Level V Reader

nostrils fidgeted apprehension

canter counselor optimistic

Horse Troubles

Jessica took a deep breath, letting the warm smell of horses fill her
nose as she walked into the stable. Every summer, Jessica spent two
weeks at Green Meadow Farm’s horseback riding camp. Rose, her
camp counselor, led Jessica through the aisle of snorting horses,
with Jessica looking out for Piper, her favorite horse. Last year,
Jessica and Piper had spent days riding the trails. At the end of
camp rodeo, they finished 2 n d in the obstacle co urse race. Jessica
loved everything about Piper, from her speckled gray hair to the
way Piper’s soft nose tickled her hand whenever Jessica fed her
apples.

“I can’t wait to ride Piper,” Jessica told Rose.

Rose smiled. “I know you love Piper, but we need to save her for
some of our newer riders this year.”

Jessica tried not to let the disappointment show on her face, but she
felt crushed. Piper was one of the best -behaved horses, so it made
sense that she would be used by the younger
riders. Still, Jessica would miss her favorite
horse.

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 Level V Reader

“How about you try riding Harley?” Rose said.

Jessica was a little startled by the giant, male horse

in a nearby stall that Rose pointed to.
Even though Harley was beautifu l with
his shiny chestnut hair and his thick
black mane, he looked restless. He had
flared nostrils and wild eyes, and he
was taller than the other horses.

Rose could sense Jessica’s apprehension. “Don’t worry. He just

needs an experienced rider to help tr ain him.”

Jessica tried to stay optimistic, hoping that Harley would turn out to
be easier to ride than he looked. She cautiously approached him,
but the horse moved away from her. He was just so big, thought
Jessica. As Jessica put Harley’s saddle on his back, the horse
fidgeted and brayed, making Jessica even more nervous and
causing her to fumble with the buckles.

Jessica glanced at a group of new riders gathering around Piper’s

stall. They patted her neck and in return, Piper nuzzled her pink nose
on their heads. Jessica tried not to feel jealous as she adjusted the
saddle on Harley’s back.

An annoyed Jessica led a reluctant Harley outside. She climbed on

top of him and headed to the obstacle course. However, when they
reached the log fence, Harley pla nted his hooves in the dirt, refusing
to take another step.

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 Level V Reader

The next day, Jessica tried cantering through the fields like she’d
done with Piper. Harley got off to a good start, but he wouldn’t slow
down even when Jessica tugged on the reins. Jessica was terrified
as Harley galloped faster and faster. Luckily, he eventually got tired
and stopped running.

After that disaster, they tried a simple ride through the trails, but
Harley flinched at every noise in the woods making an already jittery
Jessica even more anxious. When a bird screeched, Harley panicked
and went up on his back legs, bucking Jessica off. She landed on
the hard ground with a thud. Lying in the dirt, feeling bruised and
achy, Jessica’s eyes filled with tears.

She arrived at the stable s the next day and found

Rose cleaning a stall.

“I really miss Piper and her gentleness,” Jessica said.

“I’m afraid of Harley, and he’s too hard to control. I
have a huge bruise on my back from him bucking me
off yesterday.”

When Jessica had finished speaki ng, Rose

rested her chin on her pitchfork handle,
looking thoughtful. “Harley isn’t used to
being ridden,” she said. “He’s in a new
place with a new person on his back. I bet he’s pretty scared, too.”

Jessica hadn’t thought about it that way. Harley seemed so big and
strong to her that she didn’t realize that he could be afraid of her,
too.

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 Level V Reader

“It’s okay to be scared, but just remember that Harley has his own
fears,” Rose explained. If you are nervous, you will make him
nervous. If you are confident, he will f eel confident. If you show him
trust, he will trust you.”

After her conversation with Rose, Jessica decided that it was time
for a fresh start with Harley. She grabbed an apple from her lunch
box and went to find Harley. When he saw her coming, Harley flar ed
his nostrils.

“I know you’re scared of me,” Jessica whispered. “We’re still

strangers, and it’s up to me to make sure that we become friends.”

She pulled the apple out of her jacket pocket and slowly extended
her hand towards Harley, talking to him sof tly at the same time. At
first, Harley eyed the apple with suspicion, but then he cautiously
took it in his big teeth and began crunching it up. Jessica
couldn’t help but giggle. Harley looked so silly with his big
teeth chomping on the apple, juice sprayi ng
everywhere. As she fed him, she moved closer and
stroked his long neck, so that he could get used to her
touch and scent. For the first time, Harley acted calm,
and Jessica realized that she was also feeling calmer.

Ignoring the saddle, Jessica led Harl ey around the ring so

that he could get used to being with her and following
her direction. That went well and they took a short walk
up the trail where Harley had been so scared by all the noises the
previous day. This time he paid no attention to the scr eeching birds
as he followed Jessica and the carrot she was holding.

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 Level V Reader

Jessica and Harley made progress together as their confidence in

each other grew. The next day Harley muzzled her hair when she
arrived in the morning. By the end of the week, they had co mpleted
the obstacle course together.

On the final day of camp was the rodeo and obstacle course race.
Jessica confidently climbed onto Harley and watched the others go
through the course, including Piper. Then it was Jessica’s turn, and
Harley, sens ing the excitement of the day, tore through the course
like a madman, easily winning. The other horses were just no match
for the big strong Harley.

Rose handed Jessica the winner’s trophy with a wink, and at that
moment, Jessica realized the real reason Rose had asked Jessica to
ride Harley. Rose knew that Jessica would have had a nice time with
Piper, but she had wanted Jessica to step out of her com fort zone
and challenge herself to be a better rider.

Jessica gave Rose a hug and then brought the trophy, and a carrot,
over to Harley.

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 Level V Reader

Horse Troubles (exercises)

1. Multiple Choice

How does Jessica feel when she sees the new riders playing
with Piper?

a. jealous
b. excited
c. confused
d. afraid

What activity does Jessica like to do at horse camp ?

a. the obstacle course

b. cantering in the fields
c. riding on the trails
d. all of the above

Why does Jessica feed Harley an apple ?

a. She has extra apples and needs to get rid of them.

b. She wants Harley to be less afraid of her .
c. Harley is very hungry and needs food .
d. Rose tells her to take the apple to Harley .

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2. Match the horse-related terms to their meanings .

A speed between a
reins
trot and a gallop.

A section of a stable
saddle that is meant for
one horse.

A seat that is put on

canter the back of a horse
in order to ride it .

A strap which is
stable used to guide or
slow the horse.

A building that
stall
horses are kept in .

3. Write down 3 things you can do to gain an animal’s trust.

a. __________________________________________________________________

b. __________________________________________________________________

c. __________________________________________________________________

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 Level V Reader

Horse Troubles (answers)

1. Multiple Choice

a. jealous
d. All of the above
b. She wants Harley to be less afraid of her.

2. Match the horse-related terms to their meanings.

3. Write down 3 things you can do to gain an animal’s trust.

(Answers may vary)

feeding them, letting them smell you, being calm and

confident around them, touching them gently, etc.

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