Snowflake by Suzanne Weyn Page A

snowflakes began to fall.
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    The barn was full of old tack, gear, and tools. The girls almost forgot about the horseshoes as they looked around.
    "Come see what I found!" Mandy called from the back of the barn. Anna and Emily went to join her.
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    It was an old sleigh, made for a horse. Two people could sit in front, and a few more could sit in the back.
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    "It's just like in the song 'Jingle Bells!'" Anna said. "It's a one-horse open sleigh!"
    Mandy saw a trunk next to the sleigh and opened it. Inside was a large, heavy harness.
    "Look! Here are the jingle bells," said Mandy, shaking the harness. "Real jingle bells!"
    "I know how to get a blanket for Snowflake!" Emily cried.
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    Chapter 4
    A Great Idea -- Maybe!
    They raced from the old barn to find Chris and Kelly. Snowflake nickered as the girls ran past.
    "We want to use the sleigh to give rides at the winter festival!" shouted Emily. "We can use the money we make to buy Snowflake his horse blanket!"
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    "I almost forgot about that old sleigh," Chris said.
    "It belonged to our great-grandparents," said Kelly. "I don't think you can use it, though. We don't have a horse that can pull a sleigh."
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    "I bet Snowflake could do it," Chris said. "He's a draft horse."
    They all looked at Snowflake.
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    "Maybe," Kelly said. "He is well trained. We'll have to try him. But first, we have to clean that sleigh!"
    Mandy was so excited that she shook the bells. Snowflake's ears pricked forward in interest. "He likes the bells," she said, pointing to his ears. "He's heard them before!"
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    Chapter 5
    The Winter Festival
    The next day, friends helped them get the sleigh out of the barn. The sleigh slid easily on the newly fallen snow. Once it was outside, the girls cleaned and polished the sleigh. It was beautiful.
    Kelly and Chris bridled Snowflake. Then they hitched him to the sleigh. Snowflake looked very happy.
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    Kelly sat in the driver's seat. She made a clucking sound, telling Snowflake to go. But he just stood there.
    "I don't think he knows what to do," Chris said.
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    Mandy climbed in beside Kelly. Kelly shook the reins, ringing the bells. Snowflake nodded and whinnied. He began to move! "He can do it!" Mandy cheered.
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    The following week was the winter festival. And Snowflake was the star! Everyone wanted to ride in a real one-horse open sleigh, with its jingling bells. Snowflake was happy, too. He loved pulling the sleigh through the snow.
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    [Image: Snowflake]
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    All winter long, people wanted rides in the sleigh. The girls made lots of money. They bought Snowflake a bright red, winter horse blanket that was very warm. There was enough money for Kelly and Chris to build a run-in shed for Snowflake in the paddock. Anna, Kelly, and Mandy no longer worried about their horse. Snowflake was safe, warm, and happy in his new home!
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    [Image: Anna ,Mandy and Kelly putting the blanket on the horse]
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    About the Horse
    Facts about Percherons:
    1 Percherons are originally from Le Perche, near Normandy, France.
    2 Percherons were once used on many farms in America, until the modern farm tractor was invented.
    3 Today, Percherons are used on small farms and for sleigh rides, hayrides, and parades.
    4 Percherons range in height from 15 to 19 hands, with most being between 16.2 and 17.3 hands. A hand is four inches high.
    5 The Percheron Horse Association of America registers about 2,500 new foals each year.
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