like show jumping,” Lisa commented. Max heard her and nodded. “It’s the same basic idea,” he said.
Mrs. Pennington drove her team closer to the students, then stopped. “It’s a fun event,” she said, sounding just slightly breathless, though she looked as calm and composed as ever. “One misjudged step can mean a smashed cone and a disastrous score. It’s vital to be accurate.” She smiled. “But if you want to win, you must be fast as well. And that’s where the fun comes in—for the teams and for the audience.” She waved a hand at her own outfit. “Of course, the audience also enjoys seeing the turnouts. At the Devon Horse Show in Pennsylvania, where I compete each year, the scurry driving event is limited to pairs pulling four-wheeled antique carriage vehicles. That can mean anything from a dashing little phaeton like this one”—she gestured to her own carriage—“to a massive antique police wagon or grocer’s cart. And naturally, the drivers usually dress to match their vehicles.”
Stevie sighed dreamily. “That sounds so cool,” she said. “I’d love to see a real scurry contest like that.” She couldn’t believe she had never heard of scurry driving before. It was just the sort of thing she loved the most—a real athletic equine endeavor requiring skill and talent, but also requiring at least a little bit of wackiness.
“You’d love it,” Carole assured her.
Suddenly Tessa grinned. She stood up on the lowest rail of the fence and waved her hand at Max. “Max!” she called excitedly. “I’ve just had a smashing idea!”
“What is it, Tessa?” Max asked.
“Why don’t we see if we can add a scurry race to the point-to-point event on Saturday?” Tessa said.
There were cries of approval from all around. Stevie could tell that after Mrs. Pennington’s exciting demonstration, many of the other students were just as eager as she was to see a full-scale race.
But she could also see that Max wasn’t quite as enthusiastic about the idea. “I don’t know, Tessa,” he said. “That would be lots of fun, I’ll admit. But at this late date—”
“Why not?” Polly Giacomin called out. “It would be a blast!” Several other people shouted out their agreement as Mrs. Pennington looked on with a bemused expression.
Max held up his hands for quiet. “Just a minute,” he said firmly. “Now, I’m not saying that it wouldn’t be a good addition to the day. I just think it might be better to suggest it if there’s another point-to-point next year. It’s just too late this year.” He glanced over at Mrs. Pennington and smiled. “For one thing, as of right now, we would have only one entry.”
“Make that two entries,” Mrs. Pennington corrected, still looking bemused. “My second team is due to arrive before the weekend, and my grandson is quite an accomplished driver himself. I’m not saying he’d stand a chanceagainst me”—she gave the watching students a droll wink—“but it would be good practice for him.”
Miles pretended to be insulted as the students laughed. “You’d better watch what you say, Grandmother!” he called out. “You’ll be sorry when I don’t let you touch my blue ribbon.”
Max still looked unconvinced. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I just don’t think—”
“I know someone else who might want to enter,” Polly interrupted. “One of my neighbors has a cousin who has a carriage team.”
Phil raised his hand. “I could ask Mr. Baker if he wants to give it a shot,” he called out. Mr. Baker was the head instructor at Cross County, the stable where Phil rode. “He’s got a fancy old carriage he drives in parades once in a while.”
“And some of us could enter with a couple of ponies and the pony cart,” Carole spoke up. “That’s got four wheels. Are ponies allowed to enter?”
“Certainly,” Mrs. Pennington answered before Max could reply. “The only rule is that you must have a pair. There’s no limit to how
Mrs. Pennington drove her team closer to the students, then stopped. “It’s a fun event,” she said, sounding just slightly breathless, though she looked as calm and composed as ever. “One misjudged step can mean a smashed cone and a disastrous score. It’s vital to be accurate.” She smiled. “But if you want to win, you must be fast as well. And that’s where the fun comes in—for the teams and for the audience.” She waved a hand at her own outfit. “Of course, the audience also enjoys seeing the turnouts. At the Devon Horse Show in Pennsylvania, where I compete each year, the scurry driving event is limited to pairs pulling four-wheeled antique carriage vehicles. That can mean anything from a dashing little phaeton like this one”—she gestured to her own carriage—“to a massive antique police wagon or grocer’s cart. And naturally, the drivers usually dress to match their vehicles.”
Stevie sighed dreamily. “That sounds so cool,” she said. “I’d love to see a real scurry contest like that.” She couldn’t believe she had never heard of scurry driving before. It was just the sort of thing she loved the most—a real athletic equine endeavor requiring skill and talent, but also requiring at least a little bit of wackiness.
“You’d love it,” Carole assured her.
Suddenly Tessa grinned. She stood up on the lowest rail of the fence and waved her hand at Max. “Max!” she called excitedly. “I’ve just had a smashing idea!”
“What is it, Tessa?” Max asked.
“Why don’t we see if we can add a scurry race to the point-to-point event on Saturday?” Tessa said.
There were cries of approval from all around. Stevie could tell that after Mrs. Pennington’s exciting demonstration, many of the other students were just as eager as she was to see a full-scale race.
But she could also see that Max wasn’t quite as enthusiastic about the idea. “I don’t know, Tessa,” he said. “That would be lots of fun, I’ll admit. But at this late date—”
“Why not?” Polly Giacomin called out. “It would be a blast!” Several other people shouted out their agreement as Mrs. Pennington looked on with a bemused expression.
Max held up his hands for quiet. “Just a minute,” he said firmly. “Now, I’m not saying that it wouldn’t be a good addition to the day. I just think it might be better to suggest it if there’s another point-to-point next year. It’s just too late this year.” He glanced over at Mrs. Pennington and smiled. “For one thing, as of right now, we would have only one entry.”
“Make that two entries,” Mrs. Pennington corrected, still looking bemused. “My second team is due to arrive before the weekend, and my grandson is quite an accomplished driver himself. I’m not saying he’d stand a chanceagainst me”—she gave the watching students a droll wink—“but it would be good practice for him.”
Miles pretended to be insulted as the students laughed. “You’d better watch what you say, Grandmother!” he called out. “You’ll be sorry when I don’t let you touch my blue ribbon.”
Max still looked unconvinced. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I just don’t think—”
“I know someone else who might want to enter,” Polly interrupted. “One of my neighbors has a cousin who has a carriage team.”
Phil raised his hand. “I could ask Mr. Baker if he wants to give it a shot,” he called out. Mr. Baker was the head instructor at Cross County, the stable where Phil rode. “He’s got a fancy old carriage he drives in parades once in a while.”
“And some of us could enter with a couple of ponies and the pony cart,” Carole spoke up. “That’s got four wheels. Are ponies allowed to enter?”
“Certainly,” Mrs. Pennington answered before Max could reply. “The only rule is that you must have a pair. There’s no limit to how
Similar Books
