Mia scratched her thick grey tights. It was so weird being in her school uniform again, instead of in her old jodhpurs. The summer had gone so quickly that it felt like a dream. Now she was in Year Six, in Miss Pounds’ class, and she knew it was going to be hard work. She peered out of the window and wondered what Mum was doing with Polly. Mia couldn’t wait to be a grown-up so that she could work with horses all day, too!

As if she’d read her thoughts, Jasmine leaned over and passed her a note. How’s Polly? it read.

“She’s good!” Mia whispered. “She’s put loads of weight on – she’s almost the same size as the other horses her age.” Mia rummaged in her school bag and pulled out her mobile to find the latest picture of Polly.

“Mia Bennett.” A voice boomed above her, making her jump. Miss Pounds held out her hand and Mia reluctantly put the phone in it.

“She was just telling me about Polly.” Jasmine stood up for her. “She’s Mia’s horse. She was really sick until the RSPCA rescued her.”

“That’s very nice,” Miss Pounds said in a voice that made it clear she didn’t think it was nice at all. “But since she hasn’t got anything to do with English, can you save looking at her until break time please? If you two can’t behave when you sit next to each other, I’ll have to split you up.”

“But, Miss—” Mia started.

“That’s enough,” said Miss Pounds in a serious voice.

Mia stopped talking – she didn’t want to be moved away from her best friend. Jasmine shot her a sorry look.

As Jasmine started writing in her exercise book, Mia realized that she had been so busy thinking about Polly, that she didn’t even know what the class were doing!

“What are we supposed to do?” she mouthed at Jasmine. Jasmine rolled her eyes and pointed her pencil at the board. On it Miss Pounds had written: “A dream come true.”

“Write,” Jasmine mimed, pretending to scribble on her exercise book. “One page.” A cough from the front made Mia jump, and she put her head down and started writing.

 

A Dream Come True

I’ve only got one dream, but it will never come true. My dream is that I get to keep Polly, but I can’t because looking after a horse is very expensive. Mum says that being able to look after the horses at the equine centre is almost as good as having one of our own, but it’s not, because one day Polly is going to leave and go and live with someone else, and if she was mine I could keep her forever. I like all the horses at the centre, but I love Polly. She’s special. She’s mine.

A tear ran down Mia’s nose and dropped on to the page. She rubbed her eyes with the sleeve of her jumper. Next to her she could see Jasmine making a worried face at her.

Luckily the bell went and Mia grabbed her bag and rushed outside into the playground.

“What’s wrong?” Jasmine asked, giving her a big hug. “Don’t worry about Miss Pounds, she’s just a meanie.”

“It’s not that,” Mia sniffed. “It’s Polly. You said she was mine, but she’s not really. I want her to get better, but as soon as she does she’s going to find another family to live with. And I’ll never see her again!”

 

“And then Jasmine threw her jelly at Josh!” Mia laughed as she swung on the fence.

Polly gave a whicker like she was laughing, too.

Mia reached up to stroke her velvety nose, and Polly nuzzled into her shoulder. Mia had got into a routine of coming to see Polly every day after school. Jasmine’s mum dropped her off at the centre and Mum usually had a few things to finish off, so Mia got some free time to spend with Polly before she had to go home for dinner and to do her homework. She always came straight over to the paddock Polly shared with Honey and Star, and told Polly all about her day. Polly listened as if she understood every word.

“There you are! As if you’d be anywhere else,” Mum said coming over, a lead rope and halter hanging from her shoulder.

“Hi Mum!” Mia called. “Is it time to go already?”

Mum laughed. “Actually, I thought we’d stay a bit late tonight and maybe grab a takeaway on the way home. Do you want to help me exercise Polly? She’s healthy enough to do some lunging now. I could have done it earlier on today, but I thought you might like to watch. . .”

“Oh, yes please!” Mia jumped down from the fence.

“I thought you might say that,” said Mum smiling.

Mia grinned – extra time with Polly and fish and chips too! “What do we have to do?”

“OK, I need you to hold this,” Mum said, putting a carrot in a bucket and handing it to Mia. Mum took the head collar off her shoulders. Polly stepped back as she caught sight of it, and gave a wary whicker.

“Come on, Polly, remember that you get a carrot once this is on,” Mum called.

“Mmm, a lovely carrot,” Mia agreed, shaking the bucket.

Polly whickered again and her dark eyes sparkled. She put her head over the fence and stretched out for it impatiently.

“Here you go!” Mia held out the bucket and Polly happily put her head in, bumping her nose into the bucket to try and get it. It was so different from when she first arrived and was too nervous to even eat her hay.

Mum quickly slid the head collar over Polly’s nose, then buckled it behind her ears before clipping on the lead rope.

“Hurry, Mum!” Mia giggled helplessly as Polly pulled her head out of the bucket, chewing happily. “She’s eaten it all!”

“OK, I’m done,” Mum said, giving Polly a pat on her neck. “There you go, that wasn’t too bad, was it?”

Polly crunched down the rest of the carrot and then shook her head. Mia laughed. It was like Polly was replying to Mum’s question!

“I don’t think Polly is a completely green horse,” Mum said, putting gloves on so that the lead rope wouldn’t burn her hands if Polly pulled away suddenly.

“She’s not green at all – she’s brown and white,” Mia joked. She knew that a “green” horse was one that hadn’t had any training before.

Mia perched on the paddock fence and watched as Mum unclipped the lead rein and attached another longer line to the head collar. She’d never watched Mum work with the ponies like this, and she was paying close attention. After all, if she wanted to be an RSPCA groom like Mum, she needed to know it all. I’m learning just like Polly! she thought to herself.

“Walk on,” Mum said to Polly, clicking her tongue. Mum started leading Polly around the paddock, gradually letting the rope out until Polly was at a lunging distance. She stood still in the middle, with Polly walking in a big circle around her.

“Let’s show Mia what we learned yesterday, hey Polly?” Mum asked. As Polly walked around, Mum lifted up the lunge rein and said “whoa!” loudly.

Polly hesitated, her ears flicking interestedly, then stopped.

“Good girl!” Mum praised her.

“Well done, Polly!” Mia called.

“Now, walk on!” Mum commanded. Polly took a step forward, then glanced at Mia warily, her tail swishing from side to side.

“Go on, Polly!” Mia cheered.

Mum walked her round a few more times, first in one direction and then in the other. Polly walked, stopped, and turned perfectly.

“Good job, Polly,” Mum said finally. She unclipped the lunge rein and reattached the lead rope, then tied Polly up to a loop on the fence.

“At this rate, she’ll be ready for a new home in no time,” Mum said cheerfully. Mia rested her face against Polly’s neck and sighed. She wanted Polly to get better, but she couldn’t bear the thought of her leaving. . .