that mean I can’t go anywhere near No-Name while I’m here?”
“Not at all,” Mrs. Reg said. “In fact, we’re counting on you to continue taking good care of the horse. The only things you’re prohibited from doing are riding her and removing her from Pine Hollow.”
“Oh,” Stevie said, feeling a little better. It wasn’t the same as riding, but she was glad to know that she’d at least be able to spend time with No-Name, talking to her and taking care of her and reminding her how much she loved her. And that was definitely better than nothing.
“Until this matter is settled, you’re welcome to go back to riding Topside,” Mrs. Reg said.
“Oh, thanks,” Stevie said. “I was just going to ask about that.”
The girls split up and Stevie decided a visit to No-Name would have to wait until after practice. She headed for Topside’s stall with his tack. The big bay gelding greeted her affectionately. She gave him a hug and then quickly got him ready to go.
Her friends were waiting for her in the outdoor ringwhen she arrived. Stevie led Topside into the ring and then mounted, giving herself a leg up on the fence.
It felt strange to be back in Topside’s saddle again. Even in a few short weeks she had grown accustomed to No-Name—the way she moved, her height, and most of all, her distinctive personality.
Topside stood quietly, awaiting Stevie’s signal. She was reminded of what a well-trained, intelligent horse he was. She sighed. Even if she couldn’t ride No-Name in the rally on Saturday, maybe she’d at least still be able to beat Phil on Topside. She touched the horse lightly behind the girth with her heel, and he stepped off instantly. Stevie rode over to Carole and Lisa, who were in the midst of arguing about the best strategy for musical chairs.
“We’re ready,” Stevie announced as she joined them. “What should we do first?”
“Hmm.” Carole thought for a second. “Why don’t we work on the on-and-off obstacle race? Mr. Baker loves that one—he’s sure to put it on the program on Saturday.”
“Good idea,” Lisa said.
The girls quickly readied a makeshift course. They arranged some empty barrels, sacks of grain, and other objects in the ring. They even dragged out a bale of hay, which they placed in the center. In this race, the judge laid out a complicated course over and through and around the various objects, which each rider had to follow carefully. The winner was the rider who was the most exact in followinginstructions. In the case of a tie, the prize went to the competitor with the fastest time.
“Okay,” Carole said, dusting off her hands and surveying their handiwork. She quickly came up with a course and described it to her friends. “Now let’s get started. Who wants to go first?”
“I will,” Lisa volunteered. She mounted and signaled to Prancer. She moved off obediently at a walk. They completed the course easily, except when Prancer refused to step over the bale of hay. Finally Lisa had to give up and lead her around it instead.
When she returned to her friends at the end, she was frowning. “We’d lose a lot of points for that refusal,” she said. “She’s never done that before. What do you think is wrong?”
Carole shrugged. “You were doing everything right,” she told Lisa. “Prancer must just be having a bad day. It happens. You have to remember, she’s pretty new to this.” Prancer had been bred and raised to be a racehorse, and she still wasn’t completely used to everything Lisa asked her to do.
“I know,” Lisa replied. “She’s such a dream to ride most of the time that it’s easy to forget that sometimes. Anyway, I hope she’s better by Saturday.” She scratched the horse behind the ears to show that she wasn’t angry with her.
“Okay, my turn,” Stevie announced. She started the course. Topside was alert and responsive as she directedhim around the first barrel. He didn’t take a wrong step weaving in and out
“Not at all,” Mrs. Reg said. “In fact, we’re counting on you to continue taking good care of the horse. The only things you’re prohibited from doing are riding her and removing her from Pine Hollow.”
“Oh,” Stevie said, feeling a little better. It wasn’t the same as riding, but she was glad to know that she’d at least be able to spend time with No-Name, talking to her and taking care of her and reminding her how much she loved her. And that was definitely better than nothing.
“Until this matter is settled, you’re welcome to go back to riding Topside,” Mrs. Reg said.
“Oh, thanks,” Stevie said. “I was just going to ask about that.”
The girls split up and Stevie decided a visit to No-Name would have to wait until after practice. She headed for Topside’s stall with his tack. The big bay gelding greeted her affectionately. She gave him a hug and then quickly got him ready to go.
Her friends were waiting for her in the outdoor ringwhen she arrived. Stevie led Topside into the ring and then mounted, giving herself a leg up on the fence.
It felt strange to be back in Topside’s saddle again. Even in a few short weeks she had grown accustomed to No-Name—the way she moved, her height, and most of all, her distinctive personality.
Topside stood quietly, awaiting Stevie’s signal. She was reminded of what a well-trained, intelligent horse he was. She sighed. Even if she couldn’t ride No-Name in the rally on Saturday, maybe she’d at least still be able to beat Phil on Topside. She touched the horse lightly behind the girth with her heel, and he stepped off instantly. Stevie rode over to Carole and Lisa, who were in the midst of arguing about the best strategy for musical chairs.
“We’re ready,” Stevie announced as she joined them. “What should we do first?”
“Hmm.” Carole thought for a second. “Why don’t we work on the on-and-off obstacle race? Mr. Baker loves that one—he’s sure to put it on the program on Saturday.”
“Good idea,” Lisa said.
The girls quickly readied a makeshift course. They arranged some empty barrels, sacks of grain, and other objects in the ring. They even dragged out a bale of hay, which they placed in the center. In this race, the judge laid out a complicated course over and through and around the various objects, which each rider had to follow carefully. The winner was the rider who was the most exact in followinginstructions. In the case of a tie, the prize went to the competitor with the fastest time.
“Okay,” Carole said, dusting off her hands and surveying their handiwork. She quickly came up with a course and described it to her friends. “Now let’s get started. Who wants to go first?”
“I will,” Lisa volunteered. She mounted and signaled to Prancer. She moved off obediently at a walk. They completed the course easily, except when Prancer refused to step over the bale of hay. Finally Lisa had to give up and lead her around it instead.
When she returned to her friends at the end, she was frowning. “We’d lose a lot of points for that refusal,” she said. “She’s never done that before. What do you think is wrong?”
Carole shrugged. “You were doing everything right,” she told Lisa. “Prancer must just be having a bad day. It happens. You have to remember, she’s pretty new to this.” Prancer had been bred and raised to be a racehorse, and she still wasn’t completely used to everything Lisa asked her to do.
“I know,” Lisa replied. “She’s such a dream to ride most of the time that it’s easy to forget that sometimes. Anyway, I hope she’s better by Saturday.” She scratched the horse behind the ears to show that she wasn’t angry with her.
“Okay, my turn,” Stevie announced. She started the course. Topside was alert and responsive as she directedhim around the first barrel. He didn’t take a wrong step weaving in and out
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