Saffron saw it as well. Her voice suddenly boomed out. ‘For goodness’ sake, sit up straight. And keep your hands and heels down!’

Zoe almost jumped out of her skin and jerked on the reins. Maxi slewed sideways and crashed into the fence, knocking a pole down.

Alex rode towards her. ‘Is Maxi OK?’ she asked worriedly. ‘I hope he hasn’t hurt himself.’

Zoe had dismounted and was checking her pony’s knees and legs. ‘He seems fine,’ she said.

Saffron looked down from Princess. ‘Why didn’t you do as I told you?’ she demanded.

Alex began helping Zoe to rebuild the fence. ‘You’d probably have been all right, if Saffron hadn’t yelled at you like that,’ she sympathized. ‘It put you off your stride.’

Saffron’s brows dipped in a fierce frown. ‘What’s the big deal? I was only trying to help! I can’t help it if she didn’t listen!’

‘Well – maybe if you didn’t shout like a foghorn –’ Alex began.

‘It doesn’t matter now,’ Zoe cut in hastily. ‘I’ll do better next time. Your turn, Alex.’ She mounted Maxi and then she and Saffron trotted away together to watch.

Alex clicked her tongue at Comet and he sprang towards the first fence. He cleared it easily, arching his neck and proudly tossing his mane. Alex could tell he was enjoying himself.

Comet soared over all the fences in turn, until there was just one left. They were approaching the final fence when Alex had a sudden flashback to the recent horse trials where Pasha was injured.

As the chestnut’s frightened whinny seemed to ring in her head, Alex felt her confidence waver. Maybe she was doing something wrong when she jumped, despite what Zoe thought. Could it have been her fault that Pasha had hurt herself?

She gulped. What if Comet lands wrong and hurts himself too…?

The magic pony slowed down. Alex’s mouth dried as she tried to force down her fear and work through it. Comet got slower still. He was going to refuse!

‘Stop dithering!’ Saffron shouted loudly. ‘Kick him on. Show him who’s boss!’

Alex flushed with annoyance, but managed to get her focus back. She swallowed hard. ‘Come on, Comet!’ she whispered, pressing him on.

Comet sped up again. He eyed the fence carefully and bounded over it easily.

‘Well done!’ Alex gasped as they landed safely.

‘Are you all right, Alex?’ Comet champed at the bit. ‘It felt like you didn’t really want me to jump. I didn’t want to go over it, if you were frightened.’

She leaned down to rub his silky caramel neck. ‘I did get scared for a moment when I remembered how Pasha went lame the last time I was jumping. I thought I might have done something wrong that time and I didn’t want you to get hurt too.’

Comet turned his head and blew air out of his flared nostrils. ‘That was not your fault. Pasha told me on the journey to your home that she had slipped on a patch of mud. It was an accident.’