Page 17 - SophiesPonyTalesJuly10C

CHAPTER 7 IN A PARADE

One day after being at the farm for three Monarch was too excitable to be trusted
years at 8:00 a.m. there was a flurry of activity. I in a parade. The other two horses were also un-
was taken out of the stall and groomed. Glenn suitable for parade duty. Because of showing a
had gotten a phone call saying there was a 200th calm attitude toward surprises he trusted me to

Anniversary Celebration Parade of our town’s lead the parade. Soon there was, a small, plain,
founding scheduled for 10:00 a.m. The horse Morgan with a twisted front foot, at the head of
chosen to reenact the delivery of the Town Char- the parade. Neither the sirens, the crowd, or the
ter from the New York State Capital to Town Hall flags mattered. I did startle, for moment, when a
had called in sick. A substitute was needed to flock of pigeons flew out from under the girders
lead the parade. The town official telephoned on an overpass as we went through. A pat on the

and said, “I know there are horses on your farm. neck and the words “you’re o.k.” settled me
Is there a horse in your barn that could come and down. Children crowded around me at parade’s
reenact the historic event?” end, all wanting their picture taken with me. I
didn’t step on a toe.
I overheard Glenn say, “There is a horse
in the barn that might do it.” I also heard him Glenn who was to become my driver was
say, “She has never been in a parade before so at riding me that day. He had confidence in me and
the first sign of trouble we will leave and go that gave me confidence. That combination was

home.” He knew there would be fire engines important that day and would prove to be im-
with sirens, muskets firing, and bands with portant in the future. Confidence can be trans-
mitted. Next day on the front page of the news-
drums. We were supposed to lead a procession
paper there was my picture, in color. That felt
of important dignitaries from around the region
much better than being in the classified section,
and people in period costumes.

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