Kate sprang into Storm Cloud's saddle.
"Come on Izzy!" She called, "Nick's taking us over the cross country course in a minute."
"Coming!" Izzy replied, mounting Midnight and gathering up the reins.
The two friends rode into the stable yard where Nick was waiting for them with the rest of the ride.
"Take your time." He grinned. "Everybody ready?"
He led the ride towards Larkfield Copse, where the jumps were already set up.
Izzy, Kate, Tom and Alex were entered in the Hawthorn Horse Trials at the end of the month.
"Shorten your stirrups and start warming up. Tom, you're up first. Then Alex, Izzy and Kate can go last." Nick commanded.
Tom cantered Chancey towards the first fence and cleared it with ease.
"So, have you applied for a college course yet?" Izzy asked Kate.
Kate shook her head. "Not yet." She admitted. "But I've seen a few courses I'd like to do at Ash Hill Equine College."
Izzy grinned. "That's where I'm going in September. I'm taking the level 3 course."
Before the two of them finished their conversation, it was Izzy's turn to jump.
She urged Midnight on towards the first fence at a canter. The black horse pricked up his ears and lengthened his stride.
He soared over the jump, clearing it easily.
Izzy turned him to the next fence, and they sailed over it.
Jump, clear. Jump, clear.
As the last fence loomed closer, Izzy urged Midnight on.
He was slowly tiring. "Come on my boy." Izzy muttered.
One, two, three. Up and over.
Izzy gave her horse a pat on the neck, and slowed him to a trot as they reached the rest of the ride.
"Excellent time Izzy," Nick smiled, clicking the stopwatch, "ride like that in the Horse Trials and you'll be sure to win."
Izzy beamed with pride. "It was all Midnight." She protested.
"OK Kate, your turn." Nick called.
Kate nudged Storm Cloud forwards. The dappled grey pony took off from her hind legs and leapt over the fence.
Kate relaxed and began to enjoy herself, urging Storm Cloud onwards through the course.
Just as they approached the very last jump, a bird shot out of a tree.
Storm Cloud shied and ran out to the side of the fence.
Kate tried to cling on, but she fell and hit the ground with a thud, knocking all the air out of her.
Storm Cloud cantered on and leapt over the fence, terrified.
All Kate could do was lay there, gasping for breath.
Everyone looked up, startled when Storm Cloud cantered through the trees on her own.
Izzy's eyes widened. Without thinking, she nudged Midnight's sides and cantered through the trees.
Alex did the same with Puzzle. The coloured mare responded obidiently.
"Alex, Izzy! Come back!" Nick called after them, as he made a grab for Storm Cloud's reins.
"My sister is in there!" Alex returned as he cantered after Izzy.
The two of them found Kate laying crumpled by the final fence.
Izzy and Alex dismounted and jogged to where Kate lay.
"Kate? Are You OK? Say something!" Izzy pleaded.
"Is Storm Cloud alright?" Kate murmered.
Izzy and Alex laughed. Typical Kate.
"She's fine. A little startled, but fine." Alex said, helping his sister to stand up.
"Are you OK to walk?" He asked.
Kate nodded, but stumbled after a few paces. Izzy winced.
"Here, I'll give you a leg-up and you can ride Midnight back to the ride. She offered.
Kate shook her head. "Midnight is too tall, even with a leg-up I would have trouble. But thanks anyway."
"What about Puzzle?" Alex offered.
Kate was about to argue, but stopped herself. She couldn't walk, for the pain in her leg was so excruiciating.
She nodded. "Thanks Alex."
Kate turned to face Puzzle's saddle as Alex and Izzy helped her into the saddle. Alex caught Izzy's eye and grinned broadly at her.
Kate shut her eyes tightly with pain as she sat astride Puzzle's back.
"You'll have to make do without stirrups." Alex told her, leading his pony out of the trees.
Izzy mounted Midnight and rode after them.
As the three of them emerged from the trees, Sarah had turned up with the Land Rover.
"I called Sarah at the cottage and asked her to bring the Land Rover, in case you were hurt." Nick explained.
Alex helped Kate down from Puzzle's back, and she limped towards the vehicle and leaned on it.
"Let's get you back to the yard." Sarah said, helping Kate into the Land Rover.
They drove back to Sandy Lane, as the others looked on.
"Well. There's nothing else for it but to go back to the yard." Nick said quietly to the ride.
He nudged Feather onwards, and led Storm Cloud by the reins.
The riders all turned and headed for home.
"I hope Kate will be alright." Izzy murmered to Alex.
He nodded in agreement. "Me too. Hawthorn is less than a month away."