Slowly the riders started to make their way back to the yard.
“Alex, hang on a minute,” Nick called. “I’ve got something for you. I’m afraid it’s the vet’s bill for Puzzle. Can I leave you to settle it, or would you like me to do it? You can pay me when you’ve spoken to your parents, if you like.”
Alex gulped. “I don’t know. Er...how much is it?”
“£50,” Nick answered.
“Would you mind settling it for me, Nick?” Alex said quickly, feeling embarrassed. “I could give it to you later this week.”
“That’s fine,” Nick said, opening the gate.
As they walked side by side up the drive, Nick changed the subject to the approaching Benbridge Show. Alex nodded as Nick spoke, but his mind wasn’t with it at all. Where on earth was he going to get £50 from? He couldn’t go to his parents for help, could he?
Alex felt his face flush as he parted ways with Nick. Quickly he led Hector to his stable and started to untack him and rub him down. What could he do? Who could he go to? There was only one person he could ask for that money...only one person who knew the situation he was in.
Alex closed the door on Hector and made his way over to where Kate was grooming Feather.
“Hi there,” he said, trying to look nonchalant.
“What do you want?” Kate said, able to read her brother like a book.
“Puzzle’s bill from the vet has come in.” Alex cut straight to the point. “And Nick expects me to pay it.”
“And?” Kate didn’t look surprised.
“And I don’t have the money,” Alex said exasperatedly. “I was hoping you might be able to lend it to me.”
“No way.” Kate looked fed up. “You still haven’t given me back the £10 you borrowed at the sale.”
“I know...I know, but I will,” Alex pleaded. “Come on, there isn’t anyone else I can ask, and it is for Puzzle.”
“How much is it?” Kate said guardedly.
“£50.”
“£50!” Kate gasped. “But...I mean, that’s such a lot. How am I going to find £50?”
“Look, I know that you’ve got it in your savings account,” Alex wheedled.
“Yes, but I need that,” Kate said. “Mum and Dad said I can only go skiing at Christmas if I contribute. The deposit’s due at the beginning of term.”
“But I’d pay you back before then,” Alex said.
“How?” Kate said warily. “Given your track record with money it’s unlikely I’ll see the money again.”
“That’s not fair.” Alex was starting to feel hassled now.
Kate looked thoughtful. “All right, Alex,” she said, “I’ll lend it to you, but only if you swear you’ll give it back to me before we go back to school.”
“I swear,” Alex said solemnly as Kate walked out of Feather’s stable and off across the yard. Alex stared after her. Just as he’d thought things were picking up. Was there no end to the problems that Puzzle was going to throw up?
7
TURNING POINT
As Alex turned up the driveway to the stables a week later, he felt tired and fed up. He propped his bike up by the barn and started to walk across the yard. Before he even had a chance to get to Puzzle’s stable, she lifted her head over her stable door, and whinnied loudly.
Alex stood quite still. He looked around him to see who she was calling to, but the yard was empty. As he made his way over to her, she whinnied again. Tentatively Alex drew back the door and held out a peppermint for her.
“All right in there?” he grunted begrudgingly. Alex laid a hand on her nose and spoke in a quiet voice as he patted her neck. “Come on then.”
Puzzle sniffed at the offering. But just at that moment, a loud voice came from behind him...
“Hey there!” And Puzzle’s head shot back up.
Alex looked out over the box to see Tom striding over towards him.
“Are you coming to the jumping practice again today?” Tom asked cheerily.
“Nah – don’t think I’ll bother,” Alex said, stepping out of Puzzle’s box and bolting the door.
“Why not? You did pretty well last time,” Tom said.
“Oh, I don’t know.” Alex looked behind him and saw that the yard was filling up – all the regular riders were gathering with their mounts. And if he wasn’t mistaken, Charlie Marshall was striding up the drive too.
Charlie used to be a regular rider at Sandy Lane, but he’d started at racing school last September, and it wasn’t often that he found the time to get back to see them. Alex was pleased to see him.
“Charlie,” he called over. “How are you doing?”
“Great, just great,” Charlie answered, walking over to Tom and Alex and clapping them on the back.
“What are you doing here?” Tom asked. “Bored of the racehorses already?”
“Oh you know – I just thought I’d call in and see what the amateurs were up to,” Charlie swaggered.
Tom gave him a joking thump on the back.
“No, actually, I’m home for the weekend,” Charlie went on. “So I gave Nick a ring to see if I could book a ride with my old Sandy Lane mates, only it appears you’re all practising for the Benbridge Show. I thought I’d come along and show you how it’s done.”
“Ha ha, I suppose that’s meant to be a joke,” Tom laughed.
“No, I’m being perfectly serious,” Charlie grinned.
“Well, I’m afraid I’m not going to be joining you,” Alex joined in. “I’ve got to get Puzzle some vitamin supplements from the fodder merchant’s.”
“Puzzle? Who’s Puzzle?” Charlie butted in. “Is there a new pony at the yard?” Suddenly he looked interested as he leaned into the box beside him. “Oh yikes.” He turned his nose up disdainfully. “Where did that mangy old thing come from?”
Alex looked into the box. He’d thought Puzzle had been looking a lot better lately, but after what Charlie had said, he didn’t want to admit that she was his pony.
“You should have seen her a few weeks ago,” Alex said. “She was so thin back then. She’s started to put on a bit of weight, hasn’t she Tom?”
“She certainly has,” Tom answered.
“Well, if you say so,” Charlie shrugged.
“At least she’s clean and her saddle sores are healing as well,” Tom went on. “She is a New Forest pony, Charlie, so she’ll never have the sleek, polished coat of one of your thoroughbreds.”
“I guess.” Charlie shrugged his shoulders. “But put it this way – she’s no oil painting, is she? Come on, let’s get ready. Nick said I could ride Napoleon. Where’s he stabled these days?” And with that, Charlie was striding off across the yard.
Tom turned to Alex. “Look, you’re doing a great job with Puzzle. Don’t listen to Charlie. It’ll just take time.”
Alex nodded and turned away. How much more time was he going to have to spend at Sandy Lane before he could get rid of her?
“Are you quite sure you don’t want to come to jumping practice?” Tom asked.
“Positive,” Alex answered. “I’m fine. You go and tack up Chancey.”
“OK,” Tom answered, walking away.
Alex looked at Puzzle. Surely she must be on the mend by now after all the work he’d put in. Alex’s thoughts were interrupted as Nick walked over.
“How’s it going?” he asked.
“Oh, not so bad,” Alex shrugged.
“She’s been getting bored in her stable.” Nick nodded in Puzzle’s direction. “It’s probably about time we let her out into the fields with the other ponies. She’s been looking a bit better so you could try exercising her on a lunge rein.”
“Do you think she’s ready for that?” Alex looked doubtful. “Charlie thought she was in a terrible state.”
“Remember Charlie spends his time with expensive thoroughbreds these days, so take no notice. If Charlie had seen her a few weeks ago he’d have realized there’s been a vast improvement, and if you want to be ready t
o sell her at the end of the summer, she’s going to need the exercise.”
“Yes, I suppose she is.” Alex brightened up at Nick’s words. It was the first time he’d made any mention that she might be all right to sell. Perhaps things were looking up. “It’s just that I’m not sure how you go about lunging,” Alex said. “I’ve never done it before.”
Nick took a deep breath. “I hadn’t really planned to get involved with her training, but I might be able to find a little time to help you over the next week. I’ve got half an hour this afternoon if you want to make a start.”
“Really?” Alex breathed a sigh of relief. “So, you don’t mind?”
“The more I help you, the quicker I get my stable back!” Nick raised his eyebrows.
“Yes, I guess so,” Alex answered.
“So how about we make a start after the jumping practice this afternoon?” Nick said.
“Great,” Alex answered.
“OK then,” Nick said. “I’ll meet you at 3 o’clock.” And with that, he walked off down the drive to the outdoor school.
8
A RIDE TO REMEMBER...
It had been just over a week now that Nick and Alex had been lunging Puzzle – only a little each day, but she was steadily improving.
As Alex stood in the centre of the field on Sunday afternoon, he coaxed Puzzle into a canter. Her copper-coloured coat shone in the sunlight. She was using Minstrel’s saddle which was tied on her back. It looked funny to see it without any stirrups. As Puzzle cantered around the school she looked remarkably together.
“She’s getting the hang of that,” Nick called from where he was sitting on the rails.
Alex slowed Puzzle down to a trot with the word “ter-rot”.
“Very good.” Nick jumped down. “Let’s try her with some loose jumping.” He put a couple of low cross poles up and Alex lunged Puzzle over them.
“You see. She jumps them easily. I was thinking we might try a little weight on her back today,” Nick said.
“You mean ride her?” Alex gulped. “Is she ready for that?”
Nick laughed. “Well, I don’t see why not. She’s going all right on the lunge. She’ll get bored if we keep taking her round and round. I’ll go and fetch Napoleon so I can ride with you. It’ll be good company for her.”
“OK,” Alex said uncertainly. Lunging Puzzle was one thing, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to actually get on her. She hadn’t been ridden for ages, and who knew how she might react? Anxiously, Alex bit his bottom lip as Nick appeared again, leading Napoleon over.
“I’ll just attach the stirrup irons and leathers to Puzzle’s saddle, then we’re ready to go,” Nick said.
As Alex held the two horses, he wondered how he could back out of this, but now Nick had started talking again.
“Come on...ease yourself gently into the saddle so you don’t alarm her.” Nick took Napoleon’s reins from Alex and sprang up onto the big brown gelding.
Alex felt a bit nervous as he put a leg into the stirrup but Puzzle didn’t even flinch, and that gave him the confidence to hop up onto her back. Gently, he settled down into the saddle and gathered up the reins, patting her neck.
“She seems all right, Nick.” Alex looked surprised.
A smile spread across Nick’s face. “OK, let’s ease off at a walk and head for the woods.”
Carefully, Alex nudged Puzzle forward through the gate at the back of the outdoor school and into the fields behind. Puzzle didn’t hesitate and went forward with ease.
“Shall we try a trot?” Nick suggested.
Alex nodded, squeezing Puzzle on with his legs. She must have been well-trained at some point in her life because she responded without hesitation. Napoleon and Puzzle trotted easily alongside each other.
“All right?” Nick called across.
“I’m just fine,” Alex replied. Riding Puzzle actually felt pretty comfortable.
“She looks calm enough,” Nick went on. “Let’s canter over to the hedge.” Nick pointed over to the other side of the field, and now that Alex had got into the swing of things, he started to relax. Gently, he nudged Puzzle forward and they set off into a neat canter. As Nick positioned Napoleon for a fallen tree trunk, Alex didn’t even have a chance to think about the size of it. He kicked Puzzle on, coaxing the reins up her neck as he placed her squarely at the trunk. Puzzle flew through the air as if the jump wasn’t even there, landing lightly and cantering on into the trees.
“She’s done this before,” Nick called under his arm. “She cleared it with three feet to spare.”
“She did pretty well, didn’t she?” Alex answered breathlessly.
“Not bad at all,” Nick answered. “Why don’t you try her in the jumping practice on Wednesday morning? It’ll be good training for her to be around the other horses.”
“Yes, all right,” Alex answered. Nick was right – she did need to get used to being ridden around other horses. As they walked back to the yard Alex and Nick chattered easily about other things. Alex jumped down off Puzzle’s back and led her off to her stable. That ride hadn’t been so bad...not bad at all.
Once Alex had rubbed Puzzle down and settled her with a haynet, he went off in search of Kate. It didn’t take him long to find her. She was in Feather’s stable, wiping a cloth over her coat.
“Are you coming home soon?” he asked her.
“Oh it’s you,” she laughed. “Yes, I’m just finishing up here.” Quickly she closed the door behind the grey pony and walked with Alex to where their bikes were propped up against the old barn.
“You’re not going to believe it,” Alex said.
“Wow me with it,” Kate said tiredly, wheeling her bike into the centre of the yard.
“I rode Puzzle today,” Alex told her.
“Really? That’s brilliant news.” Kate looked surprised. Then she frowned. “But I thought you’d only been lunging her.”
“I had been, but Nick thought she was ready for someone on her back.” Alex couldn’t keep the grin off his face as they set off. “She cleared that tree trunk over by the woods.”
“But that’s massive.” Kate looked amazed.
“Yeah, and I’ve decided to ride her in the jumping practice on Wednesday morning. Nick thinks it’ll be good for her. I don’t want to wear her out though...” Alex looked thoughtful.
“Anyone would think you were getting attached to Puzzle, the way you’re talking about her.” Kate raised her eyebrows.
“Don’t talk such rubbish,” Alex said gruffly. “You know I’m only doing this because I have to. The sooner I can get her fit and healthy, the sooner I can sell her.”
And with that, he pedalled off.
9
JUMPING PRACTICE
There wasn’t a cloud in the sky as Alex reached the stables on Wednesday morning. He deposited his bike by the barn and made his way to Puzzle’s stable. Drawing back the bolt, he stepped inside. Puzzle looked up from her haynet, but she didn’t back away into the corner.
As he patted her neck, she chewed on her hay and went to take a friendly bite out of his jacket. Alex brushed her nose away. “I’ll have none of that this morning.” But he wasn’t angry. He picked up a body brush and set to work on her shaggy coat. He was so engrossed in his work that he didn’t even notice that Izzy was at the stable door until she spoke. Alex hadn’t bumped into her for a couple of days.
“I hear you and Puzzle are joining us for jumping practice today,” she said. “I can’t wait to see what she can do.”
“Yeah, well she jumped that log out in the back fields on Sunday,” Alex boasted. “So hopefully she should go well in the school too.”
“Let’s hope so.” Izzy tossed back her hair. “I’ll catch you later.”
“All right.” Alex’s words tailed off as she turned and walked across the yard. Quickly, he bent down to pick out Puzzle’s shoes.
“You’d better not show me up out there today, Puzzle.”
“Talking to her now,
are you?” It was Kate’s head that appeared over the stable door this time, and she grinned as she looked in.
“What?” Alex looked embarrassed. He hadn’t realized he was talking aloud.
“Oh nothing,” Kate laughed. “Come on. We’re off in a moment.”
“All right...all right.” Alex quickly tacked Puzzle up and led her out into the yard. All of the riders were there – Kate was adjusting Feather’s girth, Jess and Rosie were chattering, holding Skylark and Hector, and it looked as though Tom was giving Chancey a little pep talk.
Alex brought Puzzle out to stand alongside Chancey and Feather. The two horses’ coats were so polished. Puzzle would never look like them – not even if she was in the best condition. Puzzle’s New Forest breeding meant that she was a much hardier, sturdier breed than the part-thoroughbred and Arab. She could never look as delicate and showy. Alex took a deep breath as Nick appeared and soon they were leading off to the outdoor school and walking into the centre of the ring.
“OK.” Nick acted as though there was nothing unusual about Puzzle joining the group. “We’re going to start with the brush and go on to the gate,” he said, pointing out the direction he wanted the riders to take. “We’ll warm the ponies up first. Take your time. I want to see skill and thought put into this. Speed can come at the next practice.”
The group set off at a walk around the ring and then Nick called for them to trot. They followed on in single file, till Nick judged it all right for them to canter, one after the other.
“OK, we’ll start,” Nick called. “Are you ready to lead us off, Jess?”
Jess nodded and turned Skylark to the first jump. Neatly she cantered forward, taking the brush in easy strides. Alex watched as she sat, poised and calm, on the back of her pony. They soared over the gate and Alex felt pleased to see Jess back in control. She must have put in a lot of practice with the pony. As they rode to the staircase, Jess checked Skylark and she just clipped the top of the jump. She was unlucky – the pole came clattering down.
Jess looked under her arm and cantered on to the triple bars, flying over them with ease. Now there were just two jumps left. Skylark swished her tail as they rose for the parallel, landing neatly before going on to the treble. If it hadn’t been for that one jump, it would have been a perfect round.
The Perfect Pony Page 5