Magic Ponies: Riding Rescue

by Sue Bentley

  ‘I know. I really hate people who do stuff like that,’ Gina agreed with feeling. Of course, Comet hadn’t actually been abandoned, but Gina knew that lots of ponies were. Thank goodness for places like Horseland.

  Angie patted Comet’s silky neck. ‘Well, you two have certainly cosied up together. Comet didn’t happen to tell you where he came from, did he, Gina?’ she joked.

  ‘As if!’ Gina said, biting back a grin. If only you knew! she thought.

  Angie turned at the sound of an engine and Gina saw a minibus trundling up the track. ‘It looks like the kids have arrived,’ Angie commented.

  ‘Kids?’ Gina said, puzzled.

  ‘From a local children’s centre. These kids wouldn’t usually get a chance to meet ponies. But here they can interact with them and even ride if they feel confident enough. After what some of our ponies have been through, they find it less threatening to be around youngsters. It gets them back to feeling comfortable with adult riders.’

  Gina thought this was a brilliant idea. She wondered what it would take to make her feel confident about riding Comet. She watched as the adult carers began helping some of the kids who were in specially adapted wheelchairs get off the bus as the others jumped off eagerly around them.

  ‘Minky, especially, enjoys these sessions. That’s him over there.’ Angie pointed to a small black-and-white pony with a kindly expression, which one of her regular staff was now tacking up. She turned back to Gina. ‘Comet seems a calm, sweet-natured pony. I think we’ll see how he gets on with meeting the kids today. Would you like to help?’

  ‘You bet!’ Gina said eagerly. She had been perfectly willing to help muck out and clean tack, but this sounded much more fun. ‘What do I have to do?’

  ‘Bring Comet out and tether him in the yard. You’ll find what you need in the tack room. OK?’

  ‘Will do,’ Gina said. ‘Back in a tick, Comet!’ she whispered. In a few moments she returned with a head collar and lead rope. ‘I have to put this stuff on you. Is that OK?’

  He nodded. ‘I know of these straps that ponies wear in your world.’

  Comet stood quietly while Gina fitted him with the head collar, led him into the yard and tethered him beside Minky. The small black-and-white pony nickered and Comet gave an answering snort. Gina smiled as the two ponies made friends.

  Comet lifted his head and his chocolate mane stirred in the breeze. ‘This will be fun!’ he neighed.

  Gina did a double take, amazed that he’d just spoken to her. ‘Hush!’ she warned him in a whisper. ‘Someone will hear you! You don’t want to give yourself away.’

  ‘I have used my magic so that only you can hear me,’ he told her, his deep violet eyes glinting. ‘To anyone else I will look and sound like an ordinary pony.’

  ‘Really? No problem then,’ Gina whispered delightedly. Comet was so amazing. She wondered what else he could do.

  Angie brought over a girl in a motorized wheelchair and a woman. Every centimetre of the wheelchair was covered with bright stickers of bands and singers.

  ‘This is Felicity Norton and Jane, her carer. I’ll leave them with you and Comet, Gina. OK?’ she said with an encouraging smile. ‘I’ll be just across the yard. Call me if you need me.’

  ‘No problem.’ Gina felt a bit nervous, but hoped it didn’t show. ‘Hi, Felicity. I’m Gina Carey,’ she said, smiling.

  ‘Hi,’ the girl replied. ‘You can call me Fliss. Everyone does.’ She looked about seven years old and had a delicate pale face with big hazel eyes. Her light brown hair was tied in bunches. She wore pink trainers and there was a sparkly star, in matching pink, on the front of her grey tracksuit.

  Gina looked questioningly at Jane, Fliss’s carer.

  The woman smiled. ‘Don’t mind me, Gina. I’m just here to help Fliss get in and out of the wheelchair. You two just carry on. OK?’

  ‘OK, fine,’ Gina said. She turned back to Fliss. ‘This is Comet. He’s a lovely gentle pony.’

  ‘He’s blooming hu-uge!’ Fliss turned to Gina and looked her up and down. ‘And you don’t look much older than me,’ she said bluntly. ‘How come you’ve got a job here?’

  Gina grinned. ‘I’m almost ten, but I guess I look younger. I’m just helping out. Angie knows that I’ve been around ponies forever. I used to have my own pony called River, but I haven’t got her any more.’

  ‘Why not?’ Fliss asked.

  Gina bit her lip, wishing she hadn’t mentioned her. ‘It’s a long story. Maybe I’ll tell you some other time. How about you? Do you like ponies, Fliss?’ she asked, quickly changing the subject.

  ‘Dunno. Never met one.’ Fliss shrugged her narrow shoulders.

  ‘Never?’ Gina couldn’t imagine not having ponies in her life. ‘Well, now’s your chance,’ she said encouragingly. ‘You’re going to love making friends with Comet!’

  Fliss looked a bit nervous as she craned her neck to look up at Comet. ‘What do I have to do?’

  ‘Well – it’s always best to come up to a pony from the side, rather than straight on. He’ll see you better that way and you won’t seem so scary to him. Talk to Comet gently and then hold your hand out flat, so he can get your scent. Do you want to try that first and see how you get on?’

  ‘I can do that. It’s not exactly rocket science, is it?’ Fliss scoffed, her eyes twinkling cheekily. She pressed the controls and her wheelchair trundled into position.

  Gina hid a smile. Fliss was a riot. She wondered what Comet would make of the outspoken little girl.

  The magic pony’s eyes softened as he leaned down and snuffled Fliss’s outstretched palm. ‘Hello, Fliss. Pleased to meet you,’ he neighed softly, but of course Fliss heard only normal pony noises. He then gently huffed a warm breath into her hair.

  ‘Oh!’ Fliss nearly jumped out of her skin. ‘That so tickles!’ she spluttered with delighted laughter. ‘Why did he do that?’

  ‘It’s his way of being friendly,’ Gina explained. ‘Comet likes you.’

  ‘Really? Cool! I like him too.’ Her thin face brightening, she reached up slowly and tentatively stroked Comet’s nose. ‘Oh, it’s lovely – all warm and soft, like velvet!’

  Gina beamed as Fliss and Comet got to know each other. Fliss was soon confidently patting him and stroking his cheek. The meeting was a success!

  ‘Maybe you’d like to sit on Comet’s back another time?’ she suggested. ‘If that’s OK with you?’ she said, looking at Jane who stood nearby.

  Fliss’s carer nodded. ‘No problem. I’ll help her to get up on to the pony, but then she’ll be fine.’

  Fliss looked excited but apprehensive at the idea. ‘Maybe. I dunno. It’s an awful long way up. I’d have to think about it,’ she said warily.

  Angie strolled over. ‘Well, you seem to be getting along well with Gina and Comet, Felicity. Would you like to meet some of our other ponies?’

  ‘OK. But Comet’s definitely my fave,’ Fliss said, grinning proudly. ‘He’s totally awesome!’

  ‘I couldn’t agree more!’ Gina said, smiling as Fliss, Jane and Angie crossed the yard. ‘See you again soon!’ she called.

  ‘You bet!’ Fliss shouted back, wheeling round to give her a double thumbs up. ‘Bye, Comet. See you next time.’

  Just then, there was a startled cry from one of the helpers.

  Gina saw that a small boy was clinging on tight to Minky’s back as the little black-and-white pony pranced about and pulled against its tether.

  Angie was trying to calm the agitated pony. ‘Minky! Stand!’ she said firmly. ‘What’s got into you?’

  Gina frowned. Minky had seemed so calm and friendly earlier. What could be wrong? As the pony’s eyes rolled and his hindquarters tightened, she read the tell-tale signs. ‘Oh no!’ she gasped. ‘Minky’s going to buck! That boy will be thrown off!’ Suddenly, she felt a tingling sensation flowing down to the tips of her fingers as big violet sparkles ignited in Comet’s bay coat and tiny rainbow flashes of magical power rippled through h
is chocolate-brown mane and tail.

  Something very strange was about to happen.

  Chapter

  FOUR

  Gina watched in utter amazement as Comet opened his mouth and breathed out a long sparkly breath. A cloud of shimmering multicoloured glitter whooshed across the yard towards Minky. Gina looked around to see if anyone else could see the magical rainbow mist, but it seemed visible only to her.

  The glittering particles whirled around the black-and-white pony for a few seconds, making it look as if Minky stood in the centre of a snow-dome. Then the sparkles faded away into rainbow dust and disappeared, along with every last violet spark.

  The panic left the little pony’s eyes and they grew calm again. Minky stood quietly as Angie and one of the carers helped the boy get down from the pony and back into his wheelchair.

  Gina could see little tremors flickering over the pony’s black-and-white coat and he was twitching his tail in distress. She frowned. ‘There’s still something wrong with him.’

  Comet thought so too. Swivelling his ears, he whickered to Minky. The little pony turned his head. Wrinkling his lips, he nickered back.

  Comet listened closely and then neighed softly to Gina. ‘Minky has told me that something is digging into his back and hurting him.’

  ‘Oh, the poor thing. No wonder he was playing up,’ Gina said.

  She hurried straight over to Angie who looked very embarrassed. ‘Oh dear. I’m so sorry you’ve had a scare, Tommy,’ she apologized to the boy. ‘Minky’s usually so steady and reliable. I don’t know what got into him today.’

  Tommy grinned up at her, his face flushed. ‘I’m OK! It was almost like being in a rodeo!’ he said, looking none the worse for his fright.

  ‘I’m afraid that’s not the point, though, Tommy,’ said the carer, a tall young man named Bill. ‘How do we know that this won’t happen again?’

  ‘Well –’ Angie began.

  ‘Excuse me, but I’ve got an idea about what happened,’ Gina interrupted politely. ‘Do you mind if I look at Minky’s saddle?’

  Angie raised her eyebrows in surprise. ‘Go ahead,’ she said, looking puzzled.

  Gina loosened the girth and removed Minky’s saddle. She ran her fingers under it, where they immediately snagged on a small prickly seedhead. ‘Just as I thought!’ She extracted the burr and showed it to Angie. ‘This was digging into Minky’s back!’

  ‘So that’s why he shied!’ Angie patted Minky’s cheek. ‘Poor boy. You were trying to tell us you were in pain.’ She looked at Gina. ‘Thanks, love. It was clever of you to work that out,’ she praised warmly.

  Gina smiled. ‘It wasn’t that hard,’ she said modestly.

  She wished she could tell Angie that it was Comet who deserved all the credit, but she would never reveal his secret.

  With the mystery solved, Gina left Angie smoothing things over with Tommy and the carer. She patted Comet and stroked his thick mane. ‘Well done, Comet,’ she whispered, looking at him adoringly. ‘You were brilliant!’

  The magic pony twitched his tail. ‘I am glad that I could help.’

  Gina felt a rush of affection for her magical friend. She decided that he deserved a treat. ‘I’ll be right back!’ she told him, dashing off towards the stable kitchen in search of an especially juicy, crunchy apple.

  ‘So you enjoyed your first visit to Horseland?’ Mrs Carey asked later as they drove home.

  ‘It was totally brilliant. The rescued ponies are lovely,’ Gina enthused. ‘It’s hard to believe that some of them were once neglected. The ones I met all look in great condition. Minky, the little black-and-white pony, is really cute. And there’s Dancer, she’s a roan-coloured Welsh pony. And Porter is stunning. He’s an ex-showjumper. And then there’s Comet, the bay Dartmoor pony. He’s absolutely gorgeous, the best of all! And –’

  ‘Whoa! Slow down a bit,’ her mum said, laughing. ‘I can’t keep up!’

  Gina grinned. ‘Sorry. I got a bit carried away. It’s a fantastic place. Can I go over there again tomorrow? Angie says I’m welcome any time.’

  ‘Course you can. Angie was very impressed with you. She told me what happened with Minky. You helped her with what could have been a very difficult situation. Well done, love. I’m very proud of you.’

  Gina blushed. ‘Oh, it wasn’t much.’

  ‘Well, I’m very impressed,’ her mum said firmly. ‘And I can see that you’ve totally fallen in love with that bay. What’s his name again?’

  ‘Comet,’ Gina said. ‘He’s pretty special.’

  ‘He certainly seems to have worked some kind of magic on you.’

  ‘What… what do you mean?’ Gina asked nervously. Had her mum heard her talking to the magic pony? Please tell me I haven’t given away Comet’s secret, she thought, her heart thumping.

  Mrs Carey smiled. ‘I just meant that you’re like a different girl. You were pretty wound up at lunch. I was surprised that you even agreed to come to Horseland.’

  Gina breathed a sigh of relief. ‘I’m glad I did, or I wouldn’t have met Comet. I love him to bits. And so does Fliss. She’s a little girl I met today. Angie let me introduce her to Comet,’ she said proudly. ‘Fliss was quite nervous at first, but then she calmed down. I reckon I might get her to try riding Comet.’

  ‘Well, that would be lovely – quite something,’ her mum said. ‘Oh no, wait a minute. I’ve just remembered. I have to take the car to the garage tomorrow morning, so I can’t give you a lift.’

  ‘That’s OK. I can cycle over,’ Gina said at once.

  Her mum’s eyes widened in shock. ‘Since when did you offer to cycle anywhere? You really are keen to be around those rescued ponies, aren’t you? I don’t blame you. It’s a great feeling when you see the poor things beginning to get their confidence back and learning to trust people again.’

  Gina nodded. She couldn’t agree more. ‘If only I could get my confidence back to start riding again,’ she murmured wistfully, thinking of helping Comet look for Destiny.

  Her mum gave her a knowing grin. ‘Trust me, love. Someone as pony-mad as you won’t be able to resist getting back into the saddle for very much longer!’

  Gina smiled and her spirits lifted a little as she hoped her mum was right.

  Chapter

  FIVE

  Gina woke up the next morning to find the sun shining through her bedroom curtains. Birdsong twittered from the nearby trees, but it was so early that she couldn’t hear any cars going past on the road outside.

  She was longing to see Comet again, if only to prove that yesterday hadn’t been just an incredible dream. Throwing back the duvet, she shot out of bed and threw on her shorts and T-shirt. After a hurried gulp of fruit juice in the kitchen, she left a note for her mum and dad to tell them where she’d gone, grabbed her bike and set out for Horseland.

  It had been ages since Gina had ridden her bike and she was puffing hard by the time she reached the top of the hill above the old farm. She rested her aching leg muscles when she coasted down the slope on the other side and then turned into Horseland’s entrance.

  Morning mist still covered the grass in the empty paddock and Gina guessed that all the ponies were still shut up safely in the stable. There was no sign of Angie or any of her staff, so opening the door she slipped inside.

  Comet was looking over his stall and spotted her immediately. He gave a neigh of welcome. ‘Greetings, Gina!’

  ‘Hi, Comet!’ Gina threw her arms round the magic pony’s silky neck and pressed her cheek against his warm skin. ‘I missed you, so I cycled over here the moment I got up.’

  ‘Thank you for coming here this early,’ Comet snorted. There was a little flurry of sparks and the door of his stall opened. He stepped out to stand beside her. ‘Now we have time to go out looking for Destiny. Please climb on to my back.’

  Gina froze and her mouth dried. Maybe if she just climbed straight up on to Comet’s back, she’d feel OK.

  But her legs trembled as she
stepped on to the mounting block. I have to do this, she told herself. With a super-human effort, she forced herself to swing her right leg up and over. Closing her eyes and fighting a wave of panic, she took a firm hold of his mane.

  ‘R-ready,’ she murmured shakily.

  Comet didn’t move. His ears flattened and he turned to look at her. ‘Is something wrong, Gina? You do not seem happy to ride me.’

  Gina swallowed and tears burned her eyes. ‘I do want to, more than anything! But… I… j-just can’t. Not yet!’ She scrambled off his back on to the mounting block. Once on the ground, she stood with her head down and her arms hanging by her sides. ‘I’m so sorry, Comet. I’ve let you down! I wouldn’t blame you if you hated me! You should find someone else to help you, someone who isn’t useless!’ she burst out.

  She whirled and ran into the stable yard. Tears of humiliation blinded her. She had failed Comet. There was no way she could keep her promise to help him find Destiny.

  Suddenly, Comet was walking beside her, his shining hooves making no sound on the ground.

  ‘Please stop, Gina,’ he neighed softly, turning to look at her with kind eyes. ‘You must tell me everything.’

  Gina nodded wretchedly. She took a deep breath and told her magical friend everything. ‘I… I had a bad accident a few months ago. I was in a field, riding my pony, River, when a car backfired nearby and scared her. River reared up and I fell off and broke my arm. She bolted and caught her foot in a rabbit hole and hurt herself really badly. River almost had to be –’ Gina stopped for a moment, unable to say the awful words. ‘But she got well enough to go and live in an animal park. I lost my lovely pony. And I’ve been really scared to ride since then.’

  Comet nodded slowly and his mane fell forward. ‘That was a horrible thing to happen. It is very sad to lose a dear friend. On Rainbow Mist Island we have a saying: “No one is ever far away when they are in our memories.”’