Free Abbey Leads the Way by Holly Bell Page B

Pop went to prepare the ponies for the girls’ ride. As they walked together, Kate suggested they ask if they could go on the trail ride on their own, just the six of them.
    ‘ Kate, Abbey, come on then,’ Matilda said. ‘Let’s go ask Dad.’
    At first, Matilda’s dad wasn’t sure. He knew that Matilda was an excellent rider and Kate was very good, but the other girls were less experienced. Matilda reminded him that she had helped Pop lead lots of beginner trail rides around the farm before. After some thought, he agreed to let them go by themselves on the condition that they took a phone with them and they were very careful. The three girls promised straightaway.
    Abbey, Kate and Matilda came running up just as their friends were carrying their backpacks onto the porch. The other girls were so excited when they heard they could go riding by themselves.
    ‘OK, girls, come and get your ponies!’ Matilda’s dad yelled over their squealing.
    Only Matilda was riding a horse – her own horse, Cody. The other girls were given ponies.
    Olivia was given Rosie. Maddie had asked for the smallest pony, so she was given Tiny.
    Abbey hopped from foot to foot. She really hoped the black pony was hers.
    ‘White Lightning is for you, Sparkles,’ Pop told Emma. ‘And, Miss Pony Club, this is Black Thunder, ’ Pop said, handing the reins of the black pony to Kate.
    ‘And for Miss Trotter,’ Pop said to Abbey, ‘we call this one Snail.’
    Abbey’s cheeks burned. How embarrassing! she thought. She had so wanted that black pony with the cool name, but she’d ended up with Snail. Snail! What could be slower than a snail?
    Snail nuzzled her. He was a handsome pony, brown with a white star on his nose.
    ‘Well, you don’t look slow,’ Abbey whispered to Snail.
    Matilda’s dad yelled to get the girls’ attention. Matilda and Abbey ran over.
    ‘Here’s the phone, Matilda,’ her dad said. ‘It has my number and Grandma’s number in it. Remember, we’re only a phone call away if you need us for anything at all.’
    ‘Thanks, Dad,’ Matilda said, sticking the phone in her pocket.
    ‘So take the girls on the beginners’ trail ride,’ Matilda’s dad told her. ‘The one along the stream path. Follow it to the picnic paddock, about half an hour from here.’
    ‘Oh, yes,’ Matilda nodded, ‘I know. And then half an hour past the picnic paddock is the bridge.’
    ‘Yes, that’s right, Matilda,’ her dad said, pleased. ‘Go past the bridge and follow the stream path to the right until you reach the old oak tree.’
    Matilda nodded. Abbey listened too. The other girls were busy. Kate was adjusting their helmet straps.
    ‘At the old oak, the path leads away from the stream and takes you across the grazing paddock and back to the farmhouse,’ Matilda’s dad said.
    ‘Got it, Dad!’ said Matilda.
    Her dad smiled and went to help Maddie onto her pony.
    ‘What’s up, Ab?’ Matilda said, noticing the concerned look on Abbey’s face.
    ‘Matilda, are you sure we shouldn’t ask your dad to draw us a map?’ Abbey asked.
    ‘It’s OK,’ Matilda said. ‘I’ve been on this trail ride heaps . I know exactly where to go.’
    Abbey nodded and put on her backpack.
    The girls mounted and Matilda led Cody to the front. Matilda threw her arm up in the air and shouted, ‘Follow me!’
    The Forever Clover girls were off on a trail ride adventure!

Abbey quickly worked out why her pony was called Snail. He kept stopping to eat grass! She yanked hard on the reins to pull Snail’s head up from the ground, but he was very stubborn.
    Abbey growled. ‘They really should call you Stop, or Greedy Gobbler,’ she told him.
    She could see her friends riding together further down the track. She felt angry and left out. Why did I get the slow pony? she wondered. In frustration, she nudged Snail’s flanks over and over.
    Snail started walking, but he soon stopped.
    Abbey sighed. ‘Yes, Greedy Gobbler, it must be time for another