Backstage

Chapter 5

Woken early by my alarm clock, I climbed sleepily out of my bed before opening the wooden wardrobe. I pulled out a navy and pink polo top and a pair of black jodhpurs, then went into the bathroom and had a shower, yet again the water was cold I had forgotten to change the settings as normally I wouldn't be up this early, I had offered to help Emily pick up a 4 year old pony from the other side of London, I worked in the afternoon. After drying my hair I pulled it into a ponytail and grabbed a hoodie out of the wardrobe, when my phone buzzed, with a text from Emily. "I am here, didn't want to ring to doorbell I case it woke every one else up, see u in a minute."

I didn't bother to reply, but quickly wrote a note to Esme and Millie leaving it on the kitchen table, before grabbing my hat and leaving. Emily sat in here new navy lorry, it wasn't as big as the one she takes to overnight shows but it can easily hold 3 horses, which probably suggests there's a possibility she might come back with more than one. We then set of, I had only known Emily since I had moved here but she was brilliant, and you could always rely on her, she was the yard owners daughter so we saw a lot of each other. At 23 she currently has 4 youngsters and her little 12.2 pony, but after today I would expect there will be more. She had recently got engaged to peter, and was already incredibly excited the wedding. We had a lot of laughs on the journey and when we arrived the lorry was a bit of a mess, with packets of chocolate and to many half drunk bottles of water.

The lady at the office showed us around, and left us to browse the horses and ponies for sale, we had been weaving in and out of rows and Emily had a short list of horses she wanted to enquire about, when I saw a little cremello head over the next door we cam to. The little albino pony nibbled at my coat, and for some reason he reminded of a pony I had known. It couldn't be I thought. I read the name plate attached to his door, and all the details were the same, apart from his name, he was still cute though. Emily and I then headed over to the office, were we sat down and Emily discussed each horse she had seen, as we were walking across the yard I asked about the pony I had seen, the lady said he came and was a brilliant little pony, although he could be cheeky at times, but now a lot of people have tried him but most of them have been small riders and they've been bucked of, she also said that one of the yard staff changed his name when he arrived as there was already a teddy on the yard.

"His name was teddy when he arrived". I asked excitedly.

"Yes" the women replied confused.

"Emily " I shouted, "you don't by any chance want a pony"

"I wasn't looking, why" she asked confused.

"You know I told you there were 4 ponies I absolutely loved from when I was younger, one being sugar, but there's 3 others, and I think I have found one of them" I said hoping about trying to control myself.

"Really!" She said almost as happy as I was, even though she didn't know him.

"You could always try him when I try then 2 I have decided on if you like, the yard might even want him for lessons as they only have 2 ponies at the moment." She said.

Although it was a livery yard, it offered morning private lessons, and ponies on loan for younger riders, so families who didn't have experience could learn, when there's help available.

When I rode him he felt just how he used to all those years back, he had spring in his step once he got going, and he pinged a little cross pole. I was hoping Emily thought he would be ideal for the yard as that way I could see him when I am down there, and maybe get a ride every now and then.

"I rang mum, and she said that if your prepared to ride him and get him fit then we ca have him, plus there only asking 600 for him so why not" Emily said.

"That would be great can't wait, have you found anything you like? " I asked.

"Yes I am going to take both of them so, thankfully I brought the bigger trailer" she said.

We arrived back after a successful trip, and settled them all in stables, before i tacked up to go up the cross country field, sugar was excited and it was the last chance to use it before college starts. She flew the logs and we jumped various other jumps, before we stretched out and went for a short gallop, before cooling of and heading back to the yard. I then worked the afternoon, and once I had finished I found the spare electric fencing, so split part of the field sugar and the other ponies were in, so that teddy could go out, once everything was done rang Esme who said she would pick me up, and she was just locking up costa.

Esme arrived and even she couldn't resist coming over to see teddy, when we were younger, we all rode him at our local riding school, and he was such a brilliant little pony with so much character.

"You will have to let me have a ride at some point" Esme said as we drove back to the flat.

"Of course, can't wait to tell belle as well" I said, while we parked the car

We unlocked the door and went up in the lift to floor 2 and headed to 108.

"Let's order a takeaway" Esme suggested.

"Yeah I can't be bothered to cook, and belle has been down lately we can have a cute night in" I said.

Assuming belle was alone we undid the door to find Ashley and belle, before quickly leaving.

"Omg, why would she want to do that after he walked out" Esme said, shocked by the situation.

" I don't get this he walks out and comes back, for belle, but for the wrong reasons I swear" I said angrily. "I hate him so much"

M <3