Skye tied Champ to a brace on the side of the trailer and loosened the horse’s cinch. “You’ll be glad to get this tight thing off, won’t you, fella?”
Joey stood next to Skye and tickled Champ’s chin. “He sure is a pretty horsey, ain’t he?”
“He sure is.” Skye pointed at the buckskin. “But so is Bucky, and you’re soon going to ride him in the show.”
“Ooh, I get to do that today?” Joey clapped his hands and giggled.
“Today’s the day,” Chad said as he handed the pick to Mr. Chambers and grabbed Bucky’s bridle.
“Are you and Champ gonna help me, Skye?” Joey asked.
“No. You’re going to ride Bucky in the ring the way you’ve been doing all this week. Remember how you’ve been practicing on the field at home? You’ll do fine.”
“Oh, okay,” Joey said. “I’ll do my best.”
“We know you will.” Mr. Chambers started to clean Bucky’s hooves.
As Skye’s glance met Chad’s, he winked from under his dark brown Stetson. She turned red-hot and returned to her business with Champ. Her heart did backflips.
“Uh-oh,” Mr. Chambers said after he lifted Bucky’s right foreleg.
“What’s the matter, Mr. C.?” Chad asked then also examined the hoof.
“Look here,” Mr. Chambers said. “That thrush did more damage than we thought.”
Skye hurried to take a look. Joey followed her. “Dad, we kept after that thrush all summer. What’s wrong?”
With the pick Mr. Chambers pried underneath Bucky’s frog, and the entire pad lifted up. “His whole frog is rotted. It’ll take months for that to grow back, if at all.”
“But we cleaned it every day,” Chad said.
“And dumped hydrogen peroxide on it too,” Skye added.
“It’s not your fault,” Mr. Chambers said. “The damage was done before we bought him. Whoever owned him before didn’t keep after the problem. The infection had already started underneath his frog months ago. I knew it was in bad shape, but I was hoping it would last until the horse show was over.”
“Is he sick?” Joey asked.
“He’s not really sick,” Skye said. “He just has a sore foot.”
“Does he need to go to the doctor?” Joey asked.
“No,” Mr. Chambers said. “Bucky’ll be all right, but without that padding on his hoof, he could go lame. He’ll need shoes now to give that hoof support. Chad, take his tack off. Nobody’s riding him today.”
Joey stood back and watched Chad take the saddle off the buckskin. The longer Joey stared, the redder he got. His eyes filled with tears, and all of a sudden he started sobbing as if there were no tomorrow. “My horsey’s sick, and I can’t ride him!” He cried and cried.
Mr. Chambers poked his cowboy hat back and ran his fingers down his mustache. “I’m really sorry, Joey. I know you worked real hard to be in the show.”
Joey ran to Mr. Chambers, fell into his arms, and wept like a baby. His ten-gallon hat fell to the ground as he buried his face in the man’s chest.
Mr. Chambers wrapped his arms around him and patted him on the back. “Don’t feel too bad, Joey. You can ride him in the show next year.”
“Next year” to Joey Klingerman was like “never.” He sobbed uncontrollably.
Skye walked back to Champ and started to undo his cinch. Pulling the leather strap free, she stopped dead in her tracks as Joey’s sobbing rang in her ears. Like a sign in bright neon colors, the Scripture verse from Matthew flashed before her mind: The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
Skye stepped in front of Champ and stroked his soft, velvety nose. He nickered and then nodded in seeming approval of the decision she knew she had to make.
“Joey can ride Champ,” Skye said.
“What’d you say?” Mr. Chambers said over Joey’s wailing.
Skye turned around. “I said Joey can ride Champ in the show.”
“Are you sure you want to do that?” Mr. Chambers said.
Distraught, Joey turned toward Skye, wiped his nose on his sleeve, and smiled. “You mean I kin ride your horsey now, Cloud?” At that he just beamed.
“Yes, now,” Skye said. “This is something I have to do.”
Chad slid the bridle off Bucky’s head and patted the horse on the neck. “Wow, Skye, that is too cool. You said you’d never let anyone else ride Champ. Ever.”
Skye turned and tightened Champ’s cinch. “Look, you guys. Champ can do this. He knows the routine inside and out. He trained Bucky. I need to do this. I want to do this.”
Joey ran to Skye, spun her around, and gave her a big bear hug. “Oh, thank you, my lovely queen. Thank you.”
Instead of pulling away, Skye gave Joey a warm hug back. “Come on. Let’s get you on Champ so we can adjust the stirrups. You two should make quite a team.”
“But how do I ride him?” Joey wiped his nose again.
Chad picked up Joey’s hat and plopped it on the boy’s head. “Ride him the same way you were going to ride Bucky. And trust Champ to know exactly what to do.”
While Skye held Champ’s bridle, Mr. Chambers and Chad helped Joey to mount.
“I kin do this, Cloud,” Joey said with a tearful smile. “You’ll see.”
“I know you can.” Skye was already leading Champ away.
As they approached the ring, Mrs. Chambers just happened to turn, and her face lit up with surprise. “What’s going on? Where’s Bucky? Skye?”
“Bucky’s thrush got the best of him,” Skye said. “Joey’s going to ride Champ.”
“Kids, look!” Mrs. Chambers said to the other students. “Joey’s going to ride Champ in the horse show.”
The students cheered as their Keystone Stables team approached the entrance gate and lined up fifth in a field of six. Skye checked Champ’s cinch, bit, and bridle, and Mr. Chambers checked Joey’s number “10” on his back and the stirrups one more time.
Chad started hurrying toward the judge’s stand. “I’ll report to the booth about the change in mounts.”
“Now remember, Joey,” Skye said, “do the same thing you’ve been doing with Bucky.”
“Okay!” Joey’s big, broad smile spread all over his face.
“Let’s have a quick prayer,” Mr. Chambers said, bowing his head. Skye and Joey bowed their heads too.
“Dear Lord, we pray that you’ll bless Joey’s efforts. He’s done so well learning to ride this summer. We pray for Champ’s and Joey’s safety. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”
Yes, please protect Champ, Skye prayed silently, and Joey.
Just as Mr. Chambers finished, the loudspeaker blared, “Attention, ladies and gentlemen, the Special-Needs Beginners’ Western Pleasure class is now starting.”
The gate swung outward, and six horse-and-rider teams entered, walking single file along the perimeter of the ring.
“I kin do this!” Joey yelled back as he rode Champ into the ring. “You’ll see.”
Skye and Mr. Chambers hurried to the edge of the ring and leaned against the fence. Skye took a deep breath and watched every move Joey and Champ made. Chad returned shortly.
“Ladies and gentlemen, walk your horses,” the loudspeaker echoed.
As though Joey had ridden Champ all of his life, he maneuvered the horse without a flaw.
“Reverse your mounts,” the loudspeaker blared, and Joey did so without mistake.
Around the riders went, walking, trotting, turning, and backing their mounts. At last, they were instructed to dismount and lead their horses around the ring. Joey performed exactly as Skye had taught him.
Skye threw another quick glance across the show ring to where she had seen Hannah before. Miss Snoot was still there. While her horse lazily swished flies, she sat in the saddle like a bored rock. With her arms folded, she sneered, her face twisted as though she were sucking on lemons.
You are so pathetic! Skye thought
as her attention returned to the ring.
Joey led Champ to the center where he lined up with the five other teams. Joey tugged on his horse’s bridle. Like a picture in a magazine, Champ stretched out his legs and arched his neck, displaying the champion Quarter Horse features that he and his bloodline possessed.
Skye’s eyes never left the judge as he walked to the booth. In less than a minute, he returned to the ring carrying three ribbons: blue, red, and yellow.
“First place goes to Number 10, Joey Klingerman, and his mount, Champ,” the loudspeaker blared as the judge handed Joey a big blue ribbon.
The grandstand erupted with cheers as everyone along the fence joined in.
“They did it!” Skye yelled. “Joey and Champ did it!”
“Way to go, Joey!” Mr. Chambers yelled as the others continued to cheer.
The exit gate swung open, and the field left the ring. Joey led Champ to one of the warmest greetings the Keystone Stables folks had ever given to anyone, man or beast.
Skye patted Joey on the back and took Champ’s reins from his hands. “Joey, I’m so proud of you. Look at that! You won a blue ribbon!”
“I promised you I’d do it.” Joey’s voice bubbled. “Champ is the best horsey in the whole wide world.”
“Well, Joey,” Mr. Chambers said, “you did a great job. Didn’t he, kids?”
“He sure did,” Morgan said from Blaze’s back. The others agreed.
“You’re a real western dude now.” Chad wrapped his arm around Joey.
Skye, beaming with pride, noticed a powder blue Stetson making its way toward her and her circle of friends. It couldn’t be!
But it was!
It was Hannah Gilbert!
Clenching Champ’s reins in her fists, Skye watched Hannah like a hawk.
Hannah pushed her way through the tight-knit group and faced Skye almost eyeball to eyeball. Maybe she’s after Chad, Skye thought as her face burned with confusion.
Mrs. Chambers looked at Hannah with suspicious eyes. “Kids, what do you say we all go get something to eat?”
“Ooh, I’m as hungry as a bear,” Joey said.
“Me too,” another student said, and the others agreed.
Hannah raised her hand to gain attention. “I don’t mean to crash your party here, but I’d like to say something, and then I’ll skedaddle. I’d like you all to hear it.”
Skye took a step backward. She felt like crawling under Champ. Oh, no. She’s out for blood.
“What is it, Hannah?” Mr. Chambers said.
“I just want to say that I’ve been watching you guys for a long time, especially Skye. Chad’s been inviting me to your church, but I thought you all were a bunch of fakes. I thought Skye was the biggest phony of all.”
Skye put her hand on Champ’s neck, twisting his mane in her fingers. She looked at the ground.
Hannah continued. “But I’ve noticed how you treat everybody the same. With kindness. And Skye? When you let Joey ride your horse after what happened at the Fourth of July program, I knew you were for real. I’d really like to come to your church. Would you be okay with that?”
Skye looked at Hannah with eyes as big as the medallions on the blue hat. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
Mrs. Chambers took one step toward Hannah and reached for the girl’s hand. “Of course, Hannah; that’ll be more than okay. We’d love to have you, wouldn’t we, kids?”
“Sure,” Joey said. “We love you, and Jesus loves you too.”
The others joined in with their agreement.
“I have to go,” Hannah said, hurrying away. “My class is up next. See you all later.”
“Later,” Morgan said.
Skye was still standing with her mouth open.
“Well,” Mr. Chambers said, “how about that?”
Skye looked up into the faces of all her friends. “I can’t believe it. She really meant that, didn’t she?”
Mrs. Chambers’ blue eyes sparkled. “I think she did, honey. Which goes to show, you never know how your actions—or reactions—are going to affect someone else.”
“I—I just wanted to do what was right,” Skye said. “I never thought my letting Joey ride Champ would matter to anyone but me.”
“Cloud, it mattered to me.” Joey held up his prize. “Look! I won a blue ribbon.”
Skye gave Joey her best smile. “And I’m really glad for you, Joey.”
“I’ve been thinkin’ a whole big bunch lately,” Joey said. “And do you know what?”
“What?” Mr. Chambers looked both amused and curious.
“Yeah, tell us,” one student said.
“Well, Skye’s my lovely queen.” Joey ambled toward Morgan, reached up, and handed her the blue ribbon. “But Morgan’s my new girlfriend! She’s the prettiest princess I ever knew.”
“It must be the freckles!” Chad said.
Everyone broke into boisterous laughter.
Skye joined her friends in the special moment of fun. Her eyes met Morgan’s, whose blushing face portrayed a painful, I can’t believe this!
Skye glanced at Chad. In heart-fluttering style, he glanced back with his dimpled smile.
Then Skye studied Mr. and Mrs. Chambers, her mom and dad, who had loved her through all the tough times, who had loved her in spite of herself. Their faces beamed with pride, that special pride reserved for parents of special kids.
Skye looked at Joey, now dumping all his affection on Morgan, and her heart filled with a new understanding of a special way to love a boy like Joey Klingerman. Now she realized that God loved Joey and had made him for a purpose. Maybe part of that purpose was for Skye Nicholson to grow in the Lord.
At last, Skye understood. She understood that God also loved her no matter what, and she understood that loving God also meant loving others—no matter what. Thanks to Mom and Dad Chambers, Morgan, Chad, and Joey, she now knew what that meant. She would never be the same.
“Now let’s all go get something to eat!” Mr. Chambers captured everyone’s attention, and a raucous cheer erupted.
Skye threw her arms around her horse’s neck and gave him a kiss on his soft, warm cheek. “That’s cool,” she said. “Really cool.”
A Letter to my Keystone Stables Fans
Dear Reader,
Are you crazy about horses like I am? Are you fortunate enough to have a horse now, or are you dreaming about the day when you will have one of your very own?
I’ve been crazy about horses ever since I can remember. When I was a child, I lived where I couldn’t have a horse. Even if I had lived in the country, my folks didn’t have the money to buy me one. So, as I grew up in a small coal town in central Pennsylvania, I dreamed about horses and collected horse pictures and horse models. I drew horse pictures and wrote horse stories, and I read every horse book I could get my hands on.
For Christmas when I was ten, I received a leather-fringed western jacket and a cowgirl hat. Weather permitting, I wore them when I walked to and from school. On the way, I imagined that I was riding a gleaming white steed into a world of mountain trails and forest paths.
Occasionally, during the summer, my mother took me to a riding academy where I rode a horse for one hour at a time. I always rubbed my hands (and hard!) on my mount before we left the ranch. For the rest of the day I tried not to wash my hands so I could smell the horse and remember the great time I had. Of course, I never could sit at the dinner table without Mother first sending me to the faucet to get rid of that “awful stench.”
To get my own horse, I had to wait until I grew up, married, and bought a home in the country with enough land for a barn and a pasture. Moon Doggie, my very first horse, was a handsome brown and white pinto Welsh Mountain Pony. Many other equines came to live at our place where, in later years, my husband and I also opened our hearts to foster kids who needed a caring home. Most of the kids loved the horses as much as I did.
Although owning horses and rearing foster kids are now in my past, I
fondly remember my favorite steed, who has long since passed from the scene. Rex, part Quarter Horse and part Tennessee Walker, was a 14 1/2 hands-high bay. Rex was the kind of horse every kid dreams about. With a smooth walking gait, he gave me a thrilling ride every time I climbed into the saddle. Yet, he was so gentle, a young child could sit confidently on his back. Rex loved sugar cubes and nuzzled my pockets to find them. When cleaning his hooves, all I had to do was touch the target leg, and he lifted his hoof into my waiting hands. Rex was my special horse, and although he died at the ripe old age of twenty-five many years ago, I still miss him.
If you have a horse now or just dream about the day when you will, I beg you to do all you can to learn how to treat with tender love and respect one of God’s most beautiful creatures. Horses make wonderful pets, but they require much more attention than a dog or a cat. For their loyal devotion to you, they only ask that you love them in return with the proper food, a clean barn, and the best of care.
Although Skye and Joey’s story that you just read is fiction, the following pages contain horse facts that any horse lover will enjoy. It is my desire that these pages will help you to either care for your own horse better now or prepare you for that moment when you’ll be able to throw your arms around that one special horse of your dreams that you can call your very own.
Happy riding!
Marsha Hubler
Are You Ready to Own Your First Horse?
The most exciting moment in any horse lover’s life is to look into the eyes of a horse she can call her very own. No matter how old you are when you buy your first horse, it’s hard to match the thrill of climbing onto his back and taking that first ride on a woodsy trail or dusty road that winds through open fields. A well-trained mount will give you a special friendship and years of pleasure as you learn to work with him and become a confident equestrian team.
But owning a horse involves much more than hopping on his back, racing him into a lather of sweat, and putting him back in his stall until you’re ready to ride him again.
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