Then followed miles of soft and rough going, which seemed long and tedious.

Beyond that was the home stretch up the valley, whose gradual slope could be seen only at a distance.

Here was a straight, broad trail, not too soft nor too hard, and for all the years she could remember riders had tried out and trained their favorites on that course.
Lucy reached down to assure herself that the cinch was tight, then she pulled her sombrero down hard, slackened the bridle, and let the King go.

He simply broke his gait, he was so surprised.

Lucy saw him trying to look back at her, as if he could not realize that this young woman rider had given him a free rein.