Show Horse by Bonnie Bryant Read Free Book Online Page A

had Garnet’s saddle way too far back on her. That would have to be readjusted during class, and it wouldn’t make Max happy.
    Mrs. Atwood stepped away from where Lisa was working on Prancer and walked over to Garnet’s stall.
    A few minutes later she reappeared. “Nice horse Veronica has,” she said to Lisa.
    “Yes. Garnet’s pretty.”
    “But she’s kind of small—I mean, compared to Prancer, here, isn’t she?”
    Lisa would never understand what her mother thought was important, but if the height of a horse was it, she’d go along with it.
    “Arabians aren’t known for their height,” Lisa said. “They’re known for their endurance and their beautiful heads.”
    “I think Prancer is really pretty.”
    “She is,” Lisa agreed, recognizing progress when she heard it. “She’s one of the prettiest horses I’ve ever known.”
    “You know, I only care about what’s right for you,” Mrs. Atwood went on.
    “Yes, I know,” Lisa said. It was true, too. Her mother sometimes had a skewed notion about what was desirable, but her intentions were always good.
    “I just don’t want you to get hurt or anything.”
    “I won’t, Mom. I promise.”
    “All right. I’ll tell Max it’s okay.”
    “You’ll sign the form?”
    “Yes, I’ll sign the form,” Mrs. Atwood said. “As a matter of fact, I’ll go to Max’s office right now and do it.”
    Lisa wasn’t absolutely sure her mother was beyond hearing when she shrieked with joy. It didn’t matter, though. All that mattered was she’d be in the ring at Briarwood, and she and Prancer would … Could she say it? Yes. They’d win. She just knew it!

“A ND YOU ALL have to keep an even pace,” Max said. “It’s extremely important. You can’t have your horses dashing around the show ring in spurts. That goes for all the classes, but especially for the jump—Lisa, did you hear me?”
    Lisa tugged at Prancer’s reins. The mare seemed to think this was a race and she wanted to win. She went faster with every step.
    “I heard you,” Lisa said. “I’m just not sure Prancer did.”
    There was nervous laughter.
    “You’d better come to a halt now and then start again,” Max said.
    It took another ten steps before Prancer got Lisa’s message about stopping. Lisa decided that poorPrancer had been cooped up in her stall for over six months, and all she wanted to do now was move, fast. Lisa was sympathetic with that, but she also knew it was her job to be in charge all the time.
    “I’m ready to try to canter again,” she said.
    “And we’re waiting for you to do it,” Max said. There was an edge to his voice. Lisa knew he was a little annoyed.
    “Come on, girl,” she whispered to Prancer. “Let’s show them how good you can be.”
    Stevie, Carole, and Veronica had all stopped their horses to give Lisa a chance and to help Prancer concentrate. Lisa nudged Prancer with her legs, shifted her weight, and loosened the reins. Prancer began moving immediately. And as soon as Lisa signaled for a trot, the horse began cantering. A puzzled look crossed Max’s face. Then he erased that puzzlement and showed nothing. Prancer was cantering and he was at an even gait. That was, after all, what Max had wanted.
    “Nice going,” he said.
    Lisa beamed. None of the other horses or riders moved until Lisa and Prancer had circled the ring several times. They wanted her to be able to establish a pace that was comfortable for Prancer. It seemed to work.
    “All right, now the rest of you please canter.”
    This time it was Veronica who was having trouble. Her stirrups were too long, and she was having trouble maintaining her balance with her legs extended so far.It was typical of Veronica that she’d let a small problem like stirrup length interfere with her riding just because readjusting the stirrups involved a little bit of effort. Naturally, she didn’t feel she could solve the problem herself. She just
had
to get Max to do it for her.
    While Carole,