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    Blue Ribbon Champ
    Blue Ribbon Champ
    Blue Ribbon Champ
    Ebook122 pages1 hour

    Blue Ribbon Champ

    By Marsha Hubler

    3.5/5

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    About this ebook

    In the sixth book of the Keystone Stables series, perfect for girls who love horses and horse fiction, foster child Skye learns the true meaning of love when one of the returning campers with Downs Syndrome is insistent she is his girlfriend, and won’t leave her—or her beloved horse, Champ—alone.

    Skye knows she should be kind to Joey Klingerman, and that he’s probably the most loving person she’s ever met, but his clinginess and insistence he and Skye are dating has become too much. Not only are his proclamations and “chivalrous” actions embarrassing, Joey won’t stop pestering Skye to let him ride Champ, her sorrel quarter horse. And while she knows it’s selfish, no one rides Champ but her.

    Joey has an opportunity to compete at the Snyder County Horse show—but it could mean Skye sacrificing her own chance for a blue ribbon. As the competition nears, Skye prays for a miracle, either for Joey or her own hardening heart.

    Blue Ribbon Champ:

    • is written by an author who has firsthand experience with horses and foster care
    • is a contemporary and realistic plot, with an inspirational Christian message
    • features a character with special needs
    • contains extensive back matter on different horse breeds, how to care for them, and horsemanship, as well as facts, diagrams, and a glossary of horse terms so girls can better know their favorite animal
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherZondervan
    Release dateAug 3, 2010
    ISBN9780310429357
    Blue Ribbon Champ
    Author

    Marsha Hubler

    Marsha Hubler is the bestselling author of twenty-three books, including the Keystone Stables series. She has a master's degree in education, specializing in elementary ed and special needs children, and was a foster parent for twelve years. She has over fifty years of experience with young people as a third grade teacher in public school, principal of a Christian school, administrator of a youth treatment center educational program, and a homeschool consultant and evaluator. She loves to hear from her readers via her website or snail mail.

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      Book preview

      Blue Ribbon Champ - Marsha Hubler

      Blue Ribbon Champ

      Book 6

      Formerly Titled Skye’s Final Test

      Marsha Hubler

      publisher logo

      To Patti Souder

      and the Montrose Christian Writers Conference staff

      who brought my ideas for this series and

      Zonderkidz together on the same page.

      Map of the Chamlers’ Ranch

      image 1

      Table of Contents

      Cover Page

      Title Page

      Map of the Chamlers’ Ranch

      Chapter one

      Chapter two

      Chapter three

      Chapter four

      Chapter five

      Chapter six

      Chapter seven

      Chapter eight

      Chapter nine

      Chapter ten

      Chapter eleven

      Chapter twelve

      A Letter to my Keystone Stables Fans

      Are You Ready to Own Your First Horse?

      Glossary of Gaits

      Parts of a Horse

      The Western Saddle

      Resources for Horse Information Contained in this Book

      Other Books in the Keystone Stables Series

      Copyright

      About the Publisher

      Share Your Thoughts

      Chapter one

      I should’ve gone to Aunt Dot’s in Charleston for the summer! Skye made her point perfectly clear as she shampooed her horse in the Keystone Stables paddock. I’m really not looking forward to a summer with Joey Klingerman again."

      Well, why didn’t you go to Charleston? Morgan shot back. I’m sure Champ would’ve had a simply marvelous time here without you. From her wheelchair, Skye’s foster sister busied herself polishing a saddle on a sawhorse just outside the barn door.

      Skye threw her arms around Champ’s drenched neck and clung to him like a wet rag. But I can’t get along without him, Morgan. Not for a whole summer. I’d just die!

      The sorrel Quarter Horse nickered and nodded as though in agreement with Skye’s dramatic words.

      Skye kissed Champ on the nose and then sighed as she wiped his neck with a dry cloth. I know Joey can’t help it that he has Down syndrome, but he just won’t leave me alone. Mom’s been helping me to try and understand, and I found a neat website that explains all about kids like him, but—

      And, Skye, Morgan teased, flipping back her long red locks, what about Chad? You’d die without him too, wouldn’t you?

      Skye’s face flushed red-hot and she giggled. Cut it out. You know I’m going nowhere but here for the whole summer. Mom and Dad need both of us, I guess. And Chad? Well…I…

      Did I hear my name? A teenager in a dark brown Stetson, plaid shirt, and jeans led a buckskin horse out of the barn. What can I do for you ladies? Brown eyes flashed in Skye’s direction.

      Although Skye was soaked and fairly cool from Champ’s bath, her cheeks flushed hotter than ever. She threw a quick glance at Chad and returned to her hosing job. Oh—ah—nothing, she stammered. We’re just discussing the summer.

      Yeah, Morgan added, and all the work that’s ahead of us.

      But working with the horses is fun—most of the time. Skye positioned herself so she could eye Chad.

      Chad led the buckskin into the paddock, tied him to a fence post, and started to brush his shiny tan coat. "Yeah, even though Mr. C. pays me for helping, it is a lot of fun. The money goes into my college fund, and I get to play with horses and kids all summer. Now in my book that’s one super job. Are all the summer students here?"

      Skye peeked over her horse’s withers, watching Chad’s every move. Yeah. All four of them are here, bag and baggage. Sorry to say, Mom and Dad picked up Joey at the bus station right after church.

      Leaning over the horse’s back, Chad poked back his Stetson, revealing a clump of blond curls. Joey Klingerman’s coming again? Why are you sorry?

      ’Cause I have a slight problem with him, that’s all, she said weakly.

      A problem? Chad asked.

      Ignoring Chad’s question, Skye busied herself with water and bubbles. Me and my big mouth.

      Joey bugs her to death! Morgan put in her two cents’ worth.

      Another big mouth! Skye fumed. Shielding herself behind Champ, she shot a piercing glare at Morgan and shook her head.

      A fake Cheshire grin masked Morgan’s freckles. Sorry! Her lips formed the word as she resumed soaping the saddle.

      Joey bugs you? Chad boomed right behind Skye.

      Yikes! Skye squeaked as she jumped to attention like a soldier called to arms.

      Chad and Morgan burst out laughing.

      Skye faced Chad in mock anger. Very funny, Chad Dressler.

      Chad’s twin dimples highlighted his devilish smile. Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you—much.

      Yeah, right! Skye said. But you can scare me anytime!

      Chad picked up a cloth and started drying Champ’s head. Seriously, what’s wrong with Joey? He was here last year, and I didn’t notice any problem with him. He listened and followed all the rules, as far as I can remember.

      That wasn’t the problem! Skye didn’t need to remind herself.

      Morgan leaned forward on the padded saddle seat. Well, problem or not, he’s up at the house with the others right now getting the whole nine yards from Mr. and Mrs. C. ‘Do this! Don’t do that!’ The kids probably feel like they’re in some kind of prison!

      It mustn’t seem like prison to Joey, or he wouldn’t have come back, Chad said.

      Skye turned the hose nozzle off and started to dry the back part of Champ. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Chad’s every move.

      Time to change the subject—and fast, she told herself. Well, I sure remember how I felt when I first came here as a know-it-all foster kid. I thought a straitjacket would have been better. But it didn’t take me long to get used to all the rules.

      Me neither, Morgan said, relaxing into her chair. The cool stuff about bein’ a foster kid here far outweighs the negatories.

      Negatories? Skye giggled as she slid her fingers through her long brown hair. Is that a word?

      Not sure. Morgan giggled too. But it sounded good.

      I think it’s ‘negatives’! Chad finished wiping off the front of Champ. He pulled a hoof pick out of his back pocket, headed to the buckskin, and lifted one of its front legs.

      He is so-o-o smart! Skye concluded.

      Easy, Bucky, Chad said, carefully examining the triangular pad on the bottom of the horse’s hoof. We’ve gotta clean your frogs out—and good. Skye, he said in his next breath, speaking of problems, how’d Bucky’s thrush do over the winter?

      Every once in a while it’d flare up, especially if we didn’t keep his stall clean and dry. Dad said once a horse tangles with that nasty infection, he can get it again in a wink.

      Yeah, Morgan said, I remember when we got him at auction. Auction horses are risky any way you look at it. Even then, he had a real bad case of thrush in that front right hoof.

      And ever since then we’ve had to keep an eye on it, Skye added.

      Skye studied Chad as he cleaned both of the horse’s front hooves. Uh-oh, he said, still bent over with one hoof resting on his knee, I think we have a touch of it right here on each side of this frog, Skye. Come here and look.

      Skye rushed to Chad’s side and examined Bucky’s hoof. The deep crevices on both sides of the tattered frog were lined with a pitch-black dirt. As Chad scraped it out, Bucky’s hoof gave off a smell that stank worse than last month’s garbage.

      Whew, Skye said, that’s thrush all right.

      Morgan set her soap and cloth on the saddle seat. I’ll get the bottle of hydrogen peroxide. She motored into the barn.

      In the meantime, Skye said to Chad as she walked back to her own horse, get some water and scrub that out real good.

      Okay, Miss Ranch Boss! We’ll have Bucky fixed in no time. Chad retrieved the hose, a scrub brush, and Skye’s bucket.

      Standing several feet back from Champ, Skye kept an eye on Chad while she stared at the sorrel’s sparkling coat. The horse’s blaze and four socks looked like they had just been painted a glistening white. His long, silky mane and tail blew gently in the soft summer breeze.

      You are one beautiful hunk! Skye said.

      Thanks! Chad turned back and winked.

      In vain, Skye looked for the closest groundhog hole in which to crawl. The summer sun, beating mercilessly, was a far

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