Shooting Star Stables, Chapter 3

*Read the first two chapters here

By thirty minutes after the end of school the girls were arriving at the barn. Jennifer and Holly rode to the barn together on lesson days, which was yet another thing to look forward to those days.

Holly’s mom’s champagne-colored Lexus SUV rolled to a stop in front of Shooting Star Stables to let the girls out.

“Bye, Mom! I love you!” Holly called.

“Bye! I love you too! I’ll pick you up at 5:30,” she answered.

The girls hurried into the barn to change into their riding clothes. They had less than a half hour to get themselves and their horses ready for their lesson at 4.

Jennifer zipped up her riding boots and speed-walked to Firefly’s stall. She knew better than to ever run in the schooling barn, what with so many young students whose horses might spook.

She called Firefly’s name a couple times as she neared, and he popped his adorable gray head over the stall door.

“Hey boy! I missed you today at school!” Jennifer told him, pulling her long curly hair back into a low ponytail. “Let’s go get you ready for your lesson.”

She slipped inside his stall, put the light purple halter over his nose, and led him out to the cross-ties. This was going to have to be a speed-brush if she was going to make it out to the arena with a few minutes to spare like she wanted.

Luckily, Firefly was fairly clean and it didn’t take long to brush him down. Soon Jennifer had him saddled up and ready to bridle. As always, Firefly stood still and sweet while being readied, and he accepted the bit easily. Jennifer knew it was because she was always careful not to clank the metal bit on his teeth, and had it fitted just right to not cause discomfort. Plus, Firefly was just a really good boy.

They walked out to the arena. The sun was still high in the late summer sky, and Jennifer tried to appreciate it as much as possible, knowing that in just a few months it would be setting during their lessons.

Holly was out a few minutes later, and they began trotting around the ring like Katie liked for them to do to warm up. Soon their energetic instructor with chin-length dirty blond hair strode out of the barn . . .