Poppy and Prince (6 page)

Jody told me later that my years of experience had really shone through then. I’ve been thinking about it all day, and I can’t stop smiling to myself. In fact I am beaming about it right now!

After a while Western Bob said, “Okay, who wants to try loping?”

I said yes loudly with everyone else, but I didn’t realize that loping is Western for canter – I thought it meant lassoing.

As Western Bob explained how to move from a jog into a lope (which is almost the same as asking for canter), I was getting more and more nervous, and trying to catch Jody’s eye. I know I managed a few strides yesterday, but I still wasn’t feeling confident about it – especially not in front of Jennifer.

Suddenly Jennifer pointed at me and said, “Excuse me, Poppy won’t want to do this because she had a fall and…”

Western Bob raised a hand and she instantly stopped talking. He came over to me and gave Prince a pat. Then Jody got everyone else to walk on while we had a private talk.

“Poppy, I really think you can do it,” said Western Bob. “You have a great seat and you’re so in tune with Prince. Just relax and let everything else follow from there. Do you want to give it a try?”

I took a deep breath and nodded.

Western Bob grinned.

I joined the back of the ride and waited for my turn. No one was getting it right away and that made me feel much better. When it was my go I sat to the jog and tried to relax, then asked on the corner and suddenly it happened – I was cantering (well, loping!).

I felt comfortable and safe in the Western saddle and I just relaxed and went with Prince’s movements. He seemed to know exactly where to go, so steering wasn’t a problem. When I reached the back of the ride, I couldn’t help looking over at Western Bob. He was looking at me too – with a wink and a smile! We had two more goes at loping before the lesson ended and I loved every second of it.

Afterwards, we had a yummy cowboy cook-out with sausages and beans, and this strange not-very-nice combo called biscuits and gravy that cowboys used to eat. Then we remounted for some Western games. And guess what? Amanda and April were the captains and they BOTH wanted me in their team!

We had a go at barrel racing and then we played a relay game where you have to pick up
flags. I was so busy concentrating on getting the Western steering right and weaving round the barrels and grabbing the flags that I didn’t even think about the fact that I was loping. I was just doing it.

And I felt really pleased when Amanda put me up against Millie, because she obviously thought we were the same kind of standard and I had a chance of beating her. I never dreamt I’d be doing so well this week – and it’s all because of Prince!

I’m so lucky I got him.

When we got back it was nearly time for tea but I begged Jody to let me walk Prince down the ramp of the horsebox and up to the field. When it was just us I gave him a big cuddle and thanked him for being such a fab pony. “Without you, I’d still be scared to even trot!” I told him. “You’ve given me my riding back!”

Prince tossed his mane then, looking very proud!

It was cool because we were given these ribbons on pins for doing well at the Western ranch and I’m wearing mine right now, on my PJs. I’m going to wear it when I ride tomorrow too, to give me the courage to carry on cantering!

Oops, Jody’s just come in and said absolutely everyone has been in the shower and they all went downstairs ages ago and if I don’t hurry up I’ll miss my hot chocolate – so I’m going right now!

I’m writing this with Millie’s torch again!

Amanda and April came into our room after hot chocolate and we were all chatting about the Western riding. They were saying how well I did today, and being really encouraging, and instead of feeling embarrassed, I was just pleased that they were being so nice. In fact, I don’t know why I was so scared to tell everyone about the fall, and I kind of wish I’d been honest from the beginning. (But there’s no way I’m admitting that to Jennifer!)

Then April and Amanda asked Millie if James (her big bro) has a girlfriend! Millie went, “Urgh, gross!” really loudly and we all burst out laughing (except Jennifer, who was acting a bit sniffity for some reason).

Talking about James made me think of my brother Luke, and Mum and Dad too. I’m really looking forward to seeing them again on Friday when they come to the gymkhana. I just hope the progress I made today sticks when I’m back in an English saddle. But I think that as long as I have my

Prince, I’ll be fine!

When Amanda and April had gone back to their own room and it was lights-out, I thought we’d be doing our usual silly whispering and telling ghost stories and jokes and stuff, but instead Jennifer said, “Well, I don’t see why we bothered learning Western,” in a sulky voice. “It won’t help us improve our normal riding.”

“Of course it will!” I cried. “It really helped my confidence and—”

“Shhh!” went Millie.

“Sorry,” I whispered. “And anyway, Jennifer, not everything’s about competition and improving. Some things can just be for fun. Like the gymkhana!”

Jennifer did a kind of snort and said, “Don’t be so silly, Poppy. The gymkhana is going to be 100% competitive. Still, you won’t be able to win anything on Prince because he’s so slow, so maybe it’s best if you just try and enjoy it for fun.”

I felt instantly sick then. This time I knew that she
meant
to be nasty to me.

“Jennifer, what’s wrong—” I began, but she just jumped out of bed and flounced off to the bathroom. Millie whispered, “Don’t take any notice of her! She’s just cross because she really worships April and Amanda and they only complimented you. She’s jealous!”

When Jennifer came back I tried to keep my voice from going wobbly and told her, “If you’re my friend you should be happy that I’m doing better now.”

I thought she’d say sorry straight away but instead she turned and hissed at me, “First you used your fall to make everyone feel sorry for you, and now you’re some kind of expert on Western riding!”

I couldn’t believe that! “I was NOT trying to make people feel sorry for me!” I shouted. “I didn’t even want anyone else to know. And it was YOU who told them! And it was YOU who claimed to be the expert on Western riding, not me!”

“Shhh!” went Millie, again.

“No more noise, girls!” Jody called up the stairs.

Jennifer didn’t say anything after that. Instead she just huffed and puffed about, making the
whole bunk bed shake, but after a while it stopped so I guess she must have fallen asleep. Soon Millie had too. I was so tired, but I couldn’t sleep – I kept thinking about what had happened. I hate falling out with people, even if it’s not my fault. But I feel a lot better now I’ve put everything down in here. There’s no way I’m being friends with Jennifer any more – not after she said those things.

Anyway, I’m going to forget about her and close my eyes and think about my lovely Prince.