Antonia and the Big Competition: The Rosenburg Riding Stables, Volume 2
tened like polished wood in the sun Even though Snow White’s coat stood up shaggily in a few places she was the more good-natured of the two Antonia began the grooming with her She brushed the horse’s head and neck and then went over her back Snow White enjoyed it so much that she snorted softly This evening my love we’ll go for a ride again with Leona and Caroline I’m so glad that your leg is better after the accident Then Elfin Dance piped up requesting Antonia’s at tention And you you wild thing weren’t we lucky that Mr Bonhumeur left you and Asseem with us here at the farm When I think about that thunderstorm that almost ruined everything I still get butterflies in my stomach Mr Bonhumeur wanted to take you right back to France Mr Bonhumeur was a horse enthusiast from France Maria Antonia’s aunt who had a feeling for outstand ing horses and a practiced eye had bought several hors es for him at auction For a few weeks he had been having two of them train at the Rosenburg farm One of them was Asseem He was to be trained by Antonia’s older 8
sister Caroline with the help of Mr Sonnenfeld the riding instructor at the farm The other horse was Elfin Dance Mr Bonhumeur had been so impressed with Antonia’s calm and loving way with Elfin Dance that he had insisted that she train him with the best riding instructor in the area Mr Hegemann For my little girl and my prized horse only the best training he had specified in a thick French accent Then my Elfin Dance stays here on Rosenburg Farm Antonia got a finishing brush for cleaning and smoothing the horses coats and gave Elfin Dance’s back an encouraging pat with the flat of her hand
Our lessons with Mr Hegemann are really fun for me She looked into Elfin Dance’s eyes Sometimes I think we’ll do it all I can hardly wait for this after noon’s lesson Just then Mr Sonnenfeld passed by Hi Antonia Wow you’re here with your horses so early every morning Good morning Mr Sonnenfeld That goes without saying She gave Snow White and Elfin Dance a nudge Yes but you do it all before school he said appreciatively School Oh crud I completely forgot We’re hav ing a vocabulary test today Why was that just cross ing her mind now I’d better get a move on If you’d said that yesterday afternoon I could have quizzed you on your vocabulary said Mr Sonnenfeld At least I know what horse means And that’s the most important vocabulary word of all Antonia smiled It’s really exciting fifth grade new school and new teachers I’m glad that Leona sits next to me because I don’t know any of the other kids in the class very well Leona is really the best friend ever 10
And even though she still did want to study her vo cabulary she kept chatting and Mr Sonnenfeld lis tened English with Mrs Warner is great but math with the math codfish is even more fun Then Antonia took carrots out of her pocket and gave them to both horses That’s what we call Mr Fischbach because he has such a wide mouth like a cod She giggled That’s not nice said Mr Sonnenfeld He doesn’t know answered Antonia But do you know what Leona and I really have trouble with The huge building You can’t imagine it our indoor riding arena could get swallowed up inside it We’re always getting lost So I really need to get going now Bye Mr Sonnenfeld Bye Antonia I’ll keep my fingers crossed for your vocabulary test Antonia took Snow White and Elfin Dance back to their stalls and said good-bye to both of them She was just about to run into the kitchen when Mr Sonnenfeld stopped her again Can you help this afternoon with currying and storing the hay Felix is still sick Caroline and John are helping out too 11
