Poppy and Prince Read Online Free PDF Page A

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 upflags. 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!

Still Wednesday night,
after lights-out

    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