Lisa

by Bonnie Bryant

  My friends and I have been riding as often as we can. We have meetings of our Pony Club, which is called Horse Wise, on Saturdays and lessons twice a week. We’ve been working on jumping lately, which is one of my favorite things to do.

  I don’t know if Mom told you, but I got back from a trip out West a few weeks ago. Kate Devine and her parents invited us to their dude ranch to help them plan a Halloween fair fund-raising event to benefit local Native American kids. We spent several days planning the event and then worked hard to make it fun a success. We ended up raising quite a bit of money for the cause. Kate also adopted a wild mustang just after we left.

  I’ll write more soon when something else happens.

  Love,

  Lisa

  P.S. Francine Potts moved to Kentucky three years ago.

  FROM: HorseGal

  TO: Steviethegreat

  TO: LAtwood

  SUBJECT: Prancer

  MESSAGE:

  Hi, guys! I just got back from making the rounds with Judy Barker, and Dad’s on the phone gabbing away with one of his Marine Corps cronies, so I thought I’d drop you a note because Judy looked in on Prancer when she dropped me off at Pine Hollow. She says her leg is doing really well, and she thinks she’ll probably be ready for riding by sometime next month! Of course, she said she’d want to check her leg again in a couple of weeks just to make sure, but I think it’s just because she’s a good vet and good vets have to be cautious when it comes to stuff like that. But I’m sure it’s going to happen—Prancer looks so healthy she practically glows, and she’s not favoring that leg anymore at all. Isn’t that exciting news?

  Speaking of exciting news, Lisa, have you heard from your brother since you sent that letter last month? Any word on his screenplay? You can tell him I’d be happy to teach him anything he needs to know about horses, since you said he doesn’t ride himself. I’m sure he’ll want all the details to be accurate.

  Dear Diary,

  Good news from Carole! I can hardly believe Prancer is almost ready to be ridden. It’s so exciting! When she first came to Pine Hollow, I sort of thought of her as Carole’s horse. I mean, I know Starlight is Carole’s horse—I’m not talking about actual owner-ship here or anything. It’s just that Carole is the one who kind of discovered Prancer. If not for her, Prancer might not be at Pine Hollow at all. But lately I’ve sort of stopped thinking that way. Actually, when I think about it, it’s sort of like the way things are with me and Peter. Just the way I’ve finally started having a relationship with him separately from the rest of the family (or trying to, anyway), I’m also starting to spend time with Prancer apart from the rest of The Saddle Club. And it’s been wonderful. She’s a sweet, calm horse—anybody could see that—but you have to spend some time with her to realize that she has a feisty personality all her own, too. For instance, the other day I stopped by her stall after lessons and gave her some carrots I’d brought for her, but I guess I missed one. Prancer didn’t miss it, though—she reached right into my jacket pocket and took it out while my back was turned! It was really funny, especially when she gave me that innocent look when I turned around. She just stood there munching on that carrot as if nothing unusual had happened!

  I don’t think I’ve liked a horse so much since Pepper. I mean, I’ve ridden several horses since Pepper retired, and I like all of them in their own way. And I’ve learned a lot from riding Barq in class lately. But Prancer is really something special. I can’t wait until she’s back in action. I just hope Max thinks I’m good enough to ride her someday!

  Oh well, I’d better finish this entry now. I want to start my next assignment for creative writing class tonight, or at least start thinking about it. It’s due in less than two weeks, and I’m not sure what I want to write about yet. Ms. Shields is still talking about clarity. She wants us to write a one-paragraph essay on any factual topic we want. Only this time it doesn’t have to be all facts. She wants us to include our own feelings or opinions on the topic without sacrificing any clarity in the facts or making it too long. Maybe I could write something about Prancer’s leg or some other horse-related topic.

  A Day at a Horse Show

  an essay by Lisa Atwood

  There’s nothing like a day at a horse show, whether you are a competitor or simply a spectator. A horse show is a way for a horse and rider to demonstrate their abilities in various areas, such as jumping, equitation, and conformation. It’s also a way for a person who loves horses but has not actually entered the show to spend a day watching the best of the best perform. For instance, I am hoping to attend the Briarwood Horse Show, which will be held in this area soon. I know that seeing all those accomplished horses and riders will help me in my own riding education. I am especially interested in watching the hunter jumper classes, which usually feature obstacles inspired by those that a foxhunter might encounter in the field. I have always loved jumping, and there are sure to be a number of hunter jumper classes at Briarwood. For me, like many other horse show fans, a day at a show like Briarwood is a real treat.

  Dear Diary,

  What an exciting day this has been! I left the stable hours ago, but my head is still spinning from everything that happened.

  I knew it was going to be a special day from the beginning, because it was the day Judy Barker had decided that Prancer could be ridden for the first time since her accident. So Carole, Stevie, and I were in a great mood. I was especially thrilled because they’d elected to let me take the first ride on her. They thought that was only fair since I was the only one of us who’d never ridden a Thoroughbred—Carole rode Prancer once before her accident, and Stevie usually rides Topside in class. And I wasn’t about to argue with their logic!

  Judy was already giving Prancer a final check when we arrived at the stall. We were carrying her tack with all our fingers crossed, hoping that the vet wouldn’t find any last-minute problems.

  “How does she look?” Carole asked.

  “Looks just fine,” Judy said with a smile. “I’d say she’s as ready as can be for her test drive.”

  I was happy to hear that. We started tacking up the mare. It didn’t take long—as usual, Prancer behaved perfectly. I couldn’t be sure, but I thought she seemed happy to have a saddle on her back again.

  Riding Prancer was just as wonderful as I’d imagined it would be. She was eager, almost frisky, as I signaled for a walk and we rode into the outdoor ring. She picked up an easy walk and within a few steps was trotting. I could hardly believe how smooth and fast her trot was. It was amazing!

  Judy and my friends were watching from outside the ring. “Try a canter now,” Judy called as we trotted past.

  I started to slide my outside foot back to give the signal, but Prancer obviously knew what the word meant. She began cantering all on her own. And it was even better than her trot!

  After a couple of turns around the ring, Judy called to me again. “Now walk again.”

  I tightened up on the reins and sat more deeply in the saddle. I guess Prancer was having too much fun cantering to pay attention to my signal, though. She kept going. It took a little extra effort to pull her up—she was really enjoying herself.

  “That was wonderful!” I declared as I rode back to the gate.

  “She was a little hard to control, though, wasn’t she?” Judy asked.

  I shrugged. “Not really,” I said. “Poor old Prancer’s been cooped up for so long, she just wanted a chance to let it all out. I can understand that, can’t you?”

  “Sure,” Judy said. “I can understand it, but you can’t let her get away with it.”

  “I know, I know.” One of the things I both love and hate about horseback riding is that everybody always seems to notice everything I do wrong. I know that most riding mistakes are mistakes made by riders, not horses. Prancer didn’t make those mistakes, I did. But I’m not too worried. I’ll do better next time—and there are going to be a lot of next times!

  That brings me to the other exciti
ng thing that happened today. Max stopped by the ring to see how Prancer was doing, and Judy told him that she appeared to be perfectly fit.

  “I declare Prancer ready for a full load of work,” she said. “Riding and a lot more training.”

  “Well, that’s wonderful news,” Max said. “And that means this is a day just full of good news …”

  “Yes?” Carole said expectantly.

  “I’ve just heard from the Briarwood Horse Show. They’ve invited me to send some of my students to compete the week after next.”

  “Young students?” Carole asked. I knew what she was thinking, because I was thinking the same thing. Was Max talking about his adult riders—or about us?

  He didn’t keep us in suspense for long. “Yes,” he said with a smile. “Young students. All the junior riders are there by invitation, and they said I could pick four riders.”

  Four wasn’t very many. I was sure he’d pick Carole, and probably Stevie. But I haven’t been riding nearly as long as they have, or as long as some of the other intermediate riders. Still, sitting tall in Prancer’s saddle, I felt bold. “Any idea who you’ll send?” I asked.

  “Well, I’ve had to think about it for a long time,” Max said. “There are lots of considerations. First of all, I need to send riders who have something to offer a competition. Then, I also want riders who will learn something from it. I told the man at Briarwood that I have this obstreperous threesome who think they know everything and who are always coming up with wild schemes and who get themselves into trouble and that they also talk a lot in class, but he said to send them along anyway.”

  “You mean us, don’t you?” Carole asked, looking a little confused by Max’s rambling.

  “Of course he means us!” Stevie snapped. “Who else is obstreperous and talks a lot in class?”

  Max couldn’t help laughing at that. Then he told us to meet in his office after our riding class to talk about the details.

  I hated to dismount from Prancer for class, but I was supposed to ride Barq, so I went and got him ready. My friends and I didn’t have a chance to talk about the exciting news before we got to Max’s office after class.

  That was when we got the only tiny piece of bad news of the day. We found out that Veronica diAngelo was the fourth member of the Briarwood team. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised. Veronica is a terrible snob and a pretty unpleasant person most of the time, but she is a better-than-average rider. And Max is nothing if not fair. Carole and I weren’t thrilled that she was included, but Stevie was really peeved. She takes anything good that happens to Veronica as a personal affront.

  Max started telling us how the Briarwood show would work. “You are all intermediate riders in the Junior Division,” he said, tapping his pencil on the desk in front of him. “There are five different classes for you each, and each class stresses different skills and talents. Don’t assume that because you’re good riders you will do well in all the classes. That’s not always the case.”

  I felt myself nodding slightly. I suspected Max was thinking of me when he said that, and it made me feel more confident about being there. He was saying that even though I was the newest rider in the group, it didn’t mean I couldn’t succeed at the show—we all had our strengths and weaknesses as riders, no matter how long we’d been riding.

  “Your first class of the day,” Max went on, “will be Fitting and Showing. You’ll lead your horses into the ring without saddles on them. The judges will be looking for grooming, conformation, and manners. The second class is Equitation. In that, you’ll be showing your riding skills. You’ll follow instructions about gaits, directions, turns, and gait changes. Next will be a Pleasure class. That’s just what it sounds like. There are no tricky maneuvers expected, just good, solid riding and a good relationship between horse and rider. If you work well with your horse and if you both enjoy it, you’ll do well in this one.”

  Max went on to talk about the next class, Trail class, but my mind was wandering. The mention of the Pleasure class had made me think of Prancer—riding her a little earlier had certainly been a pleasure!

  I did my best to tune back in as Max described the last class, the Jumping class. “I’ll schedule some special prep classes for the four of you before we go so that you can each put your best foot forward at Briarwood,” he finished. “I want you to remember a few things, though, and one above all. This may be a chance for you to show off skills and win a ribbon or two, but most of all it’s a chance for you each to learn. You will learn from your own mistakes, and you will learn from other people’s talents and skills. Keep your eyes and your minds and your hearts open at all times.”

  Max’s words then inspired me to do my very best at the show. So what if I’m the newest rider? I just might surprise everyone. Especially since I’ve decided to ride Prancer at Briarwood. Max looked a little surprised when I told him, but he said it was okay.

  My friends, however, were another matter. The three of us went to TD’s after the meeting to celebrate, but we weren’t even halfway there when Stevie started jumping all over me, telling me all the reasons she didn’t think I should have chosen Prancer for the show. At first I tried to be patient with her, figuring she was just surprised that I hadn’t picked Barq. But after a minute or two I started to get kind of annoyed. She obviously thinks I’m not ready for a show like Briarwood or a horse like Prancer, and that kind of stings. I mean, shouldn’t best friends believe in each other?

  I tried not to get too mad, though. Stevie doesn’t always think before she speaks, and I figure this was one of those times. She’ll see that she was wrong when she sees me and Prancer at Briarwood.

  And here’s the last bit of great news for today: My parents actually agreed to sign the permission slip Max sent home with us! I wasn’t sure they were going to. Mom’s never quite understood why I like riding so much, even though she’s the one who made me take lessons in the first place. But once she heard Veronica was involved, Mom was convinced. For some reason she’s almost as impressed with the diAngelos as they are with themselves. I don’t care about the reasons, though. I’m just glad she agreed to sign.

  Nothing can stop me now—not with wonderful, perfect, incredible Prancer on my team!

  FROM: Steviethegreat

  TO: LAtwood

  CC: HorseGal

  SUBJECT: A star is born

  MESSAGE:

  Hi, guys! Lisa, I was thinking about Briarwood and everything else and thinking how cool it would be to have a horse show in our movie. In fact, don’t you think a scene set at Briarwood would make an awesome opening? I can picture it all in my head, and I thought I’d write it out here before I forget. You can send it to your brother if you want. He doesn’t even have to give me half the screenwriting credit—just a listing in the opening credits would be fine. (He can even use my title idea if he wants.) Here goes …

  HORSING AROUND

  a screenplay scene by S. Lake

  FADE IN:

  INTERIOR a stable, early morning

  CLOSE UP on STEVIE, a stunningly lovely and obviously extremely intelligent middle-school girl, braiding the mane of an attractive bay Thoroughbred horse, TOPSIDE. Stevie is dressed in spotless white breeches and a dark riding coat, and her hair is neatly braided with not a hair out of place. Topside looks good, too.

  STEVIE

  (humbly)

  This is the big day, Topside. I hope we’re good enough to compete here at the Briarwood Horse Show. Oh, I know my very discerning riding instructor, Max Regnery, says I’m the most naturally talented rider he’s ever seen, but still …

  There is the clatter of FOOTSTEPS from the aisle outside, and a moment later LISA and CAROLE appear in the doorway. They are dressed like Stevie.

  LISA

  Hello, Stevie. Are you ready for our big day?

  STEVIE

  (even more humbly)

  I hope so. I just want to do my best.

  CAROLE

  (sincerely)


  I’m sure you will. You always do. After all, you are the most naturally talented rider Max has ever seen.

  That’s all I have so far, but I could write more if you think it would help Peter. What do you think? Pretty brilliant, huh?

  Thornbury Hall

  London, England

  Dear Lisa,

  I got your last letter. Thanks for writing. I’m sorry your trip out West wasn’t more of a vacation—sounds like you didn’t have much time for fun. Still, what you wrote gave me some more good inspiration for my screenplay. I’m hoping to start putting some thoughts on paper soon. Keep writing if you can! The more stuff you send, the better.

  I guess by the time you get this, Mom probably will have told you that I got a job offer. It was in response to one of the resumes I sent out, to a real estate office here in London. I was actually only interested in a position working on their company newsletter, since that would at least be writing-related. Instead, they want me to work in the contracts office. It doesn’t sound like the most exciting job in the world, but the money’s good. And I’m sure Mom and Dad will be thrilled to know that their son won’t be sleeping in some London gutter this summer, right? Ha ha!

  Anyway, since it looks like I’ll be staying in London, I’m going to start bugging Mom and Dad about bringing the family to visit. You’d like it here, I think—there are lots of beautiful old buildings and interesting museums and things to see.

  I’d better go—I have an exam tomorrow. But write again if you can. And I hope you’ve cheered up since your last letter. You know what they say about all work and no play!

  Love,

  Peter

  Dear Diary,

  Well, I guess that mature, factual letter I wrote Peter last time didn’t quite do the trick, either. He totally missed the point of what I was saying, and when I look back at the draft of the letter I wrote here in my diary, I can’t blame him. I know Ms. Shields says that even a grocery list can be creative, but the description I gave of our trip out West was less exciting than any grocery list I’ve ever read. It’s a little embarrassing, actually. But all I can do is try again. Maybe my next creative writing assignment will help—it’s a letter, of all things, and it’s due right before winter break. Naturally, I’ve already decided to make my next letter to Peter my assignment. Maybe I’ll try drafting it in here again.