"Oh, all right," she took a deep breath and continued, "I was 13 when I received the letter.It said, "Dear Miss Miller, we are pleased to congratulate you and your horse, Valentine, on qualifying for the 1984 International Year End Finals." "I was so excited. So, a few weeks later Valentine and I stepped into the ring. Well, we cleared the first two jumps, a roll top with a rail and a large belly-gate oxer just fine. But on the next jump, I lost my balance and we turned too early. I knew we were going to crash and burn. But, just in time, good old Valentine kicked in and took control. We cleared it perfectly. Valentine and I cleared the rest to win. We got third in the second class. The next day, Valentine was good to me and left long so we got first and second. We won by 3 and 1/2 points over the older girl and her horse, Bojangles. Valentine was such a sweet horse. Until.. her voice trailed off. She glanced out the window to see the old mare grazing peacefully. "Until she reti-never mind," she said, wiping her eyes. When Kate woke up after her story and nap, she noticed her grandmother wasn't there. Nor was her riding helmet and stick. Kate looked outside. What she saw amazed her. Her backyard wasn't a farm anymore. It was a huge arena, and her grandmother was cantering up to a huge belly-gate oxer, on a beautiful young mare named Valentine.
Horse Story by Lindsey
Age 11 New Jersey, USA
"Tell me again, grandma!! Again!" young Kate pleaded.
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Newton, MA 02456-0120
tel. 617-924-6006 fax. 617-924-6101
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