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Back One Winter Morning Save as PDF
Chapters (56)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Author
  3. By the same author
  4. Dedication
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. Acknowledgements
  54. Read More
  55. Two Years Later
  56. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

I give the little cob his head, and after a few hesitant steps, the pony begins to relax and lengthen his stride. Tui’s knees are still pressed against the saddle like a vice, but after a few more circuits, she, too, begins to soften. Whenever she drops her chin, I ask her to tell me which clouds look like animals, and when I sense her beginning to wobble, I simply remind her of those magical weights in the heels of her boots. After ten minutes, during which time Allie has sat down on a plastic jump block behind me, I call out to Tui that we’re going to try a trot again.

‘This time,’ I say, before she has the chance to feel scared, ‘I want you to imagine that there’s a big spring at the top of your legs, like a slinky. Do you know what a slinky is?’

Tui shakes her head with enthusiasm.

‘When your pony starts to trot, the only thing that needs to move is those springs. Everything else on your body can stay still, OK? Shall we give it a try?’

‘OK, Gee-nie,’ Tui sings, but I notice that she tenses up a fraction. Tossing Allie’s proffered whip to the floor, I click my tongue against my teeth until the pony takes the hint, then let the rein go slack again, so he isn’t left fighting for his head. Enjoying this new freedom, the sturdy little pony slips effortlessly into a slow, comfortable trot, and Tui, quite miraculously, finds and deepens her seat.

‘Better?’ I call, as she’s on her sixth rotation, and this time, as she says yes, she’s nodding.

‘You clearly know your stuff,’ Allie remarks. I expected her to be annoyed with me for muscling in, but she seems genuine in her praise – a fact that strangely makes me feel even more of an imposter.

‘Not really,’ I say, glancing down at my sandals.

‘It’s bloody clever of you, to use imagery like that with Tui,’ Allie continues. ‘I’ve been trying to get her basic seat better for months, then you come in and nail it in fifteen minutes.’

‘I’m sorry,’ I begin, but Allie holds up a hand.

‘Don’t be – I’m stoked that Tui’s finally enjoying herself up there. Isn’t that right, Tui?’

‘What?’ bellows Tui, causing both of us to laugh.

‘Right, come on, Missy.’ Allie takes the lunge rein and tows Tui and the chestnut pony back towards the stables. ‘And you, too, other Missy,’ she calls over her shoulder.

Feeling all of a sudden light-headed with happiness, I set off after them through the dust.

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15

Bonnie