Sophie and Shine (3 page)

I had such a great time with Shine this morning, and Jody’s lesson was really fun. She’s even nice when she’s telling you how to correct something. Like, this morning, I wasn’t sitting back and down enough in my canter, and she called out, “Sophie, if you keep leaning on the reins I’ll make you do it without them!” and everyone laughed.

Sally’s group rides in the next manège and she quite often yells at them, not in a nasty way or anything but just kind of shouting, “Leg, leg, leg!” so it’s a bit more strict than in our group. I’m still hoping to move up this week, though!

Oh, and Shanice cantered this morning! She held the pommel the first time to get her confidence and then she had another go with
just the reins. She was grinning all over her face when Prince came to a stop, and she gave him a big pat to say well done.

It was brilliant at the end of the lesson too because Jody had us doing round-the-worlds as fast as we could – Beth was great at it, and we were all amazed by her whizzing legs, especially as she’s only been riding a few months! But she said she used to be in the gymnastics team at her old school, so that explains it! Then we did riding with our arms out to the sides (as in with no reins) to help with our balance. Cracker kept wandering off across the manège, even though Grace was really using her legs, and that had us all giggling.

After our break, we went to the barn for a lecture. It was all about grooming and Daisy brought out some ribbons she’d bought specially to put in Twinkle’s tail for the gymkhana (there’s a tack and turnout comp as
well as the races and stuff). She asked Lydia to show us how to do a tail plait as well as a full groom, so we all got to see how it was done.

The ribbons looked very smart tied on the end of the plait and Lydia did it really, really neatly, so now we all want our ponies to look like that for the gymkhana! She borrowed Shanice’s lovely brushes for the grooming demonstration and then when we did our own ponies, everyone was asking if they could borrow them too. I brought Shine into the barn to be with the other ponies (most of them are turned out at night), and after we’d given them a thorough groom we had a go at the tail plaiting. It was much, much harder than it looked and mine came out a bit wrong, but Courtney helped me to sort it out. She was really good at it and her fingers were flicking over and under and the plait got longer and
longer at lightning speed. I even had to get her to slow down so I could see what she was doing. She said that her mum does French plaits for weddings and they’re not all that different to tail plaits for ponies! There’s still plenty of time for me to practise before Friday, luckily!

Oh dear, another strange thing has happened and now I don't know what to think. Millie and Beth are on washing-up duty at the moment (I'm on tomorrow with Shanice), so I've got a bit of time to write about it in my diary.

But first, let me just write about the fab pony stuff we did this afternoon. To start with we had a lecture about road safety and first aid, and what to do if you get lost on a hack (which is find a landmark if possible and then call the yard for help), and then we actually went out on one all together! Me, Millie and
Beth chattered all the way round, apart from when we had to concentrate on trotting up the hills and going through this river without coming off and getting very wet! I really wish Millie and Beth lived near me so we could hang round together all the time. And I wish Shine could be my pony for ever!

Then, when we got back, the strange thing happened. After the hack, we were untacking and doing yard duties, and when I went to put Shine's bridle back in the tack room, I found Daisy searching through her tack box with Grace and Shanice. They explained that
Twinkle's ribbons had gone missing. Daisy looked a bit upset so I gave her a hug and said, “Don't worry, we'll find them.”

While they searched all over the tack room and the yard, I went back to the barn where we'd had the demonstration in case the ribbons had fallen into the straw. As I stood there, I remembered something that hadn't seemed at all important this morning. I'd noticed that while we were packing away, Daisy's ribbons
did
fall into the straw. I was about to go and get them for her when Courtney picked them up. I turned to get my hoof pick from Grace and of course I just assumed that Courtney put them back in Daisy's tack box, but what if she hadn't? They certainly aren't there now. What if Courtney thought no one was looking and sneaked them into her pocket instead? Oh, that can't be true, can it?

Suddenly I found myself thinking about Izzy's purple silk as well, which still hasn't turned up. Courtney was the one who tried it on her hat when we were swapping stuff yesterday. But surely she couldn't have taken it – and Daisy's ribbons. Could she?

When I got back to the tack room the ribbons still hadn't been found, though.

“Listen, don't worry, Mum's got a big box of ribbons for everyone to use for the gymkhana,” Millie was telling Daisy. “If yours don't turn up, you can choose some new ones from there. We'll let you have first pick, won't we, girls?” We all nodded and Daisy cheered up a bit after that.

Millie seems convinced that Daisy's ribbons just got lost somewhere, but I'm not so sure.

After dinner just now, when we were all
clearing the plates away, I got up the courage to ask Courtney if she'd seen Daisy's ribbons in the barn at the end of the lecture. She didn't even look startled or anything and she just said, “Yeah, I did. They'd fallen into the straw so I just picked them up and put them back in her tack box. They must have gone missing after that.” I was silent for a moment, thinking, and she gave me a funny look and said, “Why do you ask?” I quickly shook my head and mumbled, “No reason.”

Luckily I can stop thinking about it now because it's time to go outside. We were going to have a film tonight because of the rain but it's stopped now so we're playing rounders instead. I hope my team wins!

Millie and Beth are asleep, but I feel wide awake after what just happened. I’m worried Millie thinks I’m a bit horrible or something. I wasn’t going to say anything, but we had such a good time playing rounders together (we didn’t win, but never mind!) and then whispering after lights out, that it just sort of came out.

First, I made them promise not to tell anyone, and then I told them about how I’d seen Courtney pick up the ribbons in the barn, but that I wasn’t sure if she really had put them into Daisy’s tack box. And I reminded them that Courtney was the one who’d really liked the purple silk, too.

They were both silent for a long time and I started to wish I hadn’t said anything. Then
Millie said, “But Sophie, we were all admiring Izzy’s silk in the yard, and Courtney did say she’d put the ribbons back when you asked her.”

“Yeah, I suppose so,” I mumbled. “Beth? What do you think?” I whispered then, but there was no reply. What a shame she’d fallen asleep just when I needed her to back me up.

Millie sighed loudly. “Look, the silk could have been pulled off Izzy’s hat by accident and fallen down somewhere,” she whispered. “And as for Daisy’s ribbons, they could have blown out of her tack box as she came back across the yard, and maybe even been swept up by now. You can’t just accuse someone – you have to be sure.”

I didn’t say anything after that. I just lay here, feeling really awkward. After a while Millie fell asleep so I found my torch and got
out my diary. Oh, I really hope she doesn’t think badly of me for mentioning it. And I’m glad Beth didn’t hear me after all. Us three get on so well, it would be awful if we fell out over this!

I feel a bit better now I’ve written all that down. I’m going to try to sleep, so that the morning comes quicker and I can see Shine again. Jody says we’re off on our
carriage-driving
trip tomorrow too – I’m really looking forward to that!

I wolfed down my breakfast this morning so I could be first out for yard duty. I couldn't wait to see Shine and have a private talk to her about what happened last night. After filling a few of the water buckets for Lydia, I got on with giving Shine a good groom before tacking up. As I combed Shine's mane, I told her all about the silk and the ribbons in a low voice. I was careful that no one overheard, especially because by then the yard was busy with all the girls getting their ponies ready. Everyone was talking about our carriage-driving trip – they were all just as excited as me!

When I'd told Shine everything, she nuzzled into my shoulder, like she was telling me I was right to say something last night after all.

And it turns out I really was – because just then Shanice came running out of the tack room and straight over to Shine's stable. “Sophie, my body brush, from my grooming kit, it's disappeared!” she wailed, tears in her eyes.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

She nodded miserably. “I cleaned my kit and put it away before dinner yesterday,” she mumbled. “I even double checked I had everything because I'd been lending things out.”

I came out of Shine's stable and put my arm round her, and Millie, Daisy, Grace and Beth hurried over to find out what was wrong (the older girls were busy helping Lydia in the top
barn). As Shanice explained, I gave Millie a meaningful look. She frowned and said, “Okay, it does look like something funny is going on. Let's go to Mum.”

So we all marched off to the kitchen and told Jody about the brush. We also mentioned the silk not turning up, and about Daisy's ribbons going missing. I felt so sorry for Shanice and I really wanted to tell Jody what I suspected about Courtney, too, but Millie gave me a sharp look and mouthed the words “no proof”. She's right, there isn't any, so I'll just have to find a way to get some. I really think Courtney is stealing things now and I can't let her get away with it.

I felt loads better when Jody took charge. She sent Millie to ask the yard staff if anyone had borrowed the brush in the evening without putting it back (they hadn't). And she asked Beth to go up to the top barn to bring
back the older girls, and then got us to check all the Sunnyside tack boxes in case it had somehow been put back in the wrong one. We also looked in every stable, the office, the barns and the house. When none of the things were found, Jody just stood frowning for a moment, thinking. Then she snapped out of it. “Right, girls, I'm sure we'll sort this out,” she said briskly. “On a brighter note, Sophie, you're moving into Group B this morning. Well done for improving so much.”

I couldn't believe it! I've done it! I've been moved up!

Everyone gave me a clap, which was so cool, and I couldn't help beaming. Then we had to hurry up and finish tacking up for our lessons, because we were running a bit late after hunting for the brush.

My first lesson in Group B didn't go that well, actually. I was a bit nervous that I wouldn't
be able to do what the others could, and of letting Sally down, and I think Shine picked up on that. She was really skittish, and after she knocked down a pole on the jump we were popping, she kept spooking and running out at the last minute. Sally told me to try again and again, so Shine wouldn't think that being naughty was going to get her out of jumping. I didn't really want to because I felt like it wasn't Shine's fault she didn't want to pop the jump, and that she was honestly scared. I wouldn't even give her a tap with the crop before going over, as Sally had asked me to.

Instead, I just kept failing and I got more and more flustered until Sally told me to come into the middle and take a break. I did have another go and I got Shine over in the end, but I felt so annoyed with myself. Sally must think I'm a rubbish rider!

At least it wasn't as if everyone in Group B was riding perfectly (which is what I'd imagined!). When we did some sitting trot, Izzy lost her hold on the reins and Mischief took advantage, cutting the corner off, and Aneela was bobbling around clutching Charm's mane. Courtney called out, “Ow, my bum!” and everyone else laughed, but I didn't feel like joining in, I couldn't stop thinking about what she'd done.

Anyway, after a while in sitting trot I remembered to let my legs and seat bones go soft. Once I'd stopped trying to grip on I got into a good rhythm and it was like my bum was glued to the seat – for a few strides anyway! I was hoping Sally would notice and she did, saying, “Well done, Sophie, lovely!” I'm glad she's seen me do one thing well, anyway. I can't wait to show Mum and Dad how much I've improved this week!

And the lecture was the best one we've had yet! It was called ‘All About Ponies' and covered everything from points of the horse to colour and markings, conformation and breeds. I acted silly to make Shanice laugh and help take her mind off the missing brush.

Lydia obviously had the same idea as me about cheering Shanice up because she asked her to get Prince out of the barn to be the demonstration pony, and let her hold him
while she showed us the points of the horse.

Aneela was really sweet to Shanice as well, and she lent her this cool pink and purple stripy lead rope to bring Prince out with. I'm determined to catch the thief (you know who!) and get Shanice her brush back, but I don't know how. I'll have to try and come up with a plan!

Anyway, after the demonstration bit, it was really fun because we went round the yard in twos seeing how many markings we could spot. Me and Shanice spent ages trying to
work out whether Shine has a big snip or a short stripe! In the end we decided that she's so special and unique that maybe there isn't even a name for her marking, so we made one up – a strinip!

I have to stop writing, we're off on our trip now. I've never been in a carriage before and I can't wait! I wonder if it will be a grand one like they sometimes have in those old-fashioned shows on TV, or more like a farm cart, or even a racing chariot! I wonder what the horses and ponies will be like and if we'll get to help put the harnesses and stuff on them. I wonder … oh, I guess I'll just have to wait and see!