Laurel climbed over the gate to remove Daybreak’s rug, gave her back a quick once-over with a dandy brush to get rid of anything that might irritate her, took the numnah from Gabe and settled it on Daybreak’s back. Then she lifted the saddle with a grunt. ‘I’m sure saddles didn’t use to be so heavy.’ She slid it into position so the pony’s hair wasn’t all brushed the wrong way underneath, then buckled the girth.

Next thing she knew, Rea had come through the gate, bridle in hand. ‘Can I see if I remember how?’ She did, and in moments Daybreak was shifting the bit in her mouth while Rea deftly buckled the cheek strap.

Laurel took the first ride. While she didn’t want Rea to become disengaged by waiting, she wanted to ride the freshness off the pony so Rea’s courage wouldn’t be rewarded with a bumpy ride on a bucking pony or even a fall. She trotted and cantered Daybreak for ten minutes, then pulled up at the gate where Rea, happily, was still watching.

‘Ready, sis?’ she asked.

Rea nodded, looking more enthusiastic than she had about leaving the house, so Laurel dismounted and gave her the riding hat, hoping it wasn’t too sweaty. Rea fastened it on happily enough and went to Daybreak’s head. ‘I’m going to ride you now, sweetie. OK?’ Daybreak nodded.

Rea very properly checked the girth, mounted from the gate and pulled the stirrups up a hole as she was shorter than Laurel. Then she whispered, ‘Come on,’ and gave Daybreak a little squeeze with her calves.

Laurel, in her new role as a spectator, slid an arm around Daisy, who was welling up again at the sight of her mum doing something in the great outdoors. Watching her sister walking Daybreak around the perimeter of the paddock, then shortening her reins ready to trot, Laurel thought it was worth returning to the village just to have this moment.

At first, they all leaned their arms on the top of the gate and watched in silence. Then they began to relax and chat. Rea rode figures of eight, getting Daybreak to change legs, which she did beautifully. Gabe went indoors and brought out hot drinks, then carried over a bench from outside the back door. He and Bertie perched on that while Laurel and Daisy perched on the top rail of the gate.

‘Daybreak’s certainly getting her exercise today,’ Gabe observed, nodding towards where Rea was now riding with crossed stirrups, extending Daybreak’s stride. Finally, when the drinks had gone and Daisy had spent a few minutes foraging amongst Gabe’s hedgerow for more materials for wreaths – she’d earned nearly three hundred pounds already and orders were still coming in, she told them proudly – Rea finally lengthened Daybreak’s reins and walked her up and down to cool her.