Phantom’s head up. She reminded herself over and over to keep breathing. It felt as if Phantom was picking up on the slightest bit of tension inCharlie, so she had to make an effort to stay relaxed. It was so strange – riding with Pirate was something she did without trying, because she and her pony knew each other so well. Now she had to think about everything for the first time in ages, and it felt exhausting.
On the first evening after Phantom had been put away, Mrs Millar had told the others that she’d give them all a lesson, and Charlie a second one, this time on Pirate. Charlie had suggested that Pixie try him, but she’d said no way. Puzzle was the only kind of pony she’d want to ride from then on. Even though for a fleeting second Charlie had hoped it would be the perfect solution, she knew deep down it wasn’t right – Pirate wasn’t the pony for Pixie, so Charlie didn’t press it.
Knowing that Pixie’s confidence had been shattered by the lethal combination of Sasha and Phantom, Mrs Millar concentrated most on Pixie and Puzzle during the lessons. Within a couple ofdays of Mrs Millar’s teaching, Pixie was starting to believe in herself again and was riding Puzzle brilliantly.
“You’re clearly a good, sympathetic rider,” Mrs Millar announced as Pixie patted the blue roan. “Anyone can see that, and if someone says differently then they can’t be a horseman in my book.”
Pixie smiled, her cheeks glowing pink at the praise.
Daisy came along each day too, joining in the lessons as they swapped ponies, so that they all got to be taught by Mrs Millar ahead of the show. Everyone had insisted, as they untacked and stood about the yard after the final lesson on Friday, that Daisy should come with them to Compton Manor because she’d become part of the team.
“After all,” Rosie pointed out, “Puzzle wouldn’t be going anywhere if it wasn’t for your care.”
“Okay – I’ll ask Hope Farm for the morning off,” she finally agreed, “but I’ll only go asveterinary consultant and holder of ponies. My competing days are over!”
Everyone cheered, and Alice said that Daisy could hack Scout over to Compton Manor. Alice was shorter than Charlie and she could ride Pirate instead. Charlie had decided to enter him in the 80cm class.
“Good for you,” Mrs Millar nodded approvingly. “It’ll be the last time you get to compete on Pirate, so you might as well make the most of it.”
“Oh, yes, I hadn’t thought of it like that,” Charlie lied, trying to smile, but with Mrs Millar’s words the stone cold, hard reality of the situation hit her. She turned back to Pirate’s stable, suddenly remembering that she’d forgotten to give him the mint in her pocket.
“Oh, Sasha, look!” Jade shrieked as the six girlsrode into Compton Manor on Saturday morning. There were loads of people and ponies milling about but worse luck, they had bumped straight into the CM club. “The entertainment’s turned up, and it looks like she’s riding some kind of scruffy cob – what a comedown from Phantom!”
Pixie went bright red and patted Puzzle’s roan neck, while Daisy told her to ignore them. Pixie had spent ages with Daisy, grooming Puzzle until he was beautifully clean. They’d even plaited his mane and tail, which Pixie had loved doing. According to Mia, who didn’t often give praise for grooming, she had a real talent for turnout, only now Pixie was back at Compton Manor, she looked as if she wished she could disappear again.
“And there’s Phantom!” Alice heard Bex say, sounding relieved and earning a scowl from Sasha, who turned round and scrutinised the black horse. He looked a million dollars, but Sasha wasn’t impressed, or at least didn’t show it if she was.
“I wouldn’t enter that horse into any of our classes if I were you,” she sneered. “He hates the indoor school here.”
“Something to do with the loudspeaker used to make the announcements,” Jade laughed.
On the first evening after Phantom had been put away, Mrs Millar had told the others that she’d give them all a lesson, and Charlie a second one, this time on Pirate. Charlie had suggested that Pixie try him, but she’d said no way. Puzzle was the only kind of pony she’d want to ride from then on. Even though for a fleeting second Charlie had hoped it would be the perfect solution, she knew deep down it wasn’t right – Pirate wasn’t the pony for Pixie, so Charlie didn’t press it.
Knowing that Pixie’s confidence had been shattered by the lethal combination of Sasha and Phantom, Mrs Millar concentrated most on Pixie and Puzzle during the lessons. Within a couple ofdays of Mrs Millar’s teaching, Pixie was starting to believe in herself again and was riding Puzzle brilliantly.
“You’re clearly a good, sympathetic rider,” Mrs Millar announced as Pixie patted the blue roan. “Anyone can see that, and if someone says differently then they can’t be a horseman in my book.”
Pixie smiled, her cheeks glowing pink at the praise.
Daisy came along each day too, joining in the lessons as they swapped ponies, so that they all got to be taught by Mrs Millar ahead of the show. Everyone had insisted, as they untacked and stood about the yard after the final lesson on Friday, that Daisy should come with them to Compton Manor because she’d become part of the team.
“After all,” Rosie pointed out, “Puzzle wouldn’t be going anywhere if it wasn’t for your care.”
“Okay – I’ll ask Hope Farm for the morning off,” she finally agreed, “but I’ll only go asveterinary consultant and holder of ponies. My competing days are over!”
Everyone cheered, and Alice said that Daisy could hack Scout over to Compton Manor. Alice was shorter than Charlie and she could ride Pirate instead. Charlie had decided to enter him in the 80cm class.
“Good for you,” Mrs Millar nodded approvingly. “It’ll be the last time you get to compete on Pirate, so you might as well make the most of it.”
“Oh, yes, I hadn’t thought of it like that,” Charlie lied, trying to smile, but with Mrs Millar’s words the stone cold, hard reality of the situation hit her. She turned back to Pirate’s stable, suddenly remembering that she’d forgotten to give him the mint in her pocket.
“Oh, Sasha, look!” Jade shrieked as the six girlsrode into Compton Manor on Saturday morning. There were loads of people and ponies milling about but worse luck, they had bumped straight into the CM club. “The entertainment’s turned up, and it looks like she’s riding some kind of scruffy cob – what a comedown from Phantom!”
Pixie went bright red and patted Puzzle’s roan neck, while Daisy told her to ignore them. Pixie had spent ages with Daisy, grooming Puzzle until he was beautifully clean. They’d even plaited his mane and tail, which Pixie had loved doing. According to Mia, who didn’t often give praise for grooming, she had a real talent for turnout, only now Pixie was back at Compton Manor, she looked as if she wished she could disappear again.
“And there’s Phantom!” Alice heard Bex say, sounding relieved and earning a scowl from Sasha, who turned round and scrutinised the black horse. He looked a million dollars, but Sasha wasn’t impressed, or at least didn’t show it if she was.
“I wouldn’t enter that horse into any of our classes if I were you,” she sneered. “He hates the indoor school here.”
“Something to do with the loudspeaker used to make the announcements,” Jade laughed.
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