Maya was a girl who loved trying new things. Whether it was slurping up wiggly noodles with chopsticks or building the wobbliest, tallest tower of blocks in the whole neighbourhood, she was always ready for an adventure. Her backyard was her kingdom, where she'd pretend to sail stormy seas on the swing set and climb a giant's castle, which looked a lot like the cubby house.

One sunny Saturday morning, Mum popped her head out the back door. "Maya, guess what? We're going to Sunny Meadow Farm today, and you can ride a real pony!" Maya's eyes went as wide as saucers. A real pony! This was a brand new adventure, bigger and better than any she had imagined in her backyard.

At the farm, the air smelled sweet like hay and sunshine. Maya got ready, pulling on her comfy shorts and tying her hair into a swishy ponytail. But when she met the pony, whose name was Buttercup, her tummy did a little flip-flop. Buttercup was much bigger up close! The pony blinked its long eyelashes and let out a soft "huff," making Maya's knees feel a bit like jelly. "H-hello, Buttercup," she whispered, feeling a tiny bit wobbly.

For a moment, Maya thought about staying on the ground where it was safe. But then she remembered her favourite thing: trying something new! She took a big, brave breath. "It's okay," she told herself, and she gave Buttercup a gentle pat on her soft nose. With a helping hand from the farmer, she popped her foot in the stirrup and swung herself up, sitting tall. "Ready, Buttercup," she said with a grin. The pony took a slow, steady step forward, and they were off!

The ride was magical! Maya held on tight as Buttercup clip-clopped gently around the big, green paddock. The wind tickled her cheeks, and she giggled with pure joy. Trying new things was the best, even when it started out a little bit scary. When the ride was over, she slid down and gave Buttercup a huge, warm hug. This was an adventure she would remember forever.