Hoof Beat by Bonnie Bryant

the halter didn’t come off with shaking, he tried trotting around the paddock. That didn’t work either. He nodded his head vigorously. Then he pranced around some more and came to the fence near Carole. There, he tried scraping it off his head by rubbing against the fence. Of course, that didn’t work either.
    Stevie smiled, watching him. “He’s very funny, you know,” she whispered to her friend.
    “Yeah, I know,” Carole whispered back, smiling at his antics. They didn’t want to make loud sounds and startle the colt. “And I think I’m in love.”
    “I think he may be a little too young for you, Carole,” Stevie quipped.
    Samson was now staring at Carole, as if he realized for the first time that she was the one who had placed this mysterious thing on him. And that she was the one who could take it off. Carole didn’t move.
    “Isn’t it time?” Stevie asked.
    “Give it a minute more,” Carole said, relaxing on the fence top. “I have a hunch it’s time for lunch.”
    Delilah shifted her weight. The movement caught Samson’s attention. He looked at his mother, then he looked at her udder. He hesitated a second, shaking his head one more time, but hunger overcame annoyance. He stepped forward, lowered his head, and began to nurse.
    “Wonderful!” Carole said. “See, he’s already comfortable enough to nurse with the halter on.”
    “Or else he’s so hungry, he doesn’t care.”
    “It doesn’t matter which. The fact is he’s doing it.”
    Lisa and Trudy joined them at the fence.
    “He’s so cute,” Trudy observed.
    “I thought you hated horses,” Lisa teased.
    “I do. But, he’s not a horse. He’s a foal or a colt—
not
a pony. He’ll be a horse when he grows up, but for now, he’s just a baby and that means he’s cute.”
    “Nice work,” Lisa said, pleased that Trudy actually remembered the things she’d said to her so long ago about Samson.
    “Where have you guys been?” Stevie asked. “We missed you at class.”
    Lisa and Trudy exchanged glances. “We were on a little trail ride,” Lisa explained. “Trudy wanted to try a few new things.”
    This sounded very hopeful to Stevie, who had encouraged Trudy to try a faster gait than a walk on horseback. “Oh, did you try trotting?” she asked.
    Trudy looked to Lisa for the answer. She didn’t know one gait from another. “Did I trot?” she asked.
    Lisa grinned at her. “Nope, you skipped that one,” she said. “You went straight to the gallop.”
    Stevie and Carole stared at them wide-eyed. “Gallop?” Carole asked.
    Lisa and Trudy nodded.
    “I think you’ve got some explaining to do,” Stevie said to Lisa.
    “Okay,” Lisa agreed. “We’ll tell you the story at your pool later this afternoon.”
    It was going to be a tough afternoon for Lisa. Not only would she and Trudy have to tell their tale of Trudy’s nightmarish ride on Topside, but Lisa would have the opportunity to apologize to both of her best friends. She hoped she wouldn’t have to save their lives, too!
    For the next few minutes, the girls turned their attention to Samson, who finished his snack and then began rubbing his halter up against the fence again.
    “Enough,” Carole announced, dropping down into the paddock softly. “Here, boy,” she said, holding her hands low. Samson stepped over to her and stood still while she removed the halter. “Good boy,” she said, patting him. Grateful for his freedom, he once again pranced around the paddock. Carole climbed the fence while Stevie released Delilah’s lead rope.
    “Now can we play games with him?” Stevie asked hopefully.
    “Not yet,” Carole said. “I think we can begin doingit next week, though. The first game we’ll teach him will be follow-the-leader—on a lead rope.”
    “Okay, all right,” Stevie conceded. “You were right, and I’m sorry I caused so much trouble.”
    “That’s okay,” Carole said. “After all, that’s what friends are for!”
    All four girls