THE HORSE COMES FIRST

Despite the instant rapport that spring up between Randy and the two year-old gelding Charlie Stride, the immature, high-strung Randy has trouble remembering Grandad's basic law of horse training -- the horse comes first. Randy's first weeks caring for Grandad and Aunt Connie's three trotters are marked by the kind of headstrong carelessness only a relative (and then only a fictional one) would tolerate, and when he does begin to develop a sense of responsibility his concern is for Pen, the meek stable girl who is his rival for Charlie's affections. But though stable work seems to have a therapeutic effect on Randy, it's obvious that readers will lean toward Grandad's sense of values -- and give the lore of training harness winners (glossary appended) first place in their attention.