by Kate Lattey
I’m walking Finn on a long rein when Abby walks over to me and pats Finn’s neck.
“Just saw your round,” she says. “That was nicely ridden, and she’s looking good.”
“Thanks,” I tell her. “I took your advice and did some more flat work with her.”
“I could tell,” Abby grins.
“I saw you jumping earlier,” I add. “Well done beating Steph.”
Abby laughs. “Yeah, first time I’ve managed that in a speed class since we were both on ponies. I wasn’t sure whether Zodiac would be able to pull off a couple of those turns, but that’s what speed classes are all about, taking risks. Sometimes you’ve gotta take a gamble, and roll the hard six, as they say.”
I’m not sure what that means, but I nod in agreement. Tegan sees me talking to Abby and comes trotting towards us just as Abby glances at her watch.
“Sorry I can’t stay to watch you, but we’re heading out to sit in traffic for a while. I’ll see you around.”
“See you,” I reply before I realise that I probably won’t.
It’s kind of hard to believe that all these friends I’ve made will soon just be memories of people I used to know. Abby walks off just before Tegan reaches me, disappointing her yet again.
Ten minutes later, they’re calling the order for the jump off. “April Fool, Bush Bandit, Nugget, Dot.com, That’s Final, Mr Nice Guy.”
The first pony is a speedy little grey who starts fast and looks to be posting an excellent time until it has a refusal at the planks. The rider attempts it again with much kicking and whacking with her whip. The pony stops again, the girl bashes it thoroughly and the judge sends her out of the ring for misuse of her whip. She rides out with a face like thunder as Bush Bandit, a solid Appaloosa, comes into the ring. I’ve competed against this pony before, and it’s not particularly fast. The rider seems to be going for a steady clear, but stuffs that up with a rail at the second of the double.
Tegan’s up next and as determined as ever. Nugget jumps a very quick clear round and she comes out of the ring grinning from ear to ear, and telling anyone who’ll listen that clearly Nugget is too talented to be jumping in “little” 90cm classes any more, and that she’s going to upgrade him from this moment on to much bigger things. Somehow the metre class that she hasn’t even won yet is child’s play for her pony. Alec follows Tegan’s example by jumping clear, and manages to beat her time by 0.2 seconds. She starts bashing him with her whip as he comes out of the ring in a typical display of good sportsmanship.
And now it’s my turn. I trot Finn into the ring and wait for the bell, running over the jump off course in my head. The first three fences will be easy, they’re all on a left hand curve. I’ll have to go quickly to the double but leave it up, then turn as tight as I can to the planks and get over them without as much as touching them, because they come down incredibly easily. Then on to the last, and there’s a line I could possibly try, cutting through the middle of the double. It means I’ll have to turn Finn right in front of the last jump and she’ll have to jump it off only one stride. It’s a wide jump and neither Alec nor Tegan attempted the tricky line, but it might just work out. Or I might stuff up my last chance to win something with Finn. I’m still in two minds about what to do when the bell rings, but I remember Abby’s comments and decide to go for it. Sometimes you have to roll the hard six, I tell myself as I canter Finn through the start flags for the very last time.
We clear the first jump and I turn her tightly to the slanted poles. The tighter the turn, the higher the jump, as it’s only the middle of the fence that’s at regulation height. I aim Finn at the higher side of the mid-point and she responds willingly, leaping over. We race towards number seven and she takes it in her stride, and then I sit down in the saddle and urge her on towards the double. Her stride lengthens immediately and she eats up the ground as we dash towards the combination. I sit up about three strides out and start to steady her, but suddenly realise that it’s going to be too little too late, at the speed she’s going.
“Steady!” I cry in a moment of panic.
Finn is one stride away from the first fence when she remembers that it’s a combination, and steadies her stride of her own accord, but not as much as she ought to. She clears the first, takes a big stride and gets in very deep to the second. She stag leaps, almost straight up into the air, and somehow we land on the other side of the jump without having knocked anything down. Two jumps to go. I spin her towards the planks and she takes three strides to get to them. I press my heels down and hope for the best.
“Please don’t knock it down, please please please…”
Finn takes a huge leap, jumping off an angle and tucking her knees up tight. Now it’s just the last jump to go, and I make up my mind, spinning her sharply between the two parts of the double and heading towards the last. I can hear the crowd gasp as I ride the risky line, but as we reach the jump my heart sinks and I realise suddenly that it’s not going to work. No pony could make that big jump off such a short run in, but it’s too late to change course now. I sit up and turn my entire body, swinging her around towards the last fence. Finn baulks in astonishment at seeing the jump so close, and for a moment of blind panic, I think she’s going to refuse. But she rises to the occasion, taking one big stride and leaping high and wide into the air. I fold forward in the saddle, one hand clutching a fistful of her fiery red mane, the other hand clenched on the rein, still turning her in mid-air. I know that I must look awful - my heels are up, I’m twisting in the saddle and my expression is surely a grimace of terror, but I’ve never felt more alive in my life. My heart soars, until I hear the heavy thunk that her back feet make on the back rail, and the unmistakable sound of poles crashing to the ground. Stupid, stupid me, to try and jump off such a ridiculous line. We speed through the flags, and I dig my knees in and start to pull her up.
“And that was a very brave clear round from That’s Final, in a time of 33.54 seconds, putting them well into the lead in this class. Our final competitor will be Jane MacPherson and Mr Nice Guy.”
I can’t believe it, but when I turn in the saddle and look at the jump, I realise the commentator is right. It didn’t fall. I bring Finn back to a walk and fling my arms around her neck, hugging her tightly and pressing my face against her warm skin.
“Wonderful, super, best pony in the whole world,” I praise her, and she tosses her head in excitement. I sit up as Jane rides into the ring and shakes her head at me.
“How am I supposed to beat that?”
I grin back at her. “You’re not,” and she laughs.
Tegan’s praise is effusive. “That was awesome! I can’t believe you jumped that line! It was freakin’ impossible!”
“I thought she knocked it down. I swear I heard it fall.”
Alec shakes his head. “A horse in the next ring sent a bunch of poles flying at the same time. You probably heard that.” I look at him and he grins. “Nice one.”
My heart soars in relief that he’s talking to me again, and I grin back at him. “Thanks.”
I walk Finn on a long rein, still patting and praising her. I hear the bell ring and Jane starts her round. It’s impossible to tell how fast Finn was travelling, and Jane’s pony is jumping at least as quickly as Dolly and Nugget went around the course. She cuts the corner into the double and gets through it clear, then takes an extremely tight line into the planks and jumps off a very sharp angle. Her pony is jumping beautifully today and she turns towards the triple bar. She doesn’t take the crazy line that I took, but her pony’s long legs cover the ground a lot quicker than either Dolly or Nugget. I bring Finn to a halt as Jane’s pony jumps high into the air, lifting his front feet well clear of the poles. I drop a hand to Finn’s neck as I resign myself to settling for second place. Elmo starts his descent, and he’s coming down a little too sharp. His back feet hang slightly and he taps the back rail of the triple bar. It wobbles in its cups, looks like it’s going to settle, and then falls
to the ground.
I’m in a state of shock as Tegan cheers loudly at Jane’s misfortune. I walk Finn back to the gate as Jane rides out, patting her pony with a rueful smile. The announcer takes a moment, and then confirms that my dream has finally come true, saying the words I’ve been waiting so long to hear.
“First place, Jay Evans riding That’s Final.”
I ride Finn proudly into the ring. Alec is second, and Tegan third. Jane was the fastest four-faulter and picks up fourth place. We line up in front of the truck and the judge comes down with ribbons in hand. It’s the same woman from earlier in the day, and she smiles at me as she ties a wide red and white sash around Finn’s neck.
“That was a very impressive round you did out there. Your pony can certainly jump, and you make a good team.”
I thank her and pocket my prize money, blinking away sudden tears. As the others are presented with their sashes, Tabby calls out to us from ringside.
“Smile!”
She points a digital camera at us. I’m already grinning, but I quickly sit up straighter, and Finn lifts her head and pricks her ears, posing for the photo. Tabby clicks the button down and gives me the thumbs up as the judge steps back and asks me to lead a lap of honour. I take a deep breath, savouring the moment, and then turn Finn and ask her to canter. She goes straight into it from a walk, and I stand up in my stirrups slightly, resting my knuckles against her arched neck.
I think back to the first time that I ever saw her, a skinny depressed pony hiding under a tree in a rough muddy paddock. Nobody had wanted her or loved her until I’d come along. I’d always known that this moment was possible, had ridden this lap of honour in my mind so many times, but none of my imaginings could have matched the glorious reality as we thunder around the ring. I’d always believed in her, and now she’s proven me right. She’s the champion I always knew she could be, and a cold shiver runs down my spine as I remember that I’m about to walk away from her forever.
The three of us walk our ponies side by side back to the truck, basking in the sunshine and the glow of success. Alec ties Dolly up immediately and whips her saddle off, throwing it down carelessly at the bottom of the ramp by my feet.
“I’ve gotta get Lucky ready for his metre-twenty,” he tells me as he dashes up the ramp and rummages around for Lucky’s tack. “Can you wash Doll down for me?”
“You’re taking advantage of my good mood,” I tease him before agreeing.
He shoots me a lopsided grin and my heart shudders as I realise that the dimple in his cheek has been completely eclipsed by the ugly scar that now crosses his cheek. My hands are shaky as I untie the sash from Finn’s neck and lay it across Dolly’s discarded saddle. I take a moment to stare at it, the word Champion there in silver lettering for everyone to see. Finn rubs her head on my arm, asking me to take this uncomfortable bridle off her sweaty head, and I quickly oblige her.
“You ready Alec?”
We both turn to see Claudia on her dun pony, as neatly groomed and assured as ever.
“Almost,” he tells her, yanking Lucky’s girth up another hole. “Jay, have you seen Lucky’s bridle?”
“Nope,” I tell him. “It’ll be where you left it this morning.”
“That’s helpful,” he replies grumpily and Claudia laughs. Finn’s sash catches her eye and she whistles approvingly.
“Ooh, did Dolly win her class?”
Tegan appears from the other side of the truck, Nugget’s tack draped over her arm.
“In Alec’s dreams,” she scoffs, and Alec looks up from rummaging through a pile of bridles to defend his pony.
“Look who’s talking, Third Place,” he retorts, trying to extract Lucky’s bridle from the tangle of leather. Tegan aims a kick at his shin as she carries her tack into the truck.
“Finn won the class,” I explain to Claudia. “But Dolly was second.”
She smiles at me and I find myself warming to her. “Well done you,” she congratulates me.
“Thanks,” I reply as I unbuckle Finn’s girth and pull the saddle off her sweaty back. “This is our last show together, so it was a great note to finish on.”
“Snap,” Claudia says. “This is my last show on Pickles. He’s eighteen now and getting a bit elderly, so he’s going into retirement.” She pats the gelding’s neck affectionately. “He’s been great at teaching me the ropes, but I’m ready for a bit more of a challenge. We were supposed to be looking at the Haybridges’ roan pony today, but I got on it and it pulled like a tank. Just about dislocated my fingers trying to stop it! No thanks.”
Tegan is putting Nugget’s tack away at the back of the truck, but I can hear her disparaging snort from where I’m standing. Personally I’m with Claudia, I like something with brakes too, and I tell her that. Alec comes down the ramp with Lucky’s bridle in hand and looks at Claudia.
“You should buy Jay’s pony.”
Claudia and I consider one another doubtfully. “I need a pony that can go to Grand Prix,” she says.
Alec is unfazed. “Finn could do that easily. She’s only seven and she’s not been to many shows but she’s done pretty well. She’s got a huge jump.” He slaps Finn’s rump as he passes her and she pins her ears at him. “Loads of untapped potential, right there.”
Claudia looks Finn over appraisingly as I squeeze a sponge of cool water onto my pony’s back. She pricks her ears and tosses her head, enjoying it.
“I’ll ask my mum,” Claudia tells me. “Hurry up Alec, or you’ll be too late to walk the course.”
She trots off as I look at Alec questioningly, his words about people who’ve learned to ride on pushbutton ponies coming back to me.
“Do you really think she can handle Finn?”
He shrugs. “Sure. It’d be a good home for her, they know what they’re doing. Plus they’re loaded, you’d get six grand for her easy.”
“Are you serious?” I had always planned to make a bit of money on Finn, but I had been thinking that I’d be lucky to double my money, let alone triple it. She’s still not really proven, and I point this out to Alec as he buckles Lucky’s noseband. Before he can answer, a big blue and white horse truck pulls up and Abby leans out the window.
“Jay! How’d you go in your jump-off?”
I grab up Finn’s winner’s sash and wave it at her. “We won it,” I tell her proudly.
She gives me the thumbs up and smiles widely, showing all of her crowded teeth. “Awesome! Good job.”
Alec interjects quickly. “How much do you think her pony’s worth?”
Abby frowns at me. “I hope you’re not thinking of selling her!”
Alec turns to me in surprise, clearly wondering why I haven’t told Abby that I’m leaving. I jump in quickly.
“Theoretically,” I say, shooting Alec a warning look. Tegan leaps out of the truck, startling Finn in her determination to finally meet her hero.
“She’s been offered six grand,” she quickly lies to Abby. “But Jay’s not sure if Finn is worth it.”
“They’d be getting a bargain,” Abby says, to my astonishment. “With her breeding and ability, you could easily ask eight for her. But don’t sell her yet. The rate she’s improving at, she’ll be worth twice that in a year or two. Crack on with the flatwork over winter, and I’ll see you next season!”
I’m still in shock as she waves and puts her truck into gear. Tegan waves furiously as Abby drives away, then raises her eyebrows at me.
“Why didn’t you tell her you’re leaving?” she asks.
I shrug. “It never came up. Think of it this way. It’ll give you a good conversation starter next season.”
Tegan rolls her eyes and pouts at me. “It’s still not worth it.”
Alec swings up onto Lucky’s back. “Definitely tell the Trents that Abby said all that good stuff. They fawn at her feet, so if you say Abby likes her then they’ll pay whatever you’re asking. Guaranteed.” He grins and trots off.
Tegan declines to help me wash Doll
y off, claiming that it’s my fault if I’m stupid enough to do Alec’s dirty work for him. I ignore her and sponge Dolly down thoroughly. I’ve become fond of the little bay pony, and find myself thinking back to when I’d ridden her in my first show. It seems like so long ago. What a disaster it had seemed at the time, being eliminated for forgetting to wait for the starter’s bell. Now I can look back and see it as part of a learning curve. Alec was right, I realise with a smile. I only made that mistake once.
I scrape the excess water from Dolly’s coat and check her hay and water before creeping up on Tegan, who’s now lying back on the ramp with her eyes closed. I dump the rest of the dirty sponge water on her head, making her scream and chase me around the truck. Finn and Nugget eye us with contempt, and Dolly rolls her eyes at us and shifts nervously on the spot. Tabby arrives and tells us to cut it out and get all the tack put away, so that we can hit the road as soon as Alec’s done.
By the time we make it over to the ring, we’re only in time to see Alec riding in for second place again.
“Always the bridesmaid,” Tegan teases him from ringside and he throws his whip at her. Claudia has won the class and is standing at the head of the line-up, patting her pony affectionately. I try to picture her on Finn, but I can’t imagine anyone else on my pony.
A tap on my shoulder. “Are you Jay?”
I nod, turning to see a woman who can only be Claudia’s mother. Her daughter’s features are clear in her face, and she smiles at me and extends a hand.
“Geraldine Trent, Claudia’s mum. It’s nice to meet you.” I shake her hand and smile back as she goes on. “I understand your pony is for sale.”
