Issie and the Christmas Pony by Stacy Gregg

no trouble to load him into the truck. You’ll need to become a club member of course-I’ve got the paperwork around here somewhere; we can fill it in. The club uniform is a navy knitted jersey and a red tie with a white shirt, but since this is your first time, they won’t expect you to be in uniform. Just wear something tidy with your best jods.”
    Issie couldn’t believe it. Her first club rally.
    â€œExcellent!” Avery said. “That’s settled then. Be here at 6 a.m. on Sunday morning and we’ll head off.”
    â€œWhy do these horse things have to be so early?” Mrs Brown stifled a yawn. It wasn’t even light outside yet and they were driving towards Winterflood Farm to get Bert ready for the rally day. “6 a.m.!” Mrs Brown groaned. “Even the birds aren’t up yet!”
    Ever since Issie had started her lessons at WinterfloodFarm, her mum had been driving her back and forth each day after school to ride. Mrs Brown said she didn’t mind, but Issie wished she had a bike. It was only a ten-minute trip to Winterflood Farm, and if she had her own bike she’d be able to go and visit Avery and the horses any time she liked.
    â€œIt could be worse,” Issie said cheerily. “At least Bert has a hogged mane so we don’t have to be there at 5.30 a.m. to plait up!”
    â€œWhat a bonus!” groaned Mrs Brown.
    In fact, Avery had Bert all groomed and ready in his floating rug and boots by the time Issie and her mum arrived. He lowered the ramp of the horse truck and gave Bert’s lead rope to Issie. “You can lead him on if you like,” he said. “Turn him round to face the truck and then walk him up; he’ll follow you.” Issie felt nervous, but Bert stepped obediently behind her up the ramp and tethered quietly in the horse truck next to his hay net. “Issie can ride with me in the truck if she likes,” Avery told Mrs Brown. “We’ll see you there!”
    The pony club was only about ten minutes drive away. Issie felt sick the whole way. She had been excited by the idea of her first club rally, but now shefelt nervous, really nervous.
    â€œSomething up?” Avery noticed how quiet she was.
    Issie didn’t know how to say it, but finally she blurted it out, “All the other riders are going to be better than me.”
    Avery nodded. “That seems quite likely since you’ve only just started riding,” he said. “You can’t expect to be the best rider at the club on your first day.”
    Issie sighed. “You’re really not making me feel any better here. Shouldn’t you be telling me how good I am?”
    â€œIssie,” said Avery gently, “I’ve ridden at the Badminton Horse Trials against some of the best riders in the world. Don’t you think I felt the same way when I turned up there for the first time? I worried that I was out of my league, that all the other riders were better than me. That fear never goes away, no matter how experienced you are. But it shouldn’t stop you. I went to Badminton because I knew that I wanted to ride with the best, to learn everything there was to know about horses. It’s not about being on top-it’s about the journey that takes you there.”
    He smiled at her. “We all have to start somewhere Issie. You have the talent and the natural ability to be a great rider. Right now, you’re still a beginner, butone day that will change. This is the first step. Your first time at pony club.” He pulled the truck up at the gates of the club grounds and looked at Issie. “Are you ready?” he asked seriously. “Because it all begins right here. This is where you start to become a real rider.”
    Issie nodded. “I’m ready.”
    â€œExcellent,” said Avery, grinning. “Hop out and open the gate, will you? I’ll park the truck under those trees over there and