"Hmm," said Dad. "You know that already? Well, come on." He got to his feet and so did Maggie.
Mom said, "Corky better stay in the house. He could frighten the horse." She grabbed her barn jacket.
Maggie and her parents went out to the barn. Dad bridled Molly and led her out the door. Polly whinnied frantically and jumped around in her stall. Molly ignored Polly.
"I'll go first," said Dad. "Just to be sure it's safe."
He led Molly to a hay wagon and crawled on from there. He clucked to Molly and rode off. He turned Molly right and left, and they even trotted a little. Dad slid off again.
"This is a good horse," said Dad. "She handles as well as most riding horses. Ready, Maggie?"
Maggie looked up at the huge horse and gulped. "I guess so," she said.
Dad boosted her on, and she looked down. Yipes, it was like being on a tall building that breathed. And Molly's back was so wide that Maggie's legs were doing the splits. She was scared.
"Slide up by her neck," said Dad. "She's not so wide in front."
Maggie slid forward and grabbed a big handful of mane. She felt a little safer, but then Dad led Molly forward a few steps. The whole huge body twisted under Maggie. She held on for dear life.