Show-Jumping Dreams (4 page)

From the next stall, Comet gave a soft whicker of encouragement. Pasha nickered back softly and then lay down with a contented sigh. Alex gave her a final pat and made sure she had food and water. Then she fed Comet and started her usual stable chores.

She suddenly felt a strange warm tingling sensation in her fingertips as bright violet sparks ignited in Comet’s caramel coat. His ears crackled with tiny rainbow bolts of magical power. Her eyes widened. What was going on?

She watched in total amazement as there was a whooshing noise and thousands of tiny fireflies shot into the air.
Swoosh! Rustle! Shine!
They rushed about swiftly scooping up soiled straw and dropping it into a wheelbarrow, and busily cleaning and polishing the bridles hanging on a nearby hook.

Alex stood by, her hands at her sides, feeling a bit uncomfortable as there was nothing for her to do. Soon all the work was done. The glittery helpers dissolved into sparkly dust and disappeared. Alex
took a deep breath as she realized there was something she had to get straight.

“Thanks so much for helping me, Comet. But I really don’t mind doing this work,” she said tactfully. “Actually, I enjoy it. It’s all part of looking after a pony.”

“I did not think of that. Thank you for explaining. I will ask if you need help next time,” Comet neighed.

Alex smiled, glad that her magical
friend understood and she hadn’t hurt his feelings. “Zoe will be here soon. Dad said we could practice jumping in the field. It’s going to be fun. Maxi’s pretty good. But I’ve got a feeling that you’re going to be even better.”

Comet snorted happily as she led him out of the stable into the yard. “I like Zoe and Maxi.”

Alex had just finished tacking him up and was tightening the girth around his tummy when she heard hoofbeats. She whirled around with an eager smile and saw two riders coming up the winding lane toward the farm.

She frowned. “That’s strange. Who’s that with Zoe? Oh, it’s her cousin Saffron,” she said, her spirits sinking.

“You do not sound pleased,” said Comet.

“It’s just that I was looking forward to having fun today with you, Zoe, and Maxi,” Alex admitted. “It won’t be the same with Saffron. Oh well, she’s here now. I guess it will be okay. It won’t be for that long.”

Comet looked up curiously as the two girls trotted through the farm gate.

Zoe stood up in her stirrups and waved. “Hi, Alex! Guess what? My aunt and uncle and Saffron have come to stay with me for the school break. She can practice jumping with us.”

“Oh, okay.” Alex tried not to sound too rude but still felt a prickle of dismay at the thought of having to share her best friend for two whole weeks. Saffron was older than both of them. Alex had only met her once before, and she didn’t
know her all that well.

“Hi, Alex.” Zoe’s twelve-year-old cousin sat on a flashy pony. She wore pink-and-black gloves that matched her stylish riding helmet. Her saddle cloth had her name on it in glittery writing.

“Hi, Saffron.” Alex forced a smile, making an effort to be friendly. “Your pony’s really pretty. What’s her name?”

“Sparkly Fairy Princess,” Saffron said.

“Oh . . . okay. Cool.” But despite the fussy name, the gray pony was really
beautiful, with an elegant head and large dark eyes. Her silvery mane flopped prettily over her forehead.

“Zoe told me what happened at the horse show. That’s too bad about Pasha.”

“Yeah. It was pretty awful. The vet says she’ll be okay, though,” Alex told her.“That’s good. It’s horrible when your pony’s hurt.” Saffron ran her eyes over Comet. “That palomino you’re taking care of seems friendly. What’s he like to ride?”

“I haven’t had a chance to find out yet. His name is Comet, by the way,” Alex told her. “I’ll be riding him for the first time today.”

Saffron nodded. “It’s always exciting to ride a new pony, isn’t it?”

“Yes.” Alex thought Saffron seemed
confident, but also quite friendly. Maybe having her around wouldn’t be so bad, after all.

“Saffron’s going to give us some neat jumping tips. She really knows her stuff. Uncle Tim’s won tons of competitions,” Zoe said, smiling.

Alex remembered that Saffron’s dad was Tim Hall-Chapman, a top show jumper.

“Yeah! Trust me, by the time I’ve finished putting you two through your paces, you’ll be jumping like professionals,” Saffron said, with a determined glint in her eye.

“Um . . . good.” Alex’s smile wavered a bit. She wasn’t sure whether Zoe’s cousin meant that as a promise or a threat.

“No, not like that! Do it like
this
!” Saffron instructed bossily, waving her arms as Alex assembled the last jump. “Hurry up!”

Alex sighed. It had taken the three girls over an hour to set up the course of jumps in the field. And Saffron had found fault with every one of them.

Alex bit back a rude comment as she
repositioned the poles for the third time. Finally, the last fence was in place and Saffron gave her a thumbs-up.

“I’m surprised she didn’t want me to get a ruler to measure the jumps, too,” she complained to Comet in a whisper. “Anyone would think this was a perfectly fine show-jumping arena!”

Comet’s sandy mane stirred in the cool breeze. “Saffron seems to want everything just right.”

“Tell me about it!” Alex grumbled as she mounted the magic pony.

On the ride back down the field to Zoe and Saffron, Alex’s mood lightened. Comet was wonderful to ride. She loved the way he moved with a smooth stride, arching his supple neck and holding his head high.

When she stopped next to Zoe and Maxi, the big brown-and-white pony turned his head toward Comet and gave a friendly blow. The two ponies were already getting along well.

Alex took a deep breath. “Okay. We’re finally ready. Who wants to go—” she began.

“Me first!” Saffron was already urging the gray pony forward. She and Princess streaked toward the first fence.

“She’s pretty eager, isn’t she?” Zoe said admiringly, gazing at her cousin.

“That’s one way of putting it,” Alex murmured.

They watched as Saffron handled Princess expertly and sailed over all the fences. The gray pony trotted back to them with her ears pricked.

“Way to go!” Zoe cried. “That was great!”

“Well done, Saffron!” Alex added. She had to admit that Saffron was an amazing rider.

Saffron made a face. “Those little jumps are easy-peasy! Princess could almost step over them. We’re used to much more challenging ones,” she boasted.

They might be little but they’re the best we’ve got!
Alex thought, a bit annoyed,
especially after all the fuss Saffron had made about getting them just right. Besides, her dad had gone to a lot of trouble to gather together the poles and other props so they could have fun jumping.

Zoe went next. Alex and Saffron sat side by side, watching and calling out encouragement from where they sat on their ponies.

As Maxi cantered toward a fence, Alex noticed that Zoe was leaning a little too far forward.

Saffron saw it as well. Her voice suddenly boomed out. “For goodness’ sake, sit up straight. And keep your hands and heels down!”

Zoe jerked on the reins and almost jumped out of her skin. Maxi stepped
sideways and crashed into the fence, knocking down a pole.

Alex rode toward her. “Is Maxi okay?” she asked worriedly. “I hope he didn’t hurt himself.”

Zoe dismounted and checked her pony’s knees and legs. “He seems fine,” she said.

Saffron looked down from Princess.
“Why didn’t you do what I told you?” she demanded.

Alex began helping Zoe rebuild the fence. “You’d probably have been all right if Saffron hadn’t yelled at you like that,” she sympathized. “It put you off your stride.”

Saffron’s brows dipped in a fierce frown. “What’s the big deal? I was only trying to help! It’s not my fault if she didn’t listen!”

“Well, maybe if you didn’t shout like a foghorn—” Alex began.

“It doesn’t matter now,” Zoe cut in hastily. “I’ll do better next time. Your turn, Alex.” She mounted Maxi and then she and Saffron trotted away together to watch.

Alex clicked her tongue at Comet,
and he sprang toward the first fence. He cleared it easily, arching his neck and proudly tossing his mane. Alex could tell he was enjoying himself.

Comet soared over all the fences in turn, until there was just one left. They were approaching the final fence when Alex had a sudden flashback to the recent horse show where Pasha was injured.

As the chestnut’s frightened whinny seemed to ring in her head, Alex felt her confidence waver. Maybe she was doing something wrong when she jumped, despite what Zoe thought. Could it have been her fault that Pasha had hurt herself?

She gulped.
What if Comet lands wrong and hurts himself, too?

The magic pony slowed down. Alex’s mouth dried as she tried to force down
her fear and work through it. Comet got slower still. He was going to refuse!

“Stop hesitating!” Saffron shouted loudly. “Kick him on. Show him who’s boss!”

Alex flushed with annoyance, but managed to get her focus back. She swallowed hard. “Come on, Comet!” she whispered, pressing him on.

Comet sped up again. He eyed the fence carefully and bounded over it easily.

“Good job!” Alex gasped as they landed safely.