Flame and the Rebel Riders by Stacy Gregg Page B

they stood by inposition ready to lift the poles as Issie, Natasha and Penny began to warm their horses up, trotting round the arena.
    “OK,” Ginty called out to the riders. “Can I have you one at a time, please, over the jump where the boys are?”
    Natasha went first. She was on Tokyo and the big bay mare picked her feet up neatly on the first try, but the boys had really yanked the pole up. They hit her hard, scraping the wood against her cannon bones and Issie saw Tokyo flinch as she tucked her legs up even higher.
    Suddenly Issie knew that she couldn’t go through with it. It was her turn, but how could she ride Flame over the jump knowing that the boys were going to hit him no matter what? Instead, she rode straight up to Ginty.
    “I think these guys are hitting the horses too hard,” she told her. “They’ve never done this before. They really bashed Tokyo with the rail just then.”
    “That’s exactly what they’re supposed to do,” Ginty said flatly. “It was Tokyo’s fault. She didn’t lift her legs enough.”
    “But she did lift them.”
    Ginty ignored her. “It’s your turn,” she told Issie. “Take Flame in at a canter.”
    Issie didn’t move.
    “Is there a problem, Isadora?”
    Issie nodded. “It’s just that I’ve been talking to someone and this person told me that rapping is really cruel.”
    Ginty sighed. “This ‘person’ wouldn’t be Tom Avery, would it?”
    “Ummmm…” Issie hesitated.
    “It’s all right,” Ginty said, “I’m not expecting you to compromise your loyalty to him. I know that Avery is your friend. And I have nothing against him and his methods — but he seems to be obsessed with me!”
    Ginty’s expression looked sorrowful, as if she were deeply hurt by Avery’s accusations. “What can I say? Avery’s a pony-club instructor and I’m a professional. He probably can’t stand the fact that I’ve had more champion showjumpers than he’s had hot dinners. For some reason he seems to think that must mean that I’m doing something naughty.”
    Ginty held Flame’s reins and reached out and strokedthe chestnut’s glossy neck. “Isadora, I am the best in the business. And that isn’t just because of my methods, it’s also about instincts. I have an eye for a good horse.” Then Ginty reached her bony hand out and grasped Issie’s hand in her own. “I have an eye for a good rider too. I have big plans for you, Issie. I like the way you ride. I think you could go a long way in this business and become a very good professional rider one day, hopefully working for my stables.”
    Issie couldn’t help but feel flattered at this. “I tried to explain to Tom. I told him it’s a professional stable and things are different, but he didn’t listen…”
    Ginty nodded, her face filled with understanding. “Isadora, it’s hard for a man like him to change. It’s been a long time since he rode at Badminton. Tom’s stuck in his old ways. He’s not exposed to new ideas and techniques the way you and I are on the competition circuit.”
    Ginty kept her hand tightly clasped around Issie’s and looked deep into her eyes as she spoke. “He’s trying to hold you back, Issie. Can’t you see that? Avery is desperate. He doesn’t want to lose you.”
    Her voice was firm now and her grip tightened asshe said, “Sometimes the best pupils outgrow their teachers. Isn’t it time for Tom to face the fact that he has to let you go?”
    Ginty was right. Issie wasn’t a pony-club kid any more. She had responsibilities at the stables and her riding had become a serious business. Avery didn’t understand. Neither did her friends. On Tuesday when Stella phoned her up and asked Issie if she wanted to go for a ride after work the next day, she had to make an excuse and say she couldn’t make it. Riding more horses was the last thing Issie felt like doing after being at the stables all day.
    “How about Thursday, then?” Stella suggested. “Kate wants to come too