forgotten how mean some horse show people can be. I wish the sport didn’t attract snobs, but competing in horse shows usually takes a lot of money and a good horse. That’s why you sometimes see these rich kids with bad attitudes who like competing because of the prestige and because it’s an expensive thing to do. But I think we’ve just met the few rotten apples in the bunch. Not everyone is so cutthroat, self-centered, spoiled—”
“Hey, isn’t that Veronica?” Stevie asked, pointing.
U NLIKE T HE S ADDLE C LUB , who were disheveled after their long van ride and dressed in their old riding clothes, Veronica looked as fresh as if she had just woken up and showered. And no wonder. As the girls found out later, the plane ride to Philadelphia had taken less than an hour, and Veronica had then ridden in an air-conditioned limousine to the show grounds.
Now she rushed up to Danny, greeting him with an ostentatious show of affection. “You sweet thing!” she cried, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing his nose repeatedly. Danny, startled by the sudden flurry of activity in front of his nose, pulled his head back and backed off a few steps.
After getting him to stand still again, Stevie raised her eyebrow—a sure sign of sarcasm to come. “If youlove him so much,” she asked, “why aren’t you exercising him instead of me? Why weren’t you there when the van broke down today and we had to unload and reload Danny? As a matter of fact, are you sure this is your horse? I’m afraid I’ll have to see some identification before I let you take him, miss.”
Veronica glared at Stevie. “Just because my parents want me to be comfortable and rested,” she began, “doesn’t mean that I have to take your—Why, what’s this?” she suddenly said, noticing Lisa and Samson.
During Stevie’s round of insults with Veronica, Carole and Lisa had completely forgotten about The Saddle Club’s secret—Samson. Now Veronica was staring at the black horse with amazement. Although Samson was the son of Cobalt, Veronica had never taken much interest in the young gelding’s training or progress. But now she was disconcerted by the sight of Samson, and the girls knew why. Veronica had assumed she knew exactly who her competition at the Macrae was going to be, and she was now discovering that she was wrong.
“Why are you riding Samson?” Veronica asked Lisa. “Where’s Prancer? Has Samson even jumped before? Is he any good?”
“Well, he’s—” began Lisa.
“After all, Cobalt
was
his sire,” continued Veronica, not letting her finish. “And Cobalt was an amazing jumper—as all of my horses have been. Does Samson jump like Cobalt?”
“Well, he’s—” said Lisa.
“How much training have you given him?” Veronica asked.
“Well, we’ve given—” said Lisa.
“And who else has seen him jump?” Veronica said. “How high has he jumped? How—”
“We’ve taken him over a few jumps, here and there,” Carole interrupted smoothly. “He’s shown some beginning talent,” and here she paused, struggling not to giggle. Remembering the way Samson had soared over all his jumps, it was hard not to brag about him to Veronica.
“Really, we don’t know anything about him yet,” Stevie said casually. “We’re just hoping to get him used to the atmosphere of a horse show—you know, get him some experience and exposure,” she added with a straight face. After all, they weren’t exactly lying to Veronica. They
were
hoping that Samson would become accustomed to the big-show atmosphere.
“I may ride him in a few classes, but I haven’t decided yet,” Lisa finished quietly. “Max wasn’t sure if he was ready to be here, so we’re just going to see what happens.”
“Why are
you
riding him?” Veronica asked suspiciously. “I always thought it was a bad idea to pair a green horse and a green rider. Especially in a big event like this one. When you mess up, everyone who’s anyone will
“Hey, isn’t that Veronica?” Stevie asked, pointing.
U NLIKE T HE S ADDLE C LUB , who were disheveled after their long van ride and dressed in their old riding clothes, Veronica looked as fresh as if she had just woken up and showered. And no wonder. As the girls found out later, the plane ride to Philadelphia had taken less than an hour, and Veronica had then ridden in an air-conditioned limousine to the show grounds.
Now she rushed up to Danny, greeting him with an ostentatious show of affection. “You sweet thing!” she cried, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing his nose repeatedly. Danny, startled by the sudden flurry of activity in front of his nose, pulled his head back and backed off a few steps.
After getting him to stand still again, Stevie raised her eyebrow—a sure sign of sarcasm to come. “If youlove him so much,” she asked, “why aren’t you exercising him instead of me? Why weren’t you there when the van broke down today and we had to unload and reload Danny? As a matter of fact, are you sure this is your horse? I’m afraid I’ll have to see some identification before I let you take him, miss.”
Veronica glared at Stevie. “Just because my parents want me to be comfortable and rested,” she began, “doesn’t mean that I have to take your—Why, what’s this?” she suddenly said, noticing Lisa and Samson.
During Stevie’s round of insults with Veronica, Carole and Lisa had completely forgotten about The Saddle Club’s secret—Samson. Now Veronica was staring at the black horse with amazement. Although Samson was the son of Cobalt, Veronica had never taken much interest in the young gelding’s training or progress. But now she was disconcerted by the sight of Samson, and the girls knew why. Veronica had assumed she knew exactly who her competition at the Macrae was going to be, and she was now discovering that she was wrong.
“Why are you riding Samson?” Veronica asked Lisa. “Where’s Prancer? Has Samson even jumped before? Is he any good?”
“Well, he’s—” began Lisa.
“After all, Cobalt
was
his sire,” continued Veronica, not letting her finish. “And Cobalt was an amazing jumper—as all of my horses have been. Does Samson jump like Cobalt?”
“Well, he’s—” said Lisa.
“How much training have you given him?” Veronica asked.
“Well, we’ve given—” said Lisa.
“And who else has seen him jump?” Veronica said. “How high has he jumped? How—”
“We’ve taken him over a few jumps, here and there,” Carole interrupted smoothly. “He’s shown some beginning talent,” and here she paused, struggling not to giggle. Remembering the way Samson had soared over all his jumps, it was hard not to brag about him to Veronica.
“Really, we don’t know anything about him yet,” Stevie said casually. “We’re just hoping to get him used to the atmosphere of a horse show—you know, get him some experience and exposure,” she added with a straight face. After all, they weren’t exactly lying to Veronica. They
were
hoping that Samson would become accustomed to the big-show atmosphere.
“I may ride him in a few classes, but I haven’t decided yet,” Lisa finished quietly. “Max wasn’t sure if he was ready to be here, so we’re just going to see what happens.”
“Why are
you
riding him?” Veronica asked suspiciously. “I always thought it was a bad idea to pair a green horse and a green rider. Especially in a big event like this one. When you mess up, everyone who’s anyone will
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