The Palomino Pony Steals the Show Read online

  The girl gripped the magazine, feeling her jealousy and resentment grow with every word she read. Yet another win for the black pony and his talented jockey. It seemed he was destined for the very top, and so was his rider. Tearing the page into pieces, she scattered them in the breeze as her ponies watched on with interest. The girl stalked up and down the yard in a foul mood. She was surrounded by luxury and wealth, but she was still missing that extra-special something. The black pony had been meant for her. She had been the one destined to ride him to glory and she could never forget that.

  Angrily kicking the gravel, she drew herself up tall. Next week, that’s when it would all change. That’s when she would show everyone what she was capable of. She scowled as she furiously sent a text message, knowing it wouldn’t bring a reply. But next week the black pony and his rider would realise that she was going to get to the top, and she didn’t care how she did it.

  Georgia slowed down as she neared the village post office. “Am I really doing the right thing?” she muttered under her breath.

  Twisting the envelope over in her hands, she considered turning away without posting it. But she couldn’t do that to Melanie. Not after seeing how happy Melanie had been when she’d received the phone call to tell her that Georgia had been selected for the dressage training camp. Georgia hadn’t even known that Janey, head of the Round Barrow Pony Club, had put her name forward. Georgia had said once or twice that she’d like to try something different with her pony, Lily, but she hadn’t thought anything more of it!

  Now, standing in front of the postbox in the chilly February air, Georgia wavered for another second. Then, taking a deep breath, she slipped the neatly addressed envelope through the slot. She crossed her fingers. This was it – a new adventure for her and Lily. And she knew that she needed to grasp the opportunity with both hands.

  A couple of hours later, after spending some time with Lily, Georgia walked up the driveway to Dan’s farm. Dan Coleman was one of Georgia’s best friends.

  “Hey, G!” Dan called across to her. He was tinkering with an old piece of machinery in the sunshine, his sandy hair windswept, a streak of oil across his cheek.

  It was hard to believe that just two months ago the village of Redgrove had suffered the worst snowstorms in memory. Georgia had ridden through the whiteout on Christmas Eve to stop Dan’s father’s sheep from being stolen. Now, with the weak winter sun pouring into the yard, and the early snowdrops and daffodils just starting to make an appearance in the beds outside the farm shop, it felt as though the freezing winter was finally on its way out. It wouldn’t be long until Georgia and her friends would be able to hack out after school and attend early-summer shows!

  “So, did you post it?” Dan asked, wiping the grease off his fingers with an old rag and leaning up against the fence.

  Georgia crouched down to say hello to the lambs grazing next to their mothers in the sunshine. “I certainly did,” she said with a nod, before grimacing. “There’s no going back now.”

  Dan chuckled. “That’s good,” he said cheerfully. “And it’s only for a week, remember. Although … I will miss you.”

  Georgia couldn’t help but smile at this. Not only was the snow a distant memory, but so was the memory of the actress Joss McCall-Jones trying to cause trouble between Dan and Georgia. Joss had been starring in a film shot near Redgrove and Lily had made a guest appearance. Joss had fallen for Dan and tried to push Georgia out of the way. But now she was back in London with a new boyfriend and later in the year Dan and Georgia would go to the premiere of the film!

  Although she and Dan were mostly back on track, Georgia was still a little unsure of where she stood in the relationship – and whether they were just good friends or something more. Dan had appeared briefly in the film with Lily and Joss and after that his popularity had rocketed at school. He was always being invited to parties or to hang out with classmates, whereas Georgia, completely absorbed in her ponies, was often overlooked. It was slightly unsettling.

  “I’ll miss you too,” she said shyly. “What are you going to do while I’m away?”

  “Hmm, just stuff,” Dan said casually. “Might see some friends from school, that sort of thing.”

  “OK.” Georgia shrugged, feeling even more unsure. After their recent rocky patch it would have been good to be around for the week they had off school, but the timing couldn’t be helped. Dan knew how important the ponies were to Georgia. And it was only a week.

  Lily and Georgia were going to be put through their paces by the country’s leading trainers! And at the end of the week, one of the riders would be taken forward to funded training and the chance to ride in the Young Riders Pony Squad. Despite Georgia’s earlier reservations, she was starting to look forward to the camp. She just hoped she could live up to Janey and Melanie’s expectations!

  “You won’t forget about me, will you?” Emma, Georgia’s best friend, looked her straight in the eye as the two girls lounged on the sofa in Emma’s parents’ house later that evening, sharing a bowl of crisps and flicking through the television channels.

  “Emma!” Playfully, Georgia prodded her friend’s arm. Emma grinned in reply.

  “Oh, come on, Georgia,” Emma continued. “You’re bound to get picked for training.”

  “Hmm,” Georgia said, a frown creasing her forehead. “I don’t know about that. Anyway, sponsorship didn’t exactly work out for Jasper, did it?” she said, referring to Janey’s assistant instructor. Jasper had been a former top junior show rider and was the older brother of Will Bowen. Will’s pony, Santa, was a livery at Redgrove.

  “No,” Emma agreed, reaching across Georgia for another handful of crisps. “But this training will be properly funded.”

  The two teenagers sat in silence for a while as Georgia tried to comprehend this. Her little palomino pony had become a famous name in the showing world, and had been the subject of many glowing reports in the national horsey press, but could they progress further and take on dressage? It would be interesting to see how the training week panned out. Drawing her knees up to her chest Georgia hugged them close, feeling equally excited and terrified.

  “So what’s going on with you, Em?” Georgia asked finally.

  “Oh, the usual,” Emma giggled. “And … I’m going on a date with Will during half-term.”

  “No way!” Georgia nudged her friend. “That’s brilliant!”

  Emma grinned. “You’ll need to give me some help planning what to wear!”

  “Er … not sure I’ll be much help in that department.” Georgia smiled. “I knew there was a reason you’d been helping out at Redgrove more!”

  “You got me, G.” Emma grinned again.

  Georgia was pleased for her friend, and felt a tiny pang of envy about life carrying on as usual at Redgrove while she and Lily were away. Then, remembering how she had felt before her work experience on the Smalley show yard, she gave herself a mental shake. Redgrove would be just the same when she got back, and she was off on a new adventure!

  Georgia wasn’t feeling quite so confident a few days later as she tried to shut her suitcase, which was overflowing with her riding kit, chaps, gloves and jodhpurs. “Oh, come on,” she muttered to herself as she sat down on the top of her case. All the paperwork relating to the camp was sitting neatly on her bedside table, ready to take to Redgrove Farm in the morning. Melanie was going to be driving her and Lily to the prestigious yard deep in the Cotswolds.

  Emma and Georgia had spent an evening researching the equestrian centre on the computer. Georgia had been blown away by the photographs showing a beautiful honey-coloured stone-built stable block set in the grounds of a huge manor house, flanked with
neatly striped lawns. There was even an Olympic-sized indoor arena, and an outdoor arena built within a walled garden, roses trailing over the warm bricks.

  As well as regular competitions and events, and stabling liveries for some of the richest clients in the county, Rosefolly Equestrian Centre was used as a training base for some of the country’s leading riders. Rifling through her wardrobe when she had got home from Emma’s, Georgia had pulled out her faithful old navy jodhs and gazed at them for a few minutes, before catching a bus to the saddler’s shop the very next day and buying the checked breeches she had always coveted.

  “All OK, sweetheart?” Hearing her mum’s voice, Georgia looked up and saw the door being nudged open by a black-and-white muzzle. Her spaniel, Pip, bounded joyfully into her room, closely followed by her mum, who sat down on Georgia’s bed, her hands curled round a cup of tea. “It’ll be quiet without you.”

  “I know,” Georgia said with a smile, doing up the zip on her suitcase and pausing to stroke Pip. “But I’ll be back before you know it.”

  Picking up a photo of Lily, her mum gazed at it for a minute. “She really has opened doors for you, hasn’t she?” she said, the pride in her voice unmistakable.

  Georgia smiled. Her mum was just as proud of Lily’s achievements in the show ring as Georgia was. Georgia often wondered what she would be doing if she hadn’t found Lily on her school trip. She was pretty sure she would still be helping at Redgrove, grooming Callie, and riding Wilson when Sophie wasn’t around, but Mum was right – Lily coming into her life had opened up a whole new world of opportunity, and the week ahead was proof of that. But just how far did Georgia want to go with Lily? She needed to find that out for herself.

  Redgrove had never looked prettier as Georgia’s mum drove up the gravelled drive early the next morning. A wisp of smoke was winding its way up from the chimney. Melanie must have her log burner going, Georgia thought, picturing the terriers curled up in front of it and Simon, Melanie’s husband, frying eggs on the hob. She felt a wave of homesickness already, thinking of Pip, who had been left curled up in her basket. But at least Georgia would be with Lily for the week!

  The lights were on in the stables, casting a warm glow over the cobbles, and Will, wrapped up warm in a blue-and-white striped scarf, gave her a cheerful wave as she clambered out of the car. He was pushing the wheelbarrow towards the stable where his pony, Santa, was enjoying a mouthful of hay. The four ponies looked settled and content as they stuck their heads over the stable doors.

  Lily whickered a greeting as Georgia lifted her suitcase out of the back of the car and set it down next to her stable. Lily’s trunk was all ready to go. It held her saddle and bridle, grooming kit and boots, plus a box of little extras that Melanie had sorted out – things like a first-aid kit and spare reins. They were all set to go, and Georgia took a deep breath as she hugged her mum goodbye, just as Melanie emerged from the house.

  “All set, G?” Melanie smiled at Georgia.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be,” she said, giving her mum one final hug.

  Will appeared by her side, carrying Santa’s head collar. “Do you know anyone going?” he asked cheerfully.

  Georgia shook her head, reaching into her backpack for the training-camp information. “No,” she said, handing it to him. “Do you recognise any of the names?”

  Scanning the letter, Will squinted at the list of attendees. “I don’t think so,” he said, shaking his head. “Well, I kind of know the names, but remember, it’s a whole different world to the show ring. They must all be dressage riders.”

  Georgia heard her name being called and, glancing up, saw Melanie pulling down the lorry ramp. She needed to quickly boot Lily up for the journey to Rosefolly and put her belongings into the cab.

  Will turned back to his morning chores. “Good luck, G!” he called encouragingly. “Just text me if you need to.”

  Then all thoughts of any riders on the course were forgotten as Georgia’s heart leapt at the sight of Dan rushing through the gates into the yard, slightly out of breath, his cheeks pink with exertion. From the mud splattered up the back of his jeans, it looked as though he had run all the way over from his farm to the yard. Georgia led Lily out of her stable; she was wearing her travelling kit and looked a million dollars. Dan reached up and patted her golden neck. “Good luck, girl,” he said with a grin, and then shyly enveloped Georgia in a hug. “And good luck, G,” he whispered into her hair, slightly awkwardly.

  “Thanks,” Georgia muttered, blushing as she noticed Will giving her a thumbs-up sign behind Dan’s back.

  “Text me any time,” Dan said, echoing Will. “If it gets too much, I’ll come and rescue you!”

  “What? On your tractor?” Georgia laughed self-consciously, and Dan winked.

  Then it was time for Georgia to load Lily. As she walked the little mare out of the yard, she heard Dan planning a game of football with Will in the bottom meadow. Glancing behind her at Wilson, Callie and Santa and the terriers chasing each other round the cobbled yard, Georgia took a deep breath as she led Lily quietly up the ramp of the horsebox. She knew she was only going for a week, so why did this feel like the end of an era?

  Melanie and Georgia chatted easily during the journey to Rosefolly. After they had stopped at a motorway service station to check Lily was OK, and for Melanie to grab a coffee, Georgia thought again about the other riders taking part in the week alongside her. Digging around in her bag, she pulled out the forms again. “Do you know any of the riders going?” she asked Melanie once she had pulled safely out on to the motorway and settled back into the driving.

  Mel frowned. “Not sure,” she said. “Read them to me and I’ll see if I recognise any names.”

  “OK,” Georgia said and, reading aloud, she recited from the list. “Sebastian Woodley, Jodie Harrison, Ellie Baker, Serena Van der Hawk…”

  “What was that?” Melanie looked thoughtful.

  “Serena Van der Hawk,” Georgia repeated slowly. “She sounds very posh!”

  Melanie screwed up her forehead. “Serena… Serena…” she muttered, and then clicked her fingers in recognition. “I’ve got it!” she said triumphantly. “Van der Hawk, daughter of Michael.”

  Georgia looked blank, and Mel chuckled. “Sorry, G, probably a bit before your time,” she said kindly. “Michael Van der Hawk was a top rider a few years ago, actually before you were even born. Serena is about your age, I’d guess. She will have some lovely ponies; they are very into their horses, although Michael was a bit of a shady character, if I remember. I wonder if Serena can replicate her father’s success – he went to a fair few championships, if I recall. Very talented.”

  Georgia nodded, still no clearer. It would be exciting to meet the daughter of a famous rider though; Georgia was always looking to learn new things about horses, and maybe Serena would be a new friend.

  Gazing out of the window at the frost clinging to the hedgerows, Georgia felt a shiver of excitement as the lorry neared Rosefolly. What could be better – a week full of ponies and nothing else!

  Georgia gaped at the surroundings as the big green lorry drove towards the equestrian centre. The drive seemed to go on for miles, winding through expansive parkland with a lake shimmering through the bare trees.

  “Look,” Melanie chuckled, clearly amused as a peacock wandered nonchalantly in front of them as they pulled into the yard. “You wouldn’t find one of those at Redgrove!”

  “Redgrove’s better though,” Georgia said loyally. “With or without a peacock!”

  “Well, it’s home to me and I love it.” Melanie smiled, and then she paused, looking around. “You know, Lily’s got a real future, if you want it.” She gazed out at the huge yard. “I’m happy to train you and take you to shows … but perhaps you could go even further with some real expertise.”

  Georgia looked at Melanie in surprise. It was the first time she had ever said anything like that. She knew Melanie loved the little palomino just as much as she did
, and Georgia, in turn, respected and looked up to Melanie. Her face must have registered her thoughts because Melanie smiled kindly. “I don’t think either of us would have thought we were rescuing an Olympia champion that day in Wales, would we?” she chuckled. “I’m just saying there’s only so far I can take you, if you want to aim higher. This is your chance to shine, Georgia. Take this opportunity, and grab it and run. Lily’s too good not to go further.”

  The two sat in silence for a minute as Georgia reflected on what Melanie had said. Then Melanie smiled broadly, unbuckled her seat belt and patted Georgia on the shoulder. “Come on!” she said cheerfully, jumping down from the cab. “Let’s get Lily settled in.”

  Lily was used to staying away from Redgrove and was relaxed anywhere – as long as Georgia was there. Soon she was happily munching from a hay net in a huge stable. Georgia and Melanie went to look around. The whole yard was beautiful, and the livery horses looked happy and content, with every need catered for. A young groom had shown them where to go, and had left them to settle in. Georgia was going to meet the rest of the students later, in the barn on the opposite side of the courtyard that doubled up as the meeting room and dining room. Georgia’s suitcase was already in her dorm room; the girls were staying in the eaves above the stable block. Georgia had taken ages to walk up the stairs to her living quarters, fascinated by the endless photos of horses adorning the walls and the rich horsey heritage that surrounded Rosefolly. Now, putting her arms round Lily, she felt slightly more confident. They had been hand-selected to take part in the week, and that had to count for something, surely!

  “Time for me to say goodbye,” Melanie said, rubbing the white stripe running down the centre of Lily’s golden face. The little mare closed her eyes happily. Then, turning to Georgia, she patted her shoulder. “And good luck, G,” she said warmly. “I’m so proud of you both.”