Jade at the Champs

by Amy Brown

  ‘Well, the expert has spoken,’ Michaela said. ‘Jade, you have Kristen’s blessing, for all it’s worth.’

  ‘Mum, I know what I’m talking about!’ Kristen argued.

  Jade grinned, relieved to no longer be the focus of the conversation.

  Hobbling down to the junior ring to watch Becca and Yannick’s round, Jade noticed a familiar white Falcon driving into the visitors’ car park. Swinging herself over on her crutches as fast as she could, Jade met her dad just as he was hopping out of the car and stretching his legs.

  ‘Dad!’

  ‘The walking wounded!’ he said. ‘You’re doing well on those crutches.’

  When they’d hugged and made sure each other was alright — that Jade’s foot wasn’t too sore and that the drive hadn’t been too stressful — Jade dragged her father to the junior ring.

  As they approached the eastern side of the course, Jade could see Dusty racing at the rainbow triple bar. The back rail was at the full 90 centimetres, and he cleared it cleanly. Making a tight left turn as they landed, Becca stood in her stirrups, driving her pony on through the finishing flags with uncharacteristic aggression. Yannick was finishing simultaneously through the flags at the other end of the course.

  ‘Was that Becca?’ Jade’s dad asked.

  ‘Yep!’ Jade said, excited. ‘They looked very good.’

  ‘It’s a shame the points don’t count because I reckon they’d have won,’ Jade said, then explained the situation in full to her baffled dad.

  ‘So you don’t have to forfeit your points for the whole competition — it’s just this round?’ he asked.

  ‘Yeah,’ Jade said. ‘We might still win if the others do well in the Jigsaw.’

  As they walked over to congratulate Becca and Yannick on a good round, Jade decided that if she was going to ask her dad for Taniwha, it would be better to ask sooner rather than later. She didn’t want Yannick blurting something out before she’d had time to bring her dad round to the idea gently.

  ‘Dad, you know how Pip’s never going to jump again?’

  ‘Yes,’ he replied slowly, having a good idea of what was coming.

  ‘Do you think I could get another pony?’

  ‘If you can look after it as well as you’ve looked after Pip, I don’t see why not.’ While Jade had been away, her dad had been discussing with Mr White the possibility of a new pony. ‘What if it was the one that broke my foot?’ Jade said, opting for the direct approach.

  ‘What?’

  Using all the arguments she’d tried on Mrs Sand, Mr Parry and Michaela, Jade bombarded her father with, in her mind, excellent reasons why they should take Taniwha back to Mr White’s.

  ‘So Michaela thinks it’s a good idea?’ her dad asked, when Jade had run out of words.

  ‘Yes. And she said that if Mr White didn’t mind grazing another pony, she’d be happy to take Taniwha in her truck.’

  ‘Take him today?’ her dad asked, aghast. ‘Will he come with a coat and a saddle and so forth?’

  ‘It’s called a cover, Dad,’ Jade laughed, but she didn’t know the answer to his question. ‘We can ask Mrs Sand soon.’

  ‘And how much is he?’ Jade’s dad asked, bracing himself.

  ‘Oh, he’s free,’ Jade said. ‘Mrs Sand said she didn’t want to be responsible for what he might do to me, so won’t accept any money.’

  ‘Wonderful,’ her dad replied. ‘We’re buying — no, being given — an equine thug. Are you sure about this, Jade?’

  It was a silly question, really.

  At the Sands’ truck, Mrs Sand didn’t seem remotely similar to the woman who’d kicked her pony in the stomach the day before. She was all politeness to Jade’s dad, with Taniwha’s registration papers and a pen all ready.

  ‘And we’d like to buy Taniwha’s cover and halter, too,’ Jade’s dad said, as if he were placing an order for fish and chips. ‘What about the saddle, Jade?’

  ‘Oh, the saddle’s not for sale; I’m so sorry,’ Mrs Sand apologized pleasantly. ‘It’s a brand-new Prestige Italia, and we’re hoping it’ll fit Loretta’s next pony. We might even buy a pony to fit the saddle, rather than the other way around.’ Mrs Sand laughed, but Jade thought she was probably serious.

  ‘The halter’s nothing special — you can have that. But shall we say $150 for the cover, and I’ll throw in his travel sheet and boots, shall I? Maybe $200? They’re all quite new and in perfect condition.’

  ‘Considering we’re not paying anything for the pony, $200 seems pretty reasonable,’ Jade’s dad said, getting out his cheque book. ‘Before I write this, Jade, is there anything else you can think of? Will Pip’s new bridle fit him?’

  ‘Yeah, it should do,’ Jade said, reaching out to stroke Taniwha’s nose. He flicked his head away, nearly getting Jade in the chin. ‘No, I think that’s all we’ll need.’

  ‘Super!’ Mrs Sand said girlishly. ‘Deal done. You happy, Loretta? Taniwha’s going to a lovely home.’ Loretta nodded uncertainly.

  ‘Do you want to take him now?’ Mrs Sand asked, apparently anxious to be rid of him.

  Jade and her dad weren’t really in a position to lead a young pony and carry two covers and travel boots, so said they’d be back with reinforcements soon.

  They found the rest of the team standing at the senior ring, waiting for David’s and Corina’s round. None of the previous rounds had been clear, so Michaela was urging her seniors to ride cautiously.

  ‘How do you think they’ll go?’ Jade’s dad asked Michaela.

  ‘David will be fine; Corina and Medusa: who knows?’ Michaela said. There were dark shadows under her eyes and it occurred to Jade what a long, tiring weekend it must be for the coach.

  The bell rang, and Toblerone and Medusa both broke into a canter. As Michaela had predicted, David and Toby were making it look easy. Jade suddenly understood where the phrase ‘taking it in his stride’ came from. However, Corina and Medusa pulled out a surprising performance. The mare, who’d been nappy all weekend, finally had her ears pricked and was looking for the next jump rather than keeping one eye on the exit. Corina, too, who’d been dispirited since the unfortunate drive from Flaxton, had returned to her old competitive self.

  ‘Did you finish before me?’ David asked Corina, as they jogged out together.

  ‘Yep, and clear!’ Corina couldn’t stop grinning.

  ‘This is the perfect note to end on,’ Michaela said, congratulating her eldest charges. ‘I thought Amanda and Kristen did a good round, but that was impressive; and the first clear round, too! I’m delighted, I really am. I’m not at all nervous about hearing the results now!’ They didn’t have to wait long for the results of the intermediate Jigsaw: Kristen and Amanda were second, right after Gorsewood.

  As they did their lap of honour, the blue sashes complementing Johnny’s coat and clashing with Blueberry Tart’s, Jade thought Michaela was going to cry, she looked so proud.

  ‘That girl’s done wonders with Johnny,’ Michaela said. ‘Just as I expect you will with Taniwha, eventually. You’ve heard all about Jade’s plan?’ Michaela asked Jade’s dad.

  ‘Yes, the foot-breaker is now ours. Thanks very much for offering to taxi him home.’

  ‘Anything for such a good little team member,’ Michaela said, patting Jade’s shoulder. ‘You’ve done brilliantly this weekend, young lady — broken foot or not. It’s just a shame you and Dorian couldn’t have done the Jigsaw with Becca.’

  ‘Do you know if they would have won?’ Jade asked.

  ‘Yep, their time was easily the fastest,’ Michaela said, with some regret. ‘Ah well, never mind. There’s still a possibility of the cup being ours.’

  The Flaxton team’s chances were even better when the judge called David and Corina in first and tied a red sash around each of their horses’ necks.

  Weary from standing on one foot and clapping, Jade was glad to return to the trucks with the cavalcade of triumphant riders and ponies. There was just time to make th
e horses comfortable and the riders presentable before the prize-giving.

  David, who was always the swiftest at untacking, had Toby fed and watered, and himself spruced up, before the girls had even finished unplaiting. Jade asked him if he’d mind leading Taniwha from the Sands’ truck.

  ‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘I’m not wearing my steelcap boots.’

  ‘I’m sure he’ll be fine,’ Jade said, sure of no such thing.

  Fortunately, Taniwha was in fact quite docile as David led him, while Jade’s dad carried the covers and boots and Jade went as fast as she could alongside on her crutches. Feeling too scruffy to attend the prize-giving, Jade resisted the entreaties of her team-mates and opted instead to stay with Taniwha.

  ‘It’ll be dark when you get to your new home, mister,’ Jade whispered, stroking the pony’s lower neck and shoulder, having learnt that his head was, for now, out of bounds. ‘But there’ll be a friendly old pony there to keep you company, and two horses, and a nice man called Mr White. He’ll know what to do with you if you’re naughty — I hope.’

  Jade’s dad laughed, listening to his daughter chatting quietly away to her new pony. ‘Will you be travelling in the truck with your new friend, or might you keep your father company in the old Falcon?’

  ‘Oh, I’ll come with you,’ Jade said. ‘So long as we stay close to the trucks.’

  ‘As you wish,’ her dad said.

  Michaela’s truck was first in the convoy, with a sizeable cup sitting on the dashboard — until it fell off and Kristen was told to put it on the floor. Despite their run of bad luck — Pip’s lameness, Medusa’s injured fetlock, Jade’s broken foot — Flaxton had been the winning team at the New Zealand Pony Club Association North Island Show Jumping Championships. Gorsewood were, in the end, a close and relatively gracious second place.

  Becca’s truck followed the Lewises’. It was carrying Taniwha, whom Becca’s mum had chosen over Medusa when she saw how well he was getting on with Dusty.

  ‘I hate to be sexist,’ she’d said, ‘but I’d choose a gelding over a chestnut mare any day.’

  Jade and her dad followed Taniwha. Jade tried to see through the truck’s back wall and imagined her new pony standing side on, next to Dusty, hopefully scoffing his net of hay. No matter how slowly the truck went, Jade’s dad wouldn’t pass it.

  ‘Thanks for coming to get me, Dad,’ Jade said. ‘I couldn’t have stretched my leg out like this in the cab of the truck.’

  Her dad was concentrating on the road, driving cautiously but seeming to enjoy it. ‘Is it good to be back behind the wheel?’ she asked.

  ‘It was odd at first,’ he said quietly. ‘But now it is good, yes. It feels like progress, somehow.’

  Jade was slightly embarrassed at her dad’s honesty. They were silent for awhile and Jade knew they were both thinking about her mum.

  ‘Your mum would’ve enjoyed that show,’ her dad said eventually, trying to sound casual. ‘She would’ve been proud of you.’

  Jade nodded, not feeling like speaking yet.

  ‘Not sure if she’d have approved of this Taniwha, though.’

  Jade laughed. ‘Probably not. But I’ll prove her wrong,’ Jade said quickly, confusing her tenses. ‘He’s going to be great.’

  With a broken foot, and an awfully late night unloading horses and unpacking tack, Jade thought it was reasonable to miss school on Monday. Becca, unsurprisingly, agreed. Her mum and Jade’s dad seemed too tired to argue.

  They parted quietly at Mr White’s, after Becca had led Taniwha into the front paddock, taken his travel boots off and unclipped his lead rope. In the middle of the night, after a long truck ride and with the smell of horses coming from the back paddock and the snickering of a pony coming from the yard, Taniwha was overwhelmed. After trotting in a couple of circles, he approached Pip, who was having her eyebrow scratched by Jade.

  ‘This is your new brother, Pip; be nice,’ Jade whispered, reaching out to Taniwha. He nosed her palm then pulled his head away and cantered down to the back fence to meet the others.

  Over the phone, Jade had told Mr White about the new arrival. She hadn’t thought it necessary to mention anything more than that Taniwha was a five-year-old bay gelding and a good jumper.

  The next day, while, Jade calculated, Mr Wilde would be beginning a social studies lesson, Granddad, Holly and Jade drove to the Whites’ to see how Taniwha had fared during the night.

  Mr White was talking to Pip as they drove in.

  ‘Just been discussing the new pony with the old lady,’ Mr White said jovially. ‘He hasn’t broken any fences in the night, so we’ve agreed that he’s welcome. How’s the foot, Jade?’

  ‘Itchy under the cast,’ Jade said. ‘I can’t wait to get off these crutches, too.’

  ‘You’ve got to be patient,’ her granddad said, whistling at Holly. ‘Oi, you little rascal — out of Pip’s yard! She likes eating the horse poo.’

  Jade made a face.

  ‘Yes, I expect you’re eager to start riding the new one; what’s his name?’

  ‘Taniwha,’ Jade said slowly.

  ‘And he’s a good little jumper, you say? Might take you to the Champs again next year?’

  ‘Um,’ Jade paused. ‘He is good at jumping, but he’s a bit crazy. He’s actually the pony that trod on my foot.’

  ‘This sounds like it might be a long story,’ Mr White said. ‘Why don’t you come in for some morning tea and you can tell me all about the little monster.’

  Jade smiled, relieved; Mr White would understand.

  ‘Holly!’ Granddad called, opening the gate to Mr White’s back garden. ‘Come and have a bit of biscuit. Good girl!’

  Sitting in the late summer sun on the back deck, listening to Mr White boiling the kettle and watching her old pony not just standing but moving of her own accord around the yard, Jade felt calm and happy. It was good to be home, with two ponies.

  How to catch a pony

  1 To prevent your pony from wandering off as you fumble with a tangled lead rope and buckles, make sure your halter is ready before going into the paddock. It is wise to have the nose-strap loosely buckled, the head-strap unbuckled, and the lead rope coiled tidily.

  2 When your halter is ready, carry it in one hand behind your back, leaving your other hand free to hold out a titbit, such as half a carrot or apple. A whole carrot or apple will probably be too large for your pony to finish in one mouthful. If she drops the titbit and stretches her head down to eat it, you will have trouble pulling the halter over her nose.

  Here is a trick for cutting an apple in half when you don’t have a knife handy: push the apple onto a fence until the wire cuts halfway into the flesh, then turn and push the apple against the wire until it falls into two halves.

  3 Once in the paddock (remember to close the gate!), with the halter behind your back and half an apple held out in front, call your pony’s name. If she lifts her head from grazing, pricks her ears, whinnies and starts walking towards you, all well and good — keep walking and talking to your pony until she has taken the apple from your flat palm.

  If she turns away, lays her ears back and flicks her tail as if a fly is tickling her hock, prepare to be patient. Keep talking softly, to let your pony know where you are, and remember to approach in a half-circle towards her left, or near-side, shoulder. If you walk straight to her head or tail, she won’t see you until the last moment and may be alarmed. All going well, your pony’s mood will improve once she finds the apple. If, on seeing you, your pony is less placid and, for instance, trots in a large circle around you or canters to the far corner of the paddock, don’t panic. Stand still, stop talking to her, even look away from her, but keep the treat held out. In this stance, you will become a curiosity, which, with a bit of luck, your pony won’t be able to resist.

  If, after a couple of circuits of the paddock, your pony hasn’t been overwhelmed with curiosity and ventured over to take the apple, you may need the help of other people, ponie
s or treats. A stern adult standing in the corner where your pony usually flees to will make you and your apple more attractive. Catching your pony’s paddock mate will often encourage your naughty pony to approach you willingly. If all else fails, a small bucket of hard feed placed in the paddock should prove enticing. Only use this final method if your pony appears to be genuinely timid, rather than just misbehaving, otherwise you will find that she becomes opportunistic and even more difficult to catch. If your pony enjoys being ridden and groomed, she shouldn’t mind being caught either — in this case, a titbit is not always necessary.

  4 Now that your pony is eating out of your hand (or a bucket nearby), stand near her head, and reach gently around her neck with the lead rope until it is in a loop, with both ends in your hand under her neck. Holding the lead rope in one hand, so that your pony doesn’t make a run for it before you’ve done up any buckles, slip the halter over the pony’s nose. At this point, you can let go of the lead rope, reach under the pony’s chin and flick the head-strap over behind her ears, ready to be buckled at her cheek.

  5 With half an apple in her stomach and the prospect of a ride, your pony should walk happily by your side back to the yard or fence post where you groom her.

  Remove the lead rope from your pony’s neck, holding it quite firmly in your right hand while carrying the slack of the rope in your left hand. Be careful not to wind the rope around your wrist or fingers; if your pony shied, this could give you a nasty injury.

  Try to walk at your pony’s left shoulder. If she’s pulling and trying to jog ahead, leaning your shoulder into her neck will help make your right arm stronger. At all times, be aware of where your pony’s hooves are: she probably won’t mean to stand on your foot, but accidents do happen. This is why it is sensible to always wear covered shoes, preferably boots, while handling your pony.