As they mounted, Magpie leapt forward. Hannah tightened her reins and he shook his head.

‘He’ll settle down as soon as we get going,’ Lauren said, hoping she was right.

But as they rode up the path to the woods, Magpie jogged and sidled sideways. Hannah tensed in the saddle and tightened her hold on his mouth. He tossed his head, trying to loosen the reins. ‘Steady,’ Hannah muttered, digging her knees into his sides. She looked embarrassed to be having problems.

‘Maybe if you give him more rein he’ll settle,’ Lauren said helpfully.

‘I know how to ride, Lauren,’ Hannah said.

They reached the sandy track and Magpie jumped forward excitedly. Hannah pulled at his mouth. He chucked his head in the air and she lost a stirrup.

‘Easy, boy!’ she exclaimed as she tried to get it back.

Lauren rode Twilight up alongside the young pony, hoping to calm him, but as she did so, a rabbit shot out from the undergrowth and raced across the path.

Magpie shied violently.

‘Hannah!’ Lauren cried in alarm as Hannah lost her balance, the reins slipping through her fingers.

‘Whoa!’ Hannah gasped.

She grabbed at the reins. But she wasn’t fast enough. Snatching the bit between his teeth, Magpie plunged forward and began to gallop down the track.

CHAPTER

Eight

‘Hannah!’ Lauren yelled as Magpie galloped around the bend in the path with Hannah struggling to stay on.

‘Come on, Twilight! Quick!’ Lauren exclaimed, leaning forward and urging Twilight on. He broke into a canter but Magpie was bigger and faster than Twilight and as they rounded the bend, all they saw was the empty track ahead of them.

Lauren’s heart pounded. Hannah obviously couldn’t stop Magpie. What if she fell off and was hurt? What if Magpie injured himself? Oh, this was all her fault. She should never have tried so hard to get Hannah riding again.

‘Faster!’ she urged Twilight. She ducked under some overhanging branches, expecting at any moment to come across Hannah lying injured on the path.

Twilight raced around the next corner and snorted in surprise. Magpie was standing at the side of the track with Hannah safely on his back. She was patting his neck and talking soothingly to him. She had regained her stirrups and looked completely in control.

Magpie shied in surprise when he saw Twilight galloping round the corner but Hannah immediately calmed him.

‘Are you OK?’ Lauren demanded as Twilight slowed down.

‘Fine,’ Hannah called. ‘Sorry for letting Magpie bolt off like that. I should have

stopped him earlier but I lost my stirrups.’ She stroked Magpie’s neck, her eyes glowing. ‘He’s a fantastic pony. So fast! And as soon as I got my reins and stirrups back, I managed to stop him. He’s really responsive. I should never have tried to keep him on such a tight rein. I guess I was just feeling nervous. It was really dumb of me.’