The barn beckoned the frisky children. “Oh, look There’s Pixie” called out Billy. “Let’s get pet her. Here she comes.”Pixie, a big brown horse with a black mane trotted toward them. she lowered her head and nudged the kid’s shirt pockets. “She wants a treat.” Said Billy. “Let’s get some corn.”

Lynn boosted Billy up so he could scoop corn out of a barrel. “Watch this” said Lynn. She held her hand out flat and Pixie scooped up a few grains with her soft mustached muzzle.

“Let me!” demanded Billy , offering Pixie a few kernels of corn off his outstretched hand. “It tickles!” he laughed.

“Try it.” said Lynn. Hold your hand still and flat. She won’t bite you.” Sure enough, Pixie snuffled up on her corn off Lou’s hand. Afterward, she nuzzled Lou’s cupped hands.

“She’s so sweet!” exclaimed Lou.

“Can we ride her?” asked Lou.

“Daddy said we can ride her any time we want to when we can saddle and bridle her ourselves. It’s easy to get the bridle on but the saddle’s is really heavy. Maybe if we both try, we could saddle her. Billy holds her close to the fence and feeds her corn.”

Lou had always wanted to ride a horse. “Let’s try! I’ll bet we can.” They went to the feed room and got the bridle, blanket and saddle. Lynn easily got the bridle on while Billy offered Pixie more corn. Between them, the two girls pulled and tugged till they got the heavy saddle on the top rail of the fence. After smoothing the blanket on Pixie’s back, they were able to work together to slide the saddle on her broad back, taking care to keep blanket smooth. “A wrinkle will make a sore. We’d never want to do that.” cautioned Lynn. Lynn showed her how to cinch the saddle.

“Oh no! breathed Lou. She’d never want to hurt this beautiful horse. All three children were on the top fence rail now.

Billy slid in the front of the saddle next to the horn leaving plenty of room in the saddle behind him. “Okay. Billy. Hold the reins. I’ll get behind you. Lou, scoot right behind me and hold on tight. We’ll give it a go.” Lynn said.

Lou slid over. It was a little scary on Pixie’s broad back. It would be a long way to fall. “Hang on tight!” said Lynn. With that, she nudged Pixie walked off. Lou held on tight.

She was riding!