“Is she OK?” Mia asked, a bolt of cold fear shooting through her.
“Yes, yes she’s fine,” Mum reassured her. “In fact, she’s so good that we’re going to start looking for a home for her.”
Mia gasped. It had been so long since she’d thought about Polly leaving. She’d just tried to pretend it wouldn’t happen. She stared down at Marmalade, running her fingers through his fur. Her tummy felt like it was tied up in knots inside.
“Oh, sweetie.” Mum put her arm around her and pulled her in close. “You know how expensive it is to keep a horse,” she said gently. “We just can’t afford it. But the RSPCA are going to find the perfect home for her – I’m going to make sure of it. We’ve already got a list of people and we’ll meet them all and make sure that Polly gets matched with someone that will really love her. Isn’t it nice that she’s healthy enough to go to a family of her own?”
Mia nodded, but she couldn’t help a salty tear rolling down her face and dripping off her nose. Polly already had someone who really loved her.
As tears started to patter down on to his fur like raindrops, Marmalade turned around and gave her a confused look. He sat up, stretched, and rubbed his head against Mia’s chin, like he was drying her tears. “Oh Marmalade,” Mia sobbed, burying her face in his fur. “What am I going to do?”
She couldn’t bear the thought of Polly being taken far away – she’d never see her again!
“It’ll be OK,” Mum promised. “Come on, let’s try and have a nice girly evening. You can choose the film.”
But all Mia could think about was Polly. She leaped up so fast that Marmalade jumped off her lap with a surprised miaow.
“Mia—” Mum called out, but Mia didn’t stop. She raced upstairs to her bedroom and flung herself on her bed.
All around her bedroom, where there used to be pictures of horses she’d cut out of magazines, now there were photos of Polly. Mia pulled the closest one off the wall and stroked her fingers over Polly’s light mane. This one was from a couple of months ago, on Mia’s birthday. She’d asked for a carrot cake especially so that she could make a similar one for Polly out of carrots and chaff. In the photo, Mia was holding up her cake and Polly was next to her, nibbling hers out of her feed bucket.
Mia knew that it was a good thing that Polly was so much better. She just wished that she could keep her.
Sniffing, Mia dried her eyes on her pyjama sleeve. Suddenly she had an idea. Even if she couldn’t keep Polly, she could show her how much she loved her… She jumped up and grabbed her piggy bank off her desk, then started shaking it out on to the floor. She’d saved every bit of her pocket money she’d ever got. She knew it wasn’t anywhere near enough for her own horse, but there was enough to do something special – buy Polly a present.
She ran downstairs to find one of Mum’s horse magazines. She’d seen the perfect thing. Mia flicked through the pages until she found what she was looking for. It was a set of purple heart-shaped brushes for grooming, all in a lovely glittery purple kit box. Polly’s new owner might not know how much she enjoyed having her mane brushed. And there was a matching head collar and lead rein, too. It was the same purple colour as Mia’s bedroom.
“Mum, can I get these for Polly?” she asked breathlessly, rushing into the kitchen.
Mum looked at the page. “All of this? But that’s nearly seventy pounds!” she said. “Have you saved all this from your pocket money?”
Mia nodded. “My pocket money and the birthday and Christmas money Grandma sends me. I was saving up so I can get a horse one day, but I want to get something for Polly now,” she said. “And … and she needs to look nice so that the best people will adopt her.”
“Oh Mia!” Mum opened up her arms to give her a hug. Mia fell into her mum’s arms and sobbed.
“Thanks, Zoe!” Mia called as they reached the centre. “You can drop me here.”
“Are you sure?” Jasmine’s mum looked at the rain lashing down. The windscreen wipers were going back and forth with a squeaky whooshing sound, but they still weren’t going fast enough to keep the window clear.
“It’s OK. I’m just meeting Mum at the gate,” Mia told her. “I’ve got an umbrella.”
Jasmine’s mum looked at her watch. “OK,” she said hesitantly. “I hate to leave you in this weather, but I’ve got to take Josh to rugby practice, and if I don’t leave now we’ll be late.”
“It’s fine, honestly,” Mia said cheerfully. “Thanks for the lift.”
“You’re welcome, love. Say hi to your mum for me,” Zoe replied.
“And say hi to Polly from me.” Jasmine reached over and gave her a sympathetic hug. She knew all about Polly getting rehomed, and she knew how upset Mia was. She’d tried to cheer her up by talking about all the new horses that would be coming to the rescue centre, and the lovely life Polly was going to have. Mia was determined to try and think about all the good things – that Polly was happy and healthy now, and she’d have a home where she’d be loved. That was the most important thing.
Mia opened the car door and jumped out. The rain was pattering down in fat drops, but she was nice and dry under her umbrella. She got out her phone and looked again at the text message Mum had sent her at break time.
Meet me at the front gates. Don’t go into the centre. I want to leave as soon as I finish work. Love you lots, Mum x
There was still ten minutes before Mum finished her shift. Just enough time to see Polly and give her a quick nose rub, Mia thought.
Mia slung her school bag over her shoulder and opened the gate, squelching through the mud towards the yard. There was a light on in the little shop, but there was no one in the rainy yard. Mia rushed through, avoiding the puddles and trying not to get her school shoes too muddy.
As she went past each stable a friendly horse looked out to greet her, looking surprised that she was walking around in the rain. Most of them were already back in their stalls for the night, and the ones who lived in the fields were sheltering under the trees at the other end of their field. They were native ponies with thick coats, and Mia knew that the rain didn’t bother them.
Mia walked over to Polly’s stall. The rest of her friends were in their stalls, too, munching happily on hay. Honey whickered as she came nearer. “Shh, I’m not meant to be here,” Mia laughed, reaching up to give her a quick pat. “I’ve snuck in to visit Polly – don’t tell Mum!” Honey huffed quietly as if she understood, then went back to eating her dinner.
Mia squelched on to Polly’s stall. “Hi, Polly!” she whispered, then stopped, a horrible feeling spreading from her head to her toes. “Polly?” she whispered. But Polly’s stall was completely empty, cleaned out ready for the next horse. Polly had gone.
Mia walked back to the gate in a daze. She couldn’t believe Polly had already gone. Usually it took a while for the RSPCA to find each horse just the right home. The new owners had to have lots of checks and be visited by an RSPCA officer before they were allowed to come to the centre and meet the horses. Even after they’d taken the perfect pony home, an RSPCA inspector went to do a home visit before it was officially theirs. Mum had only been looking for an owner for Polly for a few weeks … and she was already gone.
Mia had been back at the gate for a few minutes when Mum appeared. “Ah, there you are!” she said brightly. “Are you ready to go? We’re going for dinner at Sandra and Neil’s house.”
Mia nodded numbly. Mum was probably going to tell her about Polly over dinner. That was why she’d wanted her to wait at the gate. She and Sandra and Neil were probably going to be really kind and nice, but there was nothing they could say that could make things better. Polly was gone, and she hadn’t even been able to say goodbye.
Mum sang along with the radio as they drove the short distance to Sandra and Neil’s house. Mia just stared out of the window at the rain pelting down. The inside of the car got all steamy. “What mis-er-able weather!” Mum said cheerfully. “Still, it’ll be lovely and cosy at Sandra�
��s.”
Mia shrugged miserably. She started tracing Polly’s name in the mist on the window, then stopped as tears prickled her eyes.
“Here we are,” Mum said as they pulled into the driveway. “Oh and look, Sandra and Neil have come out to meet us.” Sandra and Neil were standing at the front of the house, under huge umbrellas. Neil was grinning widely as he came over to meet them at the car door.
“Your umbrella, m’ladies,” he joked, holding it over them as they got out.
The adults grinned at each other, but Mia was silent as she trudged through the rain towards the house.
“Aren’t you going to say hello to Gypsy and Midnight, Mia?” Sandra asked. “You normally go straight over there.”
Mia turned to the stable block, then stared in amazement. She could barely believe her eyes. There weren’t two horses peering out, but three. Next to Gypsy and Midnight, there was a familiar white and brown pony. Polly!
“What?” Mia looked from the horse to Sandra. It was Polly, with her light mane, twinkly chocolate-brown eyes and the white blaze on her velvety nose. But what was she doing here?
“Well, Midnight’s getting old, and Gypsy needed a companion…” Sandra started to explain. “We were thinking about getting a new horse, and when I saw you with Polly…”
“But why is she here?” Mia stuttered.
“We’re the ones who have adopted her!” Sandra grinned. Mia couldn’t speak as she looked from the horse to her godmother in confusion. It was too amazing to be true.
“It was so obvious that you and Polly have a special connection, darling. When I saw her with you, well, she’s pure love,” Sandra said.
The rest of what she was going to say was smothered as Mia flung herself into her godmother’s arms.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” she sobbed. “I went to see her today and I saw her empty stall. I thought she’d been rehomed and I hadn’t got to say goodbye.”
“Oh Mia!” Mum protested. “That’s why I didn’t want you to go inside. You didn’t have to worry.”
“You never have to say goodbye now,” Sandra said, kissing the top of her head. “She’s here to stay, and you can see her whenever you want.”
“I kept wishing and wishing that I could keep her somehow,” Mia sniffled. “I can’t believe my wish came true!” Mum came and put her arms around Sandra as well.
“What about me?” Neil jokingly complained.
“Join in!” Mum grinned, opening up her arms. They had a big group hug, and then there was a whinny from the stables.
“Polly!” Mia gasped. “Does she know she’s staying?”
“She was a bit confused when we put her in the stable,” Mum said. “You’d better go and tell her.”
Mia wriggled out of the hug and raced over to the horses. The rain poured down on her but Mia didn’t care. She’d never felt so happy in her whole, entire life!
Polly gave a soft whinny as Mia ran over to her.
“You’re staying here!” Mia told her. “You’re staying with me!”
Polly put her head down and Mia looked into her big gorgeous eyes. She knew Polly understood every word she said.
“You’re going to live here and I can see you every day! Well, when Neil and Sandra say it’s OK.”
The adults walked up behind her. Mum and Sandra had their arms around each other, and they were all grinning.
“You can come round as much as you like,” Neil smiled. “We got her for you. And we can always use a stable hand.”
Polly nudged Mia with her nose, and Mia turned to wrap her arms around the beautiful pony’s neck. Polly gave a great huff of contentment. From the next stable, Gypsy poked her head out and gave an answering whinny.
“We introduced them when Polly arrived,” Sandra told Mia, “and they got on brilliantly. It looks like they’re going to be great friends.”
Polly turned back to Mia and put her head down, nuzzling into her shoulder lovingly. She huffed gently, like a happy, contented pony.
“She knows,” Mia said, looking at Polly’s deep chocolate-brown eyes. “She knows she’s come home.”
“And the next contestant is … Mia and her skewbald pony, Polly!” The voice over the tannoy boomed across the sunny field. Mia felt her heart jump with joy. She leaned over and stroked Polly’s neck and Polly gave an excited neigh. They’d been practising this for so long, and Mia knew Polly was excited and ready to go. Her mane and tail were plaited and tied with the same purple ribbons that Mia had threaded through her own hair.
Mia glanced over to where the audience were watching. Everyone was there – Mum, Sandra, Neil and Shadow. Jasmine was jumping up and down excitedly and her mum waved as she held Archie on his lead. Lindsay and Amanda were there, too, in their RSPCA uniforms. They were giving a talk about the charity, but they’d all stopped to come and cheer Mia and Polly on. Polly was one of their success stories – a happy, healthy pony who, thanks to the work of the RSPCA, had a loving home and a brilliant new life.
“Go!” the tannoy announced. With a click of her tongue and a press of her knees, Mia urged Polly forward. Polly trotted out into the performance area, moving smoothly beneath her. Mia was completely focused on her horse, holding her breath as Polly did everything she asked her to.
They’d done the routine so many times that Mia could do it in her sleep. First they had to slalom in and out of some barrels, then cross the field diagonally before coming back and walking over some poles. Then it was another turn, back around the barrels, and they were done.
“Good girl,” Mia muttered as Polly trotted past the first barrel confidently. She touched Polly’s flank with her right heel and Polly smoothly turned to the right round the next one.
Mia gently pulled the reins to turn left, but Polly was overexcited and she kept going, shooting past the next barrel.
“Doesn’t matter, keep going,” Mia soothed, but Polly didn’t seem worried at all. In fact, she was having a brilliant time!
“An almost perfect display there from Mia and her skewbald pony, Polly!” the announcer said as they finished. Mia trotted Polly out of the arena, grinning with pride. They’d done it, their very first gymkhana event together, and Polly had been brilliant!
“Well done, Polly,” Mia said happily, stroking her neck. Polly whickered contentedly – and turned back towards the field as if she wanted to go round again!
“Come on, Polly, let’s go see everyone,” Mia urged. Their friends and family crowded round as Mia jumped out of the saddle and slid to the floor, straight into her mum’s arms.
“You were fantastic!” Mum grinned, kissing the top of her head. “And you too, Polly, of course,” she added, catching the reins and planting a kiss on Polly’s nose.
“That was brilliant!” Jasmine squealed. “You’re going to be placed for sure.”
Mia grinned as she took off her riding helmet. “I don’t know. I’m just glad we did it, and Polly enjoyed it.”
“She certainly did,” said Sandra, stroking Polly’s velvety muzzle. “And you handled her brilliantly.”
“Contenders in the under-twelve category, please assemble for the results!” the voice said over the tannoy.
Mum squeezed Mia’s hand, then Mia led Polly back into the field and lined up with the other girls and their horses.
Jasmine held up her crossed fingers as the judges came out clutching a handful of colourful rosettes.
Mia felt her tummy wobble nervously. But then Polly put her head down and nudged her shoulder and Mia felt all her worries disappear. As long as she had Polly, nothing else mattered.
Mia clapped politely as the second and third place ribbons were given out. Finally, it was time to announce the winner.
“First prize…” the judge started. Mia held her breath. She couldn’t have won – she and Polly had made a mistake…
“…to Helen and her bay mare, Mull!”
“Yes!” the girl next to Mia shrieked as she was awarded a huge red ribbon.
“Never mind,” Mia said, stroking Polly’s neck. “It was our first try. We’ll place next time.”
The judge put his hand up and the noise from the crowd calmed down. “There is one more prize for this category,” he said with a smile. “For the best relationship between an animal and their rider. This pair have been through a lot. Not long ago, this pony came to the RSPCA in a terrible state.”
Mia gasped. They were talking about Polly!
“Through their hard work,” the judge continued, “and the love of a particular young lady, Polly is now a beautiful, capable pony, and looks set to be a very good contender one day. The bond between them is so strong, that we felt we had to commend it. This was a very lonely pony, but she’s certainly not any more. We’d like to award this highly commended ribbon … to Mia and her skewbald pony, Polly.”
Everyone around them burst into the biggest round of applause yet. Mia felt like crying as she hugged Polly. The judge handed her a beautiful purple rosette. “Well done,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “Next time, you’ll have a winner’s rosette, mark my words.”
“Thank you,” Mia stuttered as she looked down at the rosette on her jumper. The judge gave her a matching one, which she proudly pinned on Polly’s bridle.
Over in the audience, Mia could hear her family shrieking and see Jasmine and Sandra jumping up and down. But there was only one person she cared about right now. She put her arms round Polly’s neck and gave her a hug. “We’ll put that on your stable door when we get home,” Mia promised. “And we can show Gypsy and Midnight – they’ll be so happy. Next year we’ll compete again…” Mia grinned, “and every year if we want, because we’ll always be together.”
Polly whinnied in agreement.
Their family and friends ran over and surrounded them happily, all talking at once. The judge was right, Mia thought as she hugged her horse. Polly would never be lonely again. And neither would she.
The Real-Life Rescue
Although the characters and animals in Mia’s story are fictional, they are based on a real-life rescue.
The Lonely Pony Page 5