The Palomino Pony Runs Free

by Olivia Tuffin

  Georgia nodded sadly. She may not have got off to the best start with Will but now she understood why he was the way he was. He was desperately trying to live up to his brother’s reputation, trying to save their livelihood. She hoped things would turn out OK for him eventually, now that Jasper appeared to have lost the sponsorship deal for good.

  “Georgia, are you OK?” Melanie cried.

  Georgia gave a start and shook her head in confusion. She realised she must have dozed off mid-thought.

  Nodding, she reassured Melanie she was fine, just exhausted. Right now, she felt sure that, given the opportunity, she would sleep for a week…

  But the next morning, Georgia woke up early, as usual. It was still dark outside and completely silent. For a minute she wondered if the previous day’s events had all been a dream. Then she realised she was still wearing her clothes from the night before! Her mum had sent her straight up to bed after taking one look at her, and she was so tired she’d just fallen into bed. Melanie had called Georgia’s mum to let her know what had happened, but Georgia knew she would still be full of questions about Will’s disappearance.

  Creeping down the corridor, pausing to stroke Pip, who thumped her tail and blinked up at her, she let herself into the bathroom. After a quick shower, she pulled on her jeans and a warm fleece. She had a burning desire to go and visit Lily before school, realising with a start that she had no excuse not to go to school today as she wasn’t at the Show.

  Grabbing a banana from the fruit bowl and pausing to scribble a note for her mum, who was still asleep, Georgia slipped out of the front door. The cold October air took her breath away. There was a frost on the ground and the sky was clear, a weak sun just appearing to the east. It was going to be another perfect autumn day. The roads to Redgrove were quiet and she reached the yard in no time at all.

  Lily whickered a familiar greeting, throwing her head up and down, as if to ask for her breakfast. To her relief, Santa’s kind face also popped over the neighbouring door and she also whickered a low greeting.

  Walking to the tack room, Georgia frowned. That was strange – the lights were already on. But it couldn’t be Will in there, could it? To her surprise, Melanie’s daughter, Sophie, clad in a dark-green cashmere jumper, her blonde hair piled messily on top of her head, was in the tack room, cleaning Lily’s saddle.

  She looked up and smiled when she saw Georgia. “Hey, G!” she said cheerfully, swigging from a mug of tea and rubbing a bit of soap into the soft brown leather at the same time. “So glad you’re here. Mum was going to collect you if you didn’t turn up, but we had a feeling that you might just come and visit Lily.” Georgia must have looked confused, because Sophie chuckled. “Still ready to ride?”

  “What … what do you mean?” Georgia was totally bewildered now.

  Sophie laughed again. “Horse of the Year Show, silly! We can still go!”

  Georgia stared at her. “But we can’t, we missed the stabling and the warm-up slots! There’s no way we can go, is there?”

  “Well, no, not if you just stand there gaping at me, we can’t!” Sophie said, smiling widely. “Your class isn’t until tonight, right? It’s only a couple of hours away in the horsebox. Lily trusts you so much, she will be fine without a settling-in period. So, are you up for it?”

  Sophie was so enthusiastic that suddenly a small thrill of excitement crept through Georgia. She realised that she didn’t even feel nervous. What had recently seemed so impossible suddenly seemed within reach!

  Melanie appeared in the door of the tack room, clutching her own mug of tea. Georgia noticed she was smartly dressed, in a tweed overcoat and long brown boots. “So what do you think, Georgia?” she asked, smiling. Drawing Georgia to one side, she placed a hand on her shoulder. “You really don’t have to,” she said softly, just to her. “I spoke to Janey and she told me how nervous you were when she taught you. I’m so sorry that I hadn’t realised how you were feeling. You know, if you just relax and enjoy it and treat it as any other show, you and Lily would stand a real chance. You’ve worked so hard on her; it would be such a shame to miss this opportunity. But it’s your choice, of course.”

  Suddenly, Georgia couldn’t think of anything she would rather be doing. It wouldn’t even matter if she came last, or fell off, they would still take Lily home at the end of the day, and Melanie and her friends would always be there to make her feel better. Slowly, the small bubble of excitement began to build until she was grinning as widely as Sophie.

  “Sure!” she said, and this time she really meant it. But there was still something she had to check.

  “What about Will? Is he OK?” she asked.

  Melanie smiled. “Will is going to be fine,” she said, reassuring Georgia. “I’ll fill you in on the way there, but I promise you, he’s doing great. The hospital took good care of him.” She gestured towards the house before continuing. “He’s fast asleep upstairs at the moment. We had a good chat last night, when he got home all patched up. Now, by my reckoning, we need to leave in a couple of hours at the latest. So we should get moving, and quickly! What do you reckon, Georgia? Up for the challenge?”

  Georgia grinned. She really was. “Let’s do it!” she said confidently.

  “Hurrah!” Sophie cried, high-fiving Georgia with a saddle-soap-covered hand, and jumping up and down.

  From that moment on, the yard was a whirl of activity. Sophie finished off Lily’s tack and Georgia set to work giving Lily a warm bath, conditioning her creamy mane and tail before rugging her up in her lucky white cotton sheet. Emma joined them at the yard with Georgia’s mum, who brought along her daughter’s bag of show gear, which had been packed weeks ago. There was an excited buzz as Melanie handed around a tray of tea and bacon sandwiches, ready for the journey.

  Georgia looked around her before climbing into the lorry cab. She couldn’t help but feel that someone very important was missing, and it just wasn’t the same. Just then, her stomach flipped at the familiar, welcome sight of Dan strolling through the yard gates, his crooked grin firmly in place, looking handsome in a navy jumper and waxed coat.

  “Dan!” Georgia gasped, wondering if she was seeing things. “You came!”

  “I texted him, silly, told him about all the drama last night.” Emma nudged her friend. “You two are made for each other, and I didn’t think you would ride as well without him!”

  Georgia flushed, looking up at her other best friend, who was smiling down at her warmly, his face still tanned and freckly due to long days spent outside. “Dan, I—” she began.

  Dan smiled and put a finger to her lips. “Shhh, Georgia. We’ll talk after your class.”

  Emma was going to go in the car with Georgia’s mum, and Dan and Sophie would accompany Georgia in the lorry. Georgia was so grateful that Dan was there with her. It felt right with him sitting up besides her, like they were just off to the local Pony Club show and not one of the biggest championships in the equestrian world!

  As Redgrove village slipped past and the winding country roads turned into the motorway that would lead them towards the showground, Melanie briefly explained that Will had been taken to hospital by ambulance the night before, and that Jasper had gone with him. He had been let out later on that evening, having been given a clean bill of health – apart from his forehead, which had needed stitching, and strict instructions to take it easy. Melanie had picked them both up, along with Sophie, who was instantly smitten with Jasper. They were staying at Redgrove Farm for the day while they found their feet. Santa was safe in her stable with Wilson and Callie for now.

  “I’m sure they’ll explain more later,” Melanie said, turning to Georgia with a smile, “but Will was quite determined that you should ride today.” She gestured towards the glove box. “Here,” she said. “Look in there. Will wrote you a note when he was let out of hospital last night.”

  Intrigued, Georgia opened the glove box and, sitting on top of Sophie’s old rosettes and show schedules was a torn-out pag
e from a notebook. Will’s scrawled handwriting filled the page. “Go for it, Georgia!” the note read. “Just enjoy your Barbie pony and feel lucky that she’s yours. You can do it!”

  Georgia folded the paper and tucked it into her pocket, feeling a lump in her throat. She was desperately sad for Will, who had lost Santa. She would put the note inside the pocket of her tweed coat later on, for luck. Dan placed a hand over hers, and she started to feel the familiar flutters of excitement that she did before every show. She was going to ride like she meant it tonight, for Will, for Santa and for Lily!

  The Horse of the Year Show was held in the huge international centre on the outskirts of Birmingham, and for Georgia it felt strange to drive past city tower blocks and motorway bridges so close to a show instead of the usual green fields and farmland. However, as they turned into the lorry park, the familiar sight of hundreds of gleaming shiny horseboxes met them. Security guards signed them in, and Melanie carefully brought the horsebox to a stop at the end of a row. They had arrived! Melanie was all business as she swung down from the cab, off to enquire if they could still use Lily’s booked stable to settle her in a bit before the class.

  Georgia peeked into the horse section of the lorry. Lily was calmly surveying the scene through the window, tearing off mouthfuls of hay from her net. She really had never looked better.

  Then Melanie was back and she gave Georgia a big thumbs-up. “Stables OK,” she reported.

  Georgia swung the ramp down and gently unloaded the little mare, leading her towards the large stabled area on the designated concrete pathway. The lorry park was buzzing with excitement, as riders milled around, jackets over their tweed to keep out the October chill, hands clutching paper cups of tea and coffee. This was really happening; she was going to ride at the Horse of the Year Show!

  The stabled area was alive with activity and riders were busy warming up their ponies for the classes before Lily’s. Pretty Dartmoors, Exmoors and Shetlands cantered figures of eight and practised extended trots across the diagonals, their riders wearing cream jodhpurs, the younger ones sporting brightly coloured ribbons in their hair. Grooms, parents and trainers milled around, chattering excitedly among themselves. Dan joined Georgia as she unbandaged Lily, and settled her in with her new hay net. He was carrying a rucksack in his hand and had a big grin on his face.

  “What’s up?” Georgia asked as Dan produced a flat cap and a tweed waistcoat from his bag.

  “I’m going to be your groom,” Dan said, his smile growing even wider.

  Georgia knew instantly what he meant. Riders needed one of their team to come into the ring once the ponies were lined up, to help them unsaddle the ponies ready for inspection.

  Normally, Melanie did this. Dan must have asked if he could take her place. Georgia felt a warm glow in her tummy – she was going to have Dan in the ring with her during the biggest class of her life. He was so good to her, even after everything.

  “That’s brilliant!” Georgia flung her arms around him, before she could stop herself.

  Dan looked both pleased and embarrassed as Georgia flushed scarlet, realising what she had done. To cover his own blushes, Dan placed the flat cap on his head and gave a little nod. “So – what do you think?”

  “You look the best,” Georgia said happily. “The very best!”

  Soon it was time to get Lily tacked up so that Georgia could warm up in the crowded sand arena adjacent to the stables. She had missed the early morning warm-up, which would have allowed her to ride into the arena and get used to everything, so she was just going to have to cross her fingers and hope Lily didn’t spook too much.

  The little mare stood quietly as everyone fussed around her. Melanie adjusted her saddle for the umpteenth time, Georgia gave her bridle another wipe and Sophie gave Lily’s pale-blonde tail one final brush. Emma milled around, making Georgia smile as she pointed out familiar ponies and riders. Dan adjusted his outfit. He really did look the part. Georgia checked again to make sure that her lucky tie pin was firmly fixed to her tie and that Will’s letter was tucked into her pocket.

  The other riders in Georgia’s class were already starting to warm up. Their pretty Welsh ponies were a myriad of colours – roans, bays, greys and a couple more palominos, although lighter in shade than Lily. Riders turned in half-recognition as Georgia started to walk Lily around the edge of the arena, patting her and talking softly to keep her calm.

  The atmosphere was charged and Lily seemed to pick up on it, quivering slightly in anticipation. Her delicate ears flicked back and forth, concentrating on Georgia’s voice. Remembering how badly she had ridden during her last lesson with Janey, Georgia felt herself tense just for a moment, as she eased Lily into a trot. Then, remembering Will’s note folded in her jacket pocket, she took a deep breath. It didn’t matter what happened. She was going to ride Lily well to show the palomino how much she meant to Georgia.

  All too soon, Georgia found herself standing in the collecting area outside the ring where her class was being held. She had seen a glimpse of the arena as the walkway cleared. It was vast, and surrounded by hundreds of spectators, including her mum, who was nervously clutching the show programme as she waited for Georgia’s entrance into the ring. And then, drawing in her breath, she and Lily danced through the gates and into the sand arena. There was no doubt about it, Lily stood out from the crowd. All of the Welsh ponies moved beautifully, and all were deserving of a place at the Horse of the Year Show, but Lily was something special.

  Like all shows, the class consisted of a group trot and canter. Several ponies were over-excited by the atmosphere, and Georgia held her breath as they darted and spooked to the side. It didn’t upset Lily, and soon they were standing waiting for the individual show, and the part that Georgia had been dreading. All the sleepless nights, all of the disastrous schooling sessions, had been leading up to this. As they waited in line for their turn, Georgia thought about everything that had happened during the last month, and patted the pocket that contained Will’s note.

  She thought about where she was happiest riding Lily, and pictured the bottom meadow, cantering up the hedge line, or riding over the hills between Redgrove Farm and Dan’s farm and meandering back up the sunlit lane towards the yard. Georgia loved competing Lily, and adored shows. But she had allowed the event to take over her true enjoyment of riding. Will losing his beloved pony, and Georgia’s ride to rescue him, had opened her eyes and reminded her how precious this chance was. She became so lost in her thoughts that she nearly didn’t hear the steward call her forwards!

  Just in time, Georgia nudged Lily on and greeted the judge with a polite good evening and a big smile. Touching his cap towards her, the judge indicated that she should start. Squeezing Lily’s sides and urging her on into her trademark floating trot, Georgia couldn’t help but grin. They were at the Horse of the Year Show! All the spectators, all the ponies, even the judge melted away as Georgia and Lily danced through their individual show.

  Trotting across the diagonal, Lily extending her long legs like a world-class dressage horse, Georgia froze. This was her weak spot. Feeling her nerves, Lily flicked an ear back, her trot becoming slower, feeling unsure as she waited for Georgia to guide her. It felt as though water was rushing through Georgia’s ears, her breathing becoming ragged. Time seemed to stand still. Taking a huge gulp of air, closing her eyes for a second, Georgia again tried to picture Lily cantering in the bottom meadow, then she picked up again.

  She would lose precious marks for showing that moment of hesitation but it didn’t matter. Georgia had overcome her nerves and as they flew down the long side in a gallop, she could almost laugh with relief.

  There was just the confirmation section to go now. Georgia could have burst with pride as Dan joined her in the ring, carrying the wicker basket of brushes and cloths like a true professional. Deftly, he unsaddled Lily and gave her a quick polish so that Georgia could trot her up in hand in front of the second judge. Dan winked at her as he dep
arted, mouthing, “You were brilliant,” and she felt her heart leap.

  Once Georgia had remounted and walked back into line, she felt a huge sense of relief. It really didn’t matter what happened now. She had just achieved one of her biggest dreams – riding at the Horse of the Year Show. And they would take Lily home afterwards in the horsebox, and stop for hot chocolate, like they always did after a competition.

  And after that – well, she would have a half-term holiday and then they would have cold crisp winter rides to look forward to, indoor showjump rallies, maybe even the Pony Club Mock Hunt. Lily was hers to ride forever, and that meant more than any rosette.

  Georgia was so busy planning all of this in her mind that she didn’t notice the buzz among the competitors at first. The two judges were taking an awfully long time, looking at their mark sheets, huddled together. Eventually, one of them stepped forwards, and tipped his bowler hat at Georgia and a boy on a gorgeous bay stallion. Georgia’s stomach did a triple somersault. Both competitors nudged their ponies out of the line-up, exchanging curious glances.

  The judge explained that they were on equal marks in first place. “But we have to follow the rules,” he said, looking down at his sheet. “And the highest ride mark wins, and that goes to … 154.”

  There were whoops and cheers from a section of the crowd as the boy on his bay stallion grinned from ear to ear, punching the air with delight. Georgia had come second … but she was elated! She knew the hesitation in her show had cost her the marks. But she was far from upset. It was just something to work on for the future. Her little Lily – a rescue pony who they’d found bedraggled and lost on a wet mountainside – had just come second at the biggest horse show in the country! Georgia felt her heart swell with pride as the judge presented her with her beautiful rosettes, including one for best mare.