Poppy and the Perfect Pony Read online

  Totally unbalanced and unable to stop herself, Poppy did a complete somersault over Henry’s neck in awful slow motion. As the rest of the class broke into giggles, she found herself sitting on the sand with Henry gazing down at her, tickling her cheek with his bristly whiskers.

  FOR MY BROTHER AND MY SISTERS AND

  ALL OF THE OTHER NHS HEROES.

  CHAPTER 1

  Poppy smoothed down the soft green tweed of the hacking jacket, admiring her reflection in the dusty tack-shop mirror. She liked the way the tweed complemented her hair and eyes. It was perfect!

  “Mum, look at this!” Poppy called. Her mum was studying a list, ticking off the things they needed to get for pony camp. There were still a couple of weeks to go, but Poppy couldn’t wait to get everything organised!

  “Oh, that’s nice.” Mandy, the owner of the shop, appeared beside Poppy. Poppy knew Mandy well. She liked to go to the shop each week just to look at all the saddles, the brightly coloured rugs, different sorts of bits … and to breathe in that special tack-shop smell! Mandy was funny and chatty, and sometimes if the shop was quiet she let Poppy practise putting bridles together and would make her a hot chocolate.

  “But that jacket is really for high-level competitions,” Mandy continued. “I’m not sure you’ll need it at Vale Farm.”

  “Yes, that’s lovely.” Poppy’s mum joined them and stroked the jacket before picking up the price tag. Poppy saw a frown flit across her mum’s face and her stomach dropped. She knew that look. “But I think Mandy’s right, it’s probably a bit much for pony camp.”

  Poppy nodded.

  “OK,” she said in a small voice. She would have to put the jacket on her wish list, something to save up for and wear at her first high-level competition with Silver Shadow!

  “Ooh, look what I’ve found!” Mandy said cheerily, placing a pile of brightly coloured clothes on the counter.

  Poppy tried to look enthusiastic as her mum rifled through the garments, a relieved expression on her face, and Poppy noticed the sale stickers. There were garish bright-pink jodhpurs with funny squiggles down the side, and a purple jumper covered in glittery sequinned horseshoes. She was grateful her mum was kitting her out for camp as she knew how expensive riding clothes were, but as her mum held the pink pair of jodhs up against her with an approving nod, she felt her heart sink. She’d hoped for canary-yellow breeches, butter-soft leather boots and tan gloves, just as in her books.

  “We’ll take these!” Poppy’s mum said happily. “Thanks, Mandy.”

  “Lovely!” said Mandy, ringing the pink jodhs through the till. “They’ll be just fine for camp. I know there’s always lots of fun and games going on, and the beach ride too. You wouldn’t want to be wearing a posh jacket.” She looked kindly at Poppy.

  Poppy tried to swallow her disappointment, and smiled instead, pushing a few strands of her blonde hair behind her ear.

  “They’re brilliant. Thank you.”

  “Do you know Elaine Sanderson who owns Vale Farm?” Poppy’s mum asked Mandy.

  “Lainey?” Mandy replied. “She was only ever called Elaine when she was eventing. Yes, I do. She’s ever so nice! Did you know she jumped round the Badminton three-day event? You’re going to have a brilliant time, Poppy – her camps are very popular. It was a great idea of hers, opening up the stables.”

  Poppy started to feel a little better. She’d been looking forward to camp at the local riding school for months – she couldn’t let the wrong jodhpurs spoil it now.

  As her mum continued to chat to Mandy, another girl came into the tack shop. She was taller than Poppy, with a swishy ponytail that she flicked over one shoulder. Her mum held a list too. To Poppy’s growing dismay, the girl headed straight for the jacket – her jacket – and slipped it on over her T-shirt, doing a twirl in front of the mirror.

  “Lovely,” said her mum. “Pop it in the basket.”

  As the girl and her mum came near the till, adding in some scarlet hair ribbons and a gorgeous gold tie, Poppy grabbed the bright-pink jodhpurs and threw them into a carrier bag, hoping the girl hadn’t noticed. She wasn’t quick enough with the purple jumper though. The girl laid the beautiful tweed jacket out on the counter, giving it a little stroke, before picking up the awful jumper between her thumb and forefinger as if she couldn’t bear to touch it.

  “Here,” she said, her nose wrinkling, “you forgot this.”

  “Thanks,” Poppy muttered, stuffing the jumper into the now bulging bag. She wanted to say something about how she loved the jacket too, but instead she put her head down and scurried after her mum.

  In the car on the way home Poppy pulled her battered copy of The Manual of Horsemanship from her bag, a present from her gran a couple of Christmases ago. Poppy read it every single day and even took it to school so she could study it during break times.

  She turned to her favourite page, which showed a girl riding the most beautiful grey pony, so similar to Silver Shadow. The girl was wearing a tweed jacket just like the one in the shop and cream jodhpurs, with a navy riding hat and beautifully polished boots. Not a squiggle or glittery horseshoe in sight. Poppy never imagined pink jodhpurs when she dreamed about her grey pony. When she was riding Silver Shadow, everything had to be perfect, just like the girl in the picture.

  “You coming to the rec?”

  Evie, Poppy’s best friend, linked arms with her as the bell rang on the last day of school. The warmth of the sunshine hit the girls as they bounded down the steps. For Poppy, the summer holidays now stretched ahead full of promise and pony adventures. She couldn’t wait!

  Poppy shook her head. The recreation ground – where everyone hung around after school – was fun, but there was somewhere she needed to be.

  “Another time,” she promised her friend.

  “Ponies?” Evie grinned and Poppy nodded and gave her a quick hug before she hurried off.

  The grey was waiting in his usual spot as Poppy made her way along the now familiar path. He lived in the fields surrounding Vale Farm, which was on the edge of town and where camp would be held.

  “Hi, boy!” Putting her bag down, Poppy reached up and stroked the silken strands of Silver Shadow’s forelock, smiling as he breathed his lovely warm pony breath on to her cheek.

  “Not long until camp!” She leaned on the fence as the grey pony nibbled at her ponytail affectionately. “And I just know Lainey’s going to pair me up with you! We can canter and jump and we’ll be the perfect team. You and me, forever.” She planted a kiss on the pony’s pink muzzle, his ears flicking back and forth as if he was really listening to her.

  Poppy didn’t actually know what the pony was called, but Silver Shadow suited him perfectly and he came when she called that name. He was the most beautiful grey pony, with a smattering of darker flecks around his velvet nose and big eyes. His coat was almost pure white but Poppy knew that you never called a white pony white. It was always grey.

  They had come across each other by chance. Poppy had taken the long way home one sunny evening and – like something out of a dream – there he was, peering over the fence, his ears pricked. It was as if he had been waiting for her. Now she always took that way home. She’d think about him all day at school, doodling pictures of him across her workbook, writing poems about him in her lunch break, planning to ride him for the first time just like the girl in The Manual of Horsemanship.

  They shared a special bond. Sometimes Poppy stroked him and chatted about her day, and other times she simply curled up on the grass and watched him graze, lazily swishing flies away with his tail. She never gave him treats because Lainey, who was sometimes in the fields, had asked her not to, and Poppy knew from her books that too many treats co
uld cause colic. Her heart thudded a little faster at the thought of Silver Shadow falling ill.

  Lainey would often give Poppy a cheerful wave. “Here to see the ponies again?” She’d laugh and Poppy would nod and smile, but there was only one pony she was there to see. Even without knowing his real name, let alone having ridden him, Poppy knew he was the pony for her.

  CHAPTER 2

  “Are you sure you want to sleep here? You can just come up every morning, if you’d rather?”

  It was the first morning of camp and Poppy’s mum had just pulled up in the car outside Vale Farm. She leaned across to give Poppy a big hug and Poppy hugged her back, keeping the pony-camp booklet clutched tightly in her hand as she did so. She had studied it from cover to cover, soaking in all the information.

  Vale Farm ran week-long riding camps throughout the summer. The camps were called Sunshine Stables and they were so popular that there was a waiting list of girls and boys from town who wanted the chance to ride and care for a pony as if it was their own. There were dressage and jumping lessons and hacking and, the best bit of all, a beach ride! Poppy had often seen groups of ponies and chattering, happy riders heading down to the wide sandy cove. She longed to canter along the beach, darting in and out of the shallow waves. And now, finally, she would, and on her dream pony!

  “Definitely,” she said, hoping she sounded a little more confident than she felt. She sat back in her seat and looked at the bright cover of the booklet. A girl, being nuzzled by a beautiful pony, smiled back at her. “I’ll be fine.” She pointed across the cobbled yard, which was already busy with pony-camp kids and their parents. “I think that barn over there is where we stay.”

  “Looks a little draughty,” said her mum. “I hope you’ll be comfortable.”

  Poppy watched the chickens scratching around under stable doors, and a couple of cats sunning themselves on the mounting block. And then she had to look twice as a sheep pushed open the little gate from one of the paddocks and sauntered across the yard, heading straight for the pile of suitcases and bags! Through the car window, she heard gentle whinnies and the clip-clop of ponies’ hooves mingling with the excited chatter of the other children. She didn’t care about being comfortable. She’d dreamed about staying at Vale Farm for months and finally she was here!

  “I’m sure you’ll have a lovely time, but you can always call me if you’re feeling homesick,” added her mum.

  Poppy smiled. “I know. Thanks, Mum.”

  They only lived down the road but she didn’t want to miss a second of her time with Silver Shadow.

  “OK,” her mum said. “I’ll get you all booked in.”

  Stepping out of the car before her mum drove off to park, Poppy plucked at the sleeve of her purple horseshoe jumper and looked around. Taking a deep breath, she took a few steps towards a friendly-looking girl.

  “Hi! Um, I’m—” she began, before the girl waved to someone behind her.

  “Izz!” the girl called in a confident voice straight over Poppy’s head. “Over here!”

  “Hey, Daisy!”

  Turning around, Poppy immediately recognised the girl from the tack shop, the one who’d bought her beautiful jacket. That’s who the girl – Daisy – had been smiling at.

  Izzy glanced at Poppy, then looked her up and down.

  “Oh, I thought I’d seen you before,” she said in a cool voice. “From Mandy’s shop, right?”

  Poppy glanced down at her jumper. The sequinned horseshoes seemed even more garish now.

  “Yes,” she said. “That’s it. Hi.”

  “Yeah. Hi.”

  Poppy didn’t know what else to say. Izzy hugged her friend and the two of them strolled off.

  Feeling awkward, Poppy scuffed her jodhpur boots on the cobbles, wondering what to do.

  “Hey!” A friendly voice interrupted her thoughts and to Poppy’s relief a small girl bounded up, long black hair in a neat plait. “I’m Amina. Isn’t this exciting?”

  “Can’t wait to find out which pony we’re riding!” Another girl with a mass of curly black hair and a mischievous smile joined her on Poppy’s other side. “Do you have any idea which pony you might be paired up with?”

  “Hi! And no, not yet.” Poppy hesitated. She didn’t want to say yes, even though she knew in her heart she’d be paired with Silver Shadow!

  “Sophieee, we’ll find out soon enough.” Amina grinned at the other girl. “Look, someone’s coming. And she’s got the list!”

  As the parents gave their children a final hug goodbye, a smiling groom, trailed by a scruffy-looking spaniel, gathered all the camp members into the cool of the barn. As well as Sophie, Amina, Izzy from the tack shop and Daisy, there were several other girls and a couple of boys, all clutching the camp booklet. Among them, a friendly-looking boy with sandy hair and freckles was buzzing around.

  “Hey!” The boy joined Poppy, Amina and Sophie. “I’m Jack. Lainey’s my mum,” he explained. “I’m chuffed you’re all here – might give me a break from the mucking out!” He was smiling as he said this, so Poppy grinned back.

  “Emily!” Jack waved at a tall girl who was watching from the garden gate. She looked very like Jack, with the same sandy hair. “Come and say hi!”

  Emily just scowled and folded her arms. Jack rolled his eyes.

  “That’s my sister. Ignore her,” he said cheerfully. “She hates this bit, where everyone gets paired up with the ponies.”

  “Why?” Poppy asked curiously.

  “Oh, Mum’s been running these riding camps for a couple of years,” Jack said. “Loads of kids come in the summer from town and Mum does other things too throughout the year, like pony-therapy camps. She’s dead keen that everyone gets a chance to enjoy being around horses.” He gestured around at the stables where all the gorgeous ponies were watching the new arrivals with interest. “But it means we’ve got to share. I don’t mind.” He grinned. “But Emily isn’t so happy about other people riding and looking after them. Like I said,” he added with a shrug, “just ignore her.”

  “OK, kids!” The groom clapped her hands and everyone turned to listen to her. “I’m Zoe. A big welcome to Vale Farm. Are you ready for a week of pony fun?”

  Everyone cheered, and Zoe smiled.

  “So we’ll be doing plenty of riding, and there will be lots of fun and games too.” She looked around at the group. “But most importantly, I want you to take complete care of the pony Lainey has partnered you with, as if he or she was your own. Get to know them, enjoy them. They’ve all got their own special personalities, just like you, and I’m certain Lainey has paired you with your perfect pony!”

  Poppy held her breath as Zoe moved on to the bit everyone had been waiting for. It was time to find out who their pony was for the week! Lainey had asked all the camp members to fill in a form detailing their past riding experiences, as not all of the children rode at the stables regularly. Poppy thought back to her last ride, ages ago now, when she’d mastered a few strides of canter. And of course Lainey knew about her friendship with Silver Shadow because she had seen them together after school. She’d proudly put that on her form.

  “Sophie, you’re with Gorse. Amina, you’ve got Nutmeg.” Zoe started to read from her list.

  “Awesome!” Poppy heard Sophie say as she headed out of the barn and made a beeline for a gorgeous bay pony across the yard.

  Zoe moved down the list, and as she called out each child’s name, they went out into the yard to meet their pony. There was Gracie and Bobby, a handsome piebald. Then Willow was paired with Luna, and Jess, a smiley girl with long dark hair, was matched with a pony called Merlin. So far everyone looked very happy with their pony partners!

  Finally, only Poppy and Izzy were left. Poppy noticed that Izzy had on a T-shirt with her name – “Izz the Whizz” – and “Hardwick Manor Team Trials” above a logo of a jumping horse. She’ll definitely be good if she’s been on a riding team, Poppy thought.

  “You two come with me,” Zoe
said. “Let’s meet your ponies!”

  Poppy’s heart beat faster as she saw Silver Shadow leaning over his stable door, his eyes seeming to search for her.

  “OK, Izzy,” Zoe said. “That’s your pony, Misty, with the blue head collar on the hook.”

  Izzy flicked her ponytail over one shoulder and gave a cool smile. “Thanks, he’s lovely. Hope he’s a good jumper too.”

  “Oh, he’s fantastic,” Zoe replied. “He’s a little buzzy, but Lainey will talk it all through with you.”

  Izzy nodded confidently, walking towards Silver Shadow’s stable. Poppy felt the blood rush to her cheeks.

  “Right then.” Zoe smiled at Poppy, not seeming to notice her dismayed expression. “You’ve got dear old Henry. Come with me!” As Zoe marched ahead, Poppy watched Izzy pat the beautiful grey pony. Her dream pony.

  Feeling the tears start to well up in her eyes, Poppy quickly blinked them away. Her throat felt thick and lumpy, and it was hard to swallow. Zoe was now opening the door to the last stable on the row, where a dark-bay pony greeted her with a gentle whicker.

  For a moment, Poppy just stood and stared, her eyes moving from Henry’s huge hairy hooves to the tips of his furry ears. He had a bristly mane that stood up straight like a hedgehog’s prickles, and thick feathers on his solid legs. His head was a tiny bit too large for his body, but his eyes were soft and kind.

  “This is Henry,” Zoe said in an affectionate tone. “He’s a real favourite of ours. He’ll keep you safe.”

  As Zoe left to check on the other girls, Poppy patted Henry, feeling his soft and velvety coat. He turned to investigate her pockets for treats, a hopeful look on his face.

  She could hear the excited chatter of the other camp members as they hugged their ponies, calling out to each other about how lovely they were. And even worse, she could hear Izzy talking to Silver Shadow in the stable opposite.