The Palomino Pony Steals the Show

by Olivia Tuffin

  As the three rode their weary horses back down into Rosefolly, the afternoon light fading and the temperature dropping, Georgia felt a huge sense of relief. It had been a bit risky, emailing Rosefolly’s owners, but her gamble had paid off. Now all they had to do was ride like never before.

  The positive energy from the previous afternoon’s schooling session in the parkland carried over to the next morning as Georgia and Jodie joined Serena and Sebastian for breakfast. The first thing Georgia noticed was that Serena had a face like thunder, and Henry wasn’t sitting in his normal place at the front of the room. There was no way she was going to ask where he was, so she was relieved when Sebastian looked round in confusion.

  “Where’s Henry?” he asked, pausing between mouthfuls of toast and marmalade.

  “He’s not here today,” Serena spat, shooting a murderous look at Georgia and Jodie.

  Georgia shivered slightly, but held her ground. Rosefolly’s owners must have been in contact with him. Georgia was relieved. Without Henry around, both she and Jodie could relax, and Jodie in particular could ride to the best of her abilities without Henry constantly picking on her. If Daisy was in charge of the instruction, the playing field was level.

  “Has he gone for good?” Georgia asked quietly.

  “He’ll be back for the assessment day,” Serena said icily, “but we’ve got to put up with that drip Daisy until then.”

  Georgia decided it was better to keep her mouth shut at this point, but inside she felt like dancing, and practically ran to the stables after breakfast to get Lily tacked up in time for the morning lesson.

  The team selector, Richard, was coming back that morning to observe the group. It was the last time he’d be there until Friday – assessment day – with the rest of the panel. Then they would choose the rider for the squad place. Georgia realised Serena was hoping both Jodie and Georgia would have been pushed out by then, like Ellie. She felt quite triumphant knowing the spoiled teenager hadn’t won.

  With Daisy in charge of the lesson, everyone got a fair chance at riding. Even Serena had an equal chance, but Georgia reflected on how her riding paled against Jodie’s, now that Jodie wasn’t afraid to really show her skills off. They were working on transitions and accuracy, and soon all four students were perfecting a walk-to-canter movement. Daisy was very like Melanie in her way of teaching, believing in getting the basics right first, and Georgia could feel herself soaking up her words like a sponge. Without really trying, she and Lily were growing stronger and better as a partnership. She loved seeing Jodie looking so happy, with her lovely black pony dancing across the arena. Jackson really was something special. No wonder Serena was so angry that she wasn’t able to ride him. With Jodie riding so beautifully, she and Jackson really had to be a serious contender for the squad place.

  Curled up on Lily’s rug later, Georgia stretched her stiff legs. All her muscles were aching and she rubbed the back of her shin as she dialled Dan’s number. She really missed him, and felt a pang of homesickness. There was no reply on his mobile, and she looked at her phone in disappointment. Feeling brave, she dialled his house number, crossing her fingers that he picked up. Ben, Dan’s older brother, answered instead with a cheerful hello. “Hi … it’s Georgia,” she said shyly, although she was never sure why she felt shy – Ben and Mr Coleman were both really nice, even more so after Georgia’s rescue of the farm sheep!

  “Hey, Georgia!” Ben said, chatting happily. “How’s Lily? Off to the Olympics yet?”

  Georgia smiled. “Not quite,” she said, as Ben chuckled. After exchanging a couple of pleasantries about the farm and the ponies, Georgia asked if Dan was about.

  “No… Oh, let me see.” Georgia could practically hear Ben shake his head as he continued. “He’s helping Dad with the milking.”

  Georgia glanced at her watch; it was a bit early for the afternoon milking.“OK, thanks,” she said, feeling slightly deflated. She had really been hoping to talk to Dan, to ask his advice on how she was feeling about Lily and the assessment day. “Tell him I rang.”

  Turning back to Lily, Georgia placed her arms round her glossy cream neck, enjoying the sound of the little mare munching on her hay net. They both jumped as her phone rang a minute later. Pulling it out, she squinted at the screen and smiled. Dan.

  “Hey, G!” Dan sounded slightly out of breath, and Georgia could hear the wind whistling around the phone. “Sorry I missed your call. I was out running.”

  “Oh, right.” Georgia frowned. “I just spoke to Ben, and he said you were milking with your dad.”

  There was the briefest of pauses before Dan laughed.

  “Oh, he just got confused, probably. I dunno,” he blustered cheerfully.

  Georgia raised an eyebrow, not that Dan could see it. She didn’t want to appear suspicious, but when had Dan ever gone running? Maybe with Georgia gone he was starting to do other things: football, running, and maybe even meeting Becky Hanbury, who was still desperate to go out with him.

  After they said goodbye, Georgia hung up, feeling slightly upset. Thank goodness for Lily, who stopped eating her hay to rest her head on Georgia’s shoulder, leaving a trail of white froth. Georgia hugged the little mare back. Only a couple of days left and she would be home. She just had to stop her imagination from running away with her before then.

  But her fears were soon made worse that evening. Ringing Emma, she mentioned that Dan had said he was busy earlier that day.

  “Oh, yes,” Emma said cheerfully. “He was out with Will.”

  “Will?” Georgia was really confused now. “Ben said he was milking, Dan said he was running… Em, what’s going on?”

  “Nothing, honestly, G,” Emma said trying to reassure her friend.

  “You would tell me, wouldn’t you,” Georgia said, “if there was something I needed to know?”

  “Course!” Emma answered hotly, sounding slightly irritated, and seemingly keen not to talk about Dan. “Anyway, you need to hear about my cinema trip with Will. So he said…”

  As Emma nattered away about her date and Redgrove and normal life, Georgia frowned. Emma was her best friend. She would tell her if Dan was up to something, wouldn’t she?

  After a sleepless night worrying about both home and the assessment day, Georgia tried hard to push any worrying thoughts about Dan’s strange behaviour to the back of her mind. The four riders had only one day left of training and the air was electric with anticipation. Who would be chosen? Serena was silent throughout breakfast, glowering over her bowl of cereal, but Sebastian was in a jovial mood, chatting away to Georgia and Jodie.

  “Jackson’s going really well,” he smiled at Jodie, who blushed, shrinking away, as Serena shot her a foul look.

  “He’s too unreliable,” Serena practically spat at Jodie.

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Sebastian said, stretching. “He looks like he’s going really great to me. You ride brilliantly, Jodie.” He smiled at Jodie, his teeth very straight and white, and Jodie’s cheeks burned a bright scarlet, much to Georgia’s amusement. Maybe Sebastian was starting to see through Serena after all.

  Once breakfast was cleared, Georgia and Jodie walked arm in arm to the pony block. Georgia had a feeling Jodie would be a friend for life now, and was so glad she was staying for the assessment day. If Jodie rode like she had yesterday, she had a really good chance.

  “And so do you,” she heard a small voice inside her say. It was so confusing. The more she was told how good Lily was, the more she wondered whether she should really try for a place herself. But at the same time she missed Redgrove, even more so after Emma’s phone call last night. She had enjoyed the lessons during her time at Rosefolly, but she had enjoyed the impromptu hack most of all. Olympia and the Horse of the Year Show had been amazing, but mainly because of how far Lily had come. The gaining of her trust, the schooling and the bonding had been her favourite parts of Lily’s journey, and the rosettes at Olympia had just been proof of that. Would Lily be better off with so
meone who could take her right to the top, and push her even further? Georgia just didn’t know.

  Deep in thought, she set to work grooming Lily for the day’s lessons. No matter how many times she did it, Georgia still loved grooming Lily and she always took her time over it, carefully body-brushing Lily’s golden coat and combing out her creamy mane. A lick of hoof oil finished off the look.

  “Pretty as a picture,” Georgia grinned, giving the palomino a kiss on her velvet muzzle. Just as she was doing up the chinstrap of her riding hat, she heard Jodie’s panicked voice next door.

  “Georgia?” Jodie’s voice was shrill and tense.

  Giving Lily a pat, Georgia went to investigate after tying the little mare back up. “Georgia, something’s wrong with Jackson!” Jodie sounded close to tears.

  Georgia leaned over the stable door, observing the handsome black gelding. Jackson looked at healthy as ever but Jodie was right, he was favouring his near fore, shifting the weight so that he could rest it.

  “I was picking out his feet,” Jodie explained, “but he seemed really tender on that foot.” She gestured to the hoof.

  “Have you trotted him up?” Georgia asked, trying to think rationally.

  Jodie shook her head. “No,” she said miserably. “But here’s Daisy. I wonder if she can watch him move.”

  The assistant instructor joined the girls in the stable, agreeing that Jackson was favouring his front leg. “Trot him up,” she said firmly and, giving Jackson a pat, Jodie led the black gelding out into the frosty yard. Daisy stood with her hands on her knees, watching carefully as Jodie encouraged Jackson to trot towards her in a straight line. The slight nodding head and uneven gait made Georgia wince. The pony was definitely lame. “Well, there’s no heat and no swelling. I’d make a likely guess it’s his foot,” Daisy observed as she ran a hand down Jackson’s slim legs. “The vet’s coming this morning to check on one of the foals. I’ll get him to see you before he does that.”

  Jodie nodded miserably. Feeling awful, Georgia carried on tacking up Lily, crossing her fingers there was nothing seriously wrong with Jackson.

  The vet, a smartly dressed man in a navy waistcoat and mustard cords, was soon checking Jackson.

  Picking up his foot, the vet examined it carefully, feeling for any sore spots. His pincers must have hit the tender area because Jackson visibly winced.

  “Bruised sole, I’m fairly sure,” the vet said cheerfully. “A few days’ rest should sort it.”

  Jodie was obviously relieved Jackson was going to be OK but her face crumpled with disappointment. Her chance of a squad place was rapidly disappearing if she wasn’t going to be able to ride during the assessment day. Biting her lip, she placed a hand on Jackson’s neck to steady herself. “But how?” she whispered miserably. “He was fine last night, and he’s been in his stable since then.”

  “Well, horses do find ways to injure themselves.” The vet shrugged, packing up his case. “Perhaps have a good check in his bed, just in case. In the meantime, box rest, a hot poultice and I’ll prescribe the poor chap some painkillers. But he’ll be right as rain in a few days.”

  Once the vet had gone to make his checks on the foal, Jodie started burrowing frantically in Jackson’s deep shavings bed.

  “What are you doing?” Georgia said curiously.

  “You heard what he said,” Jodie replied, looking carefully through the bedding. “I know Jackson was fine last night.” Scraping the shavings aside with her hands, she suddenly leaned back on her haunches, clutching a small object. “Eureka!” she said grimly. “How did this get here?” She held the object aloft for Georgia to inspect. It was a stone of some sort, creamy white, with shiny darker grey bits. The sharp edges made Georgia wince as she realised what it was. “A flint,” Jodie said darkly, examining it. “In my pony’s bed. And now he’s lame. Georgia, this isn’t a coincidence!”

  “Oh, what a shame!” Serena flicked her dark hair over her shoulder as she led her chestnut gelding past the stable. He was kept in the adjacent block but she had to pass Georgia and Jodie on the way to the outdoor school. “Daisy told me what happened,” she said, sounding totally insincere. “You should probably work on your mucking-out technique.”

  Georgia could have sworn Serena was smirking as she ran her stirrups down, and couldn’t contain herself. “It was you, wasn’t it!” she hissed at Serena, who merely raised an eyebrow.

  “Dear, dear,” Serena tutted. “Be careful who you go around accusing, Georgia.” Her eyes narrowed as she mounted her chestnut pony and wheeled him in the direction of the outdoor school.

  “I’m sorry, Jodie,” Georgia said, watching Jodie burying her head in Jackson’s mane. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  Georgia knew she shouldn’t have flown off the handle like that. It was possible the flint could have innocently found its way into the stable; the fields were full of them, after all. Still, nothing could change the fact that poor Jackson was lame and would be out of action for the next few days. For Jodie, it meant her dream of a funded-rider place had shattered into a million pieces. The rules were clear; the riders had to be mounted for the assessment day. Georgia didn’t think she could feel any more sorry for Jodie as she gently led Lily out of her stable.

  “I won’t ride.” She hesitated at the entrance to the barn, looking back at her friend, who stood close to Jackson looking totally dejected. “I’ll stay with you if you want.”

  But Jodie shook her head firmly, insisting Georgia join the lesson. “I’ll be fine,” she said miserably. “Mum’s doing a long day today but she can take Jackson home tonight. I guess that’s that.” She hesitated. “Georgia, you need to ride for both of us now. We can’t let Serena win!”

  Without Jodie in the lesson, Georgia found her mind wandering. She tried hard to concentrate on what Daisy was telling her, but couldn’t stop thinking about poor Jodie. Although horses had a reputation for laming themselves at the worst possible times, Georgia was certain it was no accident.

  As Georgia pushed Lily into an extended trot, it hit her like a ton of bricks. No matter how many people told her Lily could go further, Georgia knew that she simply didn’t have the drive or determination that Jodie had. She just wasn’t hungry for it. She would be happier cantering over the downs with Will, or trotting down the lanes with Emma. But Jodie was different. Not only was she a fantastic rider who loved her pony, but she had the drive and talent to succeed. Georgia knew she would go far if she just had the chance.

  As she cooled Lily down after the lesson, a plan was beginning to take shape in her mind. But first she needed to talk to the one person who always knew what was best for her and Lily.

  Sometimes life had a funny way of working out, and as Georgia sat down for lunch one of the grooms scurried in with a message for her. Following her to the office, Georgia gave a start as she saw Melanie and Sophie waiting for her, both smiling from ear to ear.

  “Mel!” Giving them both a big hug, Georgia turned to the owner of Redgrove Farm. “What are you doing here?” She smiled.

  Melanie grinned. She explained that she was on her way to drop Sophie back at university after a reading week, but as they were close to Rosefolly they’d decided to pop in and see how Georgia and Lily were getting on.

  “Wow, it’s something else here, isn’t it?” Sophie whistled, gazing around her.

  Georgia had to admit Rosefolly did look amazing in the winter sunshine. “Yes, it’s gorgeous,” Georgia agreed. “And it’s been … interesting.”

  “Let’s go and say hello to Lily.” Melanie smiled at Georgia, sensing something was up. “And you can tell me all about your week.”

  “OK.” Georgia agreed, still over the moon at seeing them but feeling slightly nervous about what she was about to ask Melanie.

  As they turned the corner to the box, Lily was also overjoyed to see Sophie and Melanie, whickering in recognition and nodding her head.

  “Oh, she looks great, Georgia.” Melanie ran her hand do
wn Lily’s silken mane, patting her strong neck. “What do you think your chances are for the assessment day?”

  Georgia swallowed. After the build-up to the Horse of the Year Show, when Georgia hadn’t been honest about how nervous she felt, she knew she had to be totally upfront with Mel. So she tried to explain how she really felt – that she didn’t want to push Lily any harder and that she didn’t have that burning ambition to take it further. Saying it out loud only confirmed it.

  “The thing is, I already feel like the luckiest girl in the world, looking after Lily. I just want to enjoy her. I only want to do the odd show, maybe the pony club teams. I feel like Lily doesn’t have anything else to prove now.” Looking up, Georgia saw Sophie was smiling, but Melanie looked thoughtful. “Are you disappointed?” Georgia asked quietly.

  “Well, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit,” Melanie said gently. “But, Georgia, it’s your choice. You’re the one who rides her. If you don’t want to go further, that’s for you to decide.” She patted Lily on her golden neck. “Why don’t we have a good talk about things when you get back to Redgrove?”

  “OK,” said Georgia, not really knowing what Melanie meant, but agreeing to it all the same. But there was still something Georgia wanted to ask her. A plan had been forming in her mind. While Mel and Sophie listened, Georgia explained Jodie’s predicament and the fact she had no pony to ride for the assessment day. Georgia had checked the rules several times after her morning lessons, and there was nothing to say a candidate couldn’t ride a borrowed pony for the trial but be partnered with their own pony going forward.