The team had already wasted precious time. The four needed to jump in their allocated order, which meant Lexie would jump last – and Georgia just hoped she would be ready and wouldn’t bottle it again. Although the fences were not as high as they had been jumping in practice, the course was technical, and Georgia knew that the pressure of a crowd watching would make things much, much harder.
She forgot about her own nerves and started to worry about Lexie instead. Jason had tacked River up, scowling. He clearly didn’t think much of Lexie’s behaviour and he was also probably worried about what his boss would say when he found out that Lexie had nearly thrown the competition. Still, Georgia couldn’t think about that now. They were all walking over to the ring and she needed to focus.
The class consisted of seven jumps, and then a short individual section where the competitors had to demonstrate their pony’s paces, including a gallop on the long side. Lottie was first in the ring.
The rain had picked up again, and both Lottie and her pony squinted into the deluge as her mum removed the rug from the pony’s quarters.
“Good luck,” Janey said, patting Lottie’s pony’s neck. “You can do this!”
Georgia was trying to concentrate on keeping Wilson calm and collected against the howling wind and rain in the warm-up arena as she watched Lottie go in. She noticed that Lexie still hadn’t come out of her trailer and River was tossing his head and pawing at the ground, dancing from side to side, as Jason tried to hold him steady. River being spooked wasn’t going to be a good start for Lexie.
“Georgia!” A shrill cry interrupted her thoughts. It was Janey, striding out of the arena, clad in a wax jacket and hat. “Five minutes, Georgia,” she called, holding up her hand. “Harry’s going in now.”
Lottie was walking behind her on a long rein. She had a look of relief on her face that meant she must have done well.
“Clear!” She grinned at Georgia, giving her a thumbs-up sign.
“You’d better make your way down to the entrance, Georgia.” Janey was consulting a programme. “You don’t want to miss your time!”
Her spirits lifted a little by Lottie’s result, Georgia tried to push away concerns about Lexie and focus on the task in hand. The minutes were flying by and Harry was about to enter the arena.
“Good luck,” Georgia called.
Harry turned to her and grinned, but his face was pale.
He’s actually really nervous! Georgia thought. For the first time, she felt a smidgen of empathy towards him. She watched as he nudged Hector into the ring and the gates closed behind him. Melanie had thrown a rug over Wilson’s hindquarters to keep him warm and she felt him beneath her as solid and collected as ever. Georgia couldn’t tell now if it was nerves or the cold that was causing her teeth to chatter. She patted the dependable bay on the neck, hoping some of his confidence would rub off on her.
Harry jumped clear, like he always did. Hector wasn’t the flashiest horse on the showground, but what he lacked in dazzle, he more than made up for in personality and talent as his long powerful legs pushed him into a crowd-pleasing gallop, feathers flying.
Harry leaned over from Hector to pat Georgia on the back as he left the arena. It was her turn next.
Melanie placed her hand on Georgia’s boot and squeezed her leg. “Just remember, G, whatever happens, we’re proud of you,” she said, smiling up at her.
Georgia swallowed, a lump forming in her throat. Dan was on the other side of her, his arm slung over Wilson’s neck. She was so lucky to have their support, no matter how she did. She took a deep breath. Now, for the next five minutes, nothing mattered. Not the farm, or the troubles with Lexie. It was just her and Wilson, and the competition course.
There was silence as Georgia entered the arena. The stadium seats were completely full – the Show Pony Autumn Championships was a huge date on the equine calendar. Wilson spooked slightly at the elaborate floral displays decorating the jumps, before Georgia nudged him into his trademark rolling canter.
There were only seven jumps. She reminded herself that they’d done far more at home, but even so, her stomach was flipping and spinning with the pressure.
“Easy, Wilson,” she crooned. “Easy does it.”
The bowler-hatted judge nodded to her, and her round began.
Over the first, an upright gate, and straight into a double. Wilson sailed over the brush, and easily over the planks, which had already seen a number of refusals, before turning the sharp corner into the dreaded water splash – the same jump Georgia had fallen at during the team selection.
“Go on, boy,” she whispered to Wilson, who flicked an ear back in response. She knew she had to ride strongly into the fence and not hesitate.
She nudged him forwards, sitting quietly, moving as one with him. Over another gate and down towards another double, and over a single brush before cantering down towards the last jump, an imposing mock stonewall.
Georgia half-halted Wilson before turning the final corner, giving him a tiny scratch on his withers. It was nearly over. They flew over the wall like it was a stick on the ground and Georgia was half-crying and half-cheering as the arena burst into applause.
The hardest bit over, she really enjoyed herself during her individual show, putting Wilson into a striking medium trot across the diagonal and really going for it in their gallop as the bay pony flew around the arena, his long strides eating up the ground.
“Amazing, amazing!” Melanie could hardly contain her excitement as Georgia trotted out of the arena.
“You were brilliant, Wilson!” Georgia dropped down on to the bay’s neck to give him a massive hug, and Melanie slung a rug over his hindquarters to keep off the rain. She passed Georgia a jacket.
“You couldn’t have done any better, G!” she said. “I’m so so proud of you!”
At that moment Lexie rode into the ring, her body stiff and her hands clenched tightly on River’s reins. Georgia threw her an encouraging smile, but her riding hat was pushed down so far over her eyes, it was impossible to see her face.
River cantered forward hesitantly. His stride was choppy and he didn’t seem to be responding to Lexie as he usually did. The bowler-hatted steward nodded and Lexie rode towards the first fence. Her posture was stiff and she was obviously giving River mixed signals, something Georgia had never seen her do before. She’d always ridden so naturally despite her fear.
Georgia gasped. Something was really wrong! River was approaching the jump too quickly, then he skittered and veered sharply away at the last minute, dropping his shoulder and throwing Lexie to the ground, where she hit the soft sand arena with an audible thump.
The crowd gasped as the rider lay quite still on her back. The brim of her hat had tilted up and, in the split second before she pulled it down again, Georgia saw that it wasn’t Lexie at all – it was Emma!
She jumped off Wilson, threw his reins at Melanie and ran into the arena.
“Emma!” she cried as her friend groaned and got groggily to her feet.
Someone had caught River and was leading him back towards her.
“I’m afraid that’s elimination for you, Lexie,” the judge was saying in a kindly voice, unaware that it wasn’t Lexie at all. “Do you want to hop back on?”
Emma shook her head, her bottom lip bleeding where she had bitten it from the fall. She was crying.
“Emma, don’t worry!” Georgia had her arm around her friend as she led her out of the ring. “Are you OK? What were you thinking, taking Lexie’s place?”
Emma lifted her tear-stained face and looked at Georgia. “You all seemed so disappointed that the team couldn’t compete so I thought I’d take her place. I knew she’d left her competition clothes in the trailer and as I’ve ridden River before, I thought I’d give it a go…” Emma paused to let out a shuddering sob and Georgia tried to hug her. But Emma was shaking her head now and backing away. “Something’s happened, Georgia. Lexie’s found something out,” Emma mumbled. “I’m sor
ry – I’ll explain later. I’ve got to go.”
And without a backward glance, she slipped past the steward and ran out into the rain.
Georgia stood rooted to the spot, speechless, thoughts crowding in on her. She had to talk to the rest of the team about what had just happened and to Melanie and Dan. What Emma had done was incredibly brave, but stupid too. Anything could have happened – she could have hurt herself badly or River could have been injured.
And what was Lexie’s part in all this? Was making Emma practise on River, bringing her along to the show and then disappearing, leaving her competition clothes in the trailer, part of some plan? And what was it that she’d found out?
Another steward came racing over.
“Mounted presentation, please!” he called in a clipped voice. “Back to the main arena!”
Emma had already left, and Jason had hurried out of the arena with River, his face like thunder, obviously anticipating what his boss would say about a novice riding one of his precious horses in a show.
Georgia heard Janey talking to the steward in her usual brusque way. “One of our riders was disqualified. I doubt we’re needed at the award ceremony.”
“What’s the name?” asked the steward, looking down his list.
“Round Barrow,” replied Janey.
“Round Barrow…” The steward consulted his clipboard. “Believe it or not, you’re actually on the prize list. Please make your way to the main arena now!”
“Really?” said Georgia. She turned to meet the incredulous gazes of Harry and Lottie. All three of them had jumped a clear round, but it seemed incredible that they were placed when one of their team had been eliminated.
Hardly believing their luck, none of them spoke as they had a frantic five minutes of re-tacking and adjusting their clothes. When they were all ready, they clattered back down towards the international arena, where the other teams were just starting to parade.
Melanie ran alongside Georgia, just as they entered the ring. She was waving a copy of the rule book. “It says here that as long as all four started, even if someone is eliminated or falls, you can still make it through. We had three clear rounds, after all, so you never know!”
Georgia let out a low whistle. “That would be amazing,” she whispered.
The atmosphere in the stadium was electric as the Round Barrow team walked their mounts forward. The three ponies pricked their ears in anticipation and seemed to grow at least two hands, striding out in perfect sync.
The three team mates grinned at one another, and Georgia determined to set aside her worries about Emma and Lexie for the moment. The stewards directed the teams to line up against the long side of the arena. Some of the ponies were fidgeting and even rearing slightly on the spot but Hector, Wilson and Songbird were all calmly standing stock still.
The couple who were going to present the prizes to the teams placed in the top three were wearing black tie and a fancy sparkly evening dress. It was a funny sight on a wet afternoon at an equestrian centre. It all added to her growing feeling of excitement – maybe they had been placed in the team challenge after all!
At last the positions were called out. The tannoy announced the teams in reverse order from ninth, and with each announcement came a small cheer from the stadium and the presentations of the rosettes to the happy team members. Georgia couldn’t believe it when they got to fourth place and they still hadn’t been called.
Fourth place went to a neighbouring pony club.
They had! They’d been placed! Now it was just a question of where…
“And bronze goes to Edgeworth Hunt!”
Cheers erupted from the arena.
Georgia held her breath.
“The silver winners of the Working Hunter Team Challenge … Round Barrow Pony Club!” The words came out loud and clear over the speaker.
Melanie and Janey both cheered loudly as all three members threw their arms around their ponies’ necks. Their excitement was so all-consuming that they barely heard the announcement for first place, which went to a team that had secured four clear rounds.
The lap of honour for the teams placed in the top three was the most exciting thing Georgia had ever done. The man in black tie and the lady in the sparkly dress had presented them with huge silver and white rosettes and a sash. They followed the winning team in the canter around the arena as loud pop music blasted out, and the crowds cheered.
Georgia and Lottie grinned at each other and rolled their eyes in mock disgust at the music. But it was a moment Georgia would never forget. She only wished Emma was there too. She had asked the steward if she could take a rosette for her and he had kindly given her one. She patted the pocket of her jacket where she had folded it safely. Emma deserved it, just for her brave attempt. What she had done was reckless, but luckily no harm was done. And she had done it out of friendship. Without her, Round Barrow would never have been able to compete, let alone win silver!
Melanie glanced anxiously at the sky as they loaded Wilson to start the journey home. It hadn’t stopped raining all day and the lorry park was almost a river as weary ponies and jockeys trudged back to their respective boxes. Wilson was already wearing two rugs but was only too eager to hurry up the ramp into the dry of the box.
“I just hope we don’t meet any flooded roads,” Melanie said anxiously, turning the key in the ignition. “You OK, Dan?” she asked, as he huddled in the passenger seat next to Georgia. He turned to Melanie and smiled weakly, unable to speak. Georgia took his hand in hers and squeezed it. She knew that when he returned to the farm he was going to have to face up to the fact of his home being sold and the reality was clearly just starting to hit him.
The journey home was long, under dark and threatening skies. None of the passengers spoke – each of them was lost in their own thoughts. The motorway was busier than normal and Melanie had to crawl along slowly in the inside lane in a never-ending trail of headlights. Eventually, the silence was interrupted as Georgia’s mobile phone rang loudly, making them all jump.
“It’s Sophie,” Georgia said, frowning at the screen. She pressed answer. “Hello?”
“Oh, Georgia, thank goodness!” Sophie’s voice was ragged. Panic instantly rose in Georgia’s throat as the older girl spoke. “Are you nearly back?”
“In about half an hour, I reckon. Sophie – what’s wrong?” Georgia struggled to keep her voice calm.
“It’s the river!” Sophie’s voice rose at least two octaves. “It’s burst its banks, the stables are about to flood, and Georgia…”
“Yes…” Georgia’s heart was in her mouth.
“I think Lily’s in foal!”
Never had a journey gone so slowly. As Melanie carefully inched the horsebox back to Redgrove Farm, the damage the storm had caused became more and more apparent. There was debris everywhere – fallen branches and tiles missing from roofs, and the fields shimmered under deep water where river after river had burst their banks.
Dan was still gripping Georgia’s hand as, at last, they drove up Redgrove’s long drive.
“Quick!” Melanie urged Georgia, but there was no need – she was already jumping out of the door as they pulled into the yard. The bottom meadow was a raging torrent and the floodwater lapped the edge of the cobbles.
Simon was in the yard in an overcoat and wellies. His usually sunny face was taut with worry as he carried sandbags to place at the edge of the stables in an attempt to keep the water at bay.
“Lily!” Georgia raced over to the palomino who was pacing her stable. She whinnied when she caught sight of Georgia and Callie gave a shrill cry, picking up on the vibes in the yard.
As Melanie unloaded Wilson, she took off his travelling boots and put him into the third stable.
“How bad is it?” She turned to Simon, her voice low.
Simon ran a worried hand through his hair. “It’s bad,” he said. “Really bad…”
“Oh Lily, Lily,” Georgia cried into the mare’s mane. She felt a wa
ve of guilt flood through her. She never should have left her, and wished she had trusted her instinct that morning when she noticed something different about her pony. No amount of glory or rosettes came close to the love she had for the little palomino.
“It’s going to be OK,” Melanie reassured her, putting her hand on Georgia’s arm. “But she is foaling early, Georgia.” She glanced anxiously outside at the rising floodwater and silently said a small prayer. They had a long night ahead.
Simon was pacing the perimeter of the yard as they stepped out of the stable.
“Melanie!” he called, the concern unmistakable in his voice.
The floodwater had now reached the edge of Wilson’s stable, and he watched in alarm as the water started to lap under the door.
“We’re going to have to get them out,” Simon said decisively.
Georgia, Melanie and Dan all turned to him. They knew he was right. The yard was going to flood in a matter of minutes, and with Lily going into labour, it was hard to imagine a worse scenario!
“But how?” asked Georgia. “We don’t have enough horse boxes.”
Normally so calm and methodical, even Melanie looked panicked as Lily started to pace the floor again, pawing at the ground and reaching round to nose at her flanks as a light sweat broke out on her neck.
Georgia was beside herself. “This can’t be happening, not tonight!”
Suddenly, Dan, who had been quiet until then, snapped his fingers in the air, a wide grin breaking on his face. “I’ve got it!” he cried as everyone turned to look at him. “It might be a bit crazy, but I think I know where we can take Lily. Dad’s got a low-slung cattle trailer that has a small ramp. We’re less than five minutes away and there’s a clean stable waiting there that she can have her foal in. We usually use it for the orphan calves. We’re on the top of the valley, so there’s no danger of the yard flooding.”
“I don’t know,” Melanie said finally. “It’s just so risky, moving her. Everyone knows you shouldn’t transport mares late into their pregnancies, and never so close to foaling.” She had her eyes closed and was pinching her nose as she tried to take in what Dan had just proposed. It was a crazy idea, but anything had to be better than Lily foaling in the flooded yard.
The Palomino Pony Rides Out Page 7
