by Kate Lattey
“What?” I rubbed my eyes blearily, still half-asleep. “What’re we discussing?”
“Jonty has offered to walk the ponies out for you,” Mum said. “He said Squib’s looking very fresh in his yard and if you wanted someone to take him out then he’s happy to do it. I think that’d be a good idea,” she decided without waiting for my response. “He can be a bit of a handful, and Katy’s got a big day ahead of her. I don’t want her tiring herself out.”
“What am I, five?” I asked her irritably as I peeled back the layers of bedding and crawled out of the overhang. “But yes, if you really don’t mind, that’d be great,” I told Jonty. Not having to deal with Squib seemed like an excellent deal. “He hasn’t had breakfast yet, but once he’s eaten it’d do him good to go for a walk.”
“He’s had breakfast,” Mum countered, sipping at her tea. “I fed him almost two hours ago.”
“Wait, what time is it?” I asked, suddenly realising how bright the sunlight was.
“Just gone half past nine,” Jonty replied. “Tess wants to get on Misty and give him a workout down the back, so I’ll walk Squib down there with her and let him eat while she rides.”
“Why don’t you just ride Squib?” I offered, ignoring Mum’s attempts to shove her banana in my direction. I was still full from last night, and didn’t like bananas anyway. “He could use a workout too.”
Jonty’s face lit up. “Yeah? Reckon AJ wouldn’t mind?”
“Is AJ here?” I asked, then caught Mum’s expression. “But no of course she won’t mind. I can text her and check, if you want, but seriously. She’ll be fine with it. Susannah rode him yesterday and she said he was good for her.”
“Yeah, I saw her. Well if you think that’d be okay, I’d be up for it. Cheers.”
“No problem. Give me five minutes to get dressed and I’ll come with you. Molly could use some schooling too.”
“Breakfast first,” Mum said as Jonty nodded and jumped out of the truck, shutting the door behind him with a thunk.
“Yeah, yeah,” I replied, resignedly grabbing the half-eaten banana and taking a bite. Anything to get her off my back for a while.
Twenty minutes later, we were tacked up and riding across the show grounds. Susannah had seen us heading out and seemed disappointed to be left behind, but she’d been getting Forbes ready for a class, and Misty and Squib were excited enough without adding another pony to the mix. Molly shot disapproving looks in the grey ponies’ direction as they attempted to out-jig each other, hooves crunching on the dry, brittle grass. Tess kept her reins short and her eyes forward, huffing irritably at Misty from time to time as he propped and spooked, but Jonty was relaxed on Squib’s back, holding his reins loosely in one hand and cracking jokes to make Tess laugh. I hadn’t seen him ride in ages, and had only been going on vague recollections of him beating me in bending races at Pony Club years ago when I’d offered him a ride on Squib, but so far he was proving to be up to the challenge.
We reached an empty space and proceeded to work the ponies. Molly was back to her usual, focused self and schooled nicely, giving me something to smile about at last. After cantering a couple of smooth figure-eights with clean flying changes through the middle, I let her walk on a loose rein and cool out. No point in over-doing it before the Grand Prix.
Tess was also giving Misty a break, patting his solid neck as he stretched his head down towards the grass, then almost tumbling over his head when he stopped abruptly to snatch a cheeky mouthful. Laughing, she gave him a kick in the ribs and shook her head at me in despair.
“He’s got no manners, honestly,” she complained, and I grinned at her. It was nice to see her able to smile about the pony she had hated for so long.
“You’re really getting his number now though,” I pointed out, walking Molly up alongside the chunky grey and letting them stride out next to each other. “Big difference from only a few weeks ago.”
Tess’s smile flickered. “When I was just clinging on for dear life and trying not to bawl my eyes out?” she asked. “Yeah, we’ve improved a bit since then. I still don’t like riding him, though. I’d far rather be sitting on something nice and schooled like your pony, but we’re making it work. And I’ve had lots of help,” she added with a smile, looking across at Jonty, who was still diligently schooling Squib in a large circle around us.
I had to admit that I was surprised by what I saw as I watched him. I’d remembered Jonty as a brave, unorthodox rider, the kind of kid that just went through the motions of the Best Rider classes at gymkhanas while waiting for the bending to start. I’d had no doubt he’d be able to stick on Squib, but I hadn’t expected him to actually school him properly. And yet. The dark grey pony looked focused and alert, his steps expressive and flowing. I hadn’t seen him move that well in ages, and although Jonty’s position was still a little imperfect, rounded over at the shoulders and looking down, he had quiet hands and excellent balance. Squib was enjoying the ride, no question, and when Jonty pressed him into canter and moved up into two-point, he leapt forward with his usual enthusiasm. But Jonty kept it contained, somehow, and after a couple of well-timed half-halts, he rested his knuckles at the base of Squib’s neck and let the pony canter on a soft contact. If I’d tried that, Squib would’ve been halfway home by now, but under Jonty he seemed perfectly content to stay on a circle and keep a steady rhythm.
“Where’d he learn to ride like that?” I asked Tess. “He’s got seriously good.”
“I know,” she said proudly. “And I don’t know. Well, he did a bit of work for the Hobsons a couple of years ago, exercising young horses and stuff, because you know they get a whole heap off the track, school them up and sell them on.” I shrugged, having no idea who the Hobsons even were, and Tess continued. “Well anyway, he rode for them for a bit and said he learned lots there. But it’s still weird, because they’re terrible riders. I mean, they’re pretty rough and heavy-handed.”
“Huh. I think I know who you mean, and you’re right,” I realised. “So you’re telling me it’s all natural talent or something? That’s just sickening.”
Tess laughed. “You’re telling me. I don’t know what it is, but it works. He rides Misty for me a couple times a week, and he’s still working Copper at home.” Her face clouded over a little at the mention of her sister’s horse, and I felt the air thicken around us with unspoken words.
“Copper go well for him too?” Her sister’s highly-strung, sensitive chestnut was a far cry from the likes of Misty and Squib, but Tess nodded.
“Awesome. He loves him. All the horses do.”
“Hmph. Maybe I should let him ride Tori, see if he can’t stay on better than I can.”
Tess looked anxious as Jonty changed the rein, bringing Squib back to a trot for a few strides before moving him back up into a canter in an almost seamless transition. How the hell does he do that? Maybe I should be asking him for lessons, if what he did was anything you could teach. And if my pride would’ve allowed it, which I already knew it wouldn’t.
“I’m sure he’d be willing to try, if you really wanted him to,” Tess offered. “But don’t be too hard on yourself. You weren’t feeling well yesterday. I’m sure you’ll be all good today.”
“Yeah.” I could feel my stomach swirling anxiously at the thought of getting back on Tori. “Well, I’m not feeling that crash hot today either, to be honest. I think maybe I’m getting sick, a virus or something. I dunno. I was thinking I might just scratch Tori, put some more work into her at home before I try competing her again.”
“Fair enough,” Tess agreed. “No need to rush things. You’ve got years ahead of you with her.”
I repressed a shudder at the thought and focused my attention on Jonty, who was riding back over to us with a smile, clapping Squib’s neck.
“Cool pony,” he grinned at me. “I can see why AJ likes him so much, and I bet he’s a blast to jump.”
“If you wanna find out, feel free,” I offered impulsively. �
�He’s got a couple of classes this afternoon you could take him in.”
Jonty looked astonished. “Me?”
“Yeah, why not? You ride him better than anyone else I’ve seen on him,” I said honestly. A flicker of guilt crossed my mind as I remembered turning Susannah’s offer down yesterday, but she had other ponies to ride. Jonty had none, and he’d earned his shot.
“Wow. Thanks,” Jonty replied, still seeming amazed. “But I don’t have the gear.” He motioned towards the faded tee-shirt, jeans and steel-capped boots he was wearing. “And I’m pretty sure Tess’s jodhs won’t fit me,” he added with a lopsided grin.
“Hm. You could ask Connor,” I suggested. “He’ll have spare stuff, I’m sure. Or the Fitzherberts are parked over by the shower block, and they’d let you borrow something from Bradley. It might swim on you a bit,” I admitted, looking at Jonty’s wiry frame and comparing it in my mind’s eye to Bradley’s bulk. “But at least it’d be better than jeans.”
Jonty was looking cautiously excited as he shared a look with Tess, then grinned back at me. “I’m sure I can rustle something up.”
I never did find out exactly where he got the clothes from, but two hours later Jonty turned up appropriately dressed for show jumping.
“How do I look?” he asked when I stepped out of Squib’s yard, holding out his arms and turning in a circle for my benefit. I cast an eye over his outfit and grinned. The blue, short-sleeved shirt had two buttons missing and the buff breeches were at least two sizes too big, and had a large grass stain on the hip.
“Fall over on the way here?” I teased him. “Boots look good, anyway. Got a jacket?”
He held up an olive green jacket with purple lining and waved it in my direction. “Of sorts.”
“Oh my God. Who on earth owns that and why?”
“Hunt colours,” he told me, seriously. “Or so they said. Hey, beggars can’t be choosers. At least I’m out of jeans.”
“I’m not sure it’s an improvement, but anyway,” I grinned. “Squib’s all tacked up and ready to go. Blackboard order, and he’s seventh to jump but they’re just finishing off the horses so you’ll have a chance to walk the course.”
“Sounds good.” Jonty slung the ugly jacket over the yard railing and ducked inside to check Squib’s gear, while I went back to Puppet’s yard and tightened his girth. I was jumping him in this class to settle my nerves before Molly’s Grand Prix later in the day.
“How’s the black beast today?” Jonty asked, and I glanced over the top of Puppet’s saddle at him.
“Fine. He’s always a good boy,” I replied.
“Didn’t mean him,” Jonty clarified. “Your new one.”
“Oh.” I swallowed. “She’s fine.”
He lifted an eyebrow at me, and came around the other side of Squib, leaning on the railing between us. The borrowed shirt gapped open where the buttons were missing, revealing patches of tanned skin.
“She was pacing around like a caged lion this morning, when I went past her box,” Jonty commented. “Looked a bit wound up.”
I tried for levity. “You trying to get an invite to ride her too?” I teased, mentally crossing my fingers that he’d say yes. Rather him than me, that was for sure.
“Nah, she’s all yours,” Jonty replied as he straightened up.
“Sure? Offer’s on the table,” I said, trying not to sound desperate.
“I’m good. Letting me ride Squib’s enough,” he assured me. “You ready to head over to the ring?”
I paused to look behind me as I finished walking the double, seeking out Jonty. He was wearing the green jacket, which was too broad in the shoulders and too long in the sleeves for him, and it looked pretty ridiculous. He seemed unfazed, however, by the looks that a few people were giving him as they walked past in their designer gear. Taking his time striding out the distance, walking it twice to be sure, then catching up to me with a grin.
“That’s gonna ride a little long,” he commented, with a glance over his shoulder at the combination.
“Squib’s got a huge stride, you’ll probably still have to take a hold,” I told him. “And it’s not that long.”
Truth be told, I hadn’t noticed that the distance was particularly long at all when I’d walked it, although I hadn’t been as meticulous about it as Jonty. It was only a metre-ten class, still small enough for ponies to be able to get themselves out of trouble if they managed to get themselves into it.
“Runs a bit uphill though,” he said. “The horses were just jumping the same course in here, so I watched a few rounds to get an idea, and heaps of them had that rail down.”
“You’re taking this all very seriously,” I said in surprise as he insisted on pacing out the six bending strides from the wall to the triple bar.
He grinned. “Don’t get the chance very often, so I’ve gotta make the most of it. And I don’t want to let you and AJ down.”
I waved off his concern. “Don’t worry about that. Squib’s just here for mileage, especially at this height. We’re not expecting you to win.”
Jonty raised an eyebrow again. “Aren’t you? I am.”
And he meant it. After a careful, steady first round, Jonty opened Squib up for the instant jump off and they flew around the course to top the scoreboard. Inspired by his efforts, I took Puppet in with my mind on a similar run. My head was still full of the jump off turn that Jonty had made from the planks to the grey oxer, which nobody else had even attempted, but I was sure that Puppet could make it too, if I set him up correctly. But I never got a chance to find out, because I forgot about Jonty’s warning that the double ran uphill until it was too late. I jumped in too quietly, and Puppet made a valiant effort to get out again in one stride, but he clipped the back rail and it fell. Four faults, and no chance to jump off.
“Bugger,” Jonty commiserated as I rode out of the ring, giving Puppet a rueful rub on the neck.
“Bad riding,” I countered. “My fault. Oh well.” I did my best to cover up my disappointment. “And I was so going to beat your time!”
Jonty laughed. “Good luck with that. Squib here is all about the jump off. He even surprised me with how tight he can turn.”
“I reckon you both surprised all of us,” I told him honestly.
And when the final results were announced for the huge class almost an hour later, Jonty was still at the head of the line-up. Nobody was laughing at him by then, and nobody was more thrilled than AJ when I sent her an update.
That’s so cool! she wrote. So exciting, yay Squib!! Say thanks x1000000 to Jonty from me and he can ride Squib anytime! Late enter him in the PGP? ;)
I passed on the offer, but Jonty turned it down. “I’ve had enough glory for one day,” he laughed. “But tell her thanks anyway.”
“Sure? Be easy as to do,” I said, my finger hovering over the touchscreen of my phone as I prepared to message AJ back. “Squib’s entered in the metre-fifteen Champ at the end of the day, so it’s easy enough to just transfer his entry to the Grand Prix.”
“Nah. I need to help Tess out with Misty, can’t do that so easy when I’m riding myself. And I’ll pass on the metre fifteen too, because I know Carmen wants to hit the road as soon as the GP is over.”
I started to argue, then thought better of it as I remembered Hayley, sitting at home with her Dad, waiting for them to return.
“Why come at all?” I asked Jonty abruptly. “I mean, with Hayley being…you know. Tess isn’t even that into show jumping anyway, is she? I’m kind of surprised they’re still coming to shows altogether.”
“Once Misty’s fully qualified for HOY, they won’t be,” Jonty replied. “At least, that’s the plan right now. And Tess isn’t doing it for herself. She’s doing it for Hayley.”
“Oh. Right.” I wondered if that was because Tess was trying to cheer her sister up, or because Hayley was still bullying her into riding the pony, and Tess didn’t feel like she could say no, all things considered. At least she seemed to b
e enjoying him these days. “Well, that makes sense. I’ll see you later on, for the Grand Prix.”
“Yep. Prepare to get your butt kicked again,” he said with a grin. “Misty’s been practicing his jump offs too!”
At least you’re not feeling light-headed, I reassured myself as I stood Molly at the gate for the Pony Grand Prix, waiting to go in for the jump off. We’d had a spectacularly ugly first round, with me badly missing at least two distances, but Molly being a complete superstar and jumping anyway, scraping her toes over and getting us into the jump off. Tess was out there now, starting her run on Misty, and Jonty was watching intently from just down the rail. Tess’s mum stood next to him, arms crossed over her chest, face hidden by the wide-brimmed hat she was wearing. Tension radiated off them both as Tess and Misty cleared the first fence and galloped on to the next one, leaving out a stride.
“Ballsy move,” said a voice over my shoulder, and I glanced behind me to see Susannah, sitting on Skip and watching Tess as well. She scratched her chestnut pony’s hogged mane and looked across at Carmen, then nudged Skip closer. Molly laid back her ears and twitched her hindquarters irritably, warning the gelding to stay out of her space.
“Watch her.”
“Yeah, sorry. I saw Squib went well this morning.”
I looked at Susannah, who met my eyes with her icy blue stare. “Yeah, Jonty rode him really well,” I agreed. “He doesn’t normally have a chance to compete, so I thought I’d be a nice change for him from standing around watching.”
I glanced instinctively at Jonty as I spoke, just as a clatter of poles from the arena made him curse, and shake his head in disappointment. Carmen threw her hands up in disgust and turned away, and I looked back to see Tess struggling to hold a furious Misty, who was doing his best to tear the reins out of her hands. Rails were scattered across the ground in front of them, and pole pickers had entered the ring to rebuild the fence.