2. FIRST LESSONS FOR SARA
The next morning, Sara went with her daddy to feed Star. Her father showed her how to pour the grain into the feed bucket, how to check the water and
how to put hay into the rack.
"Later this morning, your mother will show you how to saddle Star, and you can start learning to ride," he said.
All morning, Sara begged her mother to go to the barn. "Can I make him run and jump, Mama?"
"One day, maybe. First you have to learn to stay in the saddle!"
Sara looked surprised. Riding was easy. She knew that. She watched the people on television do it all the time.
Finally, around ten o'clock, Mother called her. Sara came running. Mother was at the refrigerator getting out a carrot.
"Are we ready?" Sarah asked.
Mother looked at her. "Yes, but go back to your room and put on your boots first."
"Why?"
"Boots will keep your feet from sliding through the stirrups. If you fell off and your foot was caught in the stirrup, the horse might drag you along the
ground."
Sara looked down at her tennis shoes, and then went back to her room. A few minutes later she returned. Mother was waiting at the door, holding the
carrot with one hand and a shiny black object with the other.
"What's that?" Sara asked.
"It's your birthday present from Grandpa and Grandma. It's a riding helmet so that if you fall, you won't hurt your head."
The next morning, Sara went with her daddy to feed Star. Her father showed her how to pour the grain into the feed bucket, how to check the water and
how to put hay into the rack.
"Later this morning, your mother will show you how to saddle Star, and you can start learning to ride," he said.
All morning, Sara begged her mother to go to the barn. "Can I make him run and jump, Mama?"
"One day, maybe. First you have to learn to stay in the saddle!"
Sara looked surprised. Riding was easy. She knew that. She watched the people on television do it all the time.
Finally, around ten o'clock, Mother called her. Sara came running. Mother was at the refrigerator getting out a carrot.
"Are we ready?" Sarah asked.
Mother looked at her. "Yes, but go back to your room and put on your boots first."
"Why?"
"Boots will keep your feet from sliding through the stirrups. If you fell off and your foot was caught in the stirrup, the horse might drag you along the
ground."
Sara looked down at her tennis shoes, and then went back to her room. A few minutes later she returned. Mother was waiting at the door, holding the
carrot with one hand and a shiny black object with the other.
"What's that?" Sara asked.
"It's your birthday present from Grandpa and Grandma. It's a riding helmet so that if you fall, you won't hurt your head."
Questions
1. Why did Sara's mother make her wear boots and a helmet?
2. See if you can name the parts of the saddle in the picture on the right.
3. Why should you be careful when you go behind a horse?
4. How big is a "hand?"
5. Where is a horse's withers?
1. Why did Sara's mother make her wear boots and a helmet?
2. See if you can name the parts of the saddle in the picture on the right.
3. Why should you be careful when you go behind a horse?
4. How big is a "hand?"
5. Where is a horse's withers?
