Free Millie and Magic by Kelly McKain Page B

zip my lips.
    As Tally trotted round behind Prince and Evie, he looked so miserable, and I wished I could explain to him that none of this was my idea!

    Zoe decided to stay in trot too, and went round behind Amber and Elizabeth. She’s got a really good seat for someone who hasn’t ridden much, and I’m sure she’ll be whizzing along soon enough.

    Amy cantered on Mischief and she was really confident, although he did cut the corner and drop into trot a couple of times, then do a big plunge when she asked for canter again. Typical of him! He’s so cheeky! I think he was hoping to send her flying, but she held on and kept trying till she got him going nicely. Good for her! Me and Zoe said a big well done to Amy after the lesson, and she was really pleased with herself.
    Angelika and Zuzanna are brilliant riders, and Irenka’s really good too, considering she’s onlybeen riding two years, the same as Kasia. Although she’s not that experienced, she’s really brave. Like, when Flame decided that canter wasn’t fast enough and absolutely bolted down the long side, Irenka screamed and I thought she’d refuse to try again. But Sally got her to ride a couple of circles in trot then asked for canter, and Flame went calmly that time (well, as calmly as she ever goes!).
    Magic was easy to get into canter and had a nice even rhythm. And we made such a smooth downward transition you could hardly see me do anything. Mum’s right, he would make someone a lovely pony – it just won’t be me!
    When we got back to the barn to untack, everyone was chattering excitedly about the lesson, and telling me that I’m SO lucky to live here – as usual! I managed to smile and say, “Yes, I am,” but it was quite hard to watch Kasia brushing Tally down.

    He looked as sad as me, so when Kasia took his water bucket off to the yard to scrub out and fill up, I went over and gave him a big hug. 

    And guess what?
    Lydia saw and told me off!
    Huh! I hadn’t even noticed she was there! She said, “Tally’s fine, Millie, stop fussing. Poor Magic needs a bit of attention, though.”
    Well, he looked perfectly OK to me, but I went back into his pen and brushed him anyway, just to keep her happy. His coat came up really well, and he was so still and calm, I didn’t even have to watch my feet. He’s a real sweetie and, like I said, I’m sure he’ll make someone a great pony.Amy was so funny at lunch just now, doing an impression of Mischief trying to plunge her off. Me and Zoe were in stitches watching her canter around the picnic tables.

    Then when I was finishing off my fruit salad and ice cream I came up with a new plan for Operation Keep Tally. It’s way better than any of the silly ideas I had before, but I’m keeping it to myself, in case my new mates accidentally let something slip (especially loud-girl Amy!). In fact, I’m moving my arm over this page, so they don’t read anything!

    Oh, Sally just came in and announced the groups. I’m in Group B with Amy and the older girls, and Zoe’s in Group A with Evie, Elizabeth and Kasia (on MY pony). It’s time to go down to the yard now. Fingers crossed that my plan goes well!  

Monday after tea

    The lecture this afternoon was on tack and tacking up. In the tack room Sally was pointing to all these different things and we had to say what they were. I made sure I was first to put my hand up, and I mentioned Tally every time, so she’d know how much I was missing him. “That’s a standing martingale, which could be useful on a lively pony like Tally , if he got into the habit of throwing his head up,” I called out. And, “That’s an eggbutt snaffle bit, which should be fine for most ponies, but you might want to use a drop or flash noseband with it rather than a cavesson if you’ve got a headstrong one, like Tally .” I thought Sally would be pleased that I was doing so well, but after a while she just said, “OK, thanks, Millie. Let someone else have a go