Horseback Hurdles

by Jake Maddox

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter One: MIA’S MISTAKE

  Chapter Two: MAREN’S DECISION

  Chapter Three: THE CRAZY PLAN

  Chapter Four: REMEMBER YOUR MISTAKES

  Chapter Five: THE DIAMOND DILEMMA

  Chapter Six: MAREN STEPS IN

  Chapter Seven: NO MISTAKES

  Chapter Eight: TRUST

  Chapter Nine: THE ROCKY RIDGE RUMPUS

  Chapter Ten: ANOTHER CHANCE

  About the Author

  About the Illustrator

  Glossary

  Discussion Questions

  Writing Prompts

  Horse Facts

  Copyright

  Back Cover

  Chapter One

  MIA’S MISTAKE

  Mia was sweeping the stable floor. She heard the head instructor, Maren, shouting.

  “Girls!” Maren called. “Everyone out here! The pasture gate was left open again. Trixie and Diamond are out!”

  Mia dropped the broom. It clattered to the floor.

  Her stomach sank. She had been the last one out to the pasture.

  Oh no! Not again! thought Mia. I was the last one out. Did I lock the gate?

  Mia had been volunteering at the Rocky Ridge Riding Center for three months. So far, she’d left the pasture gate open twice. It was pretty much the worst mistake you could make.

  “Mia, come on!” her best friend, Sky, yelled. “What are you waiting for?”

  “Nothing,” Mia said. She hurried toward Sky.

  “Wait, Mia!” Sky exclaimed. “Aren’t you going to pick up the broom? Maren says we’re not supposed to leave tools on the barn floor.”

  “Oh, right,” Mia mumbled. She picked up the broom and propped it against the wall.

  Mia was always doing stuff like that. She needed to focus more. She also needed to be more careful.

  Mia and Sky grabbed halters and lead ropes.

  “I’ll go close the gate to the road,” Maren called. “You two catch the horses.”

  “Got it,” Mia replied. Trixie and Diamond were standing in a grassy area. Beside them, the pasture gate was wide open.

  Diamond’s coat gleamed in the sunlight. He had arrived at the stable only three months ago, like Mia. Diamond was Mia’s favorite.

  But Diamond wasn’t perfect. In fact, he had some serious problems. He had been biting students and other horses.

  “I’ll see if I can catch Diamond,” Mia said to Sky. “You catch Trixie.”

  Sky’s forehead wrinkled. “Trixie is easy to get. But are you sure you can catch Diamond?” she asked. “He tried to bite me last week.”

  Mia rolled her eyes. “Of course I can catch him,” she said.

  Sky shrugged. She went over to Trixie. The mare stood calmly while Sky slipped a halter on her.

  Now it was Mia’s turn. She walked up to Diamond. She held the halter behind her back. He was watching her. Mia knew it was going to be tricky.

  “Hi, boy,” Mia said. “I know you’re having fun, but it’s time to go in.”

  She whipped her hand out fast. She tried to slide the halter on. But her hand accidently knocked Diamond above the eye. He flattened his ears and snapped at her hand.

  Mia gasped. She snatched her hand away. She’d been too fast and had scared the horse.

  Then Maren’s hand fell on Mia’s shoulder. “Mia, you’re being too quick with that horse,” her instructor said.

  She took the halter from Mia’s hand. Slowly, the instructor slid it over the horse’s head.

  “Horses don’t like hands flying around,” Maren said.

  “Sorry,” Mia muttered. “I was just trying to help.”

  “Sky, please put Trixie in her stall,” Maren went on. “And Mia, I’d like to see you in my office.”

  Maren began leading Diamond toward the stable.

  Mia and Sky stared at each other. Mia swallowed. Whatever Maren wanted to discuss, it wasn’t going to be good.

  Chapter Two

  MAREN’S DECISION

  Maren was sitting behind her desk in the stable office when Mia arrived at the door. Her heart was pounding.

  “Come in, Mia,” Maren said. Her face was serious.

  “I’m sorry, Maren,” she blurted. “I know I’ve messed up before but —”

  “Please sit down, Mia,” Maren said.

  “Okay,” Mia said.

  “You were the last one scheduled to take Trixie and Diamond out to the pasture,” Maren said. “Were you the last one out of the gate?”

  “I think so,” Mia answered.

  “This is the third time you’ve left the gate open,” Maren said. “I’ve told you before that this is dangerous.”

  Mia stared at her feet.

  Maren flipped through some papers. “I’ve just been reading over your volunteer record,” she said. “Mia, you have a history of making careless mistakes. You act before you think.” Maren sighed. “I know you care about the horses. But we can’t have these kinds of problems. You cannot volunteer here anymore. You’ll have to gather your belongings and call your mother.”

  “I-I’m sorry,” Mia said, sniffling. “I never meant to leave the gate open so many times.”

  Maren put an arm around Mia. “I know you didn’t mean it, Mia,” she said. “But it’s just too risky to keep you here.”

  Mia went outside to call her mom. She would have to explain what happened. And then her mom would scold her for being careless again.

  “Well, this horse will have to be sold,” a voice said nearby.

  Mia looked around. Two of the younger instructors, Ben and Sara, were standing next to Diamond. They did not see Mia.

  Mia leaned in to hear exactly what they were saying.

  “I agree,” Sara said. “Watch this.” She reached up to pat Diamond’s neck. But the horse quickly laid his ears back and turned to bite.

  “Diamond, stop!” Ben said sternly. “He’s too dangerous to be kept here. We don’t want him hurting a student or another horse.”

  Sara sighed. “We’d better tell Maren.”

  Diamond stood quietly. His proud neck was arched. He doesn’t know he’s about to be sold, Mia thought. He’s just like me. Both of us are being sent away.

  Mia put her hand on the phone to call her mother. Suddenly, she stopped. An amazing plan had just flashed through her head. It was crazy. But if it worked, it just might save both her and Diamond.

  Chapter Three

  THE CRAZY PLAN

  Mia hurried back into the barn. She ran into Maren’s office.

  “Maren? Can I talk to you?” she asked.

  Her instructor looked up. “What is it, Mia?” she asked.

  “I have an idea,” Mia said. “I know you might not like it. But I wanted to ask anyway.” Her voice shook. “I heard that Diamond is going to be sold.”

  “Yes, that’s right,” Maren said. She nodded. “He isn’t working out. He’s just too dangerous.”

  “What if I could have one more chance here? And Diamond could too?” Mia asked. “I could work with Diamond every day.”

  “I don’t know,” Maren said.

  “It would be a kind of test for me,” Mia said. “I want to show you that I can work here without making any careless mistakes. I know that we both can get better.”

  Maren tapped her finger against her cheek. Then she nodded. “All right, Mia. I’ll give you and Diamond one more chance,” Maren said.

  “Oh, thank you!” Mia exclaimed. “You won’t regret this, really!”

  “But there’s one more thing,” Maren said. “You both must show that you’ve improved by the time of the Rocky Ridge Rumpus. That means no biting for Diamond. And no careless mistakes for you.”

  The Rocky Ridge
Rumpus was the student horse show at the barn. It was only four days away! Could she really get Diamond to improve by then?

  But this was her only chance. “It’s a deal,” Mia said, sticking out her hand.

  “Done,” Maren replied.

  They shook hands.

  “Good luck, Mia,” Maren said. “I’ll be rooting for you!”

  Chapter Four

  REMEMBER YOUR MISTAKES

  That night after dinner, Mia flopped across her bed. She called Sky.

  “Hi!” Mia squealed when her best friend answered. “Guess what happened?”

  Quickly, Mia explained her crazy plan. “Well?” she said when she was finished. “Isn’t that awesome?

  “I guess,” Sky answered.

  “Diamond is going to be the best horse in the stable when I’m done,” Mia said.

  “I don’t know,” Sky replied slowly. “Diamond’s really hard to handle. And how are you going to stop making all those mistakes?”

  “I haven’t made that many mistakes,” Mia replied.

  “Remember when you left that whole bag of grain out?” Sky said. “The mice got in it. Or how about when you left those saddles outside all night and it rained? Or how about when —”

  “Okay, I get it!” Mia said. She sat up on her bed. “I thought you’d be happy.”

  “I am,” Sky insisted. “I just don’t want you to get into something you can’t handle.”

  “I can handle it,” Mia said.

  “Fine,” Sky replied.

  “Fine,” Mia said.

  They were both silent.

  “Well, I guess I’ll see you at the barn tomorrow,” Sky finally said.

  “Yeah, see you,” Mia replied. She hung up the phone and sat on her bed, staring out the window. Sky’s words repeated in her head. Maybe her friend was right. Was this whole plan just another big mistake?

  Chapter Five

  THE DIAMOND DILEMMA

  It was only seven o’clock when Mia slid into Diamond’s stall the next morning. Mia wanted to get started on her project as soon as possible. The show was only three days away.

  Today, her plan was to get to know Diamond better. She needed to figure out why he was always trying to bite. Then tomorrow, she’d ride him in her regular riding lesson.

  The barn was chilly this early. It was also very quiet. Diamond was standing with his head near the stall door. He was finishing the last of his breakfast.

  “Hey, boy,” Mia said, sliding the door back with a bang. Right away, Diamond flicked his ears back and rolled his eyes. He let out a warning nicker.

  Mia gasped. She backed out of the stall fast. She slid the door shut and leaned against it. She was breathing fast.

  This was going to be a little harder than she’d thought. But it was her only chance. It was his only chance, too.

  After a second, she slowly slid back the door and peeked inside. Diamond gave her a suspicious look. Mia eyed him back, then took a deep breath.

  “Hi, Diamond,” she said in a low, calm voice.

  The horse’s ears flickered, but he didn’t pin them back.

  Mia slowly slid the stall door closed behind her. Slow and steady, that’s what she needed to be. She walked forward as carefully as she could. She gently patted Diamond’s shoulder.

  “There, boy,” she said. “That’s not too bad, right?”

  Diamond relaxed a little. He lowered his head. He blew some air out of his nose. Then he poked his muzzle in the direction of her pocket.

  “Oh, is this what you’re looking for?” Mia asked. She thrust her hand in her pocket and pulled out an apple.

  But she moved too fast. The apple snagged on her pocket. She tugged it loose, and her hand flew up. She smacked Diamond right on the nose!

  He jerked his head up, shaking it a little. He rolled his eyes in surprise. His whole body was tense. Mia could see that if she made one wrong move, he’d try to bite her.

  She backed away against the wall of the stall. Okay, that was an error. She’d moved too fast and scared him. She wasn’t going to do that again.

  Mia watched Diamond until he calmed down. Then she reached into the tack box that sat just outside the door.

  She pulled out a soft brush. Maybe a little grooming would help him relax.

  Diamond stood quietly as she ran the brush over his shoulders and along his back. Mia finished brushing his neck. He stood quietly. Then Mia raised her hand to brush his ears.

  As soon as she touched his ears with the brush, Diamond jerked his head up. He backed away from her. His muscles tensed up. He started shaking.

  Mia gasped and pulled her hand away. She knocked her elbow against the metal hayrack, making a loud clanging noise. Diamond let out a warning nicker. He began pacing in the stall. He was nervous and upset.

  Mia held out her hand. Diamond rolled his eyes at her. He pinned his ears back.

  Mia’s heart sank. She had made so much progress. Now it seemed like they were back where they started.

  At least she knew what Diamond’s problem was. He didn’t like anyone touching his head.

  Like yesterday, when she’d tried to put his halter on too fast. And earlier, when she banged the stall door near his head. He might have been treated roughly at his last home. Or maybe he’d always had this fear.

  “Is that it, boy?” Mia asked Diamond. “You get nervous when people touch your head?”

  As she spoke, she moved toward him very slowly. Mia firmly patted him on the neck.

  Diamond didn’t move. Mia worked her way over his back. She talked to Diamond all the time. He stood quietly with his head down. Mia didn’t try to touch his head again.

  After several minutes, Mia slowly backed out of the stall. She wasn’t used to moving this carefully. But she knew she couldn’t make any more mistakes. She latched the door and double-checked it.

  Only two more days left, Mia thought. And her lesson was tomorrow. How was she going to put a bridle on him if she couldn’t touch his ears?

  Chapter Six

  MAREN STEPS IN

  The next afternoon, Mia found Sky in Trixie’s stall.

  “Sky!” she called, panting up to her friend. “I need some help.”

  “What?” Sky asked. She wiped her arm across her forehead. “Did Diamond bite you yet?”

  “Not yet,” Mia told her. “I think he’s starting to trust me.”

  “So what’s the problem?” Sky asked.

  “He won’t let me touch his ears,” Mia said. “Now I can’t bridle him! And I’m supposed to have my lesson in fifteen minutes.”

  “Oh boy,” Sky agreed. “Maren hates it when people are late for lessons.”

  “I know!” Mia said. “Any ideas?”

  “I’ll come help you,” Sky said. “Trixie will be fine for a second.”

  The two friends walked fast to Diamond’s stall. They didn’t have much time.

  “I got his saddle on without any trouble,” Mia said. “He doesn’t mind if you just move really slowly. Be really, really careful.”

  “Slowly? Be careful? I’ve never heard you talk like that before. Or move like that!” Sky said, smiling.

  Mia shrugged. She slid back the bolt on Diamond’s door. Sky stepped up beside the horse.

  “What do you want me to do?” she asked.

  “Can you stand on the other side of his head?” Mia asked. “I’ll get the bridle around his ears. You take one side. I’ll take the other. We’ll just slide it right over.”

  “That doesn’t sound too bad,” Sky said. She stepped over to Diamond’s right.

  Slow and careful, Mia told herself. She draped the reins over Diamond’s neck, just like Maren had taught her.

  The horse stood quietly. His head was tense. So far, so good.

  Mia pressed her thumb into the corner of Diamond’s lips. He opened his teeth. She slid the bit over his molars and into the back of his mouth. Now for the ears.

  Mia realized she’d been holding her breath. She forced her
self to exhale. At the same time, she lifted the headstall up. Sky reached over.

  But just as Mia touched the tips of his ears, Diamond reared his head. His neck quivered. His eyes rolled.

  “Shoot!” Mia muttered. She lowered her hand and looked at Sky.

  “I see your problem,” her friend said, her eyes wide.

  “Yeah,” Mia replied, sighing.

  “Try again,” Sky urged.

  Once again, Mia raised the headstall and tried to slip it into place. This time, she actually got it most of the way over one ear. Almost there!

  She tried to jam the other ear into place. But Diamond felt the rough touch. He let out a warning whinny. He quickly backed away into the corner.

  Mia felt all the progress she’d made slipping through her fingers.

  “My lesson’s in two minutes!” she wailed, the bridle dangling from her fingers.

  Just then, Maren appeared at the stall door. “And you know how I like students to be on time,” she chimed in.

  Maren opened the stall door. She took the bridle from Mia’s hand. She slid it smoothly over Diamond’s head. She buckled a few straps. He was finally wearing a bridle.

  “Sometimes horses will only let people they trust touch their ears,” Maren said. “Looks like you two still have a little ways to go.”

  She went out the stall door. Mia looked at Sky and swallowed.

  “Time for my lesson,” Mia said in a brave voice.

  “Good luck,” Sky said.

  Sky squeezed her friend’s shoulder. Mia nodded back. She had a feeling she was going to need all the luck she could get.

  Chapter Seven

  NO MISTAKES

  Mia climbed onto Diamond’s back. She took a deep breath. It was time to tackle Diamond’s problems in the ring. He didn’t like other horses getting too close to him. He would bite them if they did. That could injure both the horse and the rider.