Riding Class Read Free Page A

Wise Pony Club, and we’re here for Volunteer Day.” Lisa felt a little awkward, but she knew her manners. Her mother had once told her that good manners could carry a person through any social situation.
    Emily laughed. “Volunteer Day is the reason I can’t ride today,” she said. “But it’ll be great to have the arena back in good shape. Is Pony Club fun? I always thought it would be.”
    “It’s terrific fun,” Lisa answered. “Are you sure you’re okay? That looked like a pretty hard fall.”
    “I’ll have a few bruises.” Emily shrugged. “I usually do. I’m used to it. Thanks for not helping.”
    “That doesn’t make sense,” Stevie said, her feeling of awkwardness vanishing. “Why should you thank us for not doing anything?”
    “Because you didn’t! And that’s just what I wanted you to do!” Emily said. Her eyebrows went up and she grinned at Stevie.
    Stevie grinned back. “That sounds like something I would say when I want to confuse my little brother,” Stevie said.
    “Does it confuse
you
?” Emily asked. Her face took on a mischievous look. “I’m not talking too fast for you, am I?My mom always says I talk too fast. Am-I-talking-too-fast?” She sped through the last words.
    “Not-at-all,” said Stevie, just as quickly.
    “AmItalkingtoofastforyounow?”
    “AlmostbutnotquiteIthinkIcantalkfasterthanyou.”
    “That’s enough!” Lisa said, as Stevie and Emily dissolved into giggles. “Is it true what you said? Do people really insist on doing things for you?”
    Emily rolled her eyes. “All the time,” she said. “It’s unbelievable. I mean, sometimes I do need help, but when I do, I ask for it. Old women on the street say, ‘Oh, you poor dear.’ ” Her voice rose high, mimicking.
    Carole was still patting the palomino. “This is a super horse,” she declared. “He’s amazing.”
    Emily looked at him fondly. “He’s the best horse ever.”
    “How long have you had him?” Lisa asked. She wished that she had a horse of her own.
    “I got him for Christmas last year,” Emily replied. “I sort of knew I was going to get him, because we had to look so long to find him. But he was still the best present ever. His name’s P.C.” She bent over slowly, holding on to P.C.’s leg, to retrieve the rubber currycomb she’d dropped when she’d fallen. The rest of her grooming gear sat on a waist-high shelf on the side of the aisle. She began to curry P.C.
    “Can’t we help?” Carole asked. “We’d like to … it’s been four hours since we touched a horse!”
    “Sure,” said Emily. She handed them brushes and they got to work on P.C. He had rolled hard, and his coat was thick with dried mud. Dust flew as the girls worked the dirt loose.
    “What’s P.C. stand for?” asked Stevie. She sneezed.
    “Personal Computer. Just kidding,” Emily added quickly. “It stands for Palomino Cow pony.”
    “Oh, wow, do you ride Western?” Stevie exclaimed. “I know a great pinto cow pony out West. His name is Stewball, and he’s a cutting horse at a ranch our friend Kate owns—I mean her family owns the ranch—and he’s a fantastic horse, too. I almost bought him once, but it turned out he was happier on the ranch. My horse, Belle, is better for the kind of riding I like best.”
    Lisa and Carole laughed. Usually Carole was the one who got carried away when talking about horses.
    “I ride English, not Western,” Emily said. “I think jumping looks fun, but they don’t teach it at Free Rein, so I’ve never tried it. What I really like is dressage.”
    Stevie’s jaw dropped. “Me too. That’s my absolute favorite kind of riding.”
    “Neat,” said Emily. “Most people don’t even know what ‘dressage’ means.”
    “The word ‘dressage’ just means training,” Carole said.“I like dressage, too, but Starlight, my horse, is better at jumping.”
    Carole had ridden simple dressage tests with Starlight before. The tests were precise patterns ridden one