Lisa said. “I was watching Zach. Did it go well?”
Carole was miffed. “I thought so, didn’t you, Stevie?”
Stevie shrugged apologetically. “Sorry, I was watching Zach, too.”
Carole could hardly believe it. She had just ridden a perfect round of jumps, her timing and style flawless. If this had been a horse show she would have won firstplace for sure, and absolutely no one had paid her the slightest bit of attention. She felt herself burning inside, and she started to ride away.
“Hey, you want to meet at TD’s later?” Stevie called. Tastee Delight was the local ice cream parlor and one of their favorite places for having Saddle Club meetings. Carole opened her mouth to accept when Lisa jumped in.
“Good idea, Stevie. We could take Zach. He looks like he could use a break.”
That’s it!
Carole thought.
If Zach is going, there is no way I am!
“Can’t make it, guys,” she told them. “I’ve got work.” She headed quickly into the stable.
Actually she didn’t have anything planned for the rest of the day at all, but
whatever
she did or
wherever
she went, she did not want to hear another word about Zachary Simpson!
T HE EVENING BEFORE the schooling show, The Saddle Club met at Pine Hollow to make sure everything was in order.
“I’m glad the other clubs are coming here instead of us going to them,” Lisa said.
“It does make it a lot easier,” Carole agreed. “When we travel to a show it seems like we have to bring practically every piece of equipment in the stable.”
Stevie smiled happily. “This time if we forget something, all we have to do is run back in here and get it. Or if something breaks, we’ve got plenty of replacements right on hand.”
“Which reminds me, I need to take one last look atmy tack to make sure none of the straps are worn,” Carole said.
“Me too,” Lisa agreed.
While Carole and Lisa made a quick but thorough inspection of their equipment, Stevie gave Barq’s saddle a once-over, too, since she knew Zach would be riding him in the show. She was surprised by what she found. “Take a look at this,” she said, motioning her friends over.
While the leather was in good condition, due to all the years of loving care that Max and his riders devoted to its upkeep, there were obvious flecks of dirt that recent riding had deposited on it.
“It seems Zach forgot to clean his saddle after his last ride,” Carole observed.
Lisa held up another piece of equipment. “Not to mention his bridle.”
Stevie was amazed. “How could he possibly forget to clean his tack the night before a show?”
“Maybe he’s a little scattered,” Lisa suggested. “He does have a lot to remember.”
Stevie frowned. “Taking care of your equipment is simple, basic horsemanship.”
Carole’s lips were pressed in a disapproving line. “I know that and you know that, but apparently Zachary Simpson doesn’t know that.”
Stevie examined a strap with white crusty sweat marks. “He’s definitely going to lose points when the judges spot this.”
Lisa nodded. “And they
will
spot it.”
“Guaranteed, since one of the judges is Max,” Carole agreed.
“Okay.” Stevie sighed. “We’d better get to work.”
Carole put her hands on her hips. “Are we going to do what I think we’re going to do?”
Stevie was already reaching for the saddle soap. “Yep.”
“I’ll get some water,” Lisa volunteered.
Carole got the buffing cloths and metal polish from a shelf. “You know, he really should be doing this himself.”
Stevie settled herself comfortably and set to work. “I think we should cut him some slack. He is new.”
Lisa returned with a bucket of water and placed it where all three of them could reach it easily. “He’s really nice. I don’t mind helping him out.”
Carole started cleaning the snaffle bit. “It’s not the helping him out part that bothers me. How is he going to learn if he doesn’t bother to study?”
Lisa frowned as she worked on
Carole was miffed. “I thought so, didn’t you, Stevie?”
Stevie shrugged apologetically. “Sorry, I was watching Zach, too.”
Carole could hardly believe it. She had just ridden a perfect round of jumps, her timing and style flawless. If this had been a horse show she would have won firstplace for sure, and absolutely no one had paid her the slightest bit of attention. She felt herself burning inside, and she started to ride away.
“Hey, you want to meet at TD’s later?” Stevie called. Tastee Delight was the local ice cream parlor and one of their favorite places for having Saddle Club meetings. Carole opened her mouth to accept when Lisa jumped in.
“Good idea, Stevie. We could take Zach. He looks like he could use a break.”
That’s it!
Carole thought.
If Zach is going, there is no way I am!
“Can’t make it, guys,” she told them. “I’ve got work.” She headed quickly into the stable.
Actually she didn’t have anything planned for the rest of the day at all, but
whatever
she did or
wherever
she went, she did not want to hear another word about Zachary Simpson!
T HE EVENING BEFORE the schooling show, The Saddle Club met at Pine Hollow to make sure everything was in order.
“I’m glad the other clubs are coming here instead of us going to them,” Lisa said.
“It does make it a lot easier,” Carole agreed. “When we travel to a show it seems like we have to bring practically every piece of equipment in the stable.”
Stevie smiled happily. “This time if we forget something, all we have to do is run back in here and get it. Or if something breaks, we’ve got plenty of replacements right on hand.”
“Which reminds me, I need to take one last look atmy tack to make sure none of the straps are worn,” Carole said.
“Me too,” Lisa agreed.
While Carole and Lisa made a quick but thorough inspection of their equipment, Stevie gave Barq’s saddle a once-over, too, since she knew Zach would be riding him in the show. She was surprised by what she found. “Take a look at this,” she said, motioning her friends over.
While the leather was in good condition, due to all the years of loving care that Max and his riders devoted to its upkeep, there were obvious flecks of dirt that recent riding had deposited on it.
“It seems Zach forgot to clean his saddle after his last ride,” Carole observed.
Lisa held up another piece of equipment. “Not to mention his bridle.”
Stevie was amazed. “How could he possibly forget to clean his tack the night before a show?”
“Maybe he’s a little scattered,” Lisa suggested. “He does have a lot to remember.”
Stevie frowned. “Taking care of your equipment is simple, basic horsemanship.”
Carole’s lips were pressed in a disapproving line. “I know that and you know that, but apparently Zachary Simpson doesn’t know that.”
Stevie examined a strap with white crusty sweat marks. “He’s definitely going to lose points when the judges spot this.”
Lisa nodded. “And they
will
spot it.”
“Guaranteed, since one of the judges is Max,” Carole agreed.
“Okay.” Stevie sighed. “We’d better get to work.”
Carole put her hands on her hips. “Are we going to do what I think we’re going to do?”
Stevie was already reaching for the saddle soap. “Yep.”
“I’ll get some water,” Lisa volunteered.
Carole got the buffing cloths and metal polish from a shelf. “You know, he really should be doing this himself.”
Stevie settled herself comfortably and set to work. “I think we should cut him some slack. He is new.”
Lisa returned with a bucket of water and placed it where all three of them could reach it easily. “He’s really nice. I don’t mind helping him out.”
Carole started cleaning the snaffle bit. “It’s not the helping him out part that bothers me. How is he going to learn if he doesn’t bother to study?”
Lisa frowned as she worked on
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