Megan and Mischief (3 page)

When it was our turn and I asked for trot, Mischief just leaped backwards and started skittering about. Everyone was looking at me and I felt really panicky, but then Sally strode towards us and so Mischief started behaving after all. Well, until…

When we did some practice of going over trotting poles, Mischief got a bit excited and barged up the side of Shine. I pulled on the reins and leaned back but I still crashed legs with Moody Jade. I’m sure it didn’t hurt but she
made a big fuss, crying, “Argh!” really loudly and saying that I’d got no control. I pretended not to hear, but I just KNOW everyone else was listening. After that I tried really hard to keep out of trouble but…

We were going round cones and Mischief went absolutely miles round them, like way over to the edge of the manège. Sally called out, “Time to take charge and get tough, Megan!” which was awful because it was like being told off in front of everyone and I was already trying my hardest – but Mischief was just ignoring me!

But the worst thing was when Sally asked some of us to ride our ponies into the middle (including me!) while the others had a canter round the track. I was really upset because I’ve done loads of cantering on Fella back at home,
even if it was only short bursts after lots of encouraging him.

I’m worried that Sally thinks I’m not a very good rider. I really want to win something in the gymkhana and have another try at jumping. But for that to happen I’ll have to get tough with Mischief like she said. But HELP! How do I do that? I’m not the sort of person who usually gets tough about anything. Usually I tell Dad and he gets tough for me, like when Julian Mason put a snowball down my back at school and Dad rang up Mr Thomas the head. But Dad isn’t here to help me now! I’ll just have to turn into Megan the Brave and show Mischief who’s

Oh, time to go again!

Millie lent me her torch so I’m writing this in bed after lights out!

I’m totally whacked – we’ve done so much already and it’s only the first day.

After our lessons we had a lecture on grooming and I found out what the different curry combs are for. (I’m not one of the girls who helps out on the yard where I ride at home, so I don’t know much about grooming.) Then we had tea and a swim in the pool for our Evening Activity. Me and Millie and Gabrielle were doing synchronized swimming – well, trying to anyway, and we ended up in total hysterics. I’m so lucky to have such great room-mates! And Millie is so lucky to live here all the time!

Gabrielle is in the bunk above me, so I’m scribbling this really quietly ’cos she’s fast asleep.
She has an iPod and before tea she let me listen on one of the earphones, even though they’re the little ones you stick right in your ears and she could have thought yuck and not wanted me to share it!

Well, Mischief did three more Naughty Things this afternoon, including nearly making me fall off when we were riding without stirrups by skittering about when Lydia pushed a wheelbarrow past. I tried really hard to be Megan the Brave but I felt like crying when we dismounted. Gabrielle gave me a hug and Millie said, “Don’t worry, it can be hard getting used to a new pony and Mischief isn’t called Mischief for nothing!”

I said, “But everyone thinks I’m rubbish!” and Millie said, “No one thinks that.” But I think she was just being nice ’cos we both heard Jade giggling when I lost my balance. At that moment I suddenly missed Mum and Dad so much.

Sally called me over when we were untacking and asked if I wanted to swap on to this other pony called Star who is very reliable. I know reliable means slow, as in another plodder. I could feel myself almost starting to cry but I managed to hold it in and say I wanted to stick with Mischief.

Sally said, “Okay, that’s fine for now, but I’ll just have to keep an eye on how things go. I want you to get the most out of your week here, Megan, and I’m sure you do too.”

Phew! But I can’t believe she asked me to swap. I will have to get tougher if I want to keep my gorgeous Mischief – and quickly!

After the Grooming Lecture we did the Practical Learning which meant fully grooming our ponies from head to hoof. Lydia came round to give us help, and I got to try out the plastic curry comb to lift the mud and grease out of Mischief’s coat. When I was brushing round his shoulder with the dandy brush he nuzzled up to me, so I think he loves me too!

I even secretly pretended that he was my very own pony and that we’d come here for a holiday together, with him in a horsebox.

I can’t wait for tomorrow because we get to go on the yard straight after breakfast and do jobs like real pony-owners! I’m going up to the
field with the other girls whose ponies live out, to catch them and bring them down to the yard.

I didn’t ring Mum and Dad tonight even though we had the choice after tea because I was still a bit upset about my bad lesson and I didn’t want Mum to worry (which she does quite a lot). I’ll make a new start tomorrow and prove to everyone that I can handle Mischief and then I’ll have something great to tell them both on the phone!