The Lonely Pony by Catherine Hapka Page B

turned onto a narrow, winding road with no sidewalks or streetlamps. There were only a few houses in sight. After a short distance, Adam told her to pull over.
    â€œIs this it?” Janey asked as everyone climbed out of the car.
    She looked around. Beside the road was a rickety fence, built half of wood and half of wire. It enclosed a small pen that was choked with weeds. There was a small, tumbledown shed in the middle and a plastic trough half-filled with slimy, greenish water near the gate. On the hillside beyond the pen was a much larger, grassy pasture where a small herd of dairy cows were grazing peacefully.
    â€œAre we here to rescue those cows?” Zach joked. “Because I don’t think they’ll fit in the dog runs at the shelter.”
    â€œNot exactly,” Adam said. “The animalwe need to help is right in here.”

    He waved at the small pen. Janey looked at it again. The only animals she could see in there were some flies buzzing above the water tank.
    â€œWhere’s the pet who needs rescuing?” Lolli asked. “I don’t see anything.”
    â€œThe animal I saw is probably in that shed.” Adam leaned on the fence andwhistled loudly.
    â€œI knew it!” Janey said. “It is a dog, isn’t it? Adam, I’ve heard you whistle like that to your clients a million times!”
    But Lolli gasped and pointed. “It’s not a dog,” she cried. “Look!”
    An animal had just stepped into view from behind the shed. Janey could hardly believe her eyes. Could that really be . . .
    â€œOh my gosh!” she cried. “It’s a horse!”
    â€œNo way.” Zach climbed on the lowest rung of the fence for a better look. “It looks like it shrunk in the wash!”
    Lolli smiled. “It’s not a horse,” she said. “It’s a pony!”
    Adam looked confused. “You mean a baby horse?”
    â€œNot quite,” Dr. Goldman said with a smile.“A lot of people think a pony is a baby horse. But a pony is actually a horse below a certain height, or sometimes it’s a certain breed.”
    The animal stepped farther out from behind the shed. Whatever you called her, she was the smallest equine Janey had ever seen!The pony pricked her little ears, then let out a high-pitched whinny and trotted toward them.

    â€œAw, she’s coming to see us!” Janey said. “Here, pony pony!”
    â€œCareful, kids,” Dr. Goldman said. “Some ponies bite.”
    Janey hardly heard her. The pony reached the fence and stuck her muzzle through the wire. When Janey touched the pony’s nose, it felt as soft as velvet.
    â€œShe’s so cute!” Lolli exclaimed.
    â€œYeah,” Adam said. “But look—her mane and tail are all messed up.”
    Janey saw that he was right. There were brambles tangled in the pony’s thick mane and tail. Her hair looked even more snarled than Janey’s did after swimming.
    â€œShe does look a bit neglected,” Dr. Goldman said, peering through the fence at the pony’s feet. “Her hooves are long and chipped. And her coat’s not in great condition, either.”
    Janey glanced at the vet. “Wow, you know a lot about ponies! I thought you only treated cats and dogs and other regular pets.”
    â€œYou’re right, I do specialize in small animals.” Dr. Goldman shrugged. “But I studied the basics of taking care of large animals in vet school, so I know a little.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of hard candy. “For instance, I learned that most equines love peppermints!”
    She unwrapped the candy and held it out, her hand flat with the palm facing up. The pony lipped it up and crunched it.

    â€œYou’re right, she loves it!” Janey exclaimed. “I think she wants more.”
    The pony stretched her head over the fence as far as she could. Her ears swiveled back and