Runaway Pony

by Susannah Leigh

  Mrs. Slater looked furious. “I knew there was something fishy about that man who sold her to you,” she barked. “I told you so at the time, Colin. But you didn’t listen to me. You never do.”

  Mr. Slater looked harassed. “Oh dear,” he groaned. “But Pet wanted that pony so badly. How was I to know...” He paused anxiously. “Look,” he said at last. “I think we should call the police, resolve this straight away.”

  Jess couldn’t agree more. Right now, her head was beginning to ache with trying to think sensibly.

  “Why don’t we go and get Nick,” she said to Belinda.

  “No!” Petronella spat.

  Mr. Slater looked straight at Jess for the first time. “Don’t I know you?” he asked.

  “Yes,” Jess had to admit. “I took Petronella out for a hack at Sandy Lane. She rode Storm Cloud,” she said. Or tried to, she couldn’t help adding in her head.

  “Ah yes,” Mr. Slater smiled affably. “It was after that we got Petronella her own pony. She had such a good time that day. And she told me how well she had ridden.”

  Jess shot Petronella a quick glance. Petronella shifted uncomfortably. She cast her eyes downwards and kicked at the grass with her heel. For a brief moment Jess considered telling Mr. Slater the truth about that day, but what was the point? Petronella obviously had him wrapped around her little finger. Besides, the fact remained, there were more important things to sort out. Mr. Slater seemed to have read her mind.

  “Look, I’m going to get the police,” he said. “I want to sort this out once and for all.”

  “Yes, I think you’d better, Colin,” Mrs. Slater barked, “What would people say if they found out we’d been handling stolen goods?”

  Jess was relieved that things were starting to get moving. Which was just as well, because a terrible thought had just struck her. Minstrel! Jess looked at her watch. Time was running out. The junior jumping would be starting soon. Was Minstrel fit enough to enter? Jess had to find out what was going on.

  “I must get back,” she cried to the startled Slaters. “It’s Minstrel,” she explained to Belinda.

  “Of course.” Belinda understood immediately. “Off you go, Jess. Everything is under control here.”

  And so Jess raced back to her Sandy Lane team mates. When she arrived at the horse boxes, she was greeted by a sea of glum faces. Rosie was the first to speak. Jess could tell that she was dying to know about Golddust, but news of Minstrel came first.

  “It doesn’t look good, Jess,” Rosie said. “The vet left a while ago, and Nick and Sarah have been in a conspiratorial huddle for absolutely ages. We’re just waiting to find out what’s going on.”

  Jess groaned. Time was running out. They would be starting the junior jumping any minute. Charlie was mounted and raring to go and Rosie was circling Pepper, warming the piebald up. They were low numbers, twelve and fourteen respectively, so they had to get a move on. Jess was number thirty-eight – second last. She sighed. There didn’t seem much point in wearing it any more. Minstrel stood patiently under a tree, ominously favouring his right foreleg. Jess walked over and began to stroke him gently.

  At long last, Nick and Sarah stopped talking and came over.

  “It’s bad news, I’m afraid, Jess,” Nick said. “Minstrel’s got a badly bruised left foreleg. He’ll be all right, but there’s no way he can jump today.”

  Jess lowered her head and tried to fight back the tears that welled in her eyes. She had expected this but it was still a bitter disappointment. To be given the chance to ride at Southdown and then to have it so cruelly snatched away from her at the last moment was almost more than she could bear.

  But now Sarah was speaking and although Jess tried to focus on the words, it was a while before she understood. At last Sarah got through to her.

  “Did you hear that Jess?” she said. “You can ride after all.”

  “Ride after all, but how?” Jess was confused.

  “It’s Sarah’s idea,” Nick explained. “But I agree with her. We’re going to let you ride Storm Cloud, Jess – if you want to, that is. She’s an excellent jumper and you’ve ridden her well before. I’m not saying it will be easy, but if you take it steady I’m sure you’ll be all right. So what do you say?”

  What could she say? Jess could only beam. She saw Rosie beaming back at her.

  To ride Storm Cloud would be a dream come true. She felt proud that Nick and Sarah had so much faith in her. Minstrel was injured and that was terrible, but she had been given another chance. She had to make the most of it.

  “Oh thank you so much. Thanks Nick, thank you Sarah,” Jess gasped. “I will ride Storm Cloud. We’ll do our best to make Sandy Lane proud of us!”

  11

  SHOWJUMPING

  Storm Cloud stood steady and alert as Jess sprang lightly onto her back. She followed Rosie and Charlie to the collecting ring to warm up. As they drew near, Alex and Kate spotted them and came over. Wide-eyed, they immediately wanted to know what had happened to Minstrel, and why Jess was riding Storm Cloud. Jess hurriedly explained.

  “Poor Minstrel. But how exciting for you,” Kate exclaimed. “We’ve been watching the jumping so far. Some of the fences are really difficult.”

  “They’re not too bad,” Alex said calmly. “Jump five, the square parallel seems to be causing problems. And judging the combination at the sixth looks tricky too.”

  “Jess, Jess!” an eager voice at stirrup level called and Jess looked down to see her little sister Em gazing up at her.

  “What a beautiful pony,” said Em.

  Her mum and dad joined her. “You look very professional Jess. Good luck,” they smiled.

  Jess smiled happily when suddenly an announcement over the tannoy caught her ear.

  “Competitor number ten, Belinda Lang on Golddust. This is a rider change.”

  What? Jess could hardly believe it. Belinda must have sorted everything out with the Slaters. Jess jumped down from Storm Cloud and tethered him at the box. Then she made her way to watch as Belinda and Golddust entered the ring. She felt as nervous as if it were already her turn.

  Golddust tossed her head playfully, her flaxen mane blowing freely in the breeze. She held her magnificent tail up high and the sun glinted and danced on her golden coat. Belinda sat poised and calm, controlling Golddust with no perceptible movement, seemingly unaware of all around her. But then she caught Jess’s eye and grinned madly. Jess saw her confidence and began to relax. She would enjoy watching Belinda. She knew they were in for a treat.

  With the ring of the bell, Golddust cantered off and took the first fence with easy strides. She hardly seemed to notice there were jumps beneath her feet as she all but flew over the bars and onto the brush, then the gate. Then she was over the difficult square parallel and onto the combination. One and two and it was cleared before Jess had time to blink. Now they were at the triple bar, almost as tall as Golddust herself, but Belinda urged the pony on and they landed lightly, and onto the final wall. Jumping clear, they were finished and out of the ring. A roar from the crowd signalled their appreciation and Jess exhaled slowly as Rosie gasped in delight beside her.

  “Clear round,” boomed the tannoy.

  “Wow, they were brilliant!” said Rosie.

  “She’s good!” Alex said. “Really, really good.”

  “That’ll take some beating,” said Kate, shaking her head.

  “Well, I’m going to give it a try,” Charlie grinned, bringing them all back down to earth with a bump. Wish me luck!”

  “Good luck, Charlie!” everyone called as the tannoy announced that competitor number eleven had clocked up four faults.

  But Jess said nothing. She was thinking about the way Belinda and Golddust had looked together; about the practised ease with which Belinda handled Golddust; the way in which the pony seemed to have complete trust and faith in Belinda, and responded eagerly to her every command. As Belinda came up to them, leading Golddust, Jess joined in with the congratulat
ions of the others. She wanted to ask about Petronella, but now wasn’t the time. Belinda was flushed with pleasure.

  “It’s all thanks to Sandy Lane,” she said. “I would never have come to Southdown today if it hadn’t been for you. And now I’ve found Golddust and I don’t care if I win or lose. I think right at this moment I’m the happiest person alive.”

  “Competitor number twelve. Charlie Marshall on Napoleon,” came the announcement.

  “Quick, we mustn’t miss this,” Kate said eagerly.

  Charlie certainly cut an imposing figure as he rode Napoleon confidently into the ring.

  “He’s gorgeous,” whispered a girl in front.

  “Yeah, and the rider’s not bad either,” her friend replied.

  Kate and Jess nudged each other in fits of giggles. But they were soon lost in the swiftness and capability of Charlie’s ride. Before they knew it, he had ridden triumphantly out of the ring.

  “Clear round!” the tannoy called.

  “Oh no, it’s me now,” Rosie cried as competitor number thirteen sent the square parallel crashing to the ground. “Wish me luck,” she called, riding away.

  “Go on Rosie,” Jess whispered fiercely.

  Slowly and steadily and with great determination, Rosie and Pepper cleared the ascending oxer and the bars. They clipped the top of the brush but the jump remained intact. Next it was the parallel, the combination, and finally the wall. They were over and clear. It wasn’t fast, but it was effective. Pepper stalked out of the ring, tail held high.

  “Oh well done, that was brilliant Rosie,” Jess cried as the pair came towards her.

  “I was a bit slow.” Rosie wrinkled her nose.

  “But you jumped steadily and clear,” Jess reassured her.

  Nick joined their little group. “Well, I must say things are looking very good so far. Two clear rounds for Sandy Lane. And a clear for Belinda, our honorary member.”

  Belinda’s eyes shone with delight at Nick’s words. Jess smiled wanly. Would their good luck last? It was all up to her. Quietly she took herself away from the crowd and began to warm Storm Cloud up. Round and round they walked in the practice field, every lap bringing them closer to their turn. In the show ring, the competition carried on until at last competitor thirty-seven left the ring, a trail of spectacular destruction in her wake.

  “Sixteen faults for Amanda Matthews on Cinnamon,” the tannoy confirmed.

  “It’s going to be a tough one, Storm Cloud,” Jess murmured into the pony’s alert ears.

  “You’ll be fine, Jess.” A voice at her side startled her. She looked down to see...

  “Tom! Oh you made it. Brilliant! How are you feeling?”

  “Delicate,” Tom smiled. “But excited too. I’m looking forward to seeing you jump. There have been eight clear rounds so far – yours will be the ninth.” Jess’s heart soared and suddenly she didn’t feel so bad. If Tom thought she could do it, well...she’d try her very best.

  “Thanks Tom,” she grinned. Then she leaned over to whisper in Storm Cloud’s ear. “It’s our turn now, girl. Let’s show them what we can do.”

  Circling Storm Cloud as she waited for their number to be called, Jess tried to shut everything else out – the hum of the crowd, the activity around her. Suddenly a voice echoed across the field.

  “Competitor number thirty-eight, Jess Adams on Storm Cloud.”

  They trotted into the ring. Suddenly Jess was nervous again. This was it. She was here. She was really going to jump at Southdown! She felt Storm Cloud quiver with anticipation and bent down to pat her dappled neck.

  “We can do it together, Storm Cloud. I know we can!” she whispered.

  She trotted Storm Cloud around the edge of the ring, battling hard to stop her nerves interfering with her concentration. Suddenly the bell sounded.

  “Let’s take our time, Stormy,” Jess murmured. “The clock isn’t ticking yet.”

  And before she knew it, the first fence was behind them. Jess felt a surge of confidence. The competition had begun! Now they were clear on course for the bars.

  “Jump,” she breathed as she urged Storm Cloud forward. Don’t look down, she reminded herself, and kept her gaze firmly fixed between Storm Cloud’s alert ears. The spirited pony knew exactly what was expected of her and gathering her strength she soared through the air, leaving inches of space between her and the jump.

  Onwards they rode, up and over the brush and towards the gate. Storm Cloud reached high for the obstacle and cleared it, but she overbalanced on landing and Jess was flung forward. Swiftly she tried to right herself as she turned Storm Cloud in the approach to the parallel. But Jess felt she was still leaning too far forward. She was losing contact. Storm Cloud sensed Jess’s dilemma and knew what was expected of her. Valiantly she attempted the jump. As the pony’s head came up, Jess was struck on the chin. She bit her lip heavily and tasted blood. Her pain increased as she heard Storm Cloud’s hind legs rap the top pole. Jess’s heart stopped and time stood still. Then she regained her balance and cantered on, all the time straining to hear the thud of pole hitting grass. She couldn’t look back, but the gasp of relief from the crowd told her it was all right. The pole had stayed in place and Jess had been offered a stay of execution.

  “Well done, Storm Cloud,” she breathed. “I won’t make that mistake again. We can do it!”

  With renewed confidence, she rode Storm Cloud straight and square towards the combination. Storm Cloud flicked her tail and thundered on. But Jess was prepared.

  “Steady, steady,” Jess chanted under her breath.

  One, two, three, jump! And they were over the first combination. Storm Cloud flew through the air. Touchdown! Take off! And they were soaring again. Clear and away. They flew over the cross poles as the final fence loomed. They jumped the wall with ease and then they were finished and out of the ring. Jess barely had time to catch her breath before she realized what had happened.

  “Oh well done, Storm Cloud,” she cried, flinging her arms forward around the pony’s neck. “We did it!”

  As if to confirm this fact, the tannoy boomed out the result.

  “Clear round for competitor number thirty-eight, Jess Adams on Storm Cloud.”

  Everyone gathered round to congratulate her.

  “Amazing, Jess,” Nick approached her and gave Storm Cloud a pat. “You rode very well.”

  Jess glowed with happiness and pride. But it wasn’t over yet. She was through to the jump-off – against the clock this time – and she needed to gather her thoughts and regain her composure.

  She led Storm Cloud off to cool down beneath the trees before their big moment arrived. She knew her friends would be jumping too, but all she could think about now was how to get the best performance out of Storm Cloud – how to ride like the wind.

  There were ten riders in all for the final competition. Jess was jumping fifth, Belinda was ninth. Charlie was seventh. Poor Rosie was to jump first. As much as Jess wanted to cheer Rosie on, this time the suspense was too much for her, and she knew she couldn’t watch.

  When her number was finally called, she had no idea what time she had to beat. She would just have to jump the round of her life, Storm Cloud seemed to have picked up on the urgency of it all and skipped and danced beneath her.

  “This is it, girl,” Jess whispered.

  “Good luck, Jess,” Tom called from the side of the field.

  Storm Cloud tossed her smoke-grey mane in nonchalant reply and trotted once again into the ring. Jess held her in check with just the lightest touch of the reins.

  “Relax, relax,” she whispered softly as she circled Storm Cloud. And then there was the ring of the bell and they were off! Swift and steady to the first jump. A light tap of her heels and Storm Cloud was over and riding squarely for the bars. Up and away and they were down again and Jess felt as light as a feather. Turning nimbly, she headed Storm Cloud for the brush, counting the strides with every thunder of Storm Cloud’s hooves. One and two and th
ree and they were over and then they had cleared the gate before Jess had time to catch her breath.

  Now they were entering the turn for the parallel. But this time, Jess was ready for it. She was in control. She checked Storm Cloud and set her square and then they were racing toward the jump. Jess felt Storm Cloud’s front legs tuck well underneath her as she sprang high into the air and over the pole. Clear!

  Now was the combination and it was one, two and over. Storm Cloud turned on a sixpence as she rounded the corner. They flew over the triple bar and now there was just the wall to go. Storm Cloud took that in her stride and they were clear! Jess’s heart pounded and reverberated loudly in her ears as she clasped her arms around Storm Cloud’s neck.

  “Fantastic!” she cried.

  “Jess Adams, clear in fifty-three seconds,” the tannoy boomed.

  Jess was exhilarated. It sounded fast, but was it fast enough?

  “Well done Jess!” Nick called. “You really got the best out of Storm Cloud!”

  “Oh Jess, that was amazing!” Rosie cried as she rushed up. “You did miles better than me. Pepper clipped the wall with his heels. That’s four faults automatically.”

  Alex grinned madly at her. “That was some performance Jess. I think you’re in with a chance of a rosette. Well done.”

  Jess shook her head. “It was all Storm Cloud,” she protested.

  They all turned in time to see the next competitor crash into the brush and net herself four faults.

  And then it was Charlie’s turn. As he rode into the ring once more, Jess had to admit they looked magnificent. Napoleon’s healthy, brown coat shone in the bright sunlight and Charlie pressed him on over the jumps. He seemed to have remembered all Nick’s words of advice, for this time he didn’t rush the course but took it steadily and swiftly too. And then he had finished and was clear.

  “Charlie Marshall on Napoleon, jumping clear in forty-nine seconds!” echoed the tannoy.

  “He was fantastic!” Jess cried.

  “He’s in the lead!” Rosie shouted at Jess’s side.