their sticks for roasting.
Somewhere in the distance, between the trees where she wouldn’t be seen, stood the White Pony. She stopped briefly to admire the happy group of friends, then galloped off into the horizon.
The end.
Activity of the Month: Learn to Draw a Horse!
Are you ready to bring out your artistic side? Grab a pencil, eraser, and a blank sheet of paper, then let Alice walk you through the rest.
1. Start by drawing a small circle.
2. Now add a bigger circle just above and to the side of it.
4. Add an ear on each side of the “head”, just like this.
5. Add a line going down from the center of the larger circle, then one extending from the top of the larger circle. Now you have a neck.
3. Now draw two lines to connect these circles. The bottom line should have a bit of a curve to it.
6. Now erase some parts of the circle so that you have an outline of the horse.
7. Now draw a mane and forelock, just like so.
10. Lastly, for the eye, start with a regular oval. Draw a curved line inside either end. Add a tiny circle in the top corner of your larger circle. Then, fill in the rest of the space you have created so only two slivers and the tiny circle remain white.
8. Add a line above the chin to create a mouth. In the center of the muzzle, add one curved line on top and then a second one below it to create the nostril.
9. Here’s what it should look like once it’s finished.
There you have it! Now you know how to draw a beautiful portrait of a horse. Feel free to add extra details, and get creative!
HORSEY FACTS OF THE MONTH: TRAIL ETIQUETTE
During the warmer months, you may see a lot more riders out on the trails - but there are special rules that must be followed when venturing out on horseback. Check some of them out below:
YIELDING
when trail riding are COMMON SENSE, COMMUNICATION, and COURTESY. Always be sensible, vocal, and accommodating while on trails
in order to stay safe, motorbikes and ATV’s yield to everyone, bikers yield to hikers, and everyone yields to horses
THE 3 C’s PASSING
when encountering other trail users, horseback riders should steady their horse and give others instructions on how they should stand clear so that you can safely pass
August 2025 Colouring Page
August 2025 Coloring Page and Activities
PRINT Colouring Page
PRINT Monthly Activity
PRINT Entire Magazine Issue
HCBC OFFICIAL PARTNERS
