“It’s a big secret, but you’re going to love it,” Carole assured me.
I groaned. I’d had enough of secrets for a while, and I said so. But as soon as they told me what the secret was, I felt a whole lot better about it. Of course, before they told me, they had to go into this whole long speech about Phil inviting them to his Pony Club meeting and their not being sure whether they should go, blah blah blah. Before long I felt like just shaking the secret out of them. But they finally got to the point.
Carole grinned. “Does the word ‘tallyho’ mean anything to you?”
I could hardly believe my ears. “A hunt?” I exclaimed. “There’s going to be a fox hunt?”
“And we get to be in it!” Lisa said.
“It’s going to be at Cross County in a few weeks,” Carole explained. “It’s an annual hunt for all the young riders, and this time they’re allowed to invite friends.”
“And that means us?” It was just too incredible for words. We were all going to get to ride in a real fox hunt! It would be so exciting—hounds, horns, the thrill of the chase.…
It was such thrilling news that all thoughts of Paul Revere, fractions, and To Kill a Mockingbird flew straight out of my head. And so we come to the next part of my story.…
FROM: DSlattVT
TO: Steviethegreat
SUBJECT: Your assignment
MESSAGE:
Okay, it’s like midnight and I’m so sleepy I’m about to drop. At least it’s Saturday so I don’t have to get up for school tomorrow. I can’t wait for summer!
Anyway, the reason I’m writing is that I’ve been thinking about your report all day. I was also thinking about Miss Fenton, and how she’s always getting worked up about telling the truth and being careful and all that kind of stuff. So the point is, I started getting worried that when you tell her what happened up here in Vermont, she might get the wrong idea about you, and then you’d be in more trouble than ever. So I got inspired, and I wrote a short essay about you, explaining all the good stuff you did up here just in case she misses the point. Here goes:
Stevie Is:
The Perfect Friend
Why is Stevie such a good friend, you ask? Allow me to list just a few of her many fine qualities, in alphabetical order for clarity and organization, since this is a school project.
Stevie is BRAVE. She raced in to save me from a horrible rockslide, even though it meant risking her own safety.
Stevie is CAREFUL. She didn’t want to canter in the snow because it was too dangerous.
Stevie is HELPFUL. She pitched in with all the hard work of sugaring off.
Stevie is HONEST. She didn’t want us to keep my accident a secret because she always likes to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Stevie is LOYAL. She kept my secret even though she didn’t feel right about it.
Stevie is RESOURCEFUL. She figured out a way to keep my secret for days and days, even though it seemed impossible. And even though, like I said before, she’s so honest that she didn’t want to do it.
Stevie is RESPONSIBLE. Being responsible may be one of the most important things someone can be. And Stevie is. Responsible, I mean. She took responsibility for her part in my accident. And she was responsible enough to try to talk me into going to the doctor right after it happened. She also tried to be responsible about doing her homework while she was here. But I talked her out of it and kept her so busy that she didn’t have time. So it was really all my fault that she didn’t get it done.
Stevie is WONDERFUL. She has every quality that a friend—or an above-average student—should have. Don’t you agree, Miss Fenton?
There you have it. What do you think? I hope you decide to use it. I think it will really help Miss Fenton understand you better.
I was also thinking about the multimedia thing. Remember how you said on the phone that you were going to try to find more different kinds of stuff to include? Well, I remembered that I saved an article that came out in our local newspaper after you left. I always meant to send you a copy, because it actually mentions you, but I forgot until now. I scanned it into my computer and I’m attaching the file to this e-mail, so you can put the article in your report just as it appeared in the paper. I thought that would add a nice multimedia touch. (See? I may have moved, but great minds still think alike, right?)
By the way, it was really great talking to you on the phone the other day. We have to do that more often! :-)
ANNUAL SUGARING OFF AT SUGARBUSH A SWEET SUCCESS
SUGARBUSH, VT—
It doesn’t get much sweeter than this!
Local equestrian Daniel Daviet has once again proved that sugaring-off season can be a time of fun for young and old alike. Daviet, who owns and operates Sugarbush Stables, has made a tradition of his own during maple sugar season. He sponsors a sap-collecting contest for his young riders, with the prize being special riding-class honors.
“The kids seem to have fun,” Daviet remarked during the annual post-collection bash at the stables. “And it’s a nice way to keep a Vermont tradition alive.”
This reporter could not agree more.
This year two members of the winning team are local seventh-graders Elizabeth Hale and Dinah Slattery. Both girls enjoy riding at Sugarbush Stables very much and hope to enter the sugaring contest again next year. We wish them luck.
Steven Lake, a ten-year-old boy visiting from Virginia, made up the third member of the winning team. Ms. Slattery told this reporter, “We never could have done it without Steve. He was a real inspiration.”
Thanks for coming, Steve. May your visit to the Green Mountain State leave you with many sweet boyhood memories!
Welcome to My Life …
Well, Miss Fenton, as you can see from the unsolicited essay from Dinah, my trip to Vermont probably made me a better person. Of course, she may have exaggerated a tiny bit about a few things, like the part about me being brave. I only did what I had to do. But let me assure you that the part about my homework is the absolute truth. I’m sure I would have gotten it all finished by the time I got back if there hadn’t been so many distractions up in Vermont.
In any case, despite my excitement about the upcoming fox hunt, I was determined to keep up with my homework once I returned to Willow Creek at the end of spring break. First, though, I had a very important responsibility to attend to. Namely, the next meeting of my Pony Club, which is called Horse Wise. In case you’re not familiar with it, the U.S. Pony Club was started in 1953 for the purpose of teaching young people more about horse care and good riding. Some people are a bit confused by the name, Pony Club, because they think we must all ride tiny Shetland ponies or something. But most of us in Horse Wise ride full-size horses, just like we do at our regular riding lessons. I myself normally ride a Thoroughbred gelding named Topside. He’s a wonderful horse and very well trained, since he used to belong to Dorothy DeSoto, the famous championship rider.
My friends both have their favorite mounts, too. For Carole, it’s obvious—she always rides her own horse, a bay gelding with a lopsided white star on his forehead, named Starlight. Lisa’s favorite is always Pepper, a wonderful, sweet-tempered old dapple-gray gelding who has been at Pine Hollow for years and years.
However, at the Horse Wise meeting in question, we weren’t going to be doing any riding. That’s because it was an unmounted meeting. We have those every other week, because Max believes there’s more to being a good horseperson than just good riding. So in our unmounted meetings we learn about stuff like stable management and grooming and all sorts of other things. We also sometimes have guest speakers. On that fateful day, our speaker was Judy Barker, the vet who takes care of the horses at Pine Hollow as well as those at many other stables in the area.
My friends and I were sitting on the floor in the indoor ring, paying close attention as Judy spoke (though I was, perhaps, slightly distracted by the thought of my upcoming math test).
“The most importan
t health care a horse gets,” Judy told us, “is from its rider.”
That made sense to me. But I wasn’t surprised. Judy really knows her stuff.
Judy went on. “Now I would like each of you to fetch the horse you usually ride and your grooming bucket so we can get some hands-on practice. We’ll meet up again in the side paddock in a few minutes.”
I hopped up and followed my friends out of the indoor ring. “This should be interesting,” Carole said.
“Definitely,” I agreed. “I love learning new things, whether it’s at the stable or, say, in history class.”
“We know,” Lisa said. “You’re a very fine student, Stevie. It’s one of the qualities I admire most about you.”
I hurried to Topside’s stall. He was munching on some hay when I got there, and he seemed happy to see me. I slung his grooming bucket over one arm, then snapped a lead line to his halter and led him out to the paddock, arriving at the same time as most of the other Pony Clubbers.
We got right down to work. Judy told us to start grooming as usual, saying that grooming was an excellent time to check out our horses’ physical conditions and check them for soundness.
Meg Durham was the first to find something out of the ordinary. She was grooming Patch, a calm pinto she often rides. “What’s this?” she called, pointing to his left foreleg.
Judy went to take a look. I happened to be working near Patch, so I leaned over to see. Patch had a small, raised lump, about half an inch across, just above the fetlock.
The vet saw it, too. She nodded, not looking too worried. “Anybody know what this is?” she asked the group.
Lisa had come forward from her place beside me to peer at the bump. “Patch is allergic to flies,” she said. “I bet it’s a fly bite.”
“I bet you’re right,” Judy agreed. “It should go away on its own. The best thing to do for Patch is spray him for flies.”
Meg went inside to get the fly spray, and the rest of us got back to work. I was enjoying myself. At first I was distracted with anticipation at the thought of reading To Kill a Mockingbird when I got home, but soon the warm spring sun and the familiar task of grooming took over. Topside was having an even better time than I was. Like most horses, he adores being groomed. He kept letting out these little grunts and sighs of contentment as I worked.
Of course, I was also following Judy’s advice and checking over the horses body while I groomed him. I was just thinking that Topside had to be the healthiest horse in the state of Virginia when I noticed Lisa frowning.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. “Is Pepper okay?”
Lisa shrugged. “He just doesn’t seem very interested in the grooming. It’s like he’s not alert or something.”
I could understand why she was worried, but I doubted it was any big deal. Pepper had always been healthy. “He probably just doesn’t feel in top condition because he’s not fully groomed yet. Wait to see how he feels when his coat’s shiny, okay?”
Lisa smiled gratefully and got back to work. But when Judy stopped by a few minutes later, I heard Lisa repeat her concerns.
I watched over Topside’s back as Judy checked Pepper over quickly. When she finished, she gave Lisa a reassuring smile. “He’s just getting old.” I stopped my brushing and watched as Judy pried Pepper’s mouth open and showed Lisa his big, yellowish teeth. “Look at the wear on these teeth and the angle of the jaw,” Judy said. “Max probably knows for sure, but I’d guess Pepper is somewhere in his mid-twenties. In horse years, that makes him nearly ninety. I’m sure Max is going to retire him soon.”
My jaw dropped. I could tell that Lisa was just as surprised. Pepper was ninety? No wonder he sometimes had trouble keeping up with Topside and Starlight on our trail rides lately. It was pretty amazing that a horse his age could even manage a trail ride anymore! I guess that just goes to show what good care Max takes of all his horses. (And, of course, what good care Lisa always takes of Pepper when she rides him.)
I went back to concentrating on Topside, and I didn’t pay much attention to the other kids’ comments and questions. That is, not until I heard Carole’s voice.
“Judy,” she called. “Something’s wrong with Starlight.”
I glanced over at Carole, surprised. A worried frown creased her forehead, and she was running her hand down Starlight’s right foreleg.
Judy hurried over. “What is it?”
“Look,” Carole said. “When I run my hand down his leg, it feels warm and swollen at the knee.”
“Just the right knee?” Judy asked.
Carole blushed a little. I guess that meant she’d forgotten to check the other leg, which just goes to show how worried she was. Normally she remembers to do everything right when it comes to horses (even though she still sometimes forgets her own telephone number, ha ha!).
She quickly checked Starlight’s left leg. “It’s just the right one that’s swollen,” she reported.
Judy felt Starlight’s legs for herself. “Has he been limping or favoring his right leg lately?”
Carole shook her head. Then she unclipped his lead rope and led him around so Judy could see for herself.
“That’s good news,” Judy said. “Whatever it is, it barely shows in his walk yet. That means we’ve caught it early, before much damage has been done.”
By this time, the entire group was watching Starlight. Judy spent a few more minutes examining his knee, then stood and faced us.
“It could be a couple of things,” she said. “But they all come down to the same prescription for now. Does anybody know what that is?”
It didn’t take long for various Horse Wise members to come up with the various steps of the prescription—complete rest, bandages, and hosing the sore joint.
I glanced over at Carole. She looked upset, and I couldn’t blame her. Starlight’s problem didn’t seem to be too serious, but it still meant that she wouldn’t be able to ride him until he was better.
“How long will Starlight need to rest?” she asked Judy.
Judy shrugged. “Hard to say. It could be as little as two weeks. We’ll see.”
I felt terrible for Carole. For her, two weeks without riding was almost as bad as two years. Lisa and I did our best to comfort her, but we knew it wouldn’t be easy for her. She did her best to put on a brave front as she secured Starlight to the paddock fence and headed inside to get some bandages.
“Poor Carole,” Lisa said to me. “This is going to be really tough on her.”
“I know,” I agreed, picking up a comb to work on Topside’s mane. “But if anyone can help Starlight recover quickly, its Carole. She’ll probably take better care of him than anyone has ever taken care of any horse in the history of the world.”
Lisa giggled, but she still looked kind of sad. I felt sad, too, for Carole’s sake. We all know there’s more to horse care than riding, but still, riding really is an awfully big part of it!
A few minutes later I saw Max coming out of the stable building and heading toward us. Carole was right behind him.
“Here she comes,” I whispered, nudging Lisa, who was bent over one of Pepper’s hooves. “Let’s see if we can cheer her up, okay?”
But we never got a chance to try. Max had an announcement to make. “Don’t stop working,” he told us. “Just work and listen at the same time, because I’ve got some news. I’ve just been speaking with a former student of mine. It seems that she’s been spending some time working with a student of hers who’s going to be appearing at a horse show in western Virginia. She suggested that she come over here the day after the show and have a reunion of sorts—”
I gasped, suddenly certain that I had guessed exactly who Max was talking about. “Dorothy DeSoto!” I blurted out, so excited that I almost dropped my comb. “She wants to see Topside!”
“—with the horse she rode in the show ring for so many years,” Max went on.
I hardly heard him. My mind was filled with the thrilling news. Dorothy DeSoto! Coming here
! Soon! It was almost too good to be true. “Oh, it’s going to be so great to see her!” I exclaimed.
Suddenly I noticed that Max was glaring at me, looking slightly disgruntled. “Do I get to finish, or do you know the rest of the good news?”
“There’s more?” I asked, wondering what it could possibly be. When Max nodded, the answer popped into my mind. “Oh, then it has to be that she wants to actually ride Topside.”
“Who’s doing the announcing? You or me?” Max grumbled. But I was pretty sure I saw a twinkle in his eye that meant he was sort of amused. At least I hoped so.
I decided to play it safe just in case. “Sorry, Max,” I said contritely. “Please go on. I’ll be as quiet as a mouse.”
Max went on to give us the rest of the news. He explained that Dorothy would be coming to Pine Hollow on Sunday, two weeks and one day from that very day. She would be reunited with Topside and perform a dressage demonstration for anybody who wanted to watch it.
I was absolutely thrilled. Dressage is one of my favorite forms of riding, and Dorothy was the best of the best when she was competing. She can’t ride competitively anymore because of an injury, but she trains horses and she’s still the best. A dressage demonstration featuring Dorothy DeSoto was huge news!
I could tell that Lisa was excited, too, and even Carole had perked up quite a bit. She came over to where I was standing.
“It’s going to be great, isn’t it?” I said to her.
She nodded and smiled, then bent to pick a brush out of Topside’s grooming bucket. “Let me give you a hand,” she suggested. “After all, we want to make sure Topside is in perfect shape for his big day, right?”
I grinned at her, happy that she didn’t seem too bummed out about Starlight’s knee. “Definitely,” I agreed, getting back to work with renewed gusto.
FROM: Steviethegreat
TO: HorseGal
SUBJECT: Legs
MESSAGE:
Hi, Carole! I have a very important question for you. I just got to the part of my report where I’m talking about Starlight’s leg problem. Lisa keeps telling me to make sure my report has substance, and we all know she’s the expert when it comes to school! What exactly did Judy think was wrong again? Can you e-mail me back as soon as you get this? I want to make sure I get all the details right. Because I know how Miss Fenton feels about details.…
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