🐴 Horse back ridingGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4AdditionSubtractionMultiplicationRoundingDivision
The Mystery of the Missing Blue Ribbon
Just hours before the annual championship horse show, the grand trophy and blue ribbon vanished from the main arena office! Dust prints and scattered horse treats were left behind at the scene.
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 | Saddle Type | Favorite Treat | Rein Hand | Rider Hairstyle | Horse Spook Trigger |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Adams | English Saddle | Oat Biscuits | Rides Right Handed | Braided Mane Bun | Loud Thunder |
| James Mitchell | English Saddle | Oat Biscuits | Rides Left Handed | Low Ponytail | Muddy Puddles |
| Charlotte Green | Bareback Pad | Crisp Apples | Rides Left Handed | Low Ponytail | Muddy Puddles |
| Mia White | English Saddle | Peanut Butter Treats | Rides Right Handed | Braided Mane Bun | Loud Thunder |
| Alexander Phillips | Side Saddle | Sugar Cubes | Rides Left Handed | Braided Mane Bun | Loud Thunder |
| Mason Nelson | Treeless Saddle | Crisp Apples | Rides Left Handed | Braided Mane Bun | Flapping Flags |
| Sammy Brooks | Western Saddle | Peanut Butter Treats | Rides Left Handed | Braided Mane Bun | Loud Thunder |
| Maya Miller | Bareback Pad | Peanut Butter Treats | Rides Left Handed | Curly Flowing Hair | Flapping Flags |
| Jackson Parker | Western Saddle | Oat Biscuits | Rides Right Handed | Braided Mane Bun | Flapping Flags |
| Oliver King | Treeless Saddle | Crisp Apples | Rides Right Handed | Braided Mane Bun | Loud Thunder |
| Ella Turner | Treeless Saddle | Oat Biscuits | Rides Left Handed | Curly Flowing Hair | Loud Thunder |
| Liam Reed | Bareback Pad | Peanut Butter Treats | Rides Left Handed | Braided Mane Bun | Loud Thunder |
| Noah Taylor | Treeless Saddle | Oat Biscuits | Rides Right Handed | Curly Flowing Hair | Flapping Flags |
| Lucas Scott | Side Saddle | Crisp Apples | Rides Right Handed | Low Ponytail | Loud Thunder |
| Ava Robinson | Bareback Pad | Crisp Apples | Rides Right Handed | Braided Mane Bun | Muddy Puddles |
| Logan Roberts | Treeless Saddle | Crisp Apples | Rides Right Handed | Low Ponytail | Muddy Puddles |
| Zoe Jenkins | Western Saddle | Peanut Butter Treats | Rides Right Handed | Curly Flowing Hair | Flapping Flags |
| Chloe Davis | Bareback Pad | Sugar Cubes | Rides Right Handed | Braided Mane Bun | Loud Thunder |
| Abigail Perez | Treeless Saddle | Sweet Carrots | Rides Right Handed | Low Ponytail | Loud Thunder |
| Evelyn Carter | Side Saddle | Oat Biscuits | Rides Left Handed | Curly Flowing Hair | Muddy Puddles |
| Harper Hill | English Saddle | Sweet Carrots | Rides Right Handed | Braided Mane Bun | Loud Thunder |
Clue 1
Addition
We counted all the leather bridles in the tack room to unlock the first clue box.
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
898
445
614
553
780
237
237
546
780
852
731
376
614
783
852
376
T
898
298
783
614
783
298
341
546
848
718
298
578
614
783
361 + 537 =T
188 + 153 =G
107 + 130 =L
200 + 245 =H
253 + 123 =O
305 + 273 =B
471 + 260 =D
315 + 533 =R
204 + 94 =U
290 + 256 =A
242 + 311 =V
409 + 374 =S
259 + 459 =C
443 + 337 =I
521 + 331 =N
350 + 264 =E
0/16 letters found
Clue 2
Subtraction
We subtracted the missing jump poles from the total set to uncover a hidden note.
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
556
133
483
437
614
T
556
325
483
112
112
112
735
437
735
458
614
786
133
T
556
133
735
325
327
483
327
458
614
327
483
458
908 - 352 =T
470 - 12 =R
510 - 377 =H
553 - 70 =E
295 - 183 =S
589 - 262 =D
775 - 161 =I
1053 - 318 =A
737 - 300 =W
950 - 164 =G
327 - 2 =N
0/11 letters found
Clue 3
Multiplication facts (1-12)
We multiplied the rows of stalls by the number of horses to crack the gate code.
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
7
42
56
84
35
120
120
64
35
24
54
64
6
6
50
64
4
56
22
11
44
120
10
32
22
T
7
42
32
24
22
56
4
7 × 1 =T
6 × 9 =W
4 × 1 =R
11 × 2 =D
3 × 8 =N
7 × 5 =I
10 × 5 =C
7 × 8 =E
8 × 4 =U
4 × 11 =Y
6 × 7 =H
7 × 12 =V
12 × 10 =L
1 × 11 =B
6 × 1 =S
1 × 10 =O
8 × 8 =A
0/17 letters found
Clue 4
Rounding
The digital scoreboard rounded our total ride time and flashed the next 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.
A
8000
20
300
A
8000
9000
3000
200
3000
7000
A
8000
600
200
20
900
600
800
40
300
A
8000
600
3000
80
A
8000
800
2000
200
90
40
20
200
30
9000
600
3000
Round 7,640 to the nearest thousandA
Round 863 to the nearest hundredU
Round 187 to the nearest hundredE
Round 94 to the nearest tenF
Round 839 to the nearest hundredS
Round 626 to the nearest hundredN
Round 1,576 to the nearest thousandL
Round 6,668 to the nearest thousandM
Round 37 to the nearest tenT
Round 2,995 to the nearest thousandD
Round 20 to the nearest tenB
Round 79 to the nearest tenW
Round 34 to the nearest tenH
Round 262 to the nearest hundredR
Round 8,693 to the nearest thousandI
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We divided the bag of treats equally among the paddocks to reveal the final hint.
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
24 ÷ 2 = ?
48 ÷ 12 = ?
4 ÷ 4 = ?
10 ÷ 5 = ?
54 ÷ 9 = ?
40 ÷ 8 = ?
36 ÷ 12 = ?
30 ÷ 3 = ?
44 ÷ 4 = ?
63 ÷ 9 = ?
96 ÷ 12 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain adjusted the english saddle, then shared the oat biscuits.
2.The villain secured the treeless saddle, then fed the horse sweet carrots.
3.The villain adjusted the english saddle, then dropped some sugar cubes.
4.The villain adjusted the english saddle, then fed the horse sweet carrots.
5.The villain polished the side saddle, then dropped some sugar cubes.
6.The villain strapped on the western saddle, then dropped some sugar cubes.
7.The villain strapped on the western saddle, then shared the oat biscuits.
8.The villain buckled the bareback pad, then offered peanut butter treats.
9.The villain adjusted the english saddle, then offered peanut butter treats.
10.The villain polished the side saddle, then shared the oat biscuits.
11.The villain secured the treeless saddle, then shared the oat biscuits.
12.The villain secured the treeless saddle, then snacked on crisp apples.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Missing Blue Ribbon
Culprit: Mia White (English Saddle · Peanut Butter Treats · Rides Right Handed · Braided Mane Bun · Loud Thunder)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE SUGAR CUBES"361 + 537 = 898 (T) · 188 + 153 = 341 (G) · 107 + 130 = 237 (L) · 200 + 245 = 445 (H) · 253 + 123 = 376 (O) · 305 + 273 = 578 (B) · 471 + 260 = 731 (D) · 315 + 533 = 848 (R) · 204 + 94 = 298 (U) · 290 + 256 = 546 (A) · 242 + 311 = 553 (V) · 409 + 374 = 783 (S) · 259 + 459 = 718 (C) · 443 + 337 = 780 (I) · 521 + 331 = 852 (N) · 350 + 264 = 614 (E)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE WITNESS SAW A RIGHT HANDED RIDER"908 - 352 = 556 (T) · 470 - 12 = 458 (R) · 510 - 377 = 133 (H) · 553 - 70 = 483 (E) · 295 - 183 = 112 (S) · 589 - 262 = 327 (D) · 775 - 161 = 614 (I) · 1053 - 318 = 735 (A) · 737 - 300 = 437 (W) · 950 - 164 = 786 (G) · 327 - 2 = 325 (N)
- Clue 3 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE VILLAIN WAS SCARED BY LOUD THUNDER"7 × 1 = 7 (T) · 6 × 9 = 54 (W) · 4 × 1 = 4 (R) · 11 × 2 = 22 (D) · 3 × 8 = 24 (N) · 7 × 5 = 35 (I) · 10 × 5 = 50 (C) · 7 × 8 = 56 (E) · 8 × 4 = 32 (U) · 4 × 11 = 44 (Y) · 6 × 7 = 42 (H) · 7 × 12 = 84 (V) · 12 × 10 = 120 (L) · 1 × 11 = 11 (B) · 6 × 1 = 6 (S) · 1 × 10 = 10 (O) · 8 × 8 = 64 (A)
- Clue 4 (Rounding): "A BRAIDED MANE BUN STRAND WAS LEFT BEHIND"Round 7,640 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (A) · Round 863 to the nearest hundred = 900 (U) · Round 187 to the nearest hundred = 200 (E) · Round 94 to the nearest ten = 90 (F) · Round 839 to the nearest hundred = 800 (S) · Round 626 to the nearest hundred = 600 (N) · Round 1,576 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (L) · Round 6,668 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (M) · Round 37 to the nearest ten = 40 (T) · Round 2,995 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (D) · Round 20 to the nearest ten = 20 (B) · Round 79 to the nearest ten = 80 (W) · Round 34 to the nearest ten = 30 (H) · Round 262 to the nearest hundred = 300 (R) · Round 8,693 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (I)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 9) → Mia White24 ÷ 2 = 12 · 48 ÷ 12 = 4 · 4 ÷ 4 = 1 · 10 ÷ 5 = 2 · 54 ÷ 9 = 6 · 40 ÷ 8 = 5 · 36 ÷ 12 = 3 · 30 ÷ 3 = 10 · 44 ÷ 4 = 11 · 63 ÷ 9 = 7 · 96 ÷ 12 = 8
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Rounding, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Missing Blue Ribbon — set in Whispering Pines Equestrian Center
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects