Annalise loves horses but isn’t able to own one. She spends most of her time playing an RPG called Horse Stable Universe. There Annalise is a championship rider with a stable full of amazing horses and has a group of friends she hangs out with in various places in the virtual world.

Annalise is stunned when her parents surprise her with a horse of her own and riding lessons for her birthday. But dreams turn out to be harder to achieve in the real world. Her horse Pete is short and stocky. He’s slow and stubborn and not very pretty. Annalise is frustrated by her difficulties learning the basics of riding. And to make it even worse, the girls at the barn are mean to her.

Annalise longs for the simplicity of the online world of horses. But spending time with Pete causes her gameplay to lag and focusing on the game means Pete doesn’t get much attention. Annalise realizes she may have to chose, but what’s better? Is it the game where everything is perfect or is it Pete?