Horse Gentler in Training Page 3

  A scream from the backyard sends us running to the rescue.

  Lizzy is staring at her lizard farm. “Bug is gone!”

  I want to go back to Princess. But Lizzy needs me. “I’ll help. We’ll find Bug.”

  The three of us are still searching for Bug when I hear the Green’s truck and trailer.

  “They’re early, Mom!” I cry. “You haven’t ridden Princess yet!”

  Simon is first out of the truck. I send him to help Lizzy.

  Mom joins Mr. Green. “I wasn’t expecting you this early.”

  I race to the barn, down the stall way, straight to Princess’s stall.

  I stop running.

  Then I stop breathing.

  I am staring at an empty stall.

  Royal Princess is gone.

  Disappearing Act

  Maybe someone let Princess out. I dash to the pasture. The only horse there is Chief.

  “Winnie?” Mom’s voice makes me spin around. “Why is the gate open?”

  I see that the pasture gate is wide open too.

  “Where’s my horse?” Austin demands.

  Mr. Green scowls. “Is Princess in the barn?”

  Austin heads for the barn. “That horse better be ready to ride!”

  Mom is frowning at me. “Winnie?”

  Austin stomps back from the barn. “What did you do with my horse?”

  Mom runs and looks for herself. “Winnie, what’s going on?”

  “I don’t know, Mom! Princess was gone when I came out!”

  “That horse is worth a fortune!” Mr. Green shouts. “I’m holding you responsible!”

  Mom manages to keep her voice gentle. “Who else knows that your horse is worth a fortune?”

  “Everybody,” I answer. “Austin brags about it all the time.”

  “I’m calling the sheriff,” Mr. Green says.

  Something hits me with the force of a horseshoe to my head. Princess unlocked the gates! And I’m the one who taught her. For a second, I think about keeping quiet. It wouldn’t be lying. I didn’t say someone stole her.

  But . . . I’m tired of my not-quite-lies. They are still lies.

  “It’s my fault,” I say. “And I’m going to find Princess and bring her back.”

  I leave them standing there as I race from the pasture.

  Simon and Lizzy are at the gate. “We’ll look this way!” Lizzy points right.

  I nod and go left.

  When I reach the dense woods, I’m out of breath. “Please help me find Princess!” I surprise myself by praying out loud.

  I half expect to see Princess when I open my eyes. She isn’t there. But my heart isn’t pounding anymore. I feel calm.

  Gentle.

  A few minutes later, I stop. I sniff. I smell horse! Horse is the best smell on earth.

  I follow my nose. Between two pines, I see Princess, standing stiff and scared.

  “Hey, Princess.” I use my gentle voice. “You need to come home.” I stay where I am and prepare to whistle.

  Princess nods, then takes a few steps toward me.

  We meet in the middle. “Good girl, Princess. You’re so smart. I guess that last trick was on me.”

  I lead her back through the woods.

  We’re almost out when I see something wiggling through the pine needles ahead. I stop so fast that Princess bumps into me. Snake?

  Then I see it. A lizard. I’m pretty sure it’s Bug. I’d almost rather see a snake. The last thing I want to do is touch that yucky creature.

  But Lizzy’s out looking for a horse, and she’s scared of horses.

  I reach down and sweep Bug up in my good hand. That leaves my bad wrist for Princess. And my wrist hurts.

  Princess nudges me with her soft nose. When I walk on, so does she. She trails behind me all the way home.

  Lizzy comes running. “You found Bug!”

  I gladly hand over the lizard. Then I walk Princess into the pasture.

  Mom, Austin, and Mr. Green join us at the gate.

  “Good job, Winnie!” Mom pushes the gate shut and locks it.

  “We still don’t know how the horse got out,” Mr. Green complains.

  “I know!” Austin says. “Winnie left the gates open. She just doesn’t want to admit it.”

  Mom looks at me, and the question is on her face.

  I shake my head. “I didn’t leave it unlocked. Princess did.”

  “Sure,” Austin says. “Blame my horse.”

  “I blame myself.” I’m still calm and gentle. “I taught her to unlock locks.”

  “No way!” Austin shouts, making Princess back off. “Just because you got her to say yes and no? You think we’re going to believe that my horse unlocked those gates?”

  Mom bursts out laughing. She points to Princess, who is at the gate, pressing her nose against the lock.

  We watch as Princess unlocks the gate.

  I jog over to her.

  Austin is right behind me. “How is that even possible?” he mutters.

  I rub Princess’s ear. “Nothing is impossible with God. Right, Princess?”

  Princess bobs her head up and down. Yes!

  All’s Well That Ends Well

  Lizzy and I follow Dad to the mailbox. It feels like a parade, a celebration.

  “I’m still not sure how your mother pulled this off,” Dad says. “But Mr. Green paid three months of boarding fees in advance.” He waves a fistful of envelopes in the air, then drops them into the box. “As of now, all bills for the Willis Wyoming Ranch are paid in full!”

  Lizzy raises the tiny red flag on our mailbox so the mail lady will pick up our bills. “I knew you’d come through, God. No worries.” She brushes a fly from her arm.

  Dad shoos another fly about to land. “I guess I’m going to have to start worrying less and praying more. Wouldn’t you say so, Winnie?” When I don’t answer right away, he says, “What are you looking at?”

  I point to the pasture. Mom is riding Princess while Chief looks on, swishing his tail to fight the flies. Dad and Lizzy follow me to the fence for a better view.

  “Princess is loving it as much as Mom,” I say.

  “How can you tell?” Lizzy asks.

  It’s hard to explain, but I try. “She’s got joy in her ears.” Princess’s ears are straight forward, with an occasional flick back to listen to Mom.

  “Winnie,” Dad says, “you and your mom love to ride. I’ll give you that. But you can’t tell me horses love to have humans on their backs. That’s impossible.”

  Lizzy sighs. “Nothing’s impossible—”

  “—with God,” I finish. “Hey, Princess!” I shout. Mom and Princess stop and turn to us. “Do you love to ride?”

  We wait. I’m hoping a fly will land on Princess the way flies have been landing on us.

  “Doesn’t look like she’s going to give you an answer,” Dad says.

  I ask again. “Princess, do you love being ridden?”

  Chief nickers. And when we all turn to him, he dips his head to his chest: Yes!

  Note to self: Note to God: thanks for making all things possible.

  My Misty was the sweetest, most wonderful horse a kid could have. We were never sure of his breed, but I always considered him a pure black Morgan. Misty had a Morgan’s calm, trustworthy nature and good sense. Our house formed one side of the fenced area where Misty stayed when he wasn’t out in the pasture. So in the morning I could open my window, and Misty would stick in his beautiful head to say hello. After school, I’d race home and climb the top rung of the fence so Misty could meet me and lay his head in my lap for a good scratching and the apple I’d saved from lunch. I really did teach my horse to say yes and no, much as Winnie teaches Princess in this book. Misty proved that a horse can definitely be a kid’s best friend.

  Fun Horse Facts

  Horses have the largest eyes of any land mammal. They can see almost all the way around themselves. But horses do have blind spots directly in front and behind. That�
�s why if you come up behind a horse, you might startle it, and you might get kicked.

  People used to think that horses were color blind. They aren’t—but they do see yellow and green better than purple.

  A horse can see better at night than a human can.

  Adult female horses (mares) usually have 36 to 40 teeth, and adult males have 40 to 44. You can guess a horse’s age by looking at its teeth.

  Some horses have extra teeth called wolf teeth, usually on the upper jaw. Most vets will pull them out to prevent problems and discomfort.

  Floating a horse’s teeth means to file them flat and smooth so chewing is easier. Sharp teeth can cut the inside of a horse’s mouth. A float is the type of file used.

  Horses with pink skin can get a sunburn. Black horses can turn brownish red if they get too much sun.

  Horses have around 205 bones.

  An unborn foal usually grows inside its mother for about 340 days, but it can take just over a year. A very short while after birth, the foal can stand and run on its long, wobbly legs.

  Horse Terms

  Foal—A newborn or very young horse, male or female.

  Filly—A young female horse up to four years old.

  Horse Colt (or colt)—A young male horse up to four years old. The word colt is sometimes used casually to refer to any young horse, male or female.

  Yearling—A year-old filly or colt.

  Mare—A mature female horse, usually age five or older.

  Broodmare—A mare used only for breeding (having foals).

  Stallion—A male horse that hasn’t had the gelding’s surgery. Can be a foal’s dad.

  Gelding—A male horse that has been gelded (fixed) so he can’t mate or be a dad.

  Dam—The female parent of a foal (the mom).

  Sire—The male parent of a foal (the dad).

  Common Horse Breeds

  American Saddlebred—These fancy, showy horses are beautiful to watch and are considered gaited horses—three-gaited and five-gaited. The three-gaited horse high steps in a walk, a trot, and a canter. A five-gaited horse adds two other movements: a slow gait, which is a four-beat slow prancing, and a rack, a full-speed, all-out, four-beat gait.

  Appaloosa—Appys are easily identified by their spots, and no two horses’ spots are exactly the same. Leopard Appaloosas are white all over with dark spots. Snowflake Appaloosas are dark all over with white spots. Blanket Appaloosas usually have a dark body with dark spots on a white back and hindquarters. Marble Appys have dark, spotted coats that fade as they grow older. This American breed came to us through the Nez Perce Indians. Today, Appaloosas are popular for riding and ranch work. They’re known for their sweet nature and a smooth ride.

  Arabian—Arabians are thought to be the oldest purebred horse breed in the world. They are elegant and spirited but eager to learn. Winnie dreams of one day owning a beautiful Arabian.

  Morgan—When the US Army chose a breed of mounts, they selected Morgan horses for their good natures and hardworking athleticism. Today’s Morgan is spirited, intelligent, hardy, strong, and the ideal family horse. All Morgan horses can be traced back to a single horse owned by a man named Justin Morgan. Morgans are usually a solid color—black, brown, bay, or chestnut.

  Mustang—Mustang herds came to the United States with Spanish settlers in the 16th century. Some of the horses escaped from ranches and formed herds in the wild. Today’s Mustangs are considered feral, or partially wild. There aren’t many Mustangs left, so the government tries to protect them. Mustangs are tough and hardy, with solid legs and strong hooves. They can be fast, and they can be stubborn, but they’re agile and have great horse sense. Winnie’s mom calls Winnie a Mustang because she’s agile, has good sense (most of the time), and can be a bit stubborn.

  Quarter Horse—The Quarter Horse is an American breed, loved by cowboys and nearly all riders. Their strong hindquarters help make them the fastest horse in the world for a quarter-mile race. They can herd cattle, turn on a dime, compete in barrel racing, or take you on a safe ride. Quarter Horses are intelligent and easy to gentle.

  Thoroughbred—Thoroughbred horses may be the most famous in the world. People everywhere watch races like the Kentucky Derby and cheer for their favorite racehorse. Thoroughbreds are often racehorses because they are the fastest and most expensive breed. Usually a solid color, they are tall and muscular, with gorgeous, refined heads. They tend to be high spirited and aggressive. In this book, Austin Green’s horse is a champion Thoroughbred.

  Trakehner—These middleweight hunters have terrific confirmation (build)—perfect for dressage and show jumping. Breeders combined the good temperament of the Arabian, the speed and agility of the Thoroughbred, and the strength of the 13th century Prussian Schweiken (ridden by Teutonic knights) to come up with the ideal riding horse, the Trakehner. Winnie’s mother says Winnie’s sister, Lizzy, is like a Trakehner because she’s easygoing, agile, and strong.

  Parts of the Horse

  About the Author

  Dandi Daley Mackall is the award-winning author of about 500 books for children and adults. She visits countless schools, conducts writing assemblies and workshops across the United States, and presents keynote addresses at conferences and events for young authors. She is also a frequent guest on radio talk shows and has made dozens of appearances on TV. She has won several awards for her writing, including the Helen Keating Ott Award for Outstanding Contribution to Children’s Literature and the Edgar Award, and is a two-time winner of the Christian Book Award and the Mom’s Choice Award.

  Dandi writes from rural Ohio, where she lives with her husband, surrounded by their three children, four granddaughters, and a host of animals. Visit her at www.DandiBooks.com and www.facebook.com/dandi.mackall.