The Lonely Pony

by Sarah Hawkins

  “You look like you’re having a good time!” a voice said from the queue.

  Mia looked up and saw her godmother standing in line, wearing long shorts and a pink top, her hair styled in her usual neat white-blonde bob. “Sandra!” Mia grinned. “What are you doing here?”

  “I wouldn’t miss a pony event with my favourite goddaughter!” Sandra joked.

  “I’m you’re only goddaughter!” said Mia, smiling.

  Mum came over to meet Sandra. “Let’s have a break, shall we?” she asked. “Milo and Patch could do with a rest – and you girls look like you could too! Why don’t you go and see Polly?”

  “Oh yes!” Jasmine squealed. “We didn’t get time earlier.”

  “I can’t wait to meet the famous Polly.” Sandra smiled.

  “Why don’t you go now,” Mum told Mia. “I’ll sort out the donkeys.”

  “Thanks, Mum! Come on,” Mia said excitedly, pulling her godmother along.

  Polly was standing at the other side of the paddock with Star, under the shade of the trees, but the second she heard Mia’s voice she came cantering over.

  “She knows you!” Jasmine exclaimed. “Brandy never does that for me.”

  Polly put her head over the fence and leaned down so Mia could kiss her on her nose. “Good girl!” Mia chatted to her as she gave her a stroke. “Isn’t she the best horse ever?” she asked Sandra. “I know she’s still a bit skinny, but she’s getting better and better. She and Honey and Star have become really good friends, and she doesn’t even get too scared when strangers go near her now. She loves it when I groom her mane, and her favourite spot to be stroked is right here.” She stroked the spot by Polly’s ears and Polly whickered happily. “See!” Mia laughed.

  Sandra had a thoughtful look on her face as she stroked Polly. “You really love her, don’t you?” she asked.

  “Of course!” said Mia. “I mean, I love all horses, but Polly … Polly is special.” Polly huffed and whickered as if she was agreeing.

  “Well, you certainly make a good pair,” Sandra said.

  Suddenly Lindsay’s voice crackled noisily through the centre loudspeaker. “Could Jasmine Parker come to the guess-the-weight-of-the-horse stand and claim her prize.”

  “I won!” cried Jasmine in surprise.

  Mia grinned at her friend. “We’ve got to go, Polly, but I’ll be back to put you to bed.” Polly huffed and Mia gave her another kiss on the nose. “Go and play with Honey and Star,” she grinned.

  As Jasmine hurried them back over to the fete, Mia saw her godmother glancing back at Polly thoughtfully. But before she could ask Sandra what was wrong, Jasmine tugged on her hand.

  “Come ON!” she yelled. Mia smiled and dashed after her excited best friend.

  Mia scratched her thick grey tights. It was so weird being in her school uniform again, instead of in her old jodhpurs. The summer had gone so quickly that it felt like a dream. Now she was in Year Six, in Miss Pounds’ class, and she knew it was going to be hard work. She peered out of the window and wondered what Mum was doing with Polly. Mia couldn’t wait to be a grown-up so that she could work with horses all day, too!

  As if she’d read her thoughts, Jasmine leaned over and passed her a note. How’s Polly? it read.

  “She’s good!” Mia whispered. “She’s put loads of weight on – she’s almost the same size as the other horses her age.” Mia rummaged in her school bag and pulled out her mobile to find the latest picture of Polly.

  “Mia Bennett.” A voice boomed above her, making her jump. Miss Pounds held out her hand and Mia reluctantly put the phone in it.

  “She was just telling me about Polly.” Jasmine stood up for her. “She’s Mia’s horse. She was really sick until the RSPCA rescued her.”

  “That’s very nice,” Miss Pounds said in a voice that made it clear she didn’t think it was nice at all. “But since she hasn’t got anything to do with English, can you save looking at her until break time please? If you two can’t behave when you sit next to each other, I’ll have to split you up.”

  “But, Miss—” Mia started.

  “That’s enough,” said Miss Pounds in a serious voice.

  Mia stopped talking – she didn’t want to be moved away from her best friend. Jasmine shot her a sorry look.

  As Jasmine started writing in her exercise book, Mia realized that she had been so busy thinking about Polly, that she didn’t even know what the class were doing!

  “What are we supposed to do?” she mouthed at Jasmine. Jasmine rolled her eyes and pointed her pencil at the board. On it Miss Pounds had written: “A dream come true.”

  “Write,” Jasmine mimed, pretending to scribble on her exercise book. “One page.” A cough from the front made Mia jump, and she put her head down and started writing.

  A Dream Come True

  I’ve only got one dream, but it will never come true. My dream is that I get to keep Polly, but I can’t because looking after a horse is very expensive. Mum says that being able to look after the horses at the equine centre is almost as good as having one of our own, but it’s not, because one day Polly is going to leave and go and live with someone else, and if she was mine I could keep her forever. I like all the horses at the centre, but I love Polly. She’s special. She’s mine.

  A tear ran down Mia’s nose and dropped on to the page. She rubbed her eyes with the sleeve of her jumper. Next to her she could see Jasmine making a worried face at her.

  Luckily the bell went and Mia grabbed her bag and rushed outside into the playground.

  “What’s wrong?” Jasmine asked, giving her a big hug. “Don’t worry about Miss Pounds, she’s just a meanie.”

  “It’s not that,” Mia sniffed. “It’s Polly. You said she was mine, but she’s not really. I want her to get better, but as soon as she does she’s going to find another family to live with. And I’ll never see her again!”

  “And then Jasmine threw her jelly at Josh!” Mia laughed as she swung on the fence.

  Polly gave a whicker like she was laughing, too.

  Mia reached up to stroke her velvety nose, and Polly nuzzled into her shoulder. Mia had got into a routine of coming to see Polly every day after school. Jasmine’s mum dropped her off at the centre and Mum usually had a few things to finish off, so Mia got some free time to spend with Polly before she had to go home for dinner and to do her homework. She always came straight over to the paddock Polly shared with Honey and Star, and told Polly all about her day. Polly listened as if she understood every word.

  “There you are! As if you’d be anywhere else,” Mum said coming over, a lead rope and halter hanging from her shoulder.

  “Hi Mum!” Mia called. “Is it time to go already?”

  Mum laughed. “Actually, I thought we’d stay a bit late tonight and maybe grab a takeaway on the way home. Do you want to help me exercise Polly? She’s healthy enough to do some lunging now. I could have done it earlier on today, but I thought you might like to watch…”

  “Oh, yes please!” Mia jumped down from the fence.

  “I thought you might say that,” said Mum smiling.

  Mia grinned – extra time with Polly and fish and chips too! “What do we have to do?”

  “OK, I need you to hold this,” Mum said, putting a carrot in a bucket and handing it to Mia. Mum took the head collar off her shoulders. Polly stepped back as she caught sight of it, and gave a wary whicker.

  “Come on, Polly, remember that you get a carrot once this is on,” Mum called.

  “Mmm, a lovely carrot,” Mia agreed, shaking the bucket.

  Polly whickered again and her dark eyes sparkled. She put her head over the fence and stretched out for it impatiently.

  “Here you go!” Mia held out the bucket and Polly happily put her head in, bumping her nose into the bucket to try and get it. It was so different from when she first arrived and was too nervous to even eat her hay.

  Mum quickly slid the head collar over Polly’s nose, then buckled i
t behind her ears before clipping on the lead rope.

  “Hurry, Mum!” Mia giggled helplessly as Polly pulled her head out of the bucket, chewing happily. “She’s eaten it all!”

  “OK, I’m done,” Mum said, giving Polly a pat on her neck. “There you go, that wasn’t too bad, was it?”

  Polly crunched down the rest of the carrot and then shook her head. Mia laughed. It was like Polly was replying to Mum’s question!

  “I don’t think Polly is a completely green horse,” Mum said, putting gloves on so that the lead rope wouldn’t burn her hands if Polly pulled away suddenly.

  “She’s not green at all – she’s brown and white,” Mia joked. She knew that a “green” horse was one that hadn’t had any training before.

  Mia perched on the paddock fence and watched as Mum unclipped the lead rein and attached another longer line to the head collar. She’d never watched Mum work with the ponies like this, and she was paying close attention. After all, if she wanted to be an RSPCA groom like Mum, she needed to know it all. I’m learning just like Polly! she thought to herself.

  “Walk on,” Mum said to Polly, clicking her tongue. Mum started leading Polly around the paddock, gradually letting the rope out until Polly was at a lunging distance. She stood still in the middle, with Polly walking in a big circle around her.

  “Let’s show Mia what we learned yesterday, hey Polly?” Mum asked. As Polly walked around, Mum lifted up the lunge rein and said “whoa!” loudly.

  Polly hesitated, her ears flicking interestedly, then stopped.

  “Good girl!” Mum praised her.

  “Well done, Polly!” Mia called.

  “Now, walk on!” Mum commanded. Polly took a step forward, then glanced at Mia warily, her tail swishing from side to side.

  “Go on, Polly!” Mia cheered.

  Mum walked her round a few more times, first in one direction and then in the other. Polly walked, stopped, and turned perfectly.

  “Good job, Polly,” Mum said finally. She unclipped the lunge rein and reattached the lead rope, then tied Polly up to a loop on the fence.

  “At this rate, she’ll be ready for a new home in no time,” Mum said cheerfully. Mia rested her face against Polly’s neck and sighed. She wanted Polly to get better, but she couldn’t bear the thought of her leaving…

  Mia held her breath as Mum put her foot in the stirrup.

  “Easy, girl,” Mum soothed. With one smooth movement, Mum swung her leg over Polly’s side and sat down on the saddle.

  Polly shifted back a bit, her ears low, but she didn’t seem too upset by the funny weight on her back. She trusted Mia and Mum so much now, and she knew they’d never do anything to hurt her. Mia stroked her nose and offered her a bit of carrot from the bucket, trying to seem calm even though her heart was racing. Polly was doing so well!

  Mia knew that over the last few weeks Mum had got Polly used to the saddle, and had even been out on a few short rides, but it was amazing to see it for herself. The horse in front of her looked so different from the one that had come to the RSPCA equine centre all those months ago. Her coat was thick and she was sleek and healthy – she even had a little tummy!

  Now that Polly’s weight was back to normal, Mum had been doing more and more work with Polly. This weekend she had suggested a special treat: that she and Mia take Polly and one of the other ponies on a hack along the bridle path next to the centre.

  Just then, Star, the pony Mia was going to ride, whinnied as if to say, “Don’t forget about me!”

  “Don’t worry, Star, there’s a carrot for you, too.” Mia turned to where the little spotty Appaloosa horse was hitched up to the gate, and gave her a piece of carrot. Star had been at the centre for almost a year now, and was ready to be adopted. Mum and the other grooms were already looking for her perfect family. Star was so patient and kind-hearted that Mia was sure she’d find a home soon.

  “Right,” Mum said. “Let’s get going!”

  Mia untied Star, checked her stirrups and girth, then carefully climbed up on to her back. “Good girl,” she said, patting her on her neck. Mia had ridden Star lots of times before, but she still felt a tiny bit nervous as she looked over at Mum and Polly.

  She wished that she could be riding Polly herself, but she knew that Polly was still learning. Horses had to learn how to be ridden just like people had to learn how to ride. When they were first taken out they could spook at loud noises and traffic whizzing past them, as well as other animals in nearby fields – even a flapping sheet on a washing line or a plane flying overhead could scare them. Today, though, it should be safe because they were only going down the bridleway.

  “Ready?” Mum asked.

  Mia nodded. Mum clicked her tongue and squeezed her legs to make Polly go. Polly moved over to the gate, but when Mum tried to get her to turn on to the path, the skewbald horse wouldn’t go. “Come on, Polly,” Mum said, holding the reins softly, but Polly still pulled against her, turning her head back to look at Mia, sitting on Star.

  “Mia’s coming, too!” Mum laughed. “Look, she doesn’t want to go without you. You go first, Mia.”

  Even though Polly was being naughty, Mia couldn’t help feeling pleased. All the grooms had commented on the fact that Polly loved Mia best, and it made her feel so special.

  She clicked her tongue to make Star walk out of the gate, and this time Polly followed happily, walking smoothly.

  Mum and Mia rode their horses side by side down the bridleway, the horses’ breath coming out in clouds and wintery sunshine filtering through the golden and red autumn leaves. Riding down the country track, feeling Star gently rocking her as she strode along and seeing Polly next to her, Mia felt happier than she could ever remember.

  They moved into a slow trot, and for a while there was just the sound of the horses’ hooves and the birds singing in the trees.

  “Shall we stop for a bit?” Mum said as they came to a stream. Mum slid off Polly’s back and helped Mia down. Mia gave Star a thank-you pat, then loosened her reins so she could bend down to the water to drink.

  “Do you want to sit on Polly?” Mum asked.

  Mia caught her breath as butterflies danced in her tummy. She wanted to ride Polly more than anything, but she felt nervous too. What if Polly didn’t like it? It had taken her so long to trust people, what if Mia messed it up?

  Mum smiled as if she could read Mia’s thoughts. “Don’t worry. She’s been doing so well, and the two of you have a real connection. It’ll be fine.”

  “OK,” Mia gulped.

  Polly looked completely relaxed, her tail swishing gently from side to side. She huffed happily as she bent down to nibble some long green grass from the side of the stream.

  Mum took Star’s reins and gave Polly’s to Mia. Mia slowly walked closer, murmuring to Polly as she stroked her neck. Then, taking the reins, she put one hand on the saddle and placed her left foot in the stirrup before carefully swinging herself up.

  Polly gave a surprised huff, and swung her head round to look at Mia, as if she was thinking what are you doing there?

  Mia leaned forward and smoothed Polly’s mane calmly, but inside she wanted to scream and shout. I’m sitting on Polly! she thought delightedly.

  Mum nodded approvingly. “Good work, Mia!” she said. “Now, why don’t you try a little walk—” Mum was interrupted by the rev of an engine as a car went past nearby. Both horses jerked their heads up, their ears pricked forwards.

  Star went back to drinking the water, but Polly’s eyes rolled and she gave an anxious squeal as she started to panic. Desperately, Mia reached forward and tried to soothe her with her voice and her hands. “It’s OK,” she murmured. “It’s just a noise. It’s far away, it can’t hurt you. I promise you’re safe, Polly.”

  “Well done, keep talking,” Mum said softly.

  Mia stroked Polly’s neck as the pony slowly settled down. Her breathing got steadier, and she stopped pawing the ground. She was still looking round worriedly,
but she didn’t look like she was going to bolt away.

  Mum came over and helped Mia down. Mia’s knees were all wobbly as she stood next to Polly. Even though she’d done lots of riding, nothing like that had happened before. She’d thought Polly was going to run away with her clinging on to her back! Worst of all, she hated the thought of Polly being scared.

  “You were brilliant, Mia,” Mum said, giving her a quick hug. “Even experienced horses would have spooked – but you helped her stay calm.”

  “We helped each other!” Mia said with a smile, as Polly whickered in agreement.

  “I’ve made your favourite for dinner tonight,” Mum said as she and Mia walked in the front door. “I thought we could eat it on our laps in front of the TV for a treat. We can snuggle up on the sofa and watch a film.”

  “Great!” Mia said, dropping her school bag and racing up the stairs to get changed. Marmalade was curled up in the middle of her bed like a big furry hot-water bottle. When he saw her he gave a happy miaow and flipped over on to his back so that Mia could rub his tummy.

  “Hi, Marmalade.” Mia perched on her bed to rub his furry belly. He squirmed and started a deep rumbling purr.

  “Come on, Mia!” Mum called from downstairs. Mia jumped out of her clothes and got straight into her pyjamas. They had a pattern of blue, purple and red ponies galloping all over them and they were fleecy and warm. “Mum said I should be cosy,” she giggled as Marmalade gave her a curious look. “Come and cuddle up with us,” she said, picking Marmalade up and cradling him like a baby. He snuggled into her arms happily as she took him downstairs. Mum had got everything ready, but instead of sitting cosily on the sofa, she was standing in front of the fireplace.

  “Ha! I’ve got the best spot!” Mia crowed, sitting down and pulling the blanket over her legs. Marmalade padded around, then settled in a ball on her lap.

  Mia expected Mum to laugh and barge over next to her and start a tickling fight. But instead Mum turned to her with a really serious expression on her face.

  “What’s wrong?” Mia asked. “Mum?”

  Mum sat down on the edge of the sofa and started stroking Marmalade’s fur. Then she took a deep breath and looked at Mia. “Sweetheart, you know Polly’s been doing really well?”