Free Show-Jumping Dreams by Sue Bentley Page A

Alex only just managed to stay on as Pasha scrambled to her feet and stood with her head hanging down.
    Alex gasped with dismay as she realized that something was really wrong.
    Dismounting quickly and trying to fight panic, she led her pony away from the course. “Poor girl. Did you hurt yourself?” she said gently. “Come on, take it slow. Let’s get the vet to look at you. She’ll make you feel better.”
    As she led the limping pony to one side, her mom and dad were already racing toward her. Alex gave up all pretense of being calm.
    “Mom! Dad! Something happened to Pasha!” she wailed.
    “All right, honey. You’re doing all the right things.”Her dad took over. He bent down and swiftly ran his hand down the injured pony’s back leg. Pasha flinched and tremors ran over her chestnut coat. “I hope it’s just a sprain and not a torn ligament.”
    A torn ligament was serious. A feeling of dread jolted through Alex as she saw her parents exchanging serious looks. She’d had Pasha for three years and loved her to pieces. She couldn’t bear to think of the plucky little chestnut pony being in pain.
    A voice came over the loudspeaker. “Vet to show jumping, please. Right away.”
    It seemed like hours before the van arrived and the vet was examining Pasha with her expert eye. Alex stood with her arms around her pony’s warm neck, trying hard not to cry. “Don’t be scared, Pasha.The vet’s a nice lady. She’s going to help you,” she said gently.
    Mrs. Judd put a hand on her daughter’s arm. “Why don’t you go and wait with Zoe, sweetie? She looks worried sick for you over there. We’ll take care of Pasha. I’ll come get you the moment the vet’s finished.”
    Alex didn’t want to leave Pasha, but she nodded miserably. She walked over to her best friend who was standing a few feet away with Maxi, her brown-and-white Welsh pony.
    Zoe looked close to tears, too. “Poor Pasha. What a terrible thing to happen. Is she going to be okay?” she asked.
    “I don’t know. The vet’s still examining her.” Alex gulped, grateful that Zoe was there. They lived a fewmiles away from each other up at Denton Moor and had known each other since they were little. They were both crazy about ponies and did everything together.

    Alex swallowed, blinking away unshed tears. A horrible thought dawned on her. “Was . . . was it my fault? I’m not as good at jumping as you are. I . . . I might have done something wrong that made Pasha land awkwardly.”
    Zoe shook her head. “I don’t think so. Everything looked fine from where I was.”
    Alex nodded slowly, hoping that Zoe was right and not just saying that to make her feel better.
    The wait was almost unbearable, but eventually the vet was finished. The moment the vet dusted off her hands and rose to her feet, Alex rushed back.
    “What’s wrong with Pasha? Her leg’s not broken, is it? She’s not going to have to be . . .” She couldn’t say the awful words.
    “No,” the vet said quickly, banishing Alex’s worst fears. “But it’s a bad sprain and she split her heel. Your pony’s going to be out of action for some time while she rests that leg.”
    Alex was so relieved that Pasha wasn’t more seriously hurt that it took a few seconds for the news to sink in. “But . . .she is going to get all better?”
    The vet nodded. “There’s no reason why she shouldn’t make a full recovery. I gave her some medicine, so she’ll be more comfortable on the trip home.”
    Alex felt faint with relief. She turned and gave Zoe a thumbs-up. Zoe waved back, beaming.
    With the vet and her dad helping, they managed to get Pasha safely up the ramp and into their truck. The big horse truck wasn’t new when they got it recently, and there was a dent on one side. Inside, it had room for four ponies and lots of space for equipment.
    Once Pasha was tethered in her stall, Alex gave her a handful of oats. “You were so brave,” she crooned, patting her.