Chapter 7  -  Lesson Day At Last

Now that Libby at least had been able to visit with Ginger, the waiting became a little easier.  Friday came and went without too much excitement and Saturday was here at last.  Libby jumped out of her mother's van when she arrived at the stable and ran to meet up with Lauren, Christy and Amy to get ready for their lesson.  With Jason no longer taking riding lessons and Monica suspended for two weeks, it was going to be a small class that day.  But none of the girls minded that.  It only meant more instruction for each of them to help their riding skills improve.

Miss Lee greeted Libby as she came into the barn.  "Are you ready for this little pony?" she asked.

"I sure am!" Libby replied.  She could hardly contain her excitement.  She loved little ponies so much.  Ginger was so perfect!

Now the moment was here.  Tony brought all the lesson horses in from the pasture and had tied them in the barn where they were waiting for the girls.  Libby greeted Ginger with a small piece of carrot this time.  Ginger nudged her with her freckled nose as if to tell Libby "Thank you!" for the carrot.

All the girls finished tacking up their mounts as they had been taught so carefully by Miss Lee.  Libby double-checked the bridle to make sure it wasn't too tight or too loose anywhere.  There should only be enough room for her to slip in a couple of fingers.  Everything looked fine. 

She led Ginger out of the barn and started to mount up.  She had just put her foot in the stirrup, when all of a sudden WHOOPS!  The saddle slid right around Ginger's side and was practically upside down.  Libby plopped on the ground on her backside with her foot still in the stirrup.  Ginger turned her head around to have a look at her new rider now lying on the ground.

Miss Lee laughed.  "Some ponies love to play tricks on their riders, Libby!  It looks like Ginger was holding her breath when you were getting that saddle tight.  You should always check the girth just before you mount up, especially on a round pudgy pony like Ginger!" 

Libby dusted her self off.  Ginger sneezed from the dust and almost seemed to laughing too.  "Well, it's good to know that you have a sense of humor you silly pony!" Libby told her as she laughed a little at herself.  She tightened the girth again and climbed aboard.  She was grateful that it wasn't a far fall from this pony like there was on some of the horses she had ridden.

Meanwhile, Lauren and Lady were mounted and waiting  "Isn't she grand?" Lauren asked.

"She is beautiful, Lauren.  And don't I look sharp on my little chestnut pony?"

"Superb!  We're going to have a great lesson today!"

"Head 'em up and move 'em out!" cried Miss Lee. All four girls began walking their horses toward the trail to the paddock with Miss Lee for their lesson.

The ride that day was gLibbyous.  Libby couldn't believe how well Ginger responded to her commands: left, right, walk, trot, canter, and halt.  It was almost as if Ginger could read her mind.  She was definitely in a mood to please.  They began to take some jumps. The girls were just beginners, so the jumps were very small, but they felt six feet high to Libby as Ginger sailed over them.  It took Ginger a little more effort to get over the jumps than it did for the larger ponies and horses.  She had to really leap.  Libby grabbed hold of a little of Ginger's mane as she approached each jump.  It felt wonderful -- like they were flying.

Miss Lee commented, "Libby, I think that little pony mare has given you a lot of confidence!  She seems to be willing to do anything you say!" 
Miss Lee was right.  Being on a smaller pony had given Libby a lot of confidence.  There was nothing she felt she couldn't do.

"OK, class.  Since you're all doing so well today, I'd like to take you out of the paddock for a little trail ride.  Follow me!"

The riders trotted down the trail after Miss Lee being careful to keep at least one horse length between them.  Miss Lee turned her horse to the right on the fork in the path toward the creek where Libby had fallen off the week before.  "Oh, no" thought Libby, "Not again!"

"As you cross Spring Creek with me, show your horses and ponies that you have confidence in them and that you are in charge.  I'll lead the way.  Stay right in line and try not to hesitate.  The creek is about 10 feet wide, but it's only about six inches deep."  Keep a solid steady walking pace through the water, and don't stop or you'll probably get wet!"
Libby listened carefully to Miss Lee's instructions so that she wouldn't have the same misfortune at the creek as she did when she was riding Cracker-Jack.

Her confidence paid off.  Ginger stepped carefully and confidently through the water all the way to the other side and out onto the bank.  The water seemed a lot deeper being on a small pony than it did when she was on a bigger horse, but at least this time she made it through. 

Lauren followed right behind them on Lady with the greatest of ease.  When they had all reached the other side, Miss Lee took them for a nice canter around the long sides of the field.  They were almost in the backyard of some of the houses in Spring Park neighborhood.

They noticed Monica in her backyard on the swing.  She looked up as the riding class was trotting by.  Monica glared at them with jealous eyes, especially at Lauren on Lady.  Apparently Monica had not talked her parents into buying Lady after all, at least not yet.  Lauren grew a little nervous, as Monica climbed her tree house and continued to focus on her while they passed near her backyard. 

When the trail ride was over, the group headed back across the creek and into the paddock to finish the lesson.  The creek was no problem at all this time.  Libby patted Ginger on the neck.  "Good girl, Ginger. 

Good girl," she told her.  They entered the paddock and noticed that Lauren's parents were there to watch the end of the lesson.  They nodded oddly at Miss Lee and gave her a "thumb's up" signal.

"OK, class," Miss Lee began, "I have a special announcement to make.  I would like to announce that Lady has a new owner."

"Oh no!" thought Libby.  "Perhaps Monica's parents were able to buy Lady before Lauren could."  She couldn't believe what she was about to hear.  Lauren looked quite upset.

"Lauren, wipe that look of dread off your face!  You and Lady are a perfect match.  You are Lady's new owner!"

"I am?" she cried.  "Oh, Thank you Mom and Dad!  Thank you so much!"
Miss Lee continued, "Lauren is going to finish the summer riding session with us, but she will be joining Pony Club and working on her riding skills with the club members after the summer lesson session is over.  Congratulations to you Lauren!"

The girls were very happy for Lauren.  Libby was happy and sad at the same time.  She'd miss having her best friend in her riding classes.  She wished she were the one getting a pony.  She wished Ginger could be her pony with all her heart.

She held back her tears becauseshe didn't want Lauren to feel sorry for her.   Then Libby decided that she would make the best of the rest of the summer.

Today's lesson had been like a dream.  Ginger was the most wonderful horse or pony she had ever ridden.  The girls untacked their horses and hosed them down. 
 

go to Chapter 8 -- Test Ride