Emily and Emerald (7 page)

Sally said me and Emerald can go on the picnic ride with everyone else. YAY! When I went to muck Em out this morning, she was looking out of her stable door, waiting for me! How brilliant is that! I was so pleased and I gave her a massive hug. I started to feel a bit upset then, though, because tomorrow is the last day of Pony Camp. I know that paying for this holiday was a massive stretch for Mum and there's no way I'll be able to come here for
lessons during term time, so it will be the end of Em & Em.

Still, feeling sad made me more determined to enjoy every second I have left with my gorgeous pony. I'm off down to the yard now to tack up, and Lydia's going to show us how to bandage our ponies' legs because we'll be going through the woods and it might be quite brambly.

Me and Frankie have worked out that we did about two and a half hours' riding this afternoon – no wonder our legs are so tired! We made sure our ponies had fresh water when we got in and gave them a brush down in the barn, but Sally let us off doing our usual TONS of yard work because we were all so completely flaked out from the long, hot ride. Instead, she let us go swimming to cool off! It was so refreshing diving into the water and splashing about.

So now we've dried off and got dressed, and me and Frankie are writing in our Pony Camp diaries. We're sitting on the platform
thing overlooking the manèges (not that there's any riding to watch at the moment, but it's a nice place to hang out).

When we were tacking up our ponies for the ride, Lydia showed us how to put their head collars on under their bridles. I thought it was a bit strange at first, but she explained that while we were having our picnic we could slip the bridles off so they could have a munch on the grass!

Johnny, Sally and Lydia all came with us – Sally was riding Blue and Lydia was on Fly, who is seriously speedy!

We all rode in single file up the road. Sally told me to wedge Emerald in behind Prince and Neema because:

a
.
Prince wouldn't spook if Emerald jumped at something

and

b
.
he'd stop her bolting off.

We were all walking along in the sunshine, then we turned up a track and had a little trot and it was just so fab! We rode for ages through some woods and I was a bit worried Emerald would spook at the low branches, but she didn't. In fact, as we walked up this path by the edge of the fields, I was thinking we'd finally cracked it and that she was completely cured of her flighty behaviour –
ha ha, silly me!

Suddenly, this pheasant flew out of a bush beside Emerald and she totally freaked out.
She went skittering sideways while bucking her legs in the air, and I was so surprised I just fell straight off. I found myself lying on the ground, my heart pounding with shock, listening to her hooves thundering away across the stubble field.

Sally dismounted and handed Blue's reins to someone else (maybe it was Lydia). She crouched beside me and asked if I was OK, but all I could think about was Emerald. I staggered to my feet and went running across the field after her.

“Emily, wait!” Johnny called out, but I heard Sally say, “She won't listen. Don't worry, I'll go.” Then she came chasing after me.

When I reached the top of the hill, I saw Emerald at the far end of the field. She was pacing up and down with her tail swishing. I started to run towards her, but Sally caught up with me. “Go steady,” she panted, “or she'll bolt off. Just get a little nearer, and then wait for her to come to you.”

I blinked at her. I'd been expecting her to tell me off for ignoring Johnny and then send me straight back to the group. But instead she was going to let me try and catch Emerald. I knew I had to be really slow and careful. If she went bolting off again, she could run into a road, or trip up and hurt herself.

I walked down the hill, taking care to stay in Emerald's sight so I didn't spook her. Then I stopped, a little way away. She eyed me suspiciously at first, and shifted from hoof to hoof. After we'd both stood still for a long time, I started to worry that she was never going to
come to me. I glanced round and saw everyone standing on the brow of the hill, watching, and I started panicking that we were holding up the whole ride and that they'd all be annoyed. I think that's why I tried something stupid. I lunged forward and made a grab for Emerald's rein.

But she whinnied and skittered away.

I felt flustered and frustrated. “Oh, Emerald, come on!” I cried. I didn't want to turn round and look at Sally 'cos I thought she'd tell me off and take over. But I didn't know what to do next.

Then I remembered what Western Bob had taught me.

I couldn't worry about what the others would think. I had to be patient. I had to let Emerald come to
me.

So I stood, and I stood, and I stood. “It's OK, Em,” I said quietly, “you can trust me. And we'll just stay here for as long as you need.”

Somehow, Emerald seemed to understand, because after a while she gave me a shy glance, and then another, and then she loped towards me, her neck loose and relaxed. I gave her a big pat and stroke, while gently lifting her reins down over her head. Then I crossed her stirrups over and led her back towards Sally. “I'm so proud of you, Emerald,” I whispered.

When we reached the others, Sally gave me a leg-up and off we went again. Instead of being annoyed with me, everyone was chattering about how well I'd done! Of course, me being me, I got embarrassed about being the centre of attention and I couldn't help feeling all red and flustery. But it wasn't in a bad way this time. I didn't want to become invisible. Instead, I felt proud. Of me and of Emerald – Em & Em, the super team! I sat up a little taller and I couldn't help grinning. Now I know Emerald really does trust me, and that together we can achieve anything!