Free Abbey Leads the Way by Holly Bell Page A

you, Mum?’
    ‘That’s right, dear,’ said Matilda’s grandma, offering a tray of scones.
    Abbey looked out at a nearby mountain as she smothered raspberry jam on her third scone. ‘Is that Mount Padbury?’ she asked.
    ‘Why, yes, it is,’ said Matilda’s grandma, surprised. ‘Most people think it’s Mount Lofty.’
    ‘Oh no,’ said Abbey. ‘Mount Lofty would be south from here.’
    ‘Abbey is so good at geography,’ Matilda told her grandma proudly.
    Abbey’s cheeks went as red as her raspberry jam.

    Matilda was rocketing up the driveway on Rosie the pony. Abbey watched on with wide eyes as Matilda rode into the paddock, cantering hard and fast. Then, in one graceful move, Matilda pulled Rosie to a stop and leaped off her back.
    Abbey clapped until she thought her hands would wear out. Now it was her turn to feel proud of Matilda. She really was an amazing rider!
    ‘OK, girls, this is Rosie the pony,’ Matilda’s dad said. ‘Each of you will ride her around the paddock so we can test your riding ability. That way Pop and I can choose the right ponies for your trail ride.’
    From the middle of the paddock, Pop yelled, ‘Gavin, who’s first?’
    The girls all started shouting at once. After what seemed like forever, Matilda’s dad chose Kate.
    Abbey groaned. She had so wanted to be first. She leaned on the paddock fence and watched Kate.
    Kate had been to Pony Club and had done heaps of riding with Matilda, and it showed. Abbey thought Kate was almost as good as Matilda.
    When Matilda’s dad was choosing the next rider, Abbey made sure she was the loudest. ‘Me, me, me!’ she shouted, hopping up and down on the spot.
    But he chose Maddie, who was closest to the paddock. Then, after Maddie, he chose Olivia, who had strapped on a riding helmet before Abbey realised what was happening.
    Abbey clicked her tongue and frowned.
    Matilda saw her bestie’s grumpy face. ‘Don’t worry, Ab. You’ll get your turn.’
    Abbey shook out her arms and legs, preparing for her big ride. She had to be next.
    ‘Emma, your turn,’ Matilda’s dad shouted.
    Abbey sighed deeply. I guess someone has to be last , she thought. Then Abbey realised she was lucky last. She smiled to herself and leaned on the fence to watch Emma ride.
    ‘And who are you supposed to be?’ Pop was asking Emma. He looked surprised at Emma’s all-pink outfit and sparkly necklace.
    ‘I’m Emma!’ Emma said, sitting up in the saddle.
    ‘Girls,’ Pop shouted, ‘see your friend’s riding posture?’ He pointed at Emma’s back. ‘She’s straight from ear to shoulder to hip to heel. Perfect!’
    Before Emma had even dismounted, Abbey was racing out onto the paddock.
    ‘Well, Sparkles, you just might be a natural rider,’ Pop was telling Emma.
    Abbey grinned as she grabbed the riding helmet from Emma. She was determined to show Pop that she was a natural rider too!

Abbey sat up in the saddle as straight as she could.
    ‘OK,’ Pop told her, ‘nudge Rosie gently with your heels to get her walking.’
    After all of that waiting, Abbey didn’t want Rosie to walk. Instead of nudging her gently, she dug her heels into the pony’s flanks. She pushed Rosie straight into a trot!

    Abbey was so excited that she forgot to rise to the trot by lifting herself up and down in the saddle. Instead, she bounced around on Rosie’s back like a sack of potatoes.
    ‘Stop!’ Pop yelled.
    Abbey pulled Rosie to a stop.
    As soon as Pop started explaining how to rise to the trot, Abbey remembered that Matilda had shown her how to do it before. Abbey was very quiet as she practised rising to the trot for Pop, but her cheeks burned.
    ‘You need to take riding slowly,’ Pop told Abbey as he helped her off Rosie. ‘Don’t run before you can walk.’
    Abbey wasn’t exactly sure what Pop meant, but she was pretty certain he didn’t think she was a natural rider.
    The girls headed back up to the farmhouse to pack their picnic while Matilda’s dad and