SANDY LANE STABLES, BOOK 5 - DREAM PONY

CHAPTER 11 THE COMPETITION LOOMS

"So hows that pony of yours, Jess? Fed up with it yet?" Jess's father pushed the log around the fire-grate and watching as it caught flames. A warm cosy glow filled the small sitting room. "Don't b silly, Dad," Jess laughed as she stood by the door, pulling her boots on. "I'll never get fed up of Skylark." "Well, I must say, you seem to have got it all worked out. You've organized everything very well, with the stabling and taking care of the pony, and keeping up your school work too. I admire your dedication." Jess smiled. For a fleeting moment she was tempted to join him by the fireplace and read her new pony book. But only for a moment, Skylark was waiting for her and there was Ash Hill to practise for. She waved goodbye to her dad and braced herself against the March wind as she battled her bicycle down the garden 

path. Ash Hill was now only three weeks away, but Jess had been training hard. Jasper was very excited and had hired Martin Jennings, ex-Olympic riding star, to train the Ash Hill entrants, all at his own expense. "He'll get you jumping like winners," Jasper had announced. The jumping lessons were gruelling, and the jumps they had to tackle, high. But Jess was jumping well and Martin Jennings seemed pleased with her progress. On this Saturday morning, Jasper stood in the middle of the jumping ring next to Martin and watched as Jess set off to the first, Lucy, on Dido, had just knocked two fences down, but Jess, concentrating hard, thundered clear around the course. She should have been elated, but Jasper's presence was putting a damper on things. When she brought Skylark back to a walk, Jasper called to Jess. "That was far to hesitant," he said. "Push her straight at the jump. You've got to show her who's boss." Jess swallowed hard and patted Skylark, despite Jasper's harsh words. Next it was Allison's turn for Jasper's advice as she pushed Jackdaw cautiously over the obstacles. They were going well, but this wasn't good enough for Jasper. "Too slow, Allison!" he cried. "You'll lose us vital marks if you don't step up to the pace." Allison went red and trotted Jackdaw to the far side of the ring. Samantha was next to jump on Amber. They did all right until the final wall, which Amber just caught with her rear hoof. The top brick came crashing down and Samantha rode her pony out of the

ring, shaking her head. Jasper's reaction was immediate and unforgiving. "You lost concentration, Samantha!" he shouted. "You thought Amber was home and dry. You relaxed and it cost you four faults. That's four faults I don't want to see at Ash Hill. Understood?" Samantha hung her head and mumbled a "yes". Jess winced inwardly and gave her a sympathetic glance. Samantha had jumped a good round. One fence down wasn't exactly a disaster. But Jasper was a hard taskmaster, as well as interfering. Jess could see it was difficult for Martin Jennings to teach them with Jasper breathing down his neck. Still, Martin was an excellent teacher and all the Ash Hill entrants had really improved. It was obvious that Jasper expected nothing less than a first for Rychester at Ash Hill, and with Martin's tuition, it was clear they were in with a real chance. Still, Jess shivered in her saddle. Jasper demanded perfection from his riders. But perfection wasn't always realistic, Nick had told her that enough times. Jess considered these thoughts silently as she watched Camilla spur Apollo over the first combination. Apollo cleared the jumps spectacularly and swiftly. "Wow, that was a brilliant round, Camilla," Jess called over as Camilla rode clear out of the jumping ring. "Well done, Camilla," Martin smiled quickly. "Much better," Jasper roared. But even this late praise couldn't raise Jess's spirits. Jess was glad when at last the lesson was over and, in low spirits, she jumped to the ground and ran the stirrups up. 

"You jumped very well, Skylark," she whispered as she led the pony back to her stable. She slipped the bridle off Skylark's nose and hung it on the stable door. Skylark lifted her head to her haynet and began to chomp. As Jess lifted the heavy saddle down from her back and made her way with it to the tack room, she whistled softly to herself. She didn't think she could ever get bored with this familiar routine of untacking and settling her pony - her very own pony! She thought of all the other ponies she had looked after - Minstrel and Pepper and Hector and Storm Cloud. Jess paused. Storm Cloud! Before the pony had gone lame, Jess's greatest pleasure had been riding the delicate grey Arab. Since Skylark, Jess had hardly given Storm Cloud another thought. "Is that what happens when you have your own pony?" Jess said to herself. "Poor Stormy, I wonder if her leg's any better. Maybe I should ride over to Sandy Lane this afternoon and see her. I should at least see if Rosie wants to ride Skylark after all this time." She paused, considering all this, and thought of Skylark, content in her stable. "I'll ride there now," she determined. "Before Skylark gets too settled. She's still fresh enough. She almost reached the tack room and was about to turn back to Skylark's stable when she heard shouting and angry voices coming from inside the tack room. Jess hesitated. She didn't want to eavesdrop, but she couldn't help hearing snatches of conversation. The voices were so loud it was hard not to. It was definitely Jasper in there, his enraged tones were all too familiar. The other voice sounded like Amy's. But it as an Amy that Jess hardly recognized. This Amy 

was shouting angrily. Jess was stunned. Amy was usually so calm and restrained. Perhaps Jasper was really telling her off. Jess dithered. Maybe she should go into the tack room and pretend she hadn't heard what was going on, then Jasper would have to stop his telling-off and Amy would be alright. Jess glanced nervously around the stable yard. There was no one else in sight. From inside the tack room the argument raged. "What did you say to the press about me?" Jasper screamed. "Nothing," Amy spat back. "Why? Do you have something to hide Jasper?" Zoom! A huge jet roared over head and Amy's voice was drowned out. Jess turned on her heel and rushed back to Skylark's stable. "Well, it's a good job we're going out on another ride after all, girl," she said to the surprised pony. "Trying to put your saddle back in its proper place would have been like walking into a lion's den. Come on, let's go and see some old friends of mine." Half an hour later, Jess and Skylark turned into Sandy Lane. Jess's heart pounded as she neared the stable buildings. Everything seemed very quiet as she slipped down from the saddle and led Skylark along 

the rows of stables, looking for Storm Cloud. Suddently Jess's heart leapt. There was dear Stormy now, poking her delicate grey nose out of the last stable door. But Jess hesitated, for Storm Cloud was not alone. Hunched over the door a familiar figure stood talking softly to the pony. Jess stopped silently as she observed Nick Brooks checking on his horses. Suddenly Skylark snorted and shuffled her hooves noisily on the stone path. Storm Cloud whinnied in reply and Nick turned his head sharply. He saw Jess at once. "Hello," he said. "We haven't seen you around here for a while. Everyone's out on a hack I'm afraid." "Oh." Jess was almost embarrassed as she tried to explain. "What with one thing and another, I realized I'd forgotten about poor old Stormy," she began. "Well, she certainly hasn't forgotten you," Nick laughed as Storm Cloud craned her head over the stable door and chewed expectantly at Jess's coat pocket. "Looking for treats I presume?" Nick smiled. "Well she's in luck," said Jess triumphantly, fishing out a stray suger lump from the depths of her pocket. "I saved one just for her." "Better not make this other one jealous," Nick said, indicating Skylark. "Is this your prize pony?" "Um, yes." Jess's pride in Skylark was tinged with shame at not bringing her to see Nick sooner. "She's lovely," Nick smiled kindly and rubbed Skylark's nose." And how's Rychester working out?" "Oh." Jess didn't know what to say. She thought of Jasper Carlisle and his short temper. She couldn't imagine him taking time to talk to one of his horses. 

She thoughts of Camilla and her superior ways, of the gleamingly clinical stable yard at Rychester, of the fierce argument she had heard between Amy and Jasper earlier. "Oh, it's brilliant," she said finally. "Everybody's really nice there." "Good." Nick smiled down at her. "I'm glad it's working out for you Jess. Although we all miss you at Sandy Lane of course." Jess was silent. She hadn't known that. Not really. She hoped it was true, but to hear Nick say it... Suddenly she was engulfed by an enormous wave of sorrow and regret. I miss Sandy Lane too! she wanted to cry out. But she couldn't say that now, not after she just told Nick how brilliant everything was. Suddenly Jess didn't want to hang about an more. She didn't want to smile brightly and answer the inevitable questions about Rychester that her friends would be bound to ask on returning from their ride. "I have to go," she said quickly to Nick. "Will you tell everyone I said hello, and I'll see them soon?" Nick nodded and Jess gave Strom Cloud a pat goodbye. Waving to Nick, she mounted Skylark and began the ride back to Rychester. A she walked Skylark along the winding country lanes, she thought about Nick and Stormy, and about Sandy Lane too. Then she thought about Skylark and Rychester. "I should be the happiest girl in the world, Skylark," she said to her pony. "I've got you and we're jumping in a really good competition soon and I'm part of the smartest riding school around. So why do I feel so 

miserable?" But of course, Skylark didn't reply. As they clattered back into the yard at Rychester, Jess felt strangely empty. Wearily she slipped down from Skylark's saddle. But suddenly here was Camilla, striding towards her. "It's a good you're always so keen on tacking Skylark yourself," Camilla said crossly. "What do you mean?" Jess asked. "Well, Amy's not around to do it any more," Camilla anounced. "Daddy's gone and sacked her."