them.
“Colonel,” Max said. “It’s better to walk in front of the horses than in back of them.”
“Oh,” the colonel said sheepishly, coming quickly to the front of the group.
“Can anybody tell the colonel the reason for this?” Max asked. Several hands went up. Max called on Stevie, who quickly explained it. She thought she’d done a pretty good job, but after she finished, she noticed that Carole was scowling a little bit. Stevie thought about it for a few seconds and realized that Carole probably wasn’t scowling at her. Maybe she was scowling because her father didn’t know such a simple thing about horses. Carole was usually so patient when people didn’t know things, but of course it was different when it was your own father. Stevie suspected that Colonel Hanson would never make that mistake again.
Once all the riders had their pins on, Max announced his schedule for the next few weeks. As long as the weather was good, they would alternate mounted meetings one Saturday and unmounted meetings the next. The following week, Judy, the vet, would talk to them about horse care, and at the meeting after that, the members would be tested and rated.
Stevie had been reading up on Pony Clubs. And when Phil Marston had called her the other night, she’d asked him about them since he already belonged. In fact, their clubs were in the same district and they’d be seeing each other at rallies. Stevie could hardly wait. In the meantime, though, she’d have to be “rated.” Each member would receive a rating accordingto his own skill level. The ratings started at D-1 through 3, which was for beginners, then progressed to C-1 through 3, B, H-A, and A. Very few riders ever achieved H-A and A and only very good riders, with years of experience, got to B. Stevie hoped that one day she’d be able to be a C, but for now, she figured that she and Lisa were both D’s. Carole might make it to C. Stevie wondered what sort of rating they would come up with for Veronica. The important thing about the ratings, and about Pony Clubs in general, was that they weren’t just about riding. Horse care was just as important. Stevie grinned. Veronica wouldn’t be able to find a stableboy to take the horsecare section of the test for her!
“All right, now, our first activity will be a game called Giant Steps.”
Max described the rules. Each rider would be asked a question about horses. If the rider answered correctly, his or her horse could take one step toward a line that Max had Colonel Hanson draw in the dirt. If the rider made a mistake, the horse would have to take a step backward toward another line. Whoever crossed the front line first, won. Whoever crossed the back line was out.
Max began shooting out questions. How many beats were in a walk? Trot? Canter?
Stevie thought they were very easy questions until she noticed that the riders he was giving them to were beginners. They weren’t easy questions for them.
“Stevie, name the parts of a horse’s neck.”
Stevie made a face. Veronica diAngelo laughed. That was the inspiration Stevie needed.
“Poll, crest, and withers,” she answered. She was awarded one giant step.
Carole named ten grooming aids, and Lisa told him five registered breeds of horses.
“Veronica, name three parts of the horse’s foot.”
Veronica shifted uncomfortably in her saddle. Stevie suddenly got the feeling she was going to like this a lot.
“Well, there’s the hoof—”
“One step backward,” Max announced. “Anybody else?”
Stevie raised her hand. Max called on her. “Wall, sole, and frog,” she said. She stepped forward.
“Veronica, I told you to step backward,” Max said.
Veronica glared at him. “Isn’t it time to stop this game now and go for a trail ride?” she said.
“Not yet.” That closed the subject for everybody except Veronica, who was never one to enjoy public humiliation.
Garnet started acting up a little, as if she didn’t want to step backward
“Colonel,” Max said. “It’s better to walk in front of the horses than in back of them.”
“Oh,” the colonel said sheepishly, coming quickly to the front of the group.
“Can anybody tell the colonel the reason for this?” Max asked. Several hands went up. Max called on Stevie, who quickly explained it. She thought she’d done a pretty good job, but after she finished, she noticed that Carole was scowling a little bit. Stevie thought about it for a few seconds and realized that Carole probably wasn’t scowling at her. Maybe she was scowling because her father didn’t know such a simple thing about horses. Carole was usually so patient when people didn’t know things, but of course it was different when it was your own father. Stevie suspected that Colonel Hanson would never make that mistake again.
Once all the riders had their pins on, Max announced his schedule for the next few weeks. As long as the weather was good, they would alternate mounted meetings one Saturday and unmounted meetings the next. The following week, Judy, the vet, would talk to them about horse care, and at the meeting after that, the members would be tested and rated.
Stevie had been reading up on Pony Clubs. And when Phil Marston had called her the other night, she’d asked him about them since he already belonged. In fact, their clubs were in the same district and they’d be seeing each other at rallies. Stevie could hardly wait. In the meantime, though, she’d have to be “rated.” Each member would receive a rating accordingto his own skill level. The ratings started at D-1 through 3, which was for beginners, then progressed to C-1 through 3, B, H-A, and A. Very few riders ever achieved H-A and A and only very good riders, with years of experience, got to B. Stevie hoped that one day she’d be able to be a C, but for now, she figured that she and Lisa were both D’s. Carole might make it to C. Stevie wondered what sort of rating they would come up with for Veronica. The important thing about the ratings, and about Pony Clubs in general, was that they weren’t just about riding. Horse care was just as important. Stevie grinned. Veronica wouldn’t be able to find a stableboy to take the horsecare section of the test for her!
“All right, now, our first activity will be a game called Giant Steps.”
Max described the rules. Each rider would be asked a question about horses. If the rider answered correctly, his or her horse could take one step toward a line that Max had Colonel Hanson draw in the dirt. If the rider made a mistake, the horse would have to take a step backward toward another line. Whoever crossed the front line first, won. Whoever crossed the back line was out.
Max began shooting out questions. How many beats were in a walk? Trot? Canter?
Stevie thought they were very easy questions until she noticed that the riders he was giving them to were beginners. They weren’t easy questions for them.
“Stevie, name the parts of a horse’s neck.”
Stevie made a face. Veronica diAngelo laughed. That was the inspiration Stevie needed.
“Poll, crest, and withers,” she answered. She was awarded one giant step.
Carole named ten grooming aids, and Lisa told him five registered breeds of horses.
“Veronica, name three parts of the horse’s foot.”
Veronica shifted uncomfortably in her saddle. Stevie suddenly got the feeling she was going to like this a lot.
“Well, there’s the hoof—”
“One step backward,” Max announced. “Anybody else?”
Stevie raised her hand. Max called on her. “Wall, sole, and frog,” she said. She stepped forward.
“Veronica, I told you to step backward,” Max said.
Veronica glared at him. “Isn’t it time to stop this game now and go for a trail ride?” she said.
“Not yet.” That closed the subject for everybody except Veronica, who was never one to enjoy public humiliation.
Garnet started acting up a little, as if she didn’t want to step backward
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