Saddlebags Read Online Free Page B

yawned. “I guess that’s my cue … to turn in, and save the rest of the songs for tomorrow.”
    T HE GIRLS WERE in their pj’s, going over the events of the day.
    “I think my mom ended up enjoying the trail ride,” said Lisa. “She had a rough patch when she practically kicked a hole in Spot’s sides, but thanks to Spot’s good temper, she finally started getting the hang of it.”
    “It’s fun to see my parents having such a good time,” said Stevie. “I just wish my dad wouldn’t try to show off. Did you see when he whacked Melody on the rump? She almost flew right up to the weather vane on the barn roof!”
    Carole rolled her eyes.
    “Did you notice my dad, with his feet sticking way out in front of him? He was rocking from side to side so much, I thought Yellowbird might get dizzy! And when Isaid something about it, he just laughed it off, like it was some big joke.”
    “I know what you mean,” said Lisa. “My mom certainly doesn’t like me telling her what to do either.”
    “I wish they would take the whole thing more seriously,” Carole went on. “Just because
we’re
the ones giving them suggestions on how to be better riders doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try and do what we say.”
    “They’re acting like the kids,” said Lisa.
    “Right!” Carole agreed. For her, good horsemanship came above everything else, and she had very high standards.
    The problem was the Saddlebags didn’t see things quite the same way.

L ISA GULPED THE last of her hot chocolate and looked at Stevie, who was digging into thirds on French toast. “Come on,” she said.
    Stevie nodded, but kept on eating.
    “Steeeevie,” Lisa persisted, “are you going to eat or ride?”
    “Vofe!” Stevie answered.
    “What?”
    Stevie chewed and swallowed. “Both.”
    “Wellll …”
    “I know where
you
want to go,” said Stevie. “I heardKate say John’s out in the corral, working with his new horse.”
    “Well, wouldn’t you rather watch him and
learn
something than eat?”
    “Sometimes,” said Stevie as she put her napkin on the table and stood up. “But with food like this, it’s debatable.”
    Kate met the girls on their way out the door. “I was just coming in to get you guys. You’ve got to see this. John and Tex, they’re amazing!”
    “We know, we know,” said Stevie, elbowing Lisa in the ribs.
    The three girls headed out to the corral, where they joined Carole, who had climbed atop the post-and-rail fence to get a better view.
    “Even though Tex came to us perfectly trained at walk, trot, lope, and gallop,” Kate said, “the stuff he and John are doing now is new for both of them. Reining is kind of like dressage, but it looks more like the fancy moves cowboys used to do in all those old Westerns.”
    “What do you call that halt he’s practicing now?” asked Lisa.
    “A sliding stop. Right now he’s practicing it out of a walk. But he’ll be up to a gallop soon.”
    John looked over at the girls and waved. He walked Tex to the far end of the corral, turned him down the center, and brought him to a trot. Then, with a soft “Whoa,” John lifted the reins and sat back deep in the saddle. Tex stopped short, bringing his hindquarters beneath him.
    “Good boy.” John walked him to the near end of the corral and turned him to try it again.
    “The secret of learning all these moves,” Kate went on, “is to start slow. That way, John teaches Tex the response at a walk and trot, and doesn’t have to pull hard on his mouth when he stops from a faster gait. Watch what he does now.”
    Lisa kept her eyes on John as he brought Tex to a lope. When he was practically at the end of the corral, he signaled the horse. Tex’s hind feet slid under him. His weight was on his rear haunches and his forelegs just left the ground. But he kept his balance perfectly and in another instant he stood up, balanced on all four legs.
    Carole let out a low whistle. “That was great.”
    “Now watch this,”