The Palomino Pony Comes Home

by Olivia Tuffin

  “You’re here bright and early,” she laughed. “Would you mind bringing Wilson in? I was just about to but wanted to get my plants watered before it gets too hot. Sophie’s got a lesson over at Janey Meadon’s at nine.”

  “Sure,” said Georgia. She liked Sophie’s riding instructor. Janey was putting together a showjumping team for the Round Barrow Pony Club and Sophie was one of the four riders who’d been selected. Georgia loved going along to the team practices, hoping she might pick up any snippet of advice. “So where’s Sophie?” she asked.

  “Still in bed.” Melanie rolled her eyes and turned the hose off. “Some party she went to last night … didn’t get in till twelve.”

  “Sounds like fun!” Georgia giggled, fetching Wilson’s smart leather head collar and lead rope, though, in all truthfulness, she couldn’t think of anything worse. She’d much rather be up early with the horses than out late. She grinned at Melanie and then headed off to the fields to collect the bay.

  Once she’d brought Wilson back to the yard, leaving Callie quietly grazing in the fields, Georgia set to work. He was really dusty from rolling on the dry earth, so she brushed him vigorously with the body brush before damping down his shiny black mane with water. Once he was shining all over and she had picked out his hooves and painted them with hoof oil, she stood back to admire her handiwork. “There you go, boy,” she murmured contentedly. “All done.”

  Wilson stood quietly, his eyes half closed, his bottom lip drooping with contentment.

  Georgia was just about to put on his bandages for the short ride in the lorry when Sophie appeared. “Hi,” she said unenthusiastically.

  She looked tired, with last night’s mascara still round her eyes and her hair in a messy bun on top of her head. Her friend, Tory, was with her and she was staring at Georgia with disdain.

  Georgia frowned. She didn’t like Tory. Sophie and Tory had been friends for years, but Georgia had no idea why – she thought Tory was stuck up and rude. The only good thing about her was her pony, Nightingale!

  “Oh, look, Sophie, your little groom is here,” Tory said unkindly.

  Georgia sighed inwardly. Here we go again!

  “Tory…” Sophie giggled nervously, looking embarrassed, but that didn’t seem to stop the other girl.

  “We could have stayed inside a bit longer,” Tory went on. “Georgia’s in her element out here doing the dirty work.”

  “Don’t be so mean, Tor,” Sophie said, eventually, flushing.

  Georgia also went red and turned away. She was well aware that she didn’t fit in with Sophie’s posh school friends, but was there really any need to be so rude?

  Tory smirked. “We should get going, Sophie,” she said. “Mum’s going to meet us at Janey’s with Nightingale. Harry’s going to be there too.” She gave Sophie a knowing little smile and raised an eyebrow.

  “Harry?” said Sophie. “Harry Blake?”

  “Is there any other Harry?” said Tory, at which point Sophie blushed and giggled.

  Honestly! Georgia rolled her eyes. Those two were boy crazy. Georgia couldn’t see what all the fuss was about Harry Blake. In fact, she thought he was pretty boring. Still, he did have a lovely horse – a big skewbald gelding called Hector.

  “So what do you think Harry will say when…”

  The two older girls started gossiping and Georgia busied herself with loading Wilson into the lorry. Once he was secure, she went to look for Melanie.

  “Wilson’s all done,” she said, popping her head round the kitchen door.

  “Thanks, Georgia.” Melanie gave her a warm smile. “Shall we get going then?”

  “Sure.” Georgia nodded gratefully, happy to be included on the outing. “I’m ready.”

  Janey Meadon was already waiting for them at her stables when the horse lorry drew up into the yard. Harry was there too, along with another girl whom Georgia recognised as Lottie Fisher. They were the other two members of the Round Barrow showjumping team.

  Once they were all mounted and their practice was underway, Georgia watched eagerly as the students trotted and cantered effortlessly around the arena, before neatly jumping the coloured poles and grids that Janey had put up.

  “That’s it, try and ease him into the double, Sophie,” Janey was calling. “In and out.”

  Georgia was in her element. She loved watching Wilson jump, his kind honest face lighting up at the sight of the fences as he flew over them with ease, never refusing or running out.

  “One day I hope I’ll be able to do that,” she murmured to herself.

  When the session came to an end, Janey gestured across to the riders. “Meet me in the tack room. Team talk,” she told them.

  Georgia went forward to take Wilson’s reins from Sophie as she dismounted and began walking him around to cool him off. Wilson barely looked tired but still she concentrated on making sure he was cooled properly before sponging him off and then throwing on his sweat rug. Then she tied him up securely outside the lorry.

  The team talk had obviously been brief, as Sophie and Tory were hanging round outside the tack room, chatting with Harry, who was leaning against his horsebox and trying to look all laid back and mature.

  Georgia laughed to herself and patted Wilson. “I’d much rather have a pony over a stupid boyfriend any day,” she told the horse, who paused from tearing at his hay net to rub his head on her T-shirt, as if in agreement. She felt a bit disappointed at not having had the chance to ride all day, but consoled herself with the thought of the summer holidays just around the corner – and that first week when she’d have the horses all to herself. She couldn’t wait. Just one more week of school to get through and that would be it. The whole of the summer holidays lay ahead of her with weeks and weeks of hanging out with ponies to look forward to!

  It was a couple of days later when Georgia’s bubble burst. She was sitting in the head teacher’s office with her mum, who had been called in for a meeting, trying to focus on what Mrs Jenkins was saying.

  “The exam results weren’t good, Georgia.” Mrs Jenkins looked up from her desk, peering over half-moon glasses. “I’m worried about you starting your GCSEs on the back of them. You might need to retake this year, you know.”

  Georgia began to feel panicky. She definitely didn’t want to stay back a year! Out of the corner of her eye she saw her mother frowning.

  Mrs Jenkins continued. “But there is another option. You could take a very intensive course in your weakest subjects at a summer school in Wales. We’ve found in the past that it can get failing pupils back on track in no time.”

  “Summer school?” Georgia looked at her mother.

  “If only you could apply yourself a little better to your work, Georgia,” Mrs Jenkins continued. “Your teachers say that you’re always daydreaming in class. But you’re a bright girl, and it would be a shame for you to resit the year. If you spent a week at this summer school you could brush up on your geography and history, and your grades would be sure to pick up.”

  Mrs Jenkins turned to Georgia’s mother. “Don’t worry, Mrs Black. The course is subsidised. There would only be food and accommodation to pay for and that’s very reasonable.”

  Georgia swallowed hard. She felt terrible. Money was tight enough in their house without her mother having to find extra for a course she shouldn’t even need to do. She couldn’t bear to look up at her mother’s expression. She knew it would be anxious and concerned.

  Mrs Black cleared her throat. “Mrs Jenkins,” she said politely. “When would the course start?”

  “Next week,” replied Mrs Jenkins. “The first week of the holidays.”

  Georgia felt hot tears pricking the back of her eyes. It was the week that Melanie had said she could have Wilson all to herself!

  “Well, it sounds like a very good idea to me,” said Georgia’s mum. “You can’t afford to fall behind in your schoolwork, Georgia. It’s too important.”

  Georgia groaned inwardly and slumped back on to he
r chair.

  Mrs Jenkins softened a bit. “Come on, Georgia,” she said kindly. “It’s only a week and they try to make it as fun as possible. There’s some written work, of course, but there’s a lot of field work too, and Brecon is a lovely part of the world…”

  This didn’t help Georgia’s mood one little bit but she did her best to smile. “OK.”

  “Super!” Mrs Jenkins beamed. “Well, make sure you take plenty of wet-weather gear, won’t you? Unfortunately the forecast is for rain!”

  Great, even better, Georgia thought to herself, a lump once again rising in her throat as she thought about how much pony time she was going to be missing out on.

  And so Georgia found herself on the coach on Monday morning, the rain pouring down outside, heading for some summer school she didn’t even want to go to. But she had no choice. She definitely didn’t want to stay back a year and be apart from Emma or her other friends, and she had promised Mum that she would try harder at school. Or rather, Mum had spelled it out for her – either she concentrated on her schoolwork more or they would have to rethink how much time Georgia spent at the stables.

  Georgia had felt like curling up into a little ball under her duvet. She knew the horses would be waiting for her when she got back, but she’d missed her chance to have Wilson all to herself. Before she left, she had cried and cried for what seemed like for ever into his dark mane.

  And now, gazing forlornly out of the window at the downpour outside, Georgia was finding it hard to be positive. As they crossed a huge bridge over the river and headed into Wales, the sky seemed to darken even more and even heavier raindrops pelted the bus, throwing Georgia into an even blacker mood.

  After what seemed like hours, the coach came to a stop at a building in the shadows of a large mountain range and, amid groans, everyone got off into the torrential rain.

  They were thrown straight into the course. Within an hour of arriving, they were sent off on a geography field trip to identify as many wild plants as possible. It was supposed to be an ice-breaker – getting them all to work together.

  However, Georgia felt as though things couldn’t get much worse. Grumbling to herself as she picked her way along the muddy footpath, her negative thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a voice that she vaguely recognised.

  “Hey, you’re in Emma Clark’s class, aren’t you?”

  Georgia looked back to see a boy with sandy hair, a slightly crooked nose and a smattering of freckles. It was Dan Coleman, a local farmer’s son. She didn’t know him very well but she knew he was in her year at school.

  “Yes, I am.” Georgia hesitated. “She’s my best friend.”

  “I like Em.” He grinned. “We need a partner for this exercise, so how about it? I’m rubbish at this kind of thing, by the way!”

  Georgia laughed. “You’re not exactly selling the idea!” she said. “Though I doubt I’ll be any better at it than you. The only plants I know are the ones that might be poisonous to horses!”

  “Ah,” Dan said with a smile. “So you’re the girl who’s mad about ponies. Can’t see the appeal myself; much prefer my cows!” But he was still grinning and Georgia found herself feeling a bit more cheerful.

  The exercise was long and tedious, but Georgia tried hard to concentrate. By lunchtime, she and Dan had correctly identified seventeen out of the twenty plants and surprised themselves by getting the highest score. Dan gave Georgia a high-five and she laughed again as they set off with the rest of the group for a walk. The course was turning out to be as boring as she had expected but at least she had a companion to suffer along with her.

  Their ramble took them through the hills. After a short spell of rain half an hour earlier, the bracken was glistening in the sunlight and the small mountain streams bubbled and churned over rocks. Georgia had to admit that it was a beautiful setting.

  “OK, everyone. I think we’ve been walking for long enough,” one of the teachers announced finally as they neared a few old farm buildings dotted on the hillside. “Let’s have a rest before we begin the next exercise.”

  Gratefully, Georgia laid out her mac and sank down on to the damp bracken before retrieving her water bottle from her bag.

  “Fifteen minutes’ break and then we move on. That bracken isn’t going to draw itself!” the teacher called out.

  Georgia groaned. She was just about to close her eyes and turn her face into the sunshine when suddenly a small movement caught her eye. Was that what she thought it was? A little pony? Out here on the mountainside?

  Steadying her gaze, Georgia looked more closely. Sure enough, a small way up the hill, a pony stood in a fenced-off area next to what looked like a deserted cottage.

  “I’ll see you in five,” she said hurriedly to Dan as she got to her feet.

  “Where are you going, Georgia? Georgia…?”

  But Georgia didn’t stop to answer. Quickly, she made her way up towards the pony, taking care to slow down when she was close by so as not to spook it.

  Georgia stopped a few metres away, next to a gate, while the pony – a palomino mare – stayed up on the hill, looking down. She was quite possibly the prettiest pony Georgia had ever seen; although she looked flea-bitten she had a golden coat with a small pink snip between her trembling nostrils, and huge amber eyes that didn’t leave Georgia’s face. Her cream mane swept all the way down her shoulder and her high-set tail reached the ground, but both were dirty and full of tangles and burrs. She had a small, neat head, strong legs and rounded, well-muscled quarters. Despite needing a good groom, she was gorgeous!

  Georgia remembered that she had a mint in her pocket so, taking it out, she placed it on the flat of her palm and stretched out her hand.

  “Here, girl,” she called softly.

  For a moment it looked as though the pony was going to walk over and take it. Georgia locked eyes with her. “Come on, my lovely,” she breathed.

  But then, with a snort and a flick of her tail, the palomino wheeled away and cantered off to the furthest corner of the field.

  “Bother,” Georgia murmured, gazing after the little mare. She checked her watch. Her time was up too. Fifteen minutes had passed in a flash.

  Walking quickly back to the group, thoughts of the palomino pony buzzed around her head. What was she doing out here on such a scrubby bit of land? Why did she look so unkempt and where was her owner? A pony was the last thing that Georgia had expected to see on the field trip and she felt a little rush of excitement flood through her.

  “Dan … Dan!” she cried as she arrived, panting, back at the group. “You’ll never guess what I just found.”

  “Not another piece of gorse?” replied Dan, rolling his eyes.

  “No, silly,” Georgia laughed, nudging his shoulder. “Come and see for yourself! Quickly!” She dragged him to his feet, and hurried back up the path and over to where the little pony now stood, looking warily at the two of them.

  “What’s it doing out here?” Dan wondered out loud.

  Georgia didn’t have time to answer him before one of the teachers appeared on the path, calling up to them. “Come on, you two! It’s time to get going. We need to make some drawings and then analyse our findings from this morning back at the centre.”

  Dan shrugged and turned to Georgia. “Never mind. We can come back another time. We’d better go.”

  Georgia sighed. She knew there was no choice, but as she stood there, looking at the palomino pony, she felt completely torn. She couldn’t bear to leave, particularly as she knew they were going to be stuck inside for the rest of the day having lessons. Still, she had vowed to Mum that she’d do her best on this course.

  Taking one last look at the pretty mare, Georgia made another promise. “I’ll be back tomorrow,” she breathed. “You’ll see.”

  “Cover for me, will you?” Georgia turned to Dan the next day.

  They’d had a busy morning’s activities on the hillside already, and Georgia had given them her full concentration, but she had
been itching to go and check on the palomino the whole time. She couldn’t believe she’d had to take pond measurements and dip feeds when there was a beautiful pony so close by! She knew she was breaking her promise to Mum, but the palomino didn’t look very well cared for, and she needed to find out more. Mum was a real softie when it came to animals and Georgia knew that in her heart of hearts she’d understand. Well, she hoped she would, anyway. And she could catch up from Dan’s notes. So where was the harm? Georgia had texted Melanie last night and told her all about the little mare and Melanie had texted back, sounding intrigued.

  “Wait, Georgia… What shall I say?” Dan called out.

  But he was too late. Seeing the teacher bent over a map, Georgia had taken her chance and set off, waving over her shoulder and crashing down the hillside. They’d gone further up this morning, but she had made sure that she had her bearings in relation to the cottage on the hill. She’d even managed to sneak a few carrots from the kitchen when she’d been on washing-up duty that morning.

  As quick as she could, Georgia ran down a twisty path, passing little hillocks and mountain streams.

  After about five minutes she stopped and looked around her. She could have sworn the pony had been somewhere around here, but now that she had stopped there was nothing in sight that she recognised. Georgia was just about to give up and go back when she heard a faint sound in the distance. It was the quietest of noises, but one that Georgia recognised in an instant – a whinny!

  Spinning round, she hurried along the path to her left until she was out on open moorland. And there in front of her was the ramshackle cottage and fenced-off bit of grassland.

  “So here you are,” she murmured as the little pony lifted her head and stared at her. Someone had clearly been to visit overnight as there was a net of hay tied to the fence and a clean pail of water, but the mare was still as dirty as ever. Georgia longed to give her a good brush, if only she could get close enough.