Georgia, patting Lily, rode her back into line on a long rein, her legs trembling. Phew, Lily had proved her right to be here.
Sebastian looked impressed, as did Ellie and Jodie, who gave her a thumbs-up. Only Serena sat looking stonily ahead, her eyes cold. Georgia almost felt like sticking her tongue out as if to say, “See what my Welsh pony can do!”
“Well, I’m certainly looking forward to the next few days,” Daisy continued happily. “Just watch your transitions, Georgia. We can work on sharpening them up. What do you think, Henry?” She turned to the tall instructor, who was moodily adjusting the collar on his jacket.
“OK,” he said flatly, barely looking up. “Mare’s not got much more to give though, not when compared to a sports pony. It’s just not got the scope.”
Georgia felt as though someone had poured cold water on her, as Daisy frowned at her colleague.
“That’s not fair,” she said firmly. “I thought that was excellent.”
“Oh well, you’re new, you’ll learn.” Henry was inspecting his fingernails now, completely uninterested. “We will see. Serena!”
As Henry called her name, Serena rode forward, giving Georgia a triumphant look, as if to say, “I told you so.”
Her cheeks burning, Georgia watched as Serena ran through the test. After Sebastian’s and Ellie’s riding, Serena just didn’t match up. The lovely pony she was riding was an obvious schoolmaster but there was no partnership between the two. Coming down the centre line, the pony’s handsome chestnut head started snaking, frustrated at being held on such a tight rein. Georgia noticed Daisy grimace slightly and then look startled as Henry praised Serena in a booming voice. “Now, that,” he said triumphantly, “is how you do it.”
Even Sebastian looked confused.
Serena smiled, a cool, tight smile as she took her place back in the line-up, not bothering to pat her pony. Jodie’s face was blank as she nudged Jackson towards the instructors, where Daisy greeted her with a smile but Henry barely glanced at her.
The contrast between Jodie’s and Serena’s riding was clear to see. Jackson was obviously a tricky, hot pony but Jodie sat so quietly and so softly in the saddle that all his energy was concentrated on a perfect extended trot and an uphill bouncing canter. He looked as though he was on the cusp of exploding the whole time but somehow Jodie rode him beautifully and Georgia was entranced.
Daisy clearly felt the same as she was full of praise for the young student. She turned to Henry, clearly expecting that he must feel the same.
But if Henry had been critical of Georgia, poor Jodie was torn to shreds. Georgia could only pick up snatches of the conversation, but heard enough to know Henry was being unnecessarily nasty.
Poor Jodie rode back to the line-up, her eyes brimming with unspilled tears, causing Serena to smirk even more.
Once the assessment was over, the rest of the lesson fared no better and despite Daisy’s protests, Jodie and Jackson were picked on mercilessly. Georgia didn’t do much better. Although she felt that she was riding really well, and the arena mirrors showed a pony and rider in perfect harmony, Henry barked at her the whole time. The only rider he praised was Serena, and again, Georgia couldn’t work out why. She was far from perfect.
Ending the lesson, Henry turned on his heel and stalked off. Daisy was waiting for Jodie and Georgia as they exited the vast arena. Patting Jackson and Lily, she tried to cheer the teenagers up.
“You both did beautifully,” she said kindly, obviously confused by Henry’s attitude.
But despite Daisy’s words of encouragement, Georgia felt her legs tremble as she untacked Lily and put on her wool rug. She leaned against the little palomino’s solid side, the pony’s warmth giving Georgia comfort. She had decided there and then that she hated Henry, not just because of the way he had picked on her new friend Jodie, but because of the way he had referred to Lily as “it”!
Curled up later, wrapped in a dressing gown after a warm bath, Georgia felt slightly better. She’d had a lesson in the afternoon with Daisy when, guided by her gentle but expert tuition, she and Lily had perfected the shoulder-in down the long side of the arena. Even so, she couldn’t keep the wobble out of her voice as she picked up the phone to Dan that evening. He’d told her to ring him every day, and she was going to, needing a bit of normality.
“Hey, G!” Dan sounded as cheerful as ever.
Just hearing his friendly voice, Georgia felt her bottom lip start to tremble and she took a deep breath. She clearly needed to grow a thicker skin if she was going to survive in the equestrian world. “Hey,” she said as brightly as possible.
Dan picked up on her emotion straight away. “What’s up, Georgia?” he asked, sounding concerned.
“Oh,” Georgia sniffed. “It sounds stupid but the instructor’s a real bully. I’ve made a friend but there’s something weird going on here, and to top it off there’s a girl who hates me for no reason.”
“Come on, G!” Dan said positively. “It’s only for a week. Just ride like you always do, and ignore the bullies.”
Just hearing Dan’s voice cheered Georgia up and she wiped her eyes. He was right; her riding should speak for itself. Janey wouldn’t have chosen her to go forward if she didn’t believe in her. Changing the subject, Georgia’s voice brightened as she asked Dan what he had been doing that day.
“Farm stuff, and playing football with Will,” Dan said vaguely, after the briefest of pauses.
“Again?” Georgia sounded surprised, although she didn’t mean to. It was just that Dan wasn’t really a football fan.
“Well, I’ve got to do something when you’re not around!” Dan chuckled. “Speak tomorrow, G, and remember, we’re all here for you.”
Georgia took her place beside Jodie in the common room after supper, while Jodie waited for her mum to finish her shift. The room was horsey heaven – stacks of Horse & Hound to read, and a whole wall of rosettes. Inspired by the photos and horsey history surrounding them, Georgia and Jodie were soon deep in conversation about their ponies. Picking up a framed photo of a rider at a dressage world championship, Jodie gazed at it. “That’s what I want,” she said quietly.
“To be famous?” Georgia asked curiously, and Jodie shook her head.
“Not necessarily famous,” she explained. “I just want to be the best. I want to get as far as I can. Jackson’s capable.”
Her voice was determined, and Georgia nodded. “I believe you,” she said.
“I just don’t want Mum to struggle,” Jodie continued, gazing back down at the photograph. “Jackson … he’s my one chance.”
Feeling as though she and Jodie could talk to each other now, and glad that she had at least one friend at Rosefolly, Georgia decided to broach the subject of Serena and Jackson. She was curious as to how Jodie came to have such a fantastic but quirky pony – a pony that Serena obviously knew, but hated for some reason.
Dropping her voice slightly, Jodie started to speak. “Serena’s dad purchased Jackson for a huge amount of money in Germany,” she said. “He was supposed to be Serena’s star ride. Jackson may be talented but he’s also a tricky character and very sensitive. Serena wanted results immediately and, well, she clashed pretty much straight away with him.”
“I knew someone like that,” Georgia grimacing, and Jodie nodded.
“Lily’s old owner?” she asked. “I followed what happened. You’ve done so well with Lily.”
“So how did you end up with Jackson?” Georgia continued, hooked on Jodie’s story.
“I used to go up with Mum when I wasn’t at school,” said Jodie. “Serena and I were quite friendly back then.” Jodie pushed her thick hair out of her eyes. “Mum kept her horse at Serena’s yard – he was the most amazing warmblood and she was doing really well on him, winning loads of shows and dressage competitions. It was then I started to notice that Serena and Jackson weren’t getting along. Mum told me that Serena’s dad was going to have him put down because he was dangerous.” She pa
used, before continuing. “I was really upset, and begged her dad to let me try Jackson, the day before he was due to go.” She smiled at the memory. “Well, we got on straight away. I don’t know why, but we just clicked.”
“That’s obvious,” Georgia agreed, thinking back to their lessons today. “You ride him so well! So what’s Serena’s problem?”
Jodie shrugged, again looking around to check no one was listening. “Jealousy, I think,” she whispered. “She’s never got over the fact that she couldn’t ride Jackson. And when we started doing well, she just got worse.”
Georgia absorbed this for a couple of moments. “So your mum bought him?” she asked carefully, and Jodie’s face clouded over.
“Yes,” she said, looking upset. “But she sold her horse to Serena’s dad in exchange. He was going to keep him for her so she could still have the ride, as she still worked for him. But he sold him to Germany for five times what he paid Mum just a few months later, and Mum walked out of her job after that. She was heartbroken.” She turned to look at Georgia, her eyes ablaze with determination. “Don’t you see?” she said fiercely. “I’ve got to succeed, for Mum, and everything she gave up! Jackson’s won everything I’ve ever entered, but I can’t do it on my own. That’s why I’m here. I really want this, Georgia.”
Georgia was humbled into silence. Jodie wasn’t just after rosettes and glory; she really wanted to ride to the top. It meant everything to her.
“But what about you?” Jodie said, changing the subject. “What do you want to achieve?”
Georgia thought hard about what Jodie had just said. It made her realise with a start that really she had already achieved her dream – having her own pony, or as close as possible as she would get for a while. She smiled at her new friend. “I just wanted my own pony,” she shrugged. “That was my dream, and now it’s come true. I have Lily.”
“That was my dream!”
A mocking laugh made both Georgia and Jodie jump, as Serena appeared from nowhere behind them accompanied by Sebastian, who had the collar of his shirt turned up and a lazy grin on his face. “My name’s Georgia and I’m totally pony mwad!” Serena continued in a mocking baby voice, as Georgia’s cheeks burned with mortification. She looked at Sebastian, hoping he wasn’t joining in, but to her disappointment he was laughing alongside Serena. So much for him being OK!
Jodie was silent, looking down at her feet.
“Pur-lease,” Serena continued, her flat mocking tone full of scorn. “You do know where you are, don’t you? You’re at Rosefolly, the best equestrian centre in the country. This isn’t little farm-pony stuff, and as for you, Jodie, goodness knows how that mad pony got here. He’s downright dangerous.”
Georgia could take no more. “Oh yeah?” she shot back, her cheeks burning but feeling brave. “At least Jodie can ride Jackson, unlike you!”
The laughter died on Serena’s lips. “What have you said?” she hissed at Jodie, her eyes ablaze.
“Nothing,” Jodie mumbled. “I just told her that Mum bought Jackson from you, that’s all.”
“You’d better watch yourself, Jodie Harrison,” Serena said threateningly. “I thought I’d made it clear before we came.” She looked straight at Jodie, her voice icy. “While Henry’s in charge, your mum might want to watch her back. You’d be really stuck if she lost her poxy little job.”
“Come on, Jodie, she’s just talking nonsense,” Georgia tried to reassure her friend later that evening. They had escaped down to the stables together to hang out with the ponies, and were sitting on the hay bales in the alleyway across from the ponies’ boxes, eating the chocolate biscuits they had sneaked out of the canteen. “Serena can’t really get your mum fired; she’s just being stupid.”
Jodie shook her head miserably. She was wrapped in Jackson’s navy wool rug. “No,” she said quietly. “But you’ve seen the way Henry favours her. She texted me before we came, warning me off, but I didn’t believe it. That’s why I was trying to keep out of her way.”
Georgia nodded, listening. Henry was obviously an expert rider and instructor, so why was he praising Serena’s riding and yet pulling apart Jodie, who in Georgia’s opinion was the best rider on the course? “Hopefully he will see sense soon,” she said firmly.
A bleep from her pocket broke the silence that followed, and pulling her phone out she couldn’t help a smile escape her lips when she saw it was Dan.
“Hey, G!”
Georgia could practically hear his cheerful voice as she read the text:
Hope it’s gone well today. Call me later. x
Georgia sent a quick reply to let him know how things were, as well as asking him what he had been doing that day.
Football with Will. x
The reply came back as quick as a flash, much to Georgia’s bemusement. That was surely the third day in a row that Dan had played football with Will. Something weird was going on.
“Who’s that?” Jodie said curiously, noticing Georgia’s smile lifting the corners of her mouth.
“My friend Dan,” Georgia mumbled.
“Friend?” Jodie grinned, one eyebrow lifting, and Georgia blushed. It was good to forget Serena’s threats as they chatted easily about Dan and how much Georgia liked him. Jodie admitted she had a bit of a crush on Sebastian. Georgia could see why – he was handsome and an excellent rider. “It’s a shame though,” Jodie said miserably, “that he’s too wrapped up in Serena to see what she’s really like.”
“Well, let’s hope he sees sense then, as well as Henry,” Georgia agreed. “Come on, let’s go and check on the ponies.”
After the ups and downs of the day, it was a relief to spend some precious time with Lily before the yard curfew. Jodie wasn’t staying in the dorms, as her mum lived nearby, and so she left for the evening. Georgia had learned that Jackson wasn’t usually stabled at Rosefolly, but at a farm DIY livery yard down the road.
Finding herself alone, but not keen on joining Sebastian and Serena in the common room, she decided to sit and read her book in the vast stone manger in Lily’s stable. Ellie was also staying at Rosefolly but she tended to keep to herself in the evenings.
There was something quite comforting about watching the little palomino pull at her hay net, the occasional whicker or snort from horses in the surrounding boxes the only sound. Thinking back to her conversation with Jodie in the common room, Georgia reflected on her friend’s words. Jodie really wanted to succeed as a top rider, which Georgia totally understood. But the more she thought about it, the more she realised her own ambitions were starting to take shape too.
When Lily had come into her life, the most rewarding part had been gaining the little mare’s trust and becoming her friend. The rosettes, the horsey fame and the championship titles had been amazing, but really they were just the icing on the cake. She knew the little mare was phenomenally talented. Janey, who had followed the palomino’s progress from the start, wouldn’t have put her name forward for the week otherwise. Once again, Georgia said a silent thank-you to Melanie for not selling Lily on for thousands of pounds as she could have, but letting Georgia keep her at Redgrove Farm instead.
Redgrove Farm. It was where she was happiest, just mucking out, riding over the downs and hanging out in the tack room with her friends. But was Lily’s talent wasted there? Or was a pony ever really wasted, if they were loved and happy? Maybe Georgia didn’t need to push Lily any further. Placing her arms round the little mare’s warm neck, she rested her head against her, breathing in her unique pony scent. She would see the week through, there was no doubt about that, if only to prove Henry and Serena wrong and stick by Jodie. But who knew what would happen after that!
The next day’s riding was altogether more positive. During the group lesson, Georgia, Jodie and Ellie were coached by Daisy while Serena and Sebastian worked in the lower half of the school under Henry’s instruction. Daisy was a brilliant instructor, kind but firm and with an excellent eye for detail. She reminded Georgia of Melanie. Soo
n Georgia and Lily were performing the most fantastic collected canter – something she had never attempted before. Daisy just knew how to ask the ponies to perform and Georgia was amazed at how the smallest of changes, the quietest of nudges in just the right place, could get Lily dancing as she had never danced before. Her extended trot was longer and more powerful than ever, and her canter, as slow as walking pace, was perfection.
Georgia couldn’t stop grinning. Despite her thoughts from the previous evening, when she had realised she didn’t have the competitive streak that Jodie had, it didn’t mean she didn’t want to learn new riding skills and so she soaked up Daisy’s words like a sponge. Jodie and Ellie looked happy for the first time as well.
While the girls rode together, Georgia had her first glimpse at just how tricky Jackson could be. When Jodie asked for a flying change, Jackson plunged to the side, nostrils flaring, before wheeling round and half rearing, the whites of his eyes flashing. Georgia admired the way that Jodie hardly moved in the saddle, not panicking in the slightest. Instead she circled the glossy black pony, patting him on the neck and scratching his withers while talking to him in a low voice. Relaxing again, Jackson performed the perfect flying change.
“Well done!” Daisy seemed thrilled at their progress. Despite the chill, Georgia had already discarded her jacket. Who knew flatwork could be such hot work? She felt as though she had been for a ten-mile run! She patted Lily, proud of herself and the palomino, and relieved she was proving she deserved her place.
“Well done, everyone!” Daisy beamed again. “Now,” she continued, giving all three ponies a pat. “Rosefolly is going to get quite exciting from now on.” She leaned in towards the pupils. “We have someone joining us tomorrow,” Daisy said with a smile. “Someone very important!”
Georgia and Jodie exchanged glances as Daisy went on to explain that a team selector for the Young Riders Dressage Squad was coming to watch the teens in the build-up to the assessment day. The final day would be the official assessment, but observations would be made up until then. They would be assisted, Daisy explained, her sunny smile vanishing for just a split second as she glanced over at the other group, by Henry Winters.
The Palomino Pony Steals the Show Page 3
