by Kelly Wilson
For ten minutes, Vicki, Kelly, Stella and Annabelle looked at the course, trying to figure out the fastest track to take between the jumps, careful to keep their route top secret in case it gave the others an advantage. Over and over, Vicki made up and discarded potential courses, determined to cover the least possible ground. Finally, she settled on the order.
“I’m sorted,” she said confidently. “Good luck trying to beat me.”
“There’s no way your course is going to be as good as mine,” Kelly boasted.
“You girls are dreaming.” Stella rolled her eyes. “The route I’ve come up with is guaranteed to win.”
Laughing at their banter, Annabelle put her foot in the stirrups and swung up onto Blackie’s back. “Not if I can pull off the angles I have planned. May the best pony win!”
Annabelle rode first, and she jumped a perfect clear round, clocking up a fast time. Next was Stella, and she also jumped faultlessly, although a fraction slower.
“Well, I’m at a disadvantage,” Kelly joked when it was her turn. “Everyone’s going clear and there’s no way Cameo’s going to be the fastest!”
As Vicki watched Kelly canter around the jumps, she couldn’t help but smile. On style Cameo would certainly have won, but on speed they didn’t stand a chance.
“And that’s a clear round for Cameo,” Dad announced merrily, “but ten seconds slower than the time to beat.”
Finally, it was Vicki’s turn. She turned Casper to the first jump, flying over it before spinning to the next. Not once did she have to worry about a lack of control as he listened closely for the slightest cue, responsive to the rope. Never had Vicki jumped on such tight angles, but Casper effortlessly navigated the course, quick and nimble on his feet.
“And Casper takes the win — sixteen seconds faster than any of our other competitors,” Dad said, his voice croaking in disbelief.
Chapter 17
Straight from the Horse’s Mouth
AS SOON AS VICKI SLOWED Casper down, she was surrounded. Everyone was gushing over how special the pony was, and how amazing he’d been.
“What an exceptional pony,” Mike said, congratulating Vicki. “I bet he’s won a lot of shows over the years.” He’d returned to check on Casper and had arrived in time to see the girls’ final class. “And it’s amazing that you can ride him bareback and without even a bridle!”
“Oh, he’s not a competition pony,” Stella laughed. “Vicki has to ride him like that because he’s so dangerous in a saddle or bridle!”
“Really?” Mike said, not sure if she was joking.
“It’s true,” Vicki said, with a sigh. “He’s never been to a show, and probably won’t ever compete, because he can’t stand wearing a bridle or saddle.”
“What does he do?”
“As soon as you put contact on his mouth, he throws his head up or rears.”
“He seems far too sweet to be acting badly for no reason,” Mike murmured as he gently opened Casper’s mouth. “Have you done his teeth?”
“Are we supposed to brush our ponies’ teeth every night?” Amanda asked, confused, as she eyed Casper’s front teeth.
Mike glanced at Amanda, then laughed. “No,” he said, smiling. “But that would be funny!”
“What do you mean, then?” Vicki asked. She was desperate to know why Mike thought Casper’s teeth might be causing his bad behaviour.
“Horses can have all sorts of teeth problems, which can make it really painful for them to be ridden, especially with a bit in,” he explained. “Ideally, you should have an equine dentist out once a year to give your horses a check-up and make sure there isn’t anything causing them pain.”
Running a hand inside Casper’s mouth, Mike’s face became grave. “It feels like he’s got lots of issues. You’ll need this confirmed by an equine dentist, but I suspect it’ll explain why he’s a little underweight as well.”
“And you really think it could solve his behavioural problems?” Mum asked doubtfully.
“It’ll help,” Mike said. Pulling a pen from his pocket, he jotted down a phone number and passed it over. “Here’s the number for Warwick — he’s one of the best equine dentists in the country.”
“Mum,” said Vicki anxiously, “how will we afford this? I bet equine dentists are really expensive.”
Mum looked at Dad, then at Vicki. “We have a little nest egg from the sales of Squizzy, Jude’s foal and Twinkle. It was set aside for horse emergencies, so we can use it for Casper’s teeth.”
“Thank you so much,” said Vicki, wrapping Casper in a hug.
It took three weeks to get an appointment with Warwick, and for Vicki the days couldn’t pass fast enough. With the show season well underway, though, she had to turn her focus to Dandy, and found that there was plenty to keep her busy.
Each weekend there was a different event for the sisters to compete at, and they were enjoying trying a range of competitions. They rode at a Ribbon Day, then competed in a Mounted Games competition and, in late November, they rode in their first A&P Show of the season. Dandy, Cameo and Charlie were becoming very good all-rounders and their collection of ribbons was growing.
Finally, the day of the dental appointment arrived. Vicki was impatient for school to finish so she could get home and meet the equine dentist. Her sisters were equally excited, and chatted loudly in the car as their mum drove them home.
“Do you think he’ll need to have any teeth pulled out?” Kelly asked, shuddering in horror. She’d had a molar pulled out by the dentist when she was younger and still had nightmares about it.
“I hope not,” Vicki grimaced. Although she didn’t mind the dentist, she couldn’t imagine Casper would enjoy having any teeth removed. “I wonder if horses can have fillings?”
As soon as they arrived home, Vicki quickly got changed, then rushed up the hill to catch Casper. She was just in time — Warwick drove up just as she led the Arabian up the driveway.
“So is this the problem pony?” he asked, as he stepped out and patted Casper’s head.
“I can’t ride him with a bit,” Vicki explained. “But he’s perfect in a halter.”
Warwick set to work checking Casper’s front teeth, then he fastened a gag onto the pony’s head and cranked his mouth open so he could work on his back teeth. Vicki was impressed by how patiently Casper stood while the dentist filed off the sharp edges.
“He got some major problems, including some teeth that need to be removed, which would explain why he’s acting up,” Warwick said as he worked. “I can’t fix them without sedation, though, so I’ll need to come back with a vet.”
Vicki turned to her mum. “You should ring and see if Mike’s home, then we could sedate him now.”
“Great idea,” Mum smiled. “It’s handy having a vet for a friend!”
Ten minutes later, Mike met them at the yards with his supplies. Within minutes, Casper was sleepy and Warwick set to work again. By the time he was finished, Casper looked a little worse for wear and stood in the yard with his head hanging low, fast asleep.
Warwick gave him a pat and turned to Vicki and Mum. “Keep an eye on him until he wakes up, then give him a few days to recover. Now that his teeth are sorted he should be fine to try riding in a bit, but give me a call if he still has problems.”
Chapter 18
A Completely Different Pony
THREE DAYS LATER, VICKI BRIDLED Casper for the first time in months. While she was hopeful he’d behave, secretly she thought it was unlikely that one visit from the dentist would have fixed all of Casper’s problems.
“I really hope I don’t fall off you again,” Vicki told her pony as she leapt onto him. “The last few times we tried this it didn’t end well!”
“Let’s just stay in the paddock today,” Dad said, clearly also a little worried. “That way we can keep an eye on you.”
With a click of Vicki’s heels, Casper strode eagerly forward, walking on a loose rein. As they circled the paddock, Vicki was
careful to keep her hands soft and give Casper time to get used to wearing a bit before she asked him to slow down. She braced herself for trouble — it was when she put pressure on the reins that the problems always began.
Knowing she couldn’t put it off forever, Vicki closed her hands on the reins and asked him to stop. Instead of reacting badly, Casper simply dropped back to a halt.
Gazing down at her pony in disbelief, Vicki leaned forward and hugged him. Picking up a trot, she spent the next twenty minutes testing him out. Walk, trot, canter, halt, trot, halt. Not once did Casper misbehave.
“It’s just like he’s being ridden in a halter!” Vicki said as she rode over to the fence line, where everyone stood watching.
“Wow — all these years of misbehaviour could have been prevented if only he’d had his teeth done,” Mum said, slowly shaking her head in disbelief.
Vicki swung off Casper’s back and passed the reins to her mum to hold.
“I need to check something else. I’ve always ridden Casper in a saddle and bridle at the same time, so I assumed he hated all gear. But what if it was his teeth all along and he’s actually fine in a saddle?”
“It’s worth a try,” Dad grinned. “If he copes, you’ll be able to start competing him!”
Vicki tried to contain her growing excitement as she sprinted off. Returning a few minutes later, she quickly tacked him up, then swung into the saddle.
With her heart beating a million miles an hour, Vicki asked Casper to walk forward. With every stride he took, Vicki grew more relaxed. Soon she felt confident enough to trot him.
“It’s like he’s a completely different pony,” Kelly whispered in awe, unable to believe the transformation.
Mum gazed proudly at Vicki. “I’m so glad you pestered us to save him. You’ve changed his life for the better.”
“I always knew deep down that he wanted to be good,” Vicki said, as she hugged Casper once again. “But it must have been so painful for him every time he got ridden. No wonder he didn’t like people anywhere near him.”
“Well, fortunately for him, those days are behind him,” Dad said. “What’s next in his story, I wonder?”
A wide smile split Vicki’s face. Her eyes sparkled as she gazed at Casper. “I think he’s ready for the Pony Club Trek!”
Chapter 19
Pony Club Trek
THE NEXT MONTH WENT QUICKLY, with Christmas and New Year passing in a blur. The annual Pony Club Trek was Vicki’s favourite event of the summer, and this would be her third time attending. The whole family would be camping at the beach for a week in January, with all five of their ponies, and most of their friends would be there, too.
In the days leading up to the trek there was lots of work to be done, and Vicki and her sisters spent hours cleaning their gear and packing.
“Do you think Casper will cope with so many other horses?” Kelly asked, as they carried their horse gear to the truck. There would be over a hundred horses at the trek, and on the first day everyone had to ride for several hours to get to the beachfront property where they would be camping.
“He’s been so good at Pony Club rallies over the past few weeks,” Vicki said, smiling. “But it’ll still be a huge deal for him. I doubt he’s ever been ridden on the beach or swum in the sea, and he certainly hasn’t competed in formation rides or games days.”
Amanda screwed up her face. “I thought you’d ride Dandy in the competitions. Wouldn’t he have a better chance of winning?”
“Probably, but I thought it would be good life experience for Casper. I’ll ride Dandy on the beach each day and swim him in the estuary, though.”
“He’ll enjoy that,” Amanda grinned.
“Are you going to ride out on the trek this year?” Vicki asked her. Normally the youngest riders trucked their ponies to the property.
“Mum finally said I could,” Amanda said with delight, as she rummaged through the tack shed in search of brushes and a hoof pick to take with them. “I can’t wait.”
The morning of the trek dawned bright and clear, and the truck was loaded in record time. Since the Wilsons’ truck fitted only three ponies at a time, and there were five ponies to transport, they headed off early so their parents would have time to make two trips. Casper, Cameo, Charlie and the girls would be dropped at the starting point, a woolshed, so they could ride out on the trek with everyone else, then Mum and Dad would return home for Dandy and Jude, drive them to the beach and settle them in paddocks before setting up their campsite.
From the moment they arrived at the woolshed, everyone moved at full speed. The girls saddled their ponies as fast as possible — with the exception of Casper, as Vicki had decided to ride out bareback. Although he was fine in a saddle now, Vicki still preferred to ride him without one, especially since he was no longer as bony.
Soon they were mounted and joined the growing collection of riders. Every Pony Club in the region was attending, so there were many people the girls didn’t recognise, but occasionally they saw someone from their own branch.
“Hey, Stella — over here!” Vicki yelled, when she saw Diego standing off to one side. Waving in greeting, Stella made her way over to join them.
“Who’s ready to ride?” a loud voice rang out across the paddock. In front of the yards, a man was sitting astride a giant black horse. Looking around, Vicki noticed that she was the only one riding bareback.
The man on the black horse gazed out over the group, and when he saw Vicki a frown flickered over his face. Spurring his horse forward, he rode over to her.
“It’s a long, tough ride,” the man cautioned. “Do you think you’ll be able to keep up bareback?”
Vicki smiled confidently. “When I was younger, I learnt to ride bareback because we couldn’t afford a saddle. I ride Casper like this all the time, so it actually feels more comfortable this way.”
The man’s eyes challenged her, but Vicki bravely held his gaze.
“No crying, then, and make sure you keep up,” he finally conceded, as he spun his horse and trotted off.
Chapter 20
Tougher Stuff
THE FIRST PART OF THE RIDE went well, walking and trotting over gentle rolling hills, and Vicki soon forgot the man’s stern warning. The ponies were enjoying themselves and didn’t seem bothered by the other horses, as the girls rode along at the back of the group. Soon the terrain became steeper and the pace faster, however.
Those in front of the pack, which the man on the black horse was leading, would canter up every hill, but because they were at the back the girls were often still walking down the previous hill as the horses in front began cantering up the next one. Excited by the commotion, their ponies began jig-jogging and tugging on the reins, and a few times they slipped as they made their way down narrow, steep tracks.
Kelly’s eyes welled up with tears. “We should have gone in the truck! Can I hop off and lead Cameo?”
Worried about falling behind and getting lost, Vicki shook her head.
“I think they’re only excited because we’re trying to make them walk. On the next hill let’s just let them canter down, so they can keep up with everyone else, then we’ll gallop up the next one as fast as possible to get to the front of the group.”
Luckily, the next hill was not too steep, and Vicki led the charge, weaving between riders as they cantered down the hill in an attempt to overtake the other horses. By the time they reached the bottom they were in the middle of the pack, and they kicked their ponies on, flying up the hill on the other side.
When they rode up alongside the big black horse, the leader turned and looked at them in shock. Vicki couldn’t help but grin.
“You girls are riding well,” he said, with renewed respect. “I thought you’d have fallen off by now, or be crying at the back of the group.”
Vicki glanced at Kelly, relieved that her tears had dried. “We’re made of tougher stuff than that.”
Now they were at the front, their ponies returned t
o a relaxed walk, without pulling on the reins or trying to jig-jog. As Vicki had hoped, they were able to walk down every hill, then canter calmly up the other side. By the time they reached the estuary they had to cross, the girls had almost forgotten about the scarier parts of the ride and were having the time of their lives.
“Oh, look!” Amanda cried out. “There’s Mum and Dad.”
Sure enough, their parents and Stella’s dad were waiting for them by the water’s edge. The tide was too high to ride the ponies across without swimming, so their parents had gathered to help unsaddle their horses and carry the gear on foot across a long, narrow walking bridge that spanned the estuary.
“You guys made record time! How was the ride?”
Dad asked, as he loosened Cameo’s girth.
Kelly pulled off her riding boots and socks, so they wouldn’t get wet. “It was the best ride ever! A little scary in the middle maybe, but mostly fun!”
Mum’s eyebrows rose. “No one fell off, though, right?”
“No, the ponies were good. They’re a bit hot and sweaty, though, so they’ll enjoy a swim.”
Dad gave them each a leg up and they rode their ponies into the water, keeping near the front of the group. The first part was only knee-deep, and Casper eagerly splashed through the shallow water. As soon as they reached the channel, though, it rapidly got deeper, and Charlie, who was the smallest by far, was soon swimming. A few metres later, the rest of their ponies were also out of their depth.
Casper kept trying to circle back, to get his feet back on solid ground, and it took all of Vicki’s strength to keep him swimming straight. Beside her, Cameo and Charlie had their ears pricked forward and were intent on the far shore — they had both crossed this estuary many times and knew that they’d be on dry land soon enough.