Jinny dreams of riding Shantih, galloping with her over the moors, parading successfully around the show ring, but no one has told Shantih this. She does not want to be ridden—at least by Jinny—and she throws Jinny off time after time.

Jinny is desperate. More than anything she longs to ride her horse. Then she learns that an English family are coming up to their Highland home, close to Finmory. They ride, and better still they're bringing their horses. Surely the Burnleys will be only too keen, thinks Jinny, to help her? Surely they'll want to pass on the gift of horsemanship, like all those people in pony books?

They do not. They ignore her, even when she falls off Shantih in front of them. And Jinny finds herself trying to change herself and everything she believes to fit in with them and win their approval.