Chapter 2

Issie, Kate, Stella and Natasha were standing by the glamorous horse truck, Natasha's mum then emerged out with a beautiful glossy dark bay show pony. They all gasped in amazement at this beautiful mare. The beautiful mare had a pulled mane and a white snip on her nose and four sparkling white socks. Head to hoof she looked spectacular, one of the most prettiest ponies Issie had ever seen.

But Natasha took one glance and was not impressed. "Mum, I told you I didn't choose her." Natasha whined. "Plus she looks too small for me." Natasha eyed up the fifteen hand high mare. "I mean I bet she's useless and a pain to ride, I mean come on she looks like a pony who has just come out of some paddock."

"Natasha! She is an A grader show jumper and had a five stage vet check and was perfectly healthy, she has papers to prove her purebred breed and was the best out of the three horses we looked out. Her name is Star Shine Jenna, Jenna for short now come on why don't you saddle her up and take her for a ride with Issie, Stella and Kate." Her mum suggested.

Natasha grumbled. "I want to ride her by my self." So half an hour later Natasha was on Jenna's back circling the ring at a trot. Issie and the girls were watching from the fence. Natasha really yanked Jenna's mouth as she trotted round. Suddenly Natasha kicked Jenna's sides and Jenna moved into a beautiful extended trot. Foam was gathering round Jenna's mouth as she moved.

"Give her a whack with your crop, she needs to learn her lesson, you asked her to canter and she didn't." Natasha's mum yelled.

Issie watched in horror as Natasha then pulled Jenna into a halt. She gave the mare a hefty whack the whip. She held her tightly before jumping off her with a smug face. Jenna had her ears back and was clearly upset.

"Oh my god, did you see her just hit Jenna for no reason yesterday? It was just terrible" Stella boggled at Kate and Issie. They were at the pony club at a rally day and were waiting in the shade of the big chestnut tree mounted on their horses. Riders were buzzing about and amongst them she could see Natasha in the warm up ring hogging it as usual.

The riders all gathered next to Avery as he spoke to them.

Avery then spoke. "Write as you all know the competition season has started and in a months' time there is the annual Chevalier Point jumping club is taking place, where different pony clubs will be coming to compete and put forward their five best riders and a reserve forward for their team, there is a beginner division and an intermediate division. For those who have applied for the beginner section, please head off with your trainer Jacky who will be coaching you today." He paused as a long line of riders left. "For those who haven't applied you will be doing some mounted games on horseback. And the intermediate riders who have applied for the intermediate division you will be with me doing show jumping."

That left only nine riders with Avery. Issie riding Blaze, Stella riding Coco, Kate riding Toby, Ben riding Max, Dan riding Kismit, Annabel Willis riding her palomino haflinger Eddy, Morgan riding Jack, Natasha riding Jenna and Pip Miller riding her small dapple grey Storm.

Avery raised the jumps to a respectable ninety centre metres and made a course.

"Ok can you all warm up and jump these jumps while I assess you, please no crashes into anyone…Stella keep your heels down, Morgan give a bit more with your reins, Issie hold Blaze back a little use some half halts if she is gaining on speed, Kate don't let Toby get flat as he will knock the jumps, Annabel eyes up and over the jump you don't want Eddy to refuse, Ben don't look behind at the jump to see if you have knocked it down, Dan please don't jag Kismit in the mouth on landing, Pip look where you want to go next and kick him on to get a bigger stride…That's a lot better…Natasha perfect position and perfect canter. Ok that's enough, I have made my decision." He paused as they gathered round. "Right I am going to take Natasha, Dan, Kate and Issie and our reserve will be Pip Millers. Thank you everyone you can go and un-tack now."

As they piled off, Natasha couldn't stop boasting. "Stella looks like you aren't good enough what are you going to do about it I have the best horse and you know it…are you jealous, I bet you are, I mean look you have such a lazy horse who wont even pick up her hooves over the jumps, probabally why you demolished half of the anyway."

"Shut up Natasha, just cos you have a good horse you think you are better than everyone then I would prove it."

"Fine I will prove it." Natasha then tied up Jenna by the wooden hitching post and sat on the rug which had been laid out for lunch by her horse truck. Issie then tied up Blaze alongside Stella's chocolate bay mare and then sat on the tartan rug.

"Thanks for standing up for me against that snob Issie." Stella sighed.

"Forget that snob…I am hungry how about you Kate." Issie said.

"I am starving." Kate declared, looking at the ham sandwiches, grapes and chocolate brownies which were laid out by Issie's mum Miss Brown.

"Well tuck in, you have some dressage training after lunch with Avery." Miss Brown said.

The food was gone in ten minutes flat, the girls then headed up to the clubroom to buy some ice creams.

"Yay they have magnums, I am getting one of those" Kate said. Stella and Kate then took one each. Issie then saw a Fab, as she reached for it another hand had also grabbed it. The snooty blonde had hold of it.

"I wanted it." Natasha gave Issie a glare just like she had when Avery had announced that Issie was part of the show jumping team.

"Guys don't fight." Stella told them.

"Fine, then" Issie then let go of the Fab and left.

As the girls mounted up for their afternoon session with Avery, Issie was still in a dark mood. As she entered the ring Natasha was smiling as she trotted Jenna round. It looked like the mare was floating. But Issie noticed the mare was extremely tense and stiff and was chomping on the bit loudly as if she was on a hair trigger ready to explode but Natasha held her so firm it wasn't noticeable. Foam was gathering which was a sign of a nervous horse. Her ears were back. Issie stood by the fence where her mum was watching but her mother had no idea about horses.

"Isn't Natasha riding that horse beautifully wow That horse is a real stunner." Miss Brown breathed. Issie never got the chance to explain to her mum that this horse was nervous because Avery had gathered the nine riders together.

"Right guys I want to assess you on your dressage as well today, so when I call your name please can you show me a walk, trot, extended trot, canter and a square halt. You may wish to add any other moves like a leg yield. Right, Pip can you please go first?"

Everyone stood outside the arena while pip did a neat loop in walk then a twenty metre circle in trot, she then closed her legs on Storm's sides and Storm responded by lengthening his trot down the long side she then asked for a neat canter and then rode up the centre line before halting and saluting.

"Very nicely done, Pip. Can I know have…Natasha?" Avery said.

Natasha held Jenna tight and walked a neat figure of eight before stopping in the middle and doing a half pirouette in walk she then sprung into a collected trot chomping on the bit. Natasha's face was as sour as a lemon as she kicked Jenna's sides and she burst into a lengthened trot down the long side of the arena. She then leg yielded on the three quarter line before asking for a canter. Jenna suddenly bolted into canter but Natasha jabbed her with all her might. Jenna tried to shake her head loose but Natasha was gripping the reins as if they were iron. Sweat was foaming up on Jenna's reins as she powered around the arena. She then turned her down the centre line at a canter and halted her. Jenna was now trembling as she stood. There was a long pause as Natasha stood there. Issie was confused.

"I think she is trying to rein back Jenna" Stella told Issie.

That made a lot more sense, but instead Jenna was ignoring her signals. Natasha's face was getting frustrated as she tugged on the reins. Natasha suddenly gripped the reins tightly. Jenna danced beneath her as Natasha raised her pink crop and bought it down hard Jenna leapt off all four hooves and shook her head, she neighed loudly and suddenly took off. It was clear that Jenna was afraid of whips and as she plunged Avery blocked her path and she came skidding to a stop, Natasha then leapt off her and then tugged hard on the reins.

"Mum" Natasha yelled at her mum. "She uncontrollable in a snaffle, she needs a much harsher bit." Issie heard her yell.

"Yes Natasha darling we will talk to Ginty about it." Natasha's mother said calmly.

Avery stiffened as he heard Ginty's name being called but ignored the comment. "Write would you like to go next Issie?" Avery offered.