A fictionalized account of the true story of Bill "Doc" Key, a former slave who became a veterinarian, trained his horse, Jim Key, to recognize letters and numbers and to perform in skits around the country, and moved the nation toward a belief in treating animals humanely.

"Spring is the season of change, and things are changing in Miradero--Lucky, Pru, and Abigail will soon be heading off to Palomino Bluffs Riding Academy! Before they go, the PALs want to become Frontier Fillies Trail Trainers. But to do that, the girls need to find and train a brand-new horse--something Lucky has never done! It seems as if everything is coming together when the PALs fall in love with a mini horse named Sandy and are given the chance...

"Abby Lovitt is put in charge of training the expensive and haughty horse Pie in the Sky when his owner refuses. While trying to get a hold on him, she must deal with the new challenges, both good and bad, that come with being a freshman in high school in 1970's Northern California"--

Soon after her yearling, Jack, begins working with professional trainers at a nearby ranch, Abby Lovitt takes responsibility for a very large, very smart, and very curious retired racehorse named Gee Whiz.