Read Online Pony Rebellion by Janet Rising - Free Book Online Page B

worse.
    â€œI just can’t understand it…” murmured Dee as Dolly napped toward the broom handles, digging her pink-bandaged toes in and refusing to go anywhere near them.
    â€œBambi’s started to shake her head—it’s just not like her!” Cat told us. Drummer was lethargic. I could hardly get him out of a walk—and I kept thinking I could hear someone snickering and laughing again and again. It was driving me nuts!
    â€œWell if anything, you’re worse than yesterday!” Sophie remarked gloomily as we all lined up. Tiffany pawed the ground and dropped her head. Bean was sitting with one arm through her reins, the other fiddling with her plait. She’d been darting all over the place during practice, cannoning into Moth, who had jumped around as though she was being stung. Now Tiff was sniffing the school surface, snorting through her nose and pawing the ground.
    â€œWe’ll try again tomorrow,” sighed Sophie. “But if we’re no better then, we’ll have to think seriously about whether we ought to pull out of the whole extravaganza.”
    There were protests all around, but Sophie shrugged her shoulders. “I’m sure you don’t want to go and make fools of yourselves, do you?”
    â€œNo, we have to get better,” said Cat. “We all really want to do this!”
    â€œI know, but I’m not trying to threaten you—we can’t do it if we’re no good,” explained Sophie. We knew she was right, but no one wanted to think about it—we all wanted to do the activity ride.
    â€œLook out!” Sophie suddenly shouted, rushing toward Tiffany—but she was too late. Tiffany sank onto the surface of the school with a grunt.
    â€œAhhhh!” yelled Bean, leaping off as Tiffany rolled over onto her side and rubbed one side of her face in the sand.
    â€œGet her up !” screamed Sophie, pulling the reins and shooing Tiffany before she rolled right over and broke her saddle.
    I heard someone whisper, “Good one, Tiff, wish I’d thought of that!”
    â€œOh, Tiffany, are you all right? She must have colic!” Bean cried, dismayed.
    â€œI don’t think so. She’s just trying to roll,” Sophie told her. “She’s not got any classic colic signs. She’s pulling the wool over your eyes.”
    â€œBut she’s never, ever done that,” Bean said, anxiously looking Tiffany over.
    I heard another whisper: “A sit-down—great idea!”
    â€œYou could have been crushed, Bean,” Dec pointed out, concerned. I saw James look skyward.
    â€œAre you sure you’re all right, Tiff?” asked Bean, stroking Tiffany’s face.
    â€œDid anyone else hear that?” I asked. I had distinctly heard a snort, like someone was trying not to laugh.
    â€œGive it a rest, Pia, we’re so not in the mood,” Dee said despondently.
    â€œOK, well if the practice has officially finished, I think I’ll do some training,” said Cat, nudging Bambi out onto the track to work on her lateral movements.
    â€œGood idea,” agreed James, joining her in the middle of the track. Sighing, I nudged Drummer to the outside track and worked on our trot-to-canter then our walk-to-canter transitions. Drummer perked up immediately, working on the bit and responding to my aids perfectly. It was like riding a different pony. He’d been like a plank of wood when we’d been practicing the activity ride. Now he was improving and interested in what we were doing.
    â€œWhy couldn’t you be like this on the ride?” I muttered under my breath, expecting some smart-aleck reply, as usual. Except I didn’t get one. Drummer stayed silent.
    How often does that happen? I’ll tell you— never! Drummer is not a pony to hold his tongue when the opportunity for back talk is presented. Oh no, not Drummer. But he isn’t above telling the others to be quiet , I