Paula’s mare gets colic every Christmas, but her owner has no idea why because she has to go away over the holiday. She always comes back to a very sick horse and a huge vet bill.<br><br>This year Paula doesn’t have to travel. Finally, she can get to the bottom of the mystery!<br><br>Enlisting the help of a friend, she gets down to some serious detective work. What the two riders discover at the barn is very bizarre and not at all what they expect!

The Horse Who Hated Christmas

Paula wanted to call out to Melissa but was unable to speak.


Peppi began snorting and running around her stall and galvanized her owner into action.


Paula’s first priority was to her horse. She found her voice and whispered loudly, “It’s okay, Peppi, Mom’s here!”


She jumped out of her sleeping bag, threw her heavy duty barn coat over her dressing gown, thrust her feet into her paddock boots. With trembling hands she pressed the flashlight app on her phone.


The animal’s petite ears pointed forwards over the stall door at her owner’s approach and when Paula went in the horse immediately tucked her head under her owner’s arms.


“Oh, Peppi, I’m so sorry! But I’m here now, and I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. I promise.”


The other horses down the aisle popped their heads out. They were wondering what was going on, but were unperturbed. The din was only over Peppi’s part of the barn.


Chapter 5