Read Online Chloe and Cracker by Kelly McKain - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kelly McKain
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out.
I was really excited and as Lydia led Charm out I had all my fingers crossed for luck, but then Sally said, “Isabella, you’re on Charm. I hope you two will hit it off. Charm’s a superb jumper, and he has lovely manners.” Well, my heart sank and I had to blink fast to stop tears coming into my eyes. Bella looked so excited and I forced myself to smile at her.
Bella thanked Sally and stroked Charm’s nose before leading him over to the mounting block. As he nudged her shoulder happily, I couldn’t help thinking that he should have been nudging my shoulder instead.
Then Sally said, “Chloe, you’ve got Cracker. He’s a really spirited, cheeky little thing so you’ll need all your experience!” She didn’t mention his great jumping or good manners, but he is quite sweet, I suppose – a grey Welsh Section B, with big eyes and a cute pink bit on his nose. Lydia says he’s 12.2hh and I feel a bit big for him – my heels are almost off his sides. Charm’s over a hand higher. I just wish … but there’s no point in wishing. I haven’t got Charm so I’ll just have to try and make the best of it. I don’t want to waste my holiday moping!
I’ll write about the assessment lesson in a minute, but first here’s my drawing of who got which pony:
We had the assessment lesson and it went okay. Millie didn’t ride with us – Jody said she had to get on with her holiday homework instead. Poor thing!
At first we just had to walk and trot and think about our position and making good transitions. Then we did some turns and circles and changes of rein, and at the end we all had a canter to the back of the ride, except Joelle ’cos she hasn’t done much riding and she only knows walk and trot at the moment. Instead, she turned Monsoon into the middle and Sally held on to her while we cantered on one rein and then the other.
Sally was right about Cracker, he is quite cheeky. I really had to keep my inside leg on all the way round or he’d fall in off the track, and when I just gently used my crop to get him listening (he wasn’t going into trot for anyone!) he did a couple of little bucks. I didn’t reallymind, but I tried not to look at Bella trotting round perfectly on Charm, or at their lovely effortless transitions, which didn’t involve any kicking or flailing arms like mine did.
Afterwards we put our ponies back in the stables (or in pens in the big barn for the ones who live out) and untacked. I gave Cracker a brush down and made sure he had enough water. Then we came back into the yard and gathered round Sally to hear the news.
Here are the groups we’re in:
Group A: Suki, Mai, Olivia, Joelle, Asha.
Group B: Me, Bella, Georgia, Millie.
Our group will be doing the jumping and entering the clear round comp at the end of the week! Group A is the less experienced group, and on Friday they’re going to do gymkhana games instead of jumping the course. Sally told them they’ll still get to have a go at jumping in their lessons so they won’t be missing out.
When we heard that we were doing the jumping comp, Bella grabbed me and Georgia and we all leaped up and down in a huggy group.
I was excited of course, but not as much as I pretended to be. I mean, I know it’s not Bella’s fault she got given Charm and I didn’t, but I really, really wish I had him.
I thought I would’ve forgotten about Charm by now – but I just can’t seem to. I’ll have to make sure I hide how I feel. I don’t want to fall out with my new friends when I’ve only just met them! Maybe things will be better after the first jumping lesson, when we’ve made a start and I’m on my way to getting that clear round. Now I’ve got a handle on Cracker’s bad habits I’ll be a whole lot stricter!
Monday 6.32pm In our room
We’re going swimming tonight for our evening activity, but Jody says we have to let our tea go down for half an hour first. We’re all squashed on to the top bunk, which is Georgia’s
I was really excited and as Lydia led Charm out I had all my fingers crossed for luck, but then Sally said, “Isabella, you’re on Charm. I hope you two will hit it off. Charm’s a superb jumper, and he has lovely manners.” Well, my heart sank and I had to blink fast to stop tears coming into my eyes. Bella looked so excited and I forced myself to smile at her.
Bella thanked Sally and stroked Charm’s nose before leading him over to the mounting block. As he nudged her shoulder happily, I couldn’t help thinking that he should have been nudging my shoulder instead.
Then Sally said, “Chloe, you’ve got Cracker. He’s a really spirited, cheeky little thing so you’ll need all your experience!” She didn’t mention his great jumping or good manners, but he is quite sweet, I suppose – a grey Welsh Section B, with big eyes and a cute pink bit on his nose. Lydia says he’s 12.2hh and I feel a bit big for him – my heels are almost off his sides. Charm’s over a hand higher. I just wish … but there’s no point in wishing. I haven’t got Charm so I’ll just have to try and make the best of it. I don’t want to waste my holiday moping!
I’ll write about the assessment lesson in a minute, but first here’s my drawing of who got which pony:
We had the assessment lesson and it went okay. Millie didn’t ride with us – Jody said she had to get on with her holiday homework instead. Poor thing!
At first we just had to walk and trot and think about our position and making good transitions. Then we did some turns and circles and changes of rein, and at the end we all had a canter to the back of the ride, except Joelle ’cos she hasn’t done much riding and she only knows walk and trot at the moment. Instead, she turned Monsoon into the middle and Sally held on to her while we cantered on one rein and then the other.
Sally was right about Cracker, he is quite cheeky. I really had to keep my inside leg on all the way round or he’d fall in off the track, and when I just gently used my crop to get him listening (he wasn’t going into trot for anyone!) he did a couple of little bucks. I didn’t reallymind, but I tried not to look at Bella trotting round perfectly on Charm, or at their lovely effortless transitions, which didn’t involve any kicking or flailing arms like mine did.
Afterwards we put our ponies back in the stables (or in pens in the big barn for the ones who live out) and untacked. I gave Cracker a brush down and made sure he had enough water. Then we came back into the yard and gathered round Sally to hear the news.
Here are the groups we’re in:
Group A: Suki, Mai, Olivia, Joelle, Asha.
Group B: Me, Bella, Georgia, Millie.
Our group will be doing the jumping and entering the clear round comp at the end of the week! Group A is the less experienced group, and on Friday they’re going to do gymkhana games instead of jumping the course. Sally told them they’ll still get to have a go at jumping in their lessons so they won’t be missing out.
When we heard that we were doing the jumping comp, Bella grabbed me and Georgia and we all leaped up and down in a huggy group.
I was excited of course, but not as much as I pretended to be. I mean, I know it’s not Bella’s fault she got given Charm and I didn’t, but I really, really wish I had him.
I thought I would’ve forgotten about Charm by now – but I just can’t seem to. I’ll have to make sure I hide how I feel. I don’t want to fall out with my new friends when I’ve only just met them! Maybe things will be better after the first jumping lesson, when we’ve made a start and I’m on my way to getting that clear round. Now I’ve got a handle on Cracker’s bad habits I’ll be a whole lot stricter!
Monday 6.32pm In our room
We’re going swimming tonight for our evening activity, but Jody says we have to let our tea go down for half an hour first. We’re all squashed on to the top bunk, which is Georgia’s
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