Penny Bucks Back

A Pony’s Tale

Penny is no ordinary pony

Small in size but big in spirit, Penny notices everything. She pays attention to the horses and humans around her and to the feelings that ripple through the air between them. Penny believes being herself should be enough.

Through her honest, sassy, and thoughtful voice, she invites readers to see the world from a different perspective and discover the quiet wisdom found in curiosity, compassion, and connection.

Penny's story began long before the first page of this book.

Like many horses, Penny experienced challenges that shaped the way she saw the world and the humans around her. When she came into Ellen's life, trust wasn't something that could be rushed. It was built one steady moment at a time, through patience, consistency, and care.

As Penny's confidence grew, so did her willingness to connect. Watching her journey unfold inspired Ellen to imagine what Penny might say if she could tell her own story—not only about overcoming fear, but about discovering courage, friendship, and the joy of simply being herself.

Inspired by one pony's journey, Penny Bucks Back reaches far beyond the pasture, inviting readers to reflect on the trust, healing, and belonging we all seek.

Coming Soon

Take a peek inside Penny Bucks Back: A Pony’s Tale, a heartfelt story about courage, kindness, and discovering the strength to be yourself.

“Penny Bucks Back: A Pony’s Tale will appeal to advanced elementary to early middle grade readers with a powerful story not just of horses, but of friendship and compassion.

Illustrated with lovely black and white line drawings by Alexandra Bono, Penny Bucks Back gives other horse stories for this age group a run for their money in incorporating elements of emotional connection and understanding that will prove delightfully unexpected.”
— D. Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
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Early Praise for Penny Bucks Back

  • "Penny Bucks Back" offers a glimpse into a pony's confusing world of humans to finally find a happy home. Penny's story inspires the reader to believe that circumstances can change for the better and is testimony that patience and consistency can heal old hurts."

    — Ariana Strozzi Mazzuchi, Founder of SkyHorse™ Equine Guided Education; Owner, Casari Ranch

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  • "Many of us, who have fallen in love with horses, have had our hearts and minds ignited by equine literature.  After rescuing the pony, Penny, and dozens of horses bound for slaughter over the years, we have used storytelling to drive awareness and change.  Penny Bucks Back does exactly that, shaping a tale of joy, sorrow, and hope through the eyes of a horse who is lost to a system that still exists today, and desperately needs change.  I am deeply grateful to Ellen Beeler for penning this tale, and to those at Casari who gave these horses forever homes.  Every life matters."

    — Ashley Avis, writer/director of Disney's Black Beauty & Founder of the Wild Beauty Foundation

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  • “Penny Bucks Back, A Pony’s Tale” is a delight for all horse lovers, young and old. Ellen Beeler captures the deep wisdom that has always lived within her beautiful pony. Penny overcomes adversity and ultimately thrives in the care of Ellen. How fortunate that the universe aligned these soul mates. Thank you for reminding us how important it is to live our lives in “horse time.”

    — Lisa A. Pruitt, Professor, Coach and Author

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  • "Penny's voice is clear and important for all of us humans as we interact with the animals we encounter. Her quirky, playful tone reminds me how lucky we are to share the world with horses and ponies. Thank you to Ellen Beeler for your thoughtful words and to illustrator Alexandra Bono for capturing what my mind's eye could see so vividly."

    Joell Dunlap, Founder/Executive Director, Square Peg Foundation

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  • "Horses have been telling us who we are for centuries. Most of us just haven't known how to listen. Ellen Beeler does. Told entirely from Penny's perspective, this book captures something I rarely see written for young readers: the honest cost of being misread, and what becomes possible when a human finally gets it right. As someone who has spent decades working at the gap between what a human carries and what actually reaches another being, I recognize the truth in every page. Children who grow up with this story will meet horses and life differently."

    Chris Adderson, creator of Movement Language and author of Going Beyond: Mastering Unspoken Connections

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Meet Penny’s human

Ellen Beeler, pictured with her husband, George, is the founder of Steady Transitions, author of Penny Bucks Back, and a certified SkyHorse Equine Guided Education (EGE) practitioner. Inspired by her pony, Penny, Ellen combines storytelling and the wisdom of horses to help others navigate life's transitions with greater clarity, confidence, and heart.

Penny Bucks Back is her invitation to slow down, see the world through Penny's eyes, and discover that sometimes our greatest strength comes from simply being ourselves.

Get to know Ellen better