Riding Friends

Chapter Four

The next morning, Harriet scrambled into her leggings and long-sleeved top as soon as she woke up, before sprinting downstairs to pour herself a bowl of cereal, which she gobbled down at record speed. Before Mum had even finished her breakfast, Harriet was waiting on the doorstep in her wellies.
"Come on, Mum!" Harriet called, struggling to unlock the front door as Mum pulled on her boots. Harriet rushed out into the car and Mum started the engine, slotting the keys into the gap.
"Does this thing go any faster?!" Harriet moaned. They had only just left the driveway, but to Harriet it seemed to have taken ages. Mum laughed.
"I know you're eager to get to the stables, but it won't make your lesson start any sooner."
Harriet sighed. "I know," she admitted, "but I still want to catch up with Pipa."
Mum promised to go as fast as it was safe to go, and they arrived at the stables five minutes later.
Harriet leaped out of the car and swung open the yard gate, breathing in the smell of horse. The yard was buzzing with people; some there for lessons, others to stay for the day and help out. She screwed up her eyes, searching for Pipa. Just then, Harriet noticed a familiar straggle of ginger hair disappearing into a stable.
"Pipa!" She exclaimed, skidding round the corner. Pipa noticed Harriet and grinned.
"Hi!" She exclaimed, rushing over to hug her friend. Harriet smiled, hugging Pipa back. They broke apart;
"I'm sorry I didn't reply to your first email, Harriet," Pipa apologised, "It came up on my phone but said I wasn't able to reply to it — it was a different brand of phone or something. Anyway, how did you manage to email me in the end?"
Harriet felt a rush of relief surge through her — she was so glad that Pipa hadn't had second thoughts on giving her her email. She suddenly snapped back into reality, hearing Pipa's question.
"Mum bought me my own phone!" Harriet announced, digging her device out of her hoodie pocket, where she had stored it on the condition she would remember to give it to Mum before she rode. Pipa gasped, bringing her own phone out. They were the same make, and both a glossy rose pink.
"Yours is so cool! H-C... Harriet? What does the 'C' stand for?" Pipa asked.
"My full name is Harriet-Charlie," Harriet explained.
Pipa nodded. "Hey, you didn't tell me that! There's so much we don't know about each other — we need to get to know each other more."
"Yeah," Harriet agreed, "We should meet up, or I could come for the day at the stables one day too."
Suddenly, a voice interrupted them.
"Anyone in the 10:30 lesson? Please choose your ponies; bring them into the indoor arena. If you need help, the older girls are waiting by the office, just come and ask one of them." Katherine's announcement rang out across the yard. Only knowing the name of one pony, Harriet panicked.
"Pipa, who am I going to ride?!" She worried, desperately looking around. Pipa smiled.
"Don't worry, I've sorted that for you."

The pony that Pipa had picked was a 14 hand Friesian mare, named Bella.
"This is my favourite pony," Pipa told Harriet, gazing into the gorgeous pony's hazelnut eyes. "She can be a bit speedy, but I think you will be fine on her."
Harriet eyed Bella up. Then decided to trust her friend.
"Okay, I'll give her a go."

Within a couple of minutes, Harriet was on board the beautiful mare, attempting to steady herself against Bella's fidgety 'stand-still'.
"It's okay, girl," she murmured, twining her gloved fingers into Bella's mane. Pipa stood by her favourite pony's head as she stroked the boldly defined face. Smiling down proudly at them, Mum sat on the viewing gallery.
"Don't look so nervous Harriet!"
Harriet fixed a nervous grin on her face. Just then, Kelly called out to the group to walk around the arena. When Harriet squeezed Bella's sides with her heels, the mare raised her head and sprung into a lively march.
"Woah!" Harriet exclaimed, tugging vainly on the reins. Pipa spoke calmly,
"Pull back slightly on the reins and hold them there, that's called a half-halt. There, that's calmed her down," she sighed, patting Bella's sleek black neck. Harriet relaxed slightly and let her body move in the rhythm of Bella's steps.

Kelly moved into the centre of the arena.
"Okay, helpers!" She called, "everyone is going to be doing some walking around by themselves now, so please come into the middle of the arena." Pipa walked away, turning back once by Kelly to smile and shoot a thumbs up at Harriet. The now more-confident rider smiled gratefully back as she guided Bella around the cones that Kelly had set up. As the rest of the ride rode large again, Harriet squeezed Bella's sides with her heels; the jumpy mare had calmed down after a few half-halts and was now easy and responsive to ride. They walked into the far right corner of the arena and down the right-hand wall, half of which was open to the outside wall. Bella stuck her head over the barrier. Suddenly, a huge black crow swooped down from the arena roof, soaring into the arena and perching on a roof beam. Bella jerked back, crashing into the other ponies and, raising her front legs, reared again and again.
"Argghhhhhh!" Harriet screamed, as she was thrown about, clinging onto the reins. Moments later, she landed on the floor with a thud.

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A/N Hi sorry to end on a tiny bit of a cliff hanger but as I publish this I am already half way through chapter five as I was writing it offline and couldn't publish this till I got home so I just did the next chapter too ;) so I'll update soon comment and vote if u want more x
Meppy xox