Fresh from a riding lesson with Miss Amelia, Carole is devastated to learn her father Colonel Hanson is being deployed overseas. The situation only gets worse, when Carole finds out she must now live with her Aunt Penny in the city, leaving the Saddle Club and Starlight behind. Distraught at having to leave her friends, Carole gallops out of a riding lesson and relays the terrible news to her best friends. The Saddle Club vow to never split up and both Lisa and Stevie are quick to offer Carole a place to stay. With the help of miscommunication and Veronica's meddling, the girls end up bickering during a gig at JB's, leaves Carole in tears. Thinking it would be better for everyone if she left Willow Creek, Carole agrees with her father to stay with her aunt in the city and says a heartfelt goodbye to Starlight. Meanwhile Melanie and Jess do everything in their power to hide the miniature donkey Trouble, first at Pine Hollow and then at home. And Simon, a new computer savvy student arrives at Pine Hollow, but his fear of horses keeps him from actually getting on a horse and he spends most of his time avoiding his stern riding instructor, Miss Amelia.