🐴 HorsesGrade 6Reading: grades 5-6Fractions of a numberWord problemsMulti-step word problemsMultiplication
The Midnight Stables Mystery
Someone unlatched the pasture gates at Whispering Willow Stables after dusk and let the prize horses wander off. Solve the clues to identify the sneaky culprit!
Suspects
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
21 of 21 still in play
| Name | Riding Style | Trail Gear | Rein Grip | Mane Trim | Favorite Treat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clara Oaks | Show Jumping | Reflective Vest | Right Handed Grip | Braided Mane | Peppermint Squares |
| Dakota Meadows | Cross Country | Silver Saddle | Right Handed Grip | Flowing Mane | Crunchy Carrots |
| Fiona Trotter | Cross Country | Silver Saddle | Right Handed Grip | Roached Mane | Crisp Red Apples |
| Quinn Reins | Dressage | Leather Saddlebag | Right Handed Grip | Braided Mane | Crisp Red Apples |
| Xena Corral | Dressage | Silver Saddle | Left Handed Grip | Roached Mane | Crisp Red Apples |
| Tess Groom | Cross Country | Braided Reins | Left Handed Grip | Flowing Mane | Crisp Red Apples |
| Uriah Track | Show Jumping | Leather Saddlebag | Left Handed Grip | Flowing Mane | Crisp Red Apples |
| Barnaby Ridge | Dressage | Silver Saddle | Left Handed Grip | Braided Mane | Crisp Red Apples |
| Jasper Canter | Western Pleasure | Golden Stirrups | Left Handed Grip | Braided Mane | Peppermint Squares |
| Gideon Saddle | Cross Country | Leather Saddlebag | Left Handed Grip | Roached Mane | Crisp Red Apples |
| Maya Colt | Show Jumping | Reflective Vest | Right Handed Grip | Flowing Mane | Peppermint Squares |
| Leo Mare | Vaulting | Braided Reins | Left Handed Grip | Braided Mane | Crisp Red Apples |
| Rosie Stirrup | Western Pleasure | Golden Stirrups | Left Handed Grip | Braided Mane | Crunchy Carrots |
| Zane Rider | Western Pleasure | Silver Saddle | Left Handed Grip | Roached Mane | Crisp Red Apples |
| Olivia Stable | Vaulting | Reflective Vest | Left Handed Grip | Roached Mane | Crisp Red Apples |
| Sam Halter | Western Pleasure | Leather Saddlebag | Left Handed Grip | Roached Mane | Peppermint Squares |
| Violet Lasso | Western Pleasure | Golden Stirrups | Right Handed Grip | Braided Mane | Crunchy Carrots |
| Nico Stallion | Western Pleasure | Golden Stirrups | Left Handed Grip | Flowing Mane | Crisp Red Apples |
| Kira Gallop | Show Jumping | Silver Saddle | Left Handed Grip | Roached Mane | Crisp Red Apples |
| Parker Mustang | Show Jumping | Silver Saddle | Right Handed Grip | Roached Mane | Crunchy Carrots |
| Wyatt Harness | Show Jumping | Leather Saddlebag | Left Handed Grip | Flowing Mane | Crunchy Carrots |
Clue 1
Fractions of a number
The stable manager tallied up the disturbed hay bales and horseshoe nails around the main barn to gather the first clue.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
13
37
28
22
39
5
5
32
39
19
35
29
28
38
19
29
T
13
10
38
28
32
8
28
6
5
28
3
T
13
39
22
28
22
28
38
T
13
1/4 of 52 =T
1/6 of 174 =O
5/10 of 12 =F
1/3 of 15 =L
2/8 of 76 =N
4/6 of 48 =A
1/3 of 30 =U
3/10 of 130 =I
4/8 of 76 =S
1/10 of 80 =R
2/10 of 15 =C
1/3 of 66 =V
2/8 of 148 =H
1/3 of 84 =E
2/6 of 105 =D
0/15 letters found
Clue 2
Word problems
Only a portion of the oats in the feeding bins were eaten before the culprit fled down the dark trail.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas .
L
35
22
48
44
46
58
14
D
22
D
G
R
I
P
There were 37 grooming brushes. 2 were used up. How many grooming brushes are left?L
Stable Hand lined up 8 rows of 6 oat buckets. How many oat buckets in all?F
Stable Hand lined up 2 rows of 7 oat buckets. How many oat buckets in all?N
Stable Hand found 39 sugar cubes yesterday and 5 more today. How many sugar cubes in all?T
Stable Hand lined up 11 rows of 2 riding helmets. How many riding helmets in all?E
Stable Hand found 12 leather straps yesterday and 34 more today. How many leather straps in all?H
There were 83 sugar cubes. 25 were used up. How many sugar cubes are left?A
0/7 letters found
Clue 3
Multi-step word problems
After searching the equipment shed and tallying the extra bridles, the detective pieced together a multi-step evidence trail.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith .
C
48
72
32
18
40
72
11
67
A
40
40
L
11
18
Stable Hand filled 5 boxes with 2 riding helmets each, then found 38 more riding helmets. How many riding helmets are there in all?C
Stable Hand earned 6 sugar cubes in each of 2 rounds, plus 28 bonus sugar cubes. Then 8 sugar cubes were lost. How many sugar cubes are left?I
There were 141 oat buckets in all. 33 oat buckets were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 6 Willow Valley Equestrian Club. How many oat buckets did each get?S
Stable Hand collected 100 leather straps in the morning and 168 leather straps in the afternoon, then split them equally among 4 Willow Valley Equestrian Club. How many leather straps did each get?D
Stable Hand earned 3 riding helmets in each of 3 rounds, plus 32 bonus riding helmets. Then 1 riding helmets were lost. How many riding helmets are left?P
Stable Hand collected 34 oat buckets in the morning and 21 oat buckets in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 Willow Valley Equestrian Club. How many oat buckets did each get?E
Stable Hand earned 2 oat buckets in each of 5 rounds, plus 71 bonus oat buckets. Then 9 oat buckets were lost. How many oat buckets are left?R
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
By counting the rows of stalls and calculating the total saddle blankets checked, a clear pattern emerged.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
C
70
16
44
1
1
44
35
33
22
C
70
5
6
36
25
64
110
6
5
64
110
5
C
70
42
36
56
6
5
35
36
7 × 10 =C
8 × 8 =R
11 × 3 =G
1 × 6 =M
7 × 6 =H
11 × 2 =S
5 × 1 =A
11 × 4 =I
4 × 9 =E
10 × 11 =O
5 × 5 =F
5 × 7 =N
1 × 1 =P
7 × 8 =D
8 × 2 =L
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Fractions of a number — the last clue
A fraction of the muddy horse tracks near the creek led directly to another piece of evidence.
First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!
Step 1 — solve these
2/4 of 16 = ?
4/8 of 22 = ?
2/6 of 27 = ?
3/6 of 2 = ?
1/3 of 21 = ?
1/2 of 10 = ?
3/8 of 8 = ?
6/8 of 16 = ?
1/2 of 12 = ?
2/6 of 6 = ?
1/4 of 16 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain gallops through the arena using western pleasure style, then glows near the tree line in a reflective vest.
2.The villain gallops through the arena using western pleasure style, then carries stolen supplies inside a leather saddlebag.
3.The villain executes precise trots with dressage precision, then glows near the tree line in a reflective vest.
4.The villain performs acrobatics on horseback using vaulting skills, then glistens under the moonlight with golden stirrups.
5.The villain leaps over the pasture gates with show jumping style, then glows near the tree line in a reflective vest.
6.The villain performs acrobatics on horseback using vaulting skills, then glows near the tree line in a reflective vest.
7.The villain leaps over the pasture gates with show jumping style, then steers the runaway horse with braided reins.
8.The villain dashes across mud tracks with cross country speed, then carries stolen supplies inside a leather saddlebag.
9.The villain gallops through the arena using western pleasure style, then shines bright in the dark with a silver saddle.
10.The villain executes precise trots with dressage precision, then shines bright in the dark with a silver saddle.
11.The villain leaps over the pasture gates with show jumping style, then shines bright in the dark with a silver saddle.
12.The villain executes precise trots with dressage precision, then steers the runaway horse with braided reins.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Midnight Stables Mystery
Culprit: Xena Corral (Dressage · Silver Saddle · Left Handed Grip · Roached Mane · Crisp Red Apples)
- Clue 1 (Fractions of a number): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE A REFLECTIVE VEST"1/4 of 52 = 13 (T) · 1/6 of 174 = 29 (O) · 5/10 of 12 = 6 (F) · 1/3 of 15 = 5 (L) · 2/8 of 76 = 19 (N) · 4/6 of 48 = 32 (A) · 1/3 of 30 = 10 (U) · 3/10 of 130 = 39 (I) · 4/8 of 76 = 38 (S) · 1/10 of 80 = 8 (R) · 2/10 of 15 = 3 (C) · 1/3 of 66 = 22 (V) · 2/8 of 148 = 37 (H) · 1/3 of 84 = 28 (E) · 2/6 of 105 = 35 (D)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "LEFT HANDED GRIP"There were 37 grooming brushes. 2 were used up. How many grooming brushes are left? = 35 (L) · Stable Hand lined up 8 rows of 6 oat buckets. How many oat buckets in all? = 48 (F) · Stable Hand lined up 2 rows of 7 oat buckets. How many oat buckets in all? = 14 (N) · Stable Hand found 39 sugar cubes yesterday and 5 more today. How many sugar cubes in all? = 44 (T) · Stable Hand lined up 11 rows of 2 riding helmets. How many riding helmets in all? = 22 (E) · Stable Hand found 12 leather straps yesterday and 34 more today. How many leather straps in all? = 46 (H) · There were 83 sugar cubes. 25 were used up. How many sugar cubes are left? = 58 (A)
- Clue 3 (Multi-step word problems): "CRISP RED APPLES"Stable Hand filled 5 boxes with 2 riding helmets each, then found 38 more riding helmets. How many riding helmets are there in all? = 48 (C) · Stable Hand earned 6 sugar cubes in each of 2 rounds, plus 28 bonus sugar cubes. Then 8 sugar cubes were lost. How many sugar cubes are left? = 32 (I) · There were 141 oat buckets in all. 33 oat buckets were set aside. The rest were shared equally among 6 Willow Valley Equestrian Club. How many oat buckets did each get? = 18 (S) · Stable Hand collected 100 leather straps in the morning and 168 leather straps in the afternoon, then split them equally among 4 Willow Valley Equestrian Club. How many leather straps did each get? = 67 (D) · Stable Hand earned 3 riding helmets in each of 3 rounds, plus 32 bonus riding helmets. Then 1 riding helmets were lost. How many riding helmets are left? = 40 (P) · Stable Hand collected 34 oat buckets in the morning and 21 oat buckets in the afternoon, then split them equally among 5 Willow Valley Equestrian Club. How many oat buckets did each get? = 11 (E) · Stable Hand earned 2 oat buckets in each of 5 rounds, plus 71 bonus oat buckets. Then 9 oat buckets were lost. How many oat buckets are left? = 72 (R)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "CLIPPINGS CAME FROM A ROACHED MANE"7 × 10 = 70 (C) · 8 × 8 = 64 (R) · 11 × 3 = 33 (G) · 1 × 6 = 6 (M) · 7 × 6 = 42 (H) · 11 × 2 = 22 (S) · 5 × 1 = 5 (A) · 11 × 4 = 44 (I) · 4 × 9 = 36 (E) · 10 × 11 = 110 (O) · 5 × 5 = 25 (F) · 5 × 7 = 35 (N) · 1 × 1 = 1 (P) · 7 × 8 = 56 (D) · 8 × 2 = 16 (L)
- Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 10) → Xena Corral2/4 of 16 = 8 · 4/8 of 22 = 11 · 2/6 of 27 = 9 · 3/6 of 2 = 1 · 1/3 of 21 = 7 · 1/2 of 10 = 5 · 3/8 of 8 = 3 · 6/8 of 16 = 12 · 1/2 of 12 = 6 · 2/6 of 6 = 2 · 1/4 of 16 = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 6 math
- Math topics
- Fractions of a number, Word problems, Multi-step word problems, Multiplication
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Midnight Stables Mystery — set in Whispering Willow Stables
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects