CHAPTER 3
Molly’s first lesson was a few days later. She had begged Kari to come watch her first lesson, and Kari had finally given in. They rode their bikes to the stable together after school.
Molly had already changed into her new riding clothes. She was wearing long pants and boots. The boots would make sure that her feet wouldn’t slip through the stirrups while she was riding.
“This is it. Your big day,” Kari said as they walked together toward the barn. “Are you excited?”
“Yep,” Molly said with a nervous smile. “I’m so excited! I can’t wait. My knees are shaking.”
“Look at that!” Kari said, pointing to the field on the other side of the fence. A horse and rider galloped toward a tall hedge and jumped it.
“I wouldn’t do that in a million years,” Kari said. “Not even for a million dollars.”
“I would!” Molly exclaimed. “I hope I can ride like that someday.”
They walked inside the barn. Kari sat on a bench by the barn door, and Molly joined the other kids. There were two girls and one boy.
A woman stepped forward. “You must be Molly Burke,” she said. “I’m Ms. North. Everyone is here now, so we can get started!”
Ms. North led a big gray horse out of a stall and clipped two ropes to his halter. “Riding is only part of good horsemanship,” she said. “Before you ride, you have to groom the horse.”
Molly paid close attention as Ms. North moved a rubber curry-comb in slow circles over the horse’s neck, sides, and rump.
“Does he like that?” Molly asked. “It kind of looks like it would hurt.”
Ms. North laughed. “It doesn’t hurt at all. Casper loves it,” she said. “He loves it almost as much as he likes hay and oats. And he likes hay and oats a lot.”
Ms. North brushed the loose dirt off Casper. Then she used a cloth to make his coat shine. Finally, the trainer combed Casper’s mane and tail with a metal comb and untangled the snags with her fingers. Molly watched carefully.
“Who wants to clean his hooves?” Ms. North asked. “Casper is old and lazy. He won’t kick.”
Molly was the only one who raised her hand. “I will,” she said.
“Great, Molly,” Ms. North said. “Come on up. I’ll show you what to do.”
Molly did exactly what Ms. North told her. When Molly touched the back of Casper’s lower leg, he lifted his foot. Then she held his hoof and picked the dirt out with a metal hook tool.
“Very good, Molly!” Ms. North said, smiling. “A horse with a stone in his hoof is like a car with a flat tire. It can’t go very far.” The teacher saddled and bridled Casper. “I’ll teach you how to tack up next time,” she said.
“Tack something up on a bulletin board?” the boy asked. The girls laughed.
“Saddles and bridles are tack, Max,” Ms. North explained. “Tacking up means putting them on the horse.” She gave Casper’s reins to Molly and said, “Take Casper to the riding ring.”
Molly put one hand on the reins under Casper’s chin and held the long ends of the reins in the other hand. She stayed on the left by his head. She had to tug on the reins and make a clucking noise to get Casper to move.
Kari hurried out of the barn ahead of them. “Horses sure are a lot of work,” she said. “We’ve been here for half an hour, and you haven’t even ridden one yet!”
“I think this part is fun too,” Molly said, patting Casper’s neck. “Hey, touch his nose,” she told Molly. “It’s so soft and warm.”
Kari shuddered. “No way,” she said.
The students led their horses into the ring and lined up in the middle. Ms. North helped everyone get on. As soon as Molly was aboard Casper, she grabbed the front of the saddle. It was a long way down!
“Remember,” Ms. North said, “horses are bigger, but people are smarter. So never blame the horse when something goes wrong, even if it is his fault!”
Molly giggled. She was starting to feel more relaxed.
Ms. North stood in the center of the ring and explained the basics of good form. “Sit up straight,” she told the class. “Keep your elbows in and your heels down. To make the horse walk, tighten your reins and squeeze your legs.”
Molly squeezed her legs, but Casper didn’t move.
“Just kick him with your heel, Molly!” Ms. North said.
Molly kicked, and the big horse started walking — straight toward the fence! Molly panicked. Was the horse going to keep walking and crash into the fence? It didn’t seem like he was going to stop.
“What do I do?” she yelled.
“Pull back on the left rein,” Ms. North told her. “Don’t pull out! Pull back!”
Molly pulled back on the rein in her left hand. Casper turned to the left and walked next to the fence. “Good job,” Ms. North called.
The other three horses were faster. Molly couldn’t get Casper to speed up.
“You’re all hunched over!” Kari said as Molly passed her. “And your reins are too loose.”
When Molly shortened her reins and sat up straighter, Casper decided to catch up to the other horses. He broke into a slow trot, and Molly bounced up and down.
“Pull back on the reins to make him walk,” Ms. North said. “And keep those heels down, Molly.”
Molly flopped around like a rag doll, but she got Casper to walk again. Then she heard someone laugh. She looked over the fence.
Gabrielle and Lily were riding in the Bay Meadow field. Their sleek horses pranced quickly, but both girls rode like they were glued to their saddles. They slowed down and watched Molly for a moment. Then they giggled again.
Molly’s cheeks flushed. She was pretty embarrassed, but she was determined to get it right. After all, Gabrielle and Lily had been beginners once. If they could learn to ride, so could she.