Diary of a Horse Mad Girl: My First Pony - Book 1 - A Perfect Horse Book for Girls aged 9 to 12 Read online

  Wednesday 17 October

  I had a great time this afternoon. There were actually all 6 of us riding in the paddock together and everyone was so friendly to each other. I was really worried about that, especially with Cammie and I didn’t know how it would work out. But even though we’re all different ages, we get on really well. Shelley is the oldest – she’s 13, Kate and Ali are both 12, Cammie is 11 and Grace and I are both 9. (Well, I’ll turn 9 in just over three weeks’ time – and I can’t wait)!

  And I got to try jumping!!! Kate and Shelley were telling me what to do. They were only small jumps but I loved it and so did Sparkle. Her ears went forward and she didn’t even hesitate. I love her so much!

  I saw a beautiful Wintec saddle at the saddlery on the weekend as well and I really hope that Mom and Dad buy it for my birthday present. It’ll be so much easier to jump in than the Western saddle I’m using now. Ali’s mom said I could borrow that until I get my own saddle. It’s a great one to learn in because it helps hold me in place and I have less chance of falling off. But it’s hard to rise up properly when I go for a jump.

  The new Wintecs are so pretty and Shelley has one. She says it’s fantastic. I’d really like to get some chaps of my own as well. Ali has loaned me her old pair but she has new ones and they look so cool. I should have enough money soon, but I want to get those jodhpurs as well – there are so many things I want to buy. Maybe I should just put them on my Christmas list?

  I wonder if I’ll get a new saddle for my birthday? I hope so! I can’t wait!!!

  Saturday 20 October

  Mom was the only one at home today but it was lucky that she was there. Kate was trotting Lulu down the hill so she could hose her down after riding but her hoof got caught in some wire fencing. It’s part of a gate that Dad made and someone left it lying across the track. Kate said that Lulu panicked and got all tangled up in it. Kate fell off her and it was so lucky that she wasn’t hurt but Lulu’s legs were all cut to pieces.

  Shelley ran down to the house to get Mom and they managed to untangle Lulu. But her legs were really badly cut and Mom had to call the vet. Thank goodness Lulu’s going to be okay! Kate’s not going to be able to ride her until she heals though and that could take a couple of weeks! Kate was really upset and rang her Dad. She said he got really angry and wants to talk to us about paying the vet bill.

  Now Mom and Dad are upset – they don’t want to have to pay someone else’s vet bill! I don’t know what’s going to happen. I hope that the girls can still stay here. It’s been so much better since they arrived - the others are so much nicer to me now and we’re all able to ride together. It has to work out.

  Monday 22 October

  We had visitors this afternoon and they left the front gate open! I’d brought Sparkle down to graze on the nice grass around the house and when I went to check on her, I couldn’t find her anywhere. I just knew that she’d probably walked up the driveway and out the gate.

  Mom and I raced down the street looking for her. We were so worried that she might have wandered down towards the main road. We couldn’t see her anywhere so we headed up to the horsey property at the end of our street in case she’d gone there but no one had seen her.

  We had to look down every driveway and Mom was getting really stressed. Then we walked up Cammie and Grace’s driveway and that was like climbing a mountain, it’s so steep. It was the only place we hadn’t been to though. Then all of a sudden we spotted her in amongst some bushes. But as soon as she saw us, she decided to bolt. I didn’t think we were going to be able to catch her at all but luckily I took a banana with me. She just couldn’t resist! Then we managed to get the halter and lead rope on her and walk her home.

  I’m so glad we found her – I don’t know what I would have done if she’d gone missing! We’re going to have to put a sign on the gate so people close it when they come in, in future.

  Mom and Dad can’t believe so many things have gone wrong since Sparkle arrived. At least it’s all sorted out with Kate’s dad now. He came over and worked out the vet bill with Dad. He’s blaming us for the wire gate that was lying across the track. We don’t know whose fault that was but Dad’s just going to give him free agistment for a couple of weeks. Anyway, he’s happy with that. And thank goodness Lulu is going to be okay. She just has to rest for another 10 days or so and then Kate should be able to ride her again. I’m so pleased about that and so is Kate. It would be terrible to have a horse and not be able to ride her!

  Wednesday 7 November

  I just haven’t had a chance to write lately – I’ve been so busy looking after all the horses - especially now that the girls want me to rug them. This keeps their coats looking nice and stops them from getting bitten. I really need to get a summer rug for Sparkle as well. It’s so much extra work putting the rugs on and off, but at least the summer ones can stay on all day. They actually protect the horses and help to keep them cool. I didn’t know that! I’ll definitely have to get one for my baby!

  I’m SO excited because this Sunday is my birthday!!! – Finally! And all my friends are coming over for a pool party sleepover on Saturday. I can’t wait to show them Sparkle. Mom said that we’ll be able to give them pony rides on the grass by the pool. She said that she’ll put Sparkle on a lead rope and lead them around. I can’t wait!

  I wonder if I’ll get that new saddle? Mom and Dad said they won’t tell me what they’ve got for me. They said it’s a surprise and I have to wait. I hope it’s the Wintec! I’m so excited – I’m definitely not going to be able to sleep tonight.

  Sunday 11 November

  It was the BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!!!!!

  My party was amazing! Everyone arrived yesterday afternoon and the first thing they wanted to do was see Sparkle – they think she’s so pretty and they all wanted to pat and brush her. I think she loved the attention. They all loved riding her as well. Mom and I led them around on the lead rope. Of course we made sure that the girth was extra tight and everyone was safe. Most of them live in suburban houses and don’t get to be on a property so they always enjoy coming to my house. It’s so much better now that I have a horse though!

  And Nate even gave them rides on his motorbike. He can be the best brother when he wants to be! I think he was proud to show off his new bike and was more than happy to give all my friends a double around our house. That’s another great thing about Sparkle, she’s totally bomb proof and doesn’t get scared of anything really. Her last owner Josh, rode motorbikes too, so I guess she’s become used to them. This is great because it doesn’t bother her at all when Nate and his friends ride their bikes in the paddock near hers.

  My party ended up being heaps of fun – we spent hours in the pool, jumping off our diving deck. It’s the best thing and we were all lining up in a row, holding hands and jumping in together. Mom took some great action photos as well with us in mid-air – they’re so cool! The trampoline by the pool is heaps of fun as well and everyone just loved it. Dad set up lights around the pool area and also a mirror ball in the gazebo with lots of black plastic for the lights to shine on. We had flame torches lit in the garden as well and it was so beautiful once it got dark. Everyone was commenting on how pretty it looked.

  After dinner, we had a disco in the gazebo and the mirror ball and all the lights looked awesome. Everyone thinks I’m so lucky that my dad is a musician because he set up his big speakers for us and even some microphones with stands for us to sing. We had the music really loud and everyone was dancing and singing and having so much fun. We played really cool games as well like Freeze, where you have to stand still when the music stops and also the limbo.

  Mom and Dad had set up our big family tent down on the grass and we all slept in there. What a great night – a bit squashy but we all managed to fit. Ali, Cammie, Grace and I talked about horsey stuff all night. We hardly got any sleep. I’m so glad they came – we’re getting on really well now and Grace and I are becoming great friends. It’s probably because
we’re more the same age. Everyone else was telling us to be quiet because they wanted to go to sleep. I guess we all eventually drifted off, but I’m sure it was really late when we did.

  Then today, we spent pretty much the whole day in the pool – and singing on the microphones as well. Tina, my best friend from school wouldn’t stop. Dad said that you could hear her all the way down our driveway and we’re sure our neighbors were glad when she finally went home. I think she wants to be a rock star when she gets older. Hopefully her voice improves!

  And then late this afternoon after everyone left, Mom and Dad gave me my present. And it’s the WINTEC!! They wanted to wait until everyone had gone so we could have some special family time together. Oh my gosh, I was so excited when I saw what it was. It looks so shiny and new – especially after riding the old western style saddle that Ali’s Mom has been lending me. I was so used to that.

  I’m really going to look after my new saddle. It comes in a special protective bag that I can keep it in when I’m not riding. Mom said that Sparkle and I won’t know ourselves – I’m sure that she’s going to find it much more comfortable as well.

  I can’t wait to go riding tomorrow and show the girls. As soon as I get home from school I’m going to race over to the paddock and go for a ride.

  I’m so lucky – it was the best birthday ever!!!

  Monday 12 November

  Just when everything seemed to be going well…

  I found a huge cut and a bruise in the shape of a hoof on Sparkle’s side. Shelly’s horse, Millie has become the boss of the paddock and I’m sure she must have kicked Sparkle. Millie’s such a bossy horse and so greedy at feed times. Even though she has food in her own feed bin, she wants Sparkle’s as well. She races across the paddock with her ears back and kicks out at Sparkle so she can get her food. Then she races back to her own feed bin to eat that too! She’s so greedy! And it’s so hard to make sure each horse gets their share when Millie’s in the paddock. I think I’m going to have to take Sparkle out and feed her on her own in future.

  And now I can’t even use my new Wintec because the cut on her side is right in the saddle area. So it’ll hurt her too much to have a saddle on. I wonder how long it’ll take for the cut to heal? Not too long I hope! I can’t believe I won’t be able to ride her and just when I have a brand new saddle as well. But Mom said…you get what you focus on! She’s always saying that and the strange thing is, she’s usually right. So now I’m going to focus on Sparkle getting better quickly so I can use the Wintec and take her for a ride. I bet she’ll love the new saddle just as much as me.

  I’m going to ask Mom and Dad if I can take the Wintec to school for show and tell – that would be really cool. I’m sure Miss Johnson won’t mind. I think I’ll ask her tomorrow.

  Thursday 15 November

  Mom and Dad took me to school today with my new saddle so I could show my class. They really liked it and I had to tell everyone the names of all the parts and how to adjust the stirrups and all. A lot of the kids have never even ridden a horse before so they knew nothing about it. Miss Johnson’s such an animal lover, she was really interested as well. She brings her dog to school sometimes. She’s a really cute Bassett Hound, called Shelby. Miss Johnson isn’t married and doesn’t have any kids so Shelby’s like her baby. She’s such a well-behaved dog and we’re allowed to pat her and play with her. She sits right beside Miss Johnson’s desk while we’re in class – she’s so cute! Miss Johnson said that she’ll take photos of each of us with Santa hats on holding Shelby and we can use the photos to make Christmas cards.

  And also, the BEST news is that Miss Johnson said I can bring Sparkle to school one day next week. Dad said that he would bring her in Tom’s trailer and Miss Johnson said he can drive the trailer straight onto the oval. Then we can unload her right there and the whole class can go and look at her. How awesome is that!!! Everyone is so excited! She’s such a quiet pony and she loves people, so she’ll be fine, I know it. They’ll have to keep their distance though. Miss Johnson said we all have to stay safe and no one will be able to get close to her or pat her or anything, but that’s okay. It’ll just be great to show her to everyone. This is the best thing ever. I bet nobody has ever taken a pony to school for show and tell – not at my school anyway!

  I can’t wait for next week!

  Saturday 17 November

  Sparkle’s cut has nearly healed but Jim (Cammie and Grace’s Dad), said I should wait a few more days before I ride her. It wouldn’t be fair to put a saddle on top of that cut – it would hurt her too much and probably make it bleed again, so I just have to wait. It was still fun though because Grace and I were watching the other girls practice their jumping today and we were able to reset the jumps for them when they knocked them down. It was so great watching Kate jump Lulu. Her legs have completely healed and she was flying over the jumps. She can jump over 3 feet – that is so high! I can’t wait until I can do that on Sparkle!

  Grace and Cammie are still sharing their horse, Rocket and Grace said that because I couldn’t ride Sparkle, then she wouldn’t ride today either. So we just hung around together in the paddock and had fun. We’re becoming such good friends now – we get along really well. She came over and swam in the pool with me this afternoon as well – that was great fun too. I love having a best friend as a neighbor. I’m so lucky.

  There are no boys in our street for Nate to play with though, just heaps of girls – and we’re all horse mad! He gets annoyed about that and says it isn’t fair – but Dad takes him surfing all the time and he goes off motorbike riding with his friends, so he still gets to have fun. Mom says that we’re both so lucky to have a property where we can ride horses AND motor bikes.

  Nate has tried riding Sparkle and he even had a lesson with Jane, the instructor. But he doesn’t like horse riding much. He says that he feels much safer on his motorbike. Mom said it’s because he has control of his bike but doesn’t feel the same when he’s on a horse. I think that motorbikes are scary to ride – not horses! It’s okay when he doubles me, but I still get scared. I did try having a go on my own a couple of times and Dad said I just have to practice so I’m more confident. I might try it again – Nate loves it when I ride his bike. But I definitely prefer horses!

  We got a great surprise today as well because Tom put some barrels in the paddock so we can practice barrel racing. He brought logs as well and said we can put the logs on the barrels to make more jumps. So now we’ll be able to set up a proper jumping course. Ali said we should paint colored stripes on them. I asked Dad and he found some leftover paint in our shed for us to use. He repainted our house last year, so we have heaps of leftover paint and brushes. It was really fun and the barrels and logs look so good – some have blue and white stripes and some have pink and white (the pink was leftover from painting my bedroom).

  Ali is really arty. She’s so clever and has such great ideas. It was so much fun painting all the equipment together. She also said we should use the spare logs for bounce pony. And we even made some bending poles. Dad found some special thin poles that are perfect and he mixed up cement to put into ice cream containers so we could stand the poles in them.

  Now there’s so much for us to do rather than just ride around the paddocks. I can’t wait to join pony club next year so I can go to gymkhanas and do all of the events. Kate and Shelley have competed in heaps of them and won so many medals and ribbons. I know that Sparkle is a really good sporting pony and she already knows how to do all of these things. As soon as I can ride her again, I’m going to practice on her.

  Sunday 18 November

  We all met in the paddock again today and set up the jumps. The paint was dry so we could move the barrels and logs around. It looks so cool and now we have our own jumping course. The girls came up with the BEST idea as well. We’re going to have our own gymkhana right here in our paddock. We can organize all the events and do jumping, barrels, bounce pony and bending. Ali’s going to ma
ke some ribbons for the winners and we’re going to ask all the parents to come and watch. Kate and Shelley are going to work out a program and get it all typed up so it’s really official.

  This will be so cool and Mom and Dad think it’s a great idea as well. I can’t wait!

  Tuesday 20 November

  Finally, Sparkle’s cut has healed and I was able to ride her today. The Wintec is so awesome! It’s so comfortable and Sparkle looks perfect with it on her back. It’s so much nicer than the shabby old western saddle I was using. Mom says I have to be very grateful that Ali’s mom loaned it to me though. And I really am! I think I’ll make her a thank you card and take it over to her tomorrow. I think she’ll like that.

  The Wintec is so much easier to jump in as well. And today I even managed a 2 foot high jump. I’m so proud of myself and of Sparkle too. She’s such a good pony and I love watching her ears go forward when she goes over the jumps. I think she loves jumping just as much as me! I have to practice keeping my eyes straight ahead though, facing in the direction that I want her to go. Ali was in the paddock this afternoon helping me – it’s so good to have someone telling me what I’m doing wrong. Mom said that I’ll learn so much quicker this way. Mom always picks up the jumps if Sparkle knocks any down. She’s always in the paddock with me when I ride. She helps me to tack up and tightens the girth when it gets loose. (She’ll never forget that again!)