Chapter 19

Leap of Faith

AFTER THE LUNCH BREAK, the girls returned to the arena for the jumping classes. This time the riders entered the ring one at a time and jumped around a course. The first class was Eye Opener, a chance for all the ponies to jump the course and have a practice.

It was lucky that this round wasn’t judged, because Dandy was very spooky, hesitating at many of the jumps. Then at the brush jump, a natural obstacle filled with branches, Dandy leapt over it like it was a Grand Prix fence, and Vicki lost her balance on landing, falling to the ground.

“That hurt,” Vicki said to her pony, as she gingerly rose to her feet. “The way you’re jumping you’d think you were at the Horse of the Year Show. Next time remember the jumps are only 50 centimetres, so I can stay on.”

Leading him from the ring, Vicki waited for the next class, hoping they’d be able to jump around clear.

The rider class was next. Vicki would be judged on her position over the fences and how well she rode, and she was relieved when the judge said they had to jump only the first three jumps. Happy she wouldn’t have to jump the brush, Vicki and Dandy trotted into the ring and halted, saluting to the judge like she’d been taught to do at Pony Club.

Picking up a canter, she and Dandy approached the first upright. Safely over, they continued on to the next, before turning and jumping the last. Vicki circled and brought Dandy back to a trot, then a halt, again saluting to the judge.

“Good boy, Dandy,” Vicki said proudly. “That was perfect!”

At the completion of the class, Vicki was called into the ring as the winner, with Kelly second. As the red ribbon was tied around Vicki’s arm, the judge said, “Congratulations — it’s not often the same person wins both the flat and jumping rider classes. You’re going to go a long way.”

Moving on to Twinkle, she placed a blue ribbon on Kelly’s arm. “You two are the cutest combination! Most kids your age are still on the lead rein.”

“Thanks!” Kelly replied with a toothy grin. “Twinkle’s the best pony.”

The next class was Open Hunter. This meant jumping not only the brush, but also a wire jump, so Vicki was very nervous. They’d practised it only once at Pony Club, and Vicki wasn’t sure if Dandy would jump it on his first attempt.

Knowing she would get nervous watching the other horses compete, Vicki offered to go first. She gamely cantered into the first jump. Soon they were approaching the brush, but unlike in Eye Opener, Dandy jumped it effortlessly, placing one canter stride between the two fences. Continuing on, they re-jumped the first three jumps before turning and approaching the wire.

Three strides out, Dandy hesitated and fell back to a trot. Urging him on, Vicki kept him straight and he jumped it clear, although rather awkwardly.

“You are such a brave boy,” Vicki said, as she gave him a big pat.

Although they’d lost all chance of placing because Dandy had trotted, Vicki was incredibly pleased with her pony. She waited outside the ring to see how her younger sister would fare.

Twinkle jumped around clear but fitted two canter strides in between the brushes — Twinkle’s little legs just couldn’t make the distance. Kelly was thrilled to place third.

“Well done,” said Vicki, leaning over to pat the little grey pony. “I’ve never seen Twinkle jump so well!”

The last class of the day was Tip ’n’ Out, a competition to see who could jump the highest. The jump started with just a pole on the ground, and each round it was raised a further 10 centimetres for the riders who jumped it clear.

Up and up the jumps went. When Dandy cleared 70 centimetres, the highest he’d ever jumped, Vicki leant forward and gave him a hug. Riding over to her mum and dad, who stood watching from the sidelines with Amanda, she asked, “Do you think I should finish? I’m really happy with him!”

Her mum shook her head. “He’s jumping it so easily — why don’t you keep jumping and see what he’s capable of?”

“If we clear the next height, it’ll be the highest I’ve ever jumped on any pony in my life,” said Vicki.

“You’ve got this, kiddo. Remember to keep your legs against his sides to keep him moving forward, and look up,” her dad said.

Turning around, Vicki headed back to where eight other ponies stood waiting for the jump to be raised.

“You’re still in!” Vicki said when she saw Kelly waiting with Twinkle.

“Yeah, but I’m pretty scared,” Kelly said with a worried look. “I’ve never jumped this high!”

“Me neither,” said Vicki. “But if Dandy can do it after learning to jump only a couple of months ago, I’m sure Twinkle can too.”

“You go before me, then.”

When it was her turn, Vicki asked Dandy for a canter and approached the fence, careful to follow her dad’s advice. At the base of the fence she felt Dandy gather his legs beneath him, soaring over the pole with plenty of room to spare.

“We did it, Dandy!” Vicki cried out. “We’ve just beaten my personal best!”

Dropping back to a walk, Vicki turned to watch Kelly approach on Twinkle. Very gallantly they cantered towards the jump, but at the last second Twinkle darted sideways and went around it instead.

As she trotted past Vicki, Kelly flashed her a grin.

“It’s OK — I didn’t really want to jump it anyway.”

Now the jump was raised again, this time to 90 centimetres. Only three ponies remained in the competition.

“Do you think we’ll be able to clear it?” she asked Dandy, as she stroked his neck. “It’s pretty big.”

Approaching the jump Vicki tried to keep a steady canter, but a few strides out Dandy fell back into a trot. Keeping him straight, she urged him forward again with her legs.

“Come on Dandy, you can jump it,” she said as he took off. As if in slow motion Vicki felt Dandy tuck his legs, stretching as he tried to clear the jump. Before she knew it they were on the other side, clear!

“I can’t believe you made it, Dandy!” she cried. “You are the best pony in the world!”

Vicki was so caught up in her conversation with Dandy that she didn’t notice the other ponies drop the rail. When the judge walked towards her with the red ribbon she was shocked.

“Did we really win?” she asked in disbelief.

“You certainly did,” the judge said. How long have you had your pony for?”

Quickly Vicki told her the story about how Dandy had been captured from the wild and how she’d tamed and trained him. The judge was obviously interested in the tale.

“You should be incredibly proud of your hard work,” she said. “He’s a lovely pony, and I’m really impressed by your riding. Just keep doing what you’re doing.” The judge gave Dandy an affectionate scratch behind the ear.

“Thanks so much — I love jumping and hope to be a Grand Prix showjumper one day,” Vicki said, unable to contain her excitement.

Vicki cantered out of the ring, her red ribbon fluttering in the breeze. As she completed her lap of honour, she imagined she was riding a mighty show jumper at the Horse of the Year, after winning at the biggest event in the country.

With a grin, she shook her head. Now wouldn’t that be something.

Squeezing her reins, she slowed Dandy and bought him back to a trot, then a walk. Riding over to her family, she couldn’t stop smiling.

“Thanks for believing in me and helping me tame Dandy — it’s been the best year of my life!” Vicki said to her parents.

“You deserve it, kiddo,” her dad replied. “You’ve worked hard for it.”

Dismounting, Vicki threw her arms around Dandy’s neck. “From the first moment I saw you galloping in the mountains, I knew you were special.”

Her mum pulled Vicki into a hug. “I have a feeling you are both destined to be champions.”