A Pony Called Secret

by Olivia Tuffin

  “It’s OK!” Devon called encouragingly. “I know what you and Secret are capable of. I think he’s just feeling a bit excitable today, isn’t he?”

  Alice nodded gratefully. “You could say that!”

  Thankfully, by the end of the lesson Secret had settled and he and Alice jumped the grid beautifully. Cora and Bluebell hadn’t put a foot wrong, though, so Alice felt her earlier pang of worry grow. The trials were going to be hard. Really hard. Although there were five spots on the team, there was no guarantee of a place. Cora and Bluebell looked to be the toughest competition they’d faced so far.

  Chapter 4

  “What will you do after Secret?” Cora asked, pausing for a moment, brush in hand. It was later that day and both girls were giving their ponies a good groom after their morning lesson. Alice, concentrating on a particularly tricky tangle in Secret’s mane blinked, startled by Cora’s question. She knew she only had a few months left to compete on Secret, a year at most. It had consumed her thoughts recently and was probably the cause of the dreams she’d been having, but it was horrible hearing Cora say it out loud.

  “Er,” she stammered. “I don’t know.”

  “Will you sell him?” Cora continued. “You’d be able to name your price, wouldn’t you?”

  Alice thought about the offers she’d already received. But she knew her mum would be true to her word. Secret wouldn’t ever leave Park Farm, not after helping Alice love ponies again. She owed him so much, far more than ribbons and trophies. Secret had opened so many doors and Alice had a whole new friendship group now with pony club, Mia and Finn. She had tried to shut out any thoughts about how Secret would probably love to carry on jumping. She still had to figure out what to do.

  “I’ll never sell him,” she replied. “He’s my pony of a lifetime.”

  Cora smiled. “I understand.” She gave her own mare a pat. “Like Bluebell. Adam buys and sells horses quite regularly, brings on the youngsters and stuff, but even he wouldn’t part with her. It’s horrible starting to outgrow them, isn’t it?” She bit her lip. “Adam has a really nice horse lined up for me, but I wish I could ride Bluebell forever.”

  “Has she been in your family a long time?” Alice asked.

  Cora nodded. “Yep,” she said. “Actually, my dad bred her. Isn’t that cool?”

  “Oh, wow!” Alice cried. Her mum had talked for years about breeding a foal, but it had never happened. Secret, as a six-month-old, had been the youngest pony on Park Farm so far. “That’s amazing. No wonder she’s special. How old were you when she was born?”

  Cora counted on her fingers, briefly frowning. “Well, she’s nearly eleven, so not even three,” she said. “I can’t actually remember life without her.”

  “My mum had a pony like that.” Alice felt a lump rise to her throat. “Lachlan, a Highland pony. He was around before I was born.” She quickly blinked away the tears that threatened to fall. The beautiful gelding had been killed in an accident. “So did Adam ride her, before you?” she asked quickly, trying to turn her thoughts away from Lachlan.

  A shadow fell across Cora’s face before she shook her head. “No,” she said. “My sister. They were amazing together. They…”

  Her voice trailed off and she looked away, but she didn’t seem to be shutting down the conversation.

  “I hope you don’t mind me asking…” Alice bit her lip, trying to think of the right way to ask. “Why doesn’t your sister ride any more?”

  Cora gave Bluebell a pat, as the pretty black mare snuffled against her fingers.

  “Bluebell was Lauren’s,” she explained quietly. “She was an amazing rider. She got Bluebell where she is today. I just had to sit on her to win Olympia.”

  Alice knew that wasn’t true – Cora was clearly a hugely skilled rider. She also knew from experience that the top ponies often came with quirks and needed to be ridden properly. Angus said it made them special, that their sharpness was often the reason for their talent. Secret was the ultimate proof of that!

  “It was my sister who should have made the British pony team … who should have won at Olympia,” Cora continued, her voice trembling, “but she never got there.” There was a pause, as if she was trying to gather her words.

  Cora took a deep breath. “There was an accident. Lauren will never ride again.”

  “Oh, Cora,” Alice said quietly. “How horrible.”

  Cora shook her head. “It still feels like yesterday,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “She was in intensive care for months, and she’s still in rehab now. The doctors said her chances of walking again are slim.” She gave a small, sad smile. “But they don’t know our Lauren; she’ll prove them wrong!”

  Alice shivered. She knew riding was a risky sport; she’d broken her leg when Honey had died, the scar on her cheek a permanent reminder of that awful day. But to face life-changing injuries like that must have been utterly devastating for Cora’s sister and her whole family.

  “So life changed loads,” Cora continued. “Mum and Dad gave up the breeding and stuff, sold a lot of horses. Adam keeps the yard going, but Lauren was determined Bluebell would never, ever be sold. Bluebell keeps her going.” She turned to Alice, her eyes filled with tears. “So I made Lauren a promise that I’d get Bluebell to the top for her. And I will, I know I will. The British pony team, that’s our final goal together.”

  Things made total sense now. Alice was determined, but Cora was on another level, wanting to do it for her sister.

  Cora gave a shaky smile. “Anyway, wouldn’t it be amazing if we both made it? Secret’s world-class and so is Bluebell,” she said. “We’d be unstoppable, wouldn’t we?”

  Alice smiled as she thought about her and Cora cantering around the arena, gold medals round their necks, their ponies festooned in ribbons. It would be amazing. It would be better than anything, in fact.

  She grinned at Cora. “Bring it on!”

  Cora smiled, hugging her pony. “It’s probably my last year on Bluebell,” she said, giving the black mare a hug. “Like yours.”

  Alice’s heart sank. Her last year. Her last chance to really get somewhere with Secret. Hearing Cora say it out loud seemed to ignite something in Alice. This week she needed to dedicate herself to her riding like never before. She was going to get a place on the British team, and nothing was going to get in her way!

  *

  As Alice tied the laces on her trainers after lunch she could hardly believe she’d agreed to go for a run with Cora!

  Alice had been reluctant. “I run at school, but not that often.”

  “It’ll be fine,” Cora laughed. “You’re super fit from all your riding and we’ll only go slowly. It’s more about clearing our heads, getting in the zone.”

  Alice nodded. That sounded good.

  “OK,” she’d agreed and then jumped as her mobile rang. Mia.

  “Hey!” Alice greeted her friend cheerfully and was met with a stream of enthusiastic chat from the younger girl. Alice could just make out the clip-clops and a few whinnies from the Park Farm yard and pressed the phone closer to her ear, feeling a sudden pang of homesickness.

  “Al!” Mia cried. “How are you? What’s it like? How big have you jumped? I rode Lacey today, and she was so good – it was lovely. Oh, and I have to tell you about what Porridge did this morning…”

  “Sounds great, Mia.” Alice was aware of Cora stretching next to her. “Actually, can we chat later? I’m just about to go for a run.”

  Mia had burst into peals of laughter. “You don’t run!” she giggled. “But yes, OK. I’ve got loads to tell you, and I really need your advice on something.”

  “Cool,” Alice smiled. “Talk later.”

  “OK, bye then!”

  Alice wondered if she’d detected the tiniest bit of hurt in Mia’s voice, but she’d just rung at the wrong time. Her friend was always bursting to tell her about her riding and she’d definitely call her later.

  She now grinned at Cora. “Let’
s go!”

  Pounding the lanes a few minutes later, Alice had to admit it felt better than she’d thought. The air was clear and fresh, and the gulls squawking ahead as they followed a plough in the fields reminded her the sea was just over the horizon. And as she ran her mind cleared and she thought about the trials ahead. She needed to do this, to get into the mindset.

  “That actually felt good,” Alice said, slowing to a walk as the girls returned to the yard. They’d run for what had felt like many miles, but it had only been a couple. “I might join you again tomorrow.”

  “It’s great, isn’t it?” Cora grinned back. “I’m going to ride again in a bit. Practise those grids until they’re perfect.”

  Alice couldn’t help but think Cora had already looked pretty perfect that morning.

  “Really? I thought I might just hack since Devon said we can choose what we do in the afternoons.”

  Cora shook her head. “Not me,” she said. “You can do that at home. Don’t you want to make the most of all the facilities here? And Devon’s riding this afternoon too, so I thought if I rode at the same time, I could pick up some tips. It’s not often you can ride alongside a top-class jumper like her, is it?”

  Alice bit her lip. She’d so enjoyed riding around the lanes the previous day. But if she skipped training, then Cora would be one step ahead of her.

  “OK,” she said. “I will too.”

  But there was a little voice inside her, as she swung up into Secret’s saddle a short while later, that questioned if she was doing the right thing. Angus had always drummed it into Alice not to over-train or over-jump Secret, and that the most important thing was keeping him calm and settled in the lead-up to a big competition. But Cora was right: here they were at a world-class yard, and she needed to take full advantage of it all. She could hack out on Secret as soon as they were back home.

  Secret obviously had other ideas. Expecting Alice to swing right out of the yard and head out into the leafy lanes that they had discovered yesterday, his ears were pricked with anticipation as he headed that way. It took a lot of persuasion on Alice’s part to get him to head back to the school. Grumpily, Secret put his ears back, pulling a disgusted face.

  “Oh, come on, boy,” Alice said slightly guiltily. “It’s your favourite thing, jumping.” She gave him a pat and he seemed to soften slightly. “It’s only this week,” she added. “Then things will get back to normal, I promise.”

  But what is going to be normal after this? she wondered. Either they would make the team and prove their worth as top showjumpers or they wouldn’t make it, and that would be their chance gone. She didn’t want to think about the second option!

  Chapter 5

  Devon was already in the school, cantering around on her gorgeous grey horse Danny, and Nina was working a beautiful big bay at the other end. Trotting around on Secret, taking enormous care not to get too close to either Devon or Nina, Alice had to pinch herself. She was glad now she hadn’t opted to hack out. Here she was warming up next to two of the sport’s leading female showjumpers, women she aspired to. Not bad for a pony who’d once refused to trot in the show ring!

  “Hey, Alice!”

  Devon had just popped over a one hundred and thirty cm fence like it was nothing, coming back down to a beautiful swinging trot and halting beside Alice.

  “Shall we carry on where we left off this morning?” Devon asked.

  This time, with the edge taken off Secret after the morning’s intensive lesson, he jumped beautifully. Alice had never lost her sheer exhilaration of jumping Secret, and as she cantered down to a big oxer Hayden had put up, feeling Secret rise up perfectly, folding over his red neck, her hands soft and yielding on the reins as they soared through the air, she laughed out loud. She really felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

  “He looked great,” Cora said as the two girls warmed down later. “He’ll be unstoppable at the trials if he jumps like that.”

  Alice felt herself glow with pride. “Thanks,” she said. But she knew she couldn’t get complacent, not with Secret. “Do you know anything about the other people taking part?”

  “Well,” Cora said, “there’s Ricky Edwards. You’ll know him; he’s not that far away from you.” Alice nodded, recognising the name immediately. “He’s doing really well this year. Then Becky D’Angelo and Emily Stevens, and a couple of others I don’t know that well.”

  Alice nodded again. These were names she’d often seen in the placings at the big shows. On the few occasions Secret had been beaten into second or even third place, it had been by one of those riders.

  She swallowed hard. “It’s going to be tough, isn’t it?”

  Cora glanced at her and Alice saw a flash of fire cross her face. “Yes,” she said. “But I know I can do it.”

  Once again Alice was reminded that she and Cora were competitors. She thought about Cora’s story, how her pony had been her sister’s, and she knew Cora wanted that British team spot more than anything. But Alice did too.

  “I’ve got some films,” Cora continued as they headed out of the arena and back towards the big American barn, where the lights were now on in the gathering dusk. “Jump-offs and stuff. I like to study them in the few days leading up to a big competition. Want to watch them?”

  Alice jumped down from the saddle, running up her stirrups and giving Secret another hug.

  “Sure,” she agreed.

  Cora knew what she was doing, and Alice wanted to emulate her as much as possible. As she was fast learning, it wasn’t just about the jumping, it was about getting into the right mindset, about focusing entirely on their goal. “Meet you up in the flat.”

  Once Secret was rugged and happily munching on a hay net, and Jane, Devon’s mum, had popped in with their evening meal, Alice and Cora sat cross-legged on the sofa together, watching jumping videos on Cora’s laptop.

  “So you see,” Cora said, pausing on a shot of Ricky Edwards and a lovely skewbald pony in mid-air over a large spread, “he’s scopey, but they lose on the corners. He’ll always jump clear, but they won’t beat your time if you take the risks. Then Becky, she’s great at meeting the times but often knocks a pole…” Tapping at the keyboard with a frown, Cora flicked to another video, again pointing out the competitor’s strengths and weaknesses.

  Alice started to feel uncomfortable. She liked going to shows not really knowing who they were jumping against, just enjoying the thrill of the day. Secret always did well, but not because Alice knew how to beat the other riders; it was because he was fast and brave, and he could make the most amazing hairpin turns, and he and Alice knew each other so well. But this weekend was more than just a straightforward competition. So much more than who came first or second. Alice had to prove she deserved the spot more than Ricky, Becky or Emily. Even Cora. Concentrating on what Cora was now telling her about Emily’s pony being spooky, she wrapped her arms round her legs, nodding and absorbing everything her new friend was telling her.

  It was only later that night, after a last check on Secret in his stable and finally curling up in bed, her legs aching after two intensive jumping sessions, that a flash of hot and cold went through Alice. She’d forgotten to call Mia back, to hear all about Lacey and whatever funny thing Porridge had done. And Mia had needed some advice, she thought guiltily. It all seemed a world away from Devon’s yard and the upcoming British trials. Alice knew her friend would be hurt. Checking the time on her phone, she sighed. It was too late to call or message. She hoped Mia would understand.

  Waking up early the next morning, Alice could hear Cora already in the kitchen. No wonder she went to bed at eight, if she was always up at first light! Remembering Cora’s routine, instead of reaching for her phone Alice spent a few minutes thinking about the weekend, trying to get into a positive mindset. It was harder than she thought it would be. She couldn’t help wonder what Finn was up to in Spain, and how Amy, her friend from pony club, was. She was starving, making it hard to concentrate. Quickly p
ulling on her leggings and sweater she joined Cora in the kitchen, where Cora was stirring something on the oven hob.

  “It’s porridge,” Cora said as Alice inspected the lumpy-looking contents. “Want some?”

  Alice would much rather have had her usual round of toast and jam, but remembering what Cora had said about how important it was to sustain energy levels, she nodded. “OK. Yes, please.”

  A short while later, Alice regretted her decision. When her mum made porridge, she heaped on the cream and brown sugar, but this porridge had nothing so yummy in it. Even worse, Cora’d passed Alice a glass of thick green juice that had made her gag as she took a sip.

  Cora laughed. “It’s full of vitamins and iron!” she chuckled. “Keeps you healthy. Honestly.” She tutted with a grin. “We’re athletes. We should treat ourselves as such.”

  Alice thought of all the service-station stops she and her mum and Fergus made on the way home from far-away shows. Sausage rolls and crisps and hot chocolates… They were the best bit of the journey! Cora really took this seriously, from the running to the mindset tapes and the intensive riding. So maybe Alice had to as well; she grimaced and forced herself to drink the rest of the juice.

  *

  Mucking out a short while later, Alice paused, looking around the beautiful American barn at the spotless wash bay, the matching wool rugs hanging in the racks and the gorgeous horses contently munching hay as Hayden wheeled a barrow around, mucking out each stable in turn. She still had to pinch herself that she was here. She’d once had a poster of Devon on her bedroom wall at home, and now here she was training at her yard! A shrill ring broke through her thoughts and made her jump. Pulling out her phone, she answered it with a smile.