SOPHIE SPOOKY PONY and the Have you read? poppy perfect PONY and the
JESS JUMPY PONY
OLIVIA TUFFIN
ILLUSTRATED BY
JO GOODBERRY
FOR ISLA
First published in the UK in 2022 by Nosy Crow Ltd The Crow’s Nest, 14 Baden Place, Crosby Row London, SE1 1YW, UK
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Text copyright © Olivia Tuffin, 2022
Illustrations copyright © Jo Goodberry, 2022
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978 1 78800 957 7
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CHAPTER 1
Jess felt a rush of disappointment as she clutched Merlin’s lead rope tighter. Merlin was a beautiful grey Connemara pony, and Jess had been partnered with him for her week at Sunshine Stables Pony Camp. Merlin shifted his weight and Jess ran her hand over his neck.
“Is he hurt?” she asked nervously as Zoe, the groom, straightened up after inspecting Merlin’s foot. Zoe nodded. The kind grey pony stood quietly, nuzzling against Jess’s hand, ears pricked forwards.
Jess had known something was wrong the minute she had gone to get Merlin in from the
field. They had enjoyed a brilliant cross-country lesson that morning. Merlin had been flying over everything – the brush, the tyres and even the tricky drop fence. Merlin was a talented pony and Jess knew it was a real honour to ride him.
Lainey, who owned the riding school where the camps were held, kept all sorts of ponies, mostly safe schoolmasters or mistresses. From dear Henry, a trustworthy dark bay, to Gorse, a cheeky Exmoor. But Lainey also had a couple of ponies suitable for more experienced riders. There was Misty, another grey, and Merlin, standing about fourteen hands. He was a brilliant jumper, and had won loads of events.
“He’s not a novice ride,” Lainey had explained. “But he’s willing and fun. You’ll have an amazing time!”
And Jess had had an amazing time so far. With lessons, and hacking, and looking after a pony for a
whole week as if it was your own, Sunshine Stables Pony Camp was every pony-mad child’s dream!
Zoe’s voice cut through her thoughts.
“It’s a bruised sole, I’d bet,” the groom said in a matter-of-fact voice. “He was fine when you turned him out. I expect he’s trodden on a stone.
I’ll get Angie, our farrier, to have a look.”
Zoe gave Merlin a pat, and then seemed to
notice Jess’s downcast expression.
“There, there,” Zoe said in a kind, but firm voice. “These things happen. Just horses, I’m afraid!” She gave a wry smile.
She’s probably dealt with a hundred lame horses over time, Jess thought. She knew it was no one’s fault, but it didn’t make it any better. And Zoe didn’t know how much was at stake. Jess had been so wrapped up in caring for Merlin that it had been easy to keep the promise she’d made her parents…
“Pop him back into his stable, and give him some more shavings to make his bed extra comfortable,” Zoe continued.
Feeling miserable, Jess clucked for Merlin to follow her. Merlin did so obediently, walking just a little more carefully on his sore foot. It could have been easy to miss, Jess thought. But she was really good at noticing things. Asia, her big cousin, often
praised Jess for her attention to detail.
Asia was a vet. She worked in a surgery nearby and Jess spent every minute she could there. She loved helping out, making beds for the dogs who had to stay in, playing with kittens, and best of all, going out to help Asia look at horses. Sometimes she’d even get to hold their lead ropes as Asia examined legs or stitched up wounds. When she was with Asia and the animals, she was at her happiest.
But it hadn’t been easy recently. She was getting into loads of bother at school, although she didn’t mean to. Wherever there was some sort of animal-related trouble, Jess found herself in the middle of it! Like the time she’d found some older children in the playground teasing a pigeon with a damaged wing. The poor bird hadn’t been able to fly properly and the children had been swooping in and scaring it. Jess had seen red and
got between the horrid group and the bird. She hadn’t meant to push the biggest of the boys, it had just sort of happened, but as a result she and the gang had been hauled into the headteacher’s office.
“A pigeon?” The headteacher had peered at Jess over his glasses.
Jess had nodded, but had felt the swell of rage again. “It was hurt, and they were chasing it!” she’d cried as the gang shuffled their feet and avoided each other’s gaze. There was no way to prove it. Jess had got away with yet another detention, but it had only made her more determined. If an animal was in danger, she would do anything to help!
But that detention had been the final straw for Jess’s parents. Jess had known she was in trouble the minute she’d walked back into the house swinging her book bag. Her mum had
been standing against the kitchen counter, her lips tight.
“Mr Peters phoned earlier,” she’d said, referring to Jess’s headteacher. “Jessika, I’m not happy.”
Uh-oh, her mum had used her full name, she was in big trouble. But Jess also knew her mum usually tried to see her side. Her mum loved animals too. It ran in their family.
“Sorry, Mum,” she’d mumbled. “It was…”
“A pigeon,” her mum had sighed, her face softening. “I know. Mr Peters explained. Jess, you know how proud I am of your passion for animals. But…” Jess had winced at the change of tone as her mum continued, “It’s no good if you get into trouble, or don’t concentrate on your schoolwork. Mr Peters said you didn’t make any effort in your maths test.”
“I did!” Jess had protested, but she knew she hadn’t, not really. She’d spent most of the time staring out of the window at a lady walking a
gorgeous retriever around the edge of the playing field.
Her mum had then given her that look. “I’ve been chatting to your dad,” she’d said, and Jess had inwardly groaned. She loved her dad, who lived nearby, but he was even hotter on schoolwork than her mum. Her parents got on pretty well despite their divorce, but Jess knew if her mum and her dad had joined forces, things were serious.
“Mr Peters told me about a homework club they have on Monday nights,” her mum had continued. “I think it would be a good idea. Then we thought you could join netball on Wednesdays. Mr Peters said you’re
really good, and don’t you think it would be nice to see the girls in your class outside the school day?”
Jess had known what her mum was implying. She never went shopping in town or hung out at the rec. She liked her classmates well enough, but there was no one she was particularly close to. She often talked about what she did at Asia’s, but the last time she’d come into school totally enthused about something she’d watched, her friends had been completely grossed out.
“Ewwwwww!” Mollie, one of her classmates had visibly paled as Jess described the blood. “That’s disgusting! Ew, don’t tell me any more – I’ll throw up.”
So Jess hadn’t. No one really understood anyway. And shopping and hanging out at the rec felt like a waste of time when there were animals to look after.
“So Mondays, and Wednesdays,” her mum had said. “From September. I don’t think we’ve got a choice.”
Mondays and Wednesdays , Jess had thought in horror. Those were the days Asia had asked her to help with the new puppy classes, starting in the autumn. They were her first big responsibility. She’d felt her stomach drop.
“No, Mum,” she’d said. “I can’t. I’d miss the puppy classes – the ones I told you about. I promise, I promise I’ll try harder at school.”
But Jess knew her mum was considering it, and as a result of the detention, Jess had been banned from Asia’s surgery for a week. That had been the worst bit. But then her mum had seen an advert for pony camp in the paper.
“I think you’d love this,” she’d said one
evening, and Jess had nodded, a smile creeping across her face.
“That would be amazing, Mum. Thank you.”
Jess had learnt to ride as a young child. Her mum had taken her to visit a horsey friend one summer when they’d been on a camping holiday. Jess had learnt to canter and jump, her bravery and natural talent shining through. She loved all animals, but horses were her passion.
A week at pony camp, looking after a pony as if it was her very own, would be everything she’d dreamt of! But there was more too.
“Your dad and I agree the puppy classes are a great opportunity for you. If you can stay out of trouble, get a bit of work done in the holidays and show us how committed you are to school then we’ll let you do the classes with Asia. But any trouble,” she’d added sternly,
“and that’s it. I’ll be signing you straight up for homework and netball club.” She’d then smiled. “But you can’t exactly get into bother spending a while with the horses, can you?”
And Jess had shaken her head vigorously. This was her chance!
“No way,” she’d grinned. “Ponies, and nothing else. No trouble. I promise!”
CHAPTER 2
A short while later, Angie the farrier confirmed Zoe’s thoughts.
“Nothing more than a slight bruise,” Angie said cheerfully, rolling down the sleeves of her boiler suit. She had curly red hair fastened in place with a biro. “A few days off and he should be as right as rain. Bad luck for you though,” she added, seeming to notice Jess’s expression. “I’m sure Lainey will find another pony for you to ride.”
“Of course,” Lainey, who had just joined them, smiled. “Jess is a lovely rider so I’m confident she’ll bring out the best in any pony. Though I
might have to swap a little bit with the others, or perhaps arrange a pony share.”
Jess nodded, but now felt even worse. She knew she was lucky to be taking part in camp – Lainey had a long waiting list – and she knew the more ponies she got to ride, the more experienced she’d be. But she had enjoyed riding Merlin, and now everything was going to change. She felt her tummy twist anxiously. What if she argued with one of the other camp members over pony sharing, or was somehow blamed for Merlin’s injury? She’d done so well to stay out of any trouble so far.
“This definitely proves I need to buy another school pony though,” Lainey continued in a thoughtful voice. “It’s just a matter of finding one.”
“I’ll ask around,” Angie said. “You could put up an advert in Mandy’s saddlery, and the vets’ receptions.”
“Did you know Jess’s cousin is a vet?” Lainey said. “Asia Kowalski – she works at the Greengage Practice.”
Angie smiled at Jess. “How nice!” she said. “Is that what you want to do, too? Something with animals?”
Jess nodded.
“I want to be a vet like Asia,” she explained. “I’ve known since I was little.”
And Jess thought back to the teddy bears with bandaged paws: she’d spend hours wrapping real-life vet wrap around her toys’ legs, and giving them pretend medicine with a plastic syringe. Working in
a real-life vet’s clinic had been amazing, and even better when Asia had asked her to help with the puppy classes.
Jess was nearly halfway through camp now, and she knew Lainey would have only good things to say so far! She just had to keep it up. Her parents’ words echoed in her mind: Stay out of trouble. And it had been easy, when she had so much to do at camp with caring for Merlin. Only she no longer had a pony to ride. So what would happen now?
Once Merlin was settled in his stable, Jess closed the door, trying to find the positives. Lainey had said she could ride Sorrel that afternoon, and Zebedee the next morning. Sorrel was a lovely mare, but she was definitely a pony for a real novice, as was fluffy Zebedee. It would still be fun though, Jess told herself firmly.
“I’m sorry about Merlin!” A cheerful voice Jess
recognised as belonging to Sophie, one of her friends, carried over the yard. Sophie was good fun and rode the cheeky Exmoor, Gorse. Skipping over, Sophie put her arm through Jess’s. “Oh look, there’s Emily,” she continued. “Wonder what she’s got to moan about now!”
Jess looked up, watching Emily cross the yard. Emily was Lainey’s daughter and had a twin brother called Jack. But whereas Jack was always cheerful, Emily was the total opposite. Jess knew that Emily hated strangers looking after the horses, which Jess could sort of understand, but Lainey was always supervising them, and all the ponies were beautifully cared for.
But for once Emily didn’t have anything to criticise the girls for. Instead she totally ignored Jess and Sophie and made her way over to where Lainey was helping Gracie, another camp member, put together a bridle.
“Mum,” Emily said. “Remember Rhiannon and her pony are coming.”
“Oh!” Lainey said. “I’d totally forgotten that was this morning. Goodness, I’d better get the stable ready. Sorry, Gracie, I’ll have to come back to this later.”
Feeling curious, Jess stepped closer.
“Have you got a new pony arriving?” she said, a bubble of excitement starting to grow. Perhaps Lainey had already found one!
“Well,” Lainey said. “Yes and no. I’m not sure how I got roped into it, but one of Emily’s schoolfriends has a pony, and her mum is dropping him off here whilst they go on holiday. The pony is for sale, and they are paying me to have him here so people can come and look at him. They said something about him not getting on with their other pony.” Lainey looked at her daughter.
“What’s his name again? I’ve been so busy.”
“Bandit,” muttered Emily, not looking at Jess.
“That’s it,” Lainey said. “Bandit. Right, I’d better get his stable ready.”
Lainey looked hot and flustered, Jess thought. She was used to helping out so stepped forwards.
“Do you want me to do it?” she asked and Lainey nodded, looking relieved.
“That would be amazing, Jess, thank you,” she said. “I was going to put him in the old foaling box, so he’s out of the way of the main yard. It’s lovely and big.”
Jess smiled. “Of course,” she said. “Do you want to help me, Sophie?” Sophie was good fun and the two girls could chat away as they carried out the task. Jess wanted to make Bandit’s stable as nice as possible, in case he was unsettled. But mostly she was glad of the distraction. The new pony might take her mind off her worries, and she was already intrigued by the situation. Perhaps he was being bullied by the other pony, and it had been a really hard decision for his owners to take him to a different yard. She hoped they weren’t feeling too upset.