Free Sophie and Shine by Kelly McKain

Monday afternoon — I’m at Pony Camp!
    We’ve just had lunch on my very first day at Pony Camp, and I thought I’d start writing in my fab new diary straight away. Jody, who runs Sunnyside Stables, gave us one each to write all our adventures in while we’re here and I’ve had such an exciting time already! We had our assessment lesson this morning and I’ve been given the best pony ever. She’s called Shine and she’s absolutely gorgeous! I’ll write more about her in a minute but I’m going to start right at the beginning so I don’t miss anything out.

    We were a bit late arriving because my baby brother Albie was screaming and Dad couldn’t get him strapped into the car seat. Plus, Mum had to pack all his stuff, like his bottles and nappies and pushchair, andeven with me helping it took ages. Albie needs as much for one car journey as I do for a week!
    So by the time we got here everyone else was already unpacked and on the yard. Jody showed me upstairs and I had to quickly dump my stuff in the room where I’m staying. I took the top bunk, as someone’s towel and nightie were already on the bottom one. There was also an unmade bed by the window covered in soft toy ponies, and Jody told me it belonged to her daughter, Millie.

    I hurried down to the yard and Sally the head instructor gave us a welcome talk, and introduced all the yard staff. Then Jody told usabout bedtimes and meals and stuff, and said to come to her if we had any problems or questions. Jody’s really nice and though she’s Millie’s actual mum, she’s going to be like a mum to all of us while we’re staying here.

    Then Sally got us to introduce ourselves to each other and I found out that the other girl (on the bunk below me) is called Beth. She’s my age but a bit smaller than me, and she’s got lovely wavy hair (I’m always trying to get mine to go like that but it never does!). She looked a bit nervous and asked me if I’d done much riding before.
    I explained that while I’ve been riding for quite a few years, I don’t get to go very often any more because of Mum and Dad being so busy with Albie. “So I’ve done lots of flatwork and some jumping but I’ve probably forgotten loads of it,” I told her. “Actually, that’s one of thethings I’m most looking forward to on this holiday – working on my riding non-stop for a whole week!” Then I suddenly panicked thinking what if Millie and Beth are really good, but Beth said, “I’ve done way less than you – I only started a few months ago, when me and Dad moved down here.”
    We both turned to Millie at the exact same time and said, “I bet you’re brilliant,” which was so spooky it made all three of us collapse into giggles. Millie said, “I’ve been riding a long time, but if I can get my pony to do what I want it’s a miracle.” Her pony’s called Tally and she says his main hobby is bombing off on hacks and dragging her through hedges.

    The other girls are lovely too, and I especially like Shanice. She’s really smiley and said she liked my new black cord jodhs (I had to get new ones because when I tried on my riding stuff last week I’d grown out of my old ones!). Shanice lives in London and she’s hardly ridden at all, but she’s so pony mad she saved up for a really nice grooming kit to use on her pony this week. She got given a cute piebald called Prince and she fell in love with him straight away.

    The three older girls are really cool. Aneela has amazingly long shiny hair and Izzy’s got a fab purple silk she bought specially for this week. Courtney’s wearing make-up and when I said I liked her eyeshadow she offered to do a makeover on me one night! Her mum’sactually a beauty therapist so Courtney’s learnt all about make-up and hair and face packs and stuff from her. Who