Emily and Emerald by Kelly McKain Page A

I’m writing this sitting at the picnic table outside the farmhouse so I can keep a lookout for her.
    OK, well, this is a pic of (fingers crossed!) my fab pony, Emerald!

    She isn’t supposed to be one of the Pony Camp ponies at all, but as soon as I saw her I knew I wanted her, and Sally did admit it seems like Emerald has chosen me, too. But she also said I’d have to ride Flame first in the assessment and, oh whoops, I’m trying to say everything at once and missing things out. Right, I’ll take a deep breath and slow down and write everything in order.
    OK, so I headed over to the yard to find the others, and as I walked between the car park and lower field this pony came bolting towards me, completely loose, with a head collar on andher lead rope dangling. It was Emerald! I didn’t know her name then, of course. And I didn’t know that she’d just arrived at Sunnyside and had gone bombing out of the trailer as Sally was unloading her. But I did know that she was the most gorgeous pony I’d ever seen.
    She was skittering around, looking ever so frightened. For a moment I froze in shock, but then I thought how dangerous that dangling lead rope was, and how I had to stop her from tripping up and having an accident. 

    I stood my ground as she came right up to me, and I spread my arms out so that she couldn’t get past and gallop off up the track to the upper fields.
    I took a deep breath and tried to relax. Emerald lowered her head and snorted; she seemed to be calming down a bit, too. I stepped towards her and put my hand out for her to smell.

    â€œBe careful!” Sally called, as she appeared round the corner. I gave a slight nod, then slowly turned so I was standing at Emerald’s shoulder, and reached down for the end of the lead rope.
    Then I stood there with both hands on the rope while Sally came over and took it from me. “Well done!” she said softly. “You showed a lot of horse sense by staying so calm.”
    I smiled, and inside I was really proud of myself.
    She asked my name, and just when I thought she was going to send me off to the yard to join the others she said I could help take Emerald into the barn instead. She told me to lead her into a small pen in the corner, away from the other ponies. As I walked her on, I kept glancing at her gorgeous, glossy bay coat and cute white star and big brown eyes, and thinking how beautiful and special she was.

    We got some hay for her and filled up her water trough, and as I was stroking her nose to say goodbye, I blurted out to Sally, “Do you think, maybe, I could have Emerald as my pony this week?”
    Sally frowned. “I’m sorry, Emily, but she’s not going to be ridden at Pony Camp for a while,” she said. “She’s very nervous and I need to work with her myself first.”

    I tried to smile, but I couldn’t hide how disappointed I was. Emerald leaned her head over the railing and nudged my arm. I rubbed her neck and she snorted gently.
    â€œIt wouldn’t be an easy week,” Sally said then. I stared at her. Was she saying yes after all? “I’ve ridden Emerald myself and I know her temperament and capabilities,” she continued. “You won’t be able to jump her, and you’ll have to keep her calm in flat work or she might bolt off with you.”
    â€œI don’t mind,” I insisted. “I don’t care about any of that, I just want to be with Emerald.”
    Sally smiled. “I know you do, Emily, but we have to be sensible. I’ll need you to ride another pony in the assessment lesson, so I can see what level you’re at. And then we’ll think about it. OK?”
    â€œOK!” I cried, grinning.

    So I gave Emerald a last pat, and showed her that I had my fingers crossed for us. Then Sally and I went to join the others, who were all hanging around outside the office, squished on to the bench and chatting away.