"Whisper's First Show" 

Everything was happening so fast! Kate, my owner, rushed about the yard as I stood in the stable watching. Back and forth she ran, literally throwing things into the boot of the Landrover. First my bridle then my saddle, grooming kit, boots...the list goes on and on! Apart from Kate acting very strange, I noticed a large box thing stuck to the Landrover facing in my direction. It looked cramped and uncomfortable. I heard my stable door unlock. Kate hurried in and threw a thin rug over me. Unusual soft boots were shoved on and a tail bandage was tied in place. Before I knew what was happening, I was standing face to face with...'the box'. Kate yanked and hauled at my headcollar but I wasn't going in there! Nu uh, no way was I going in. She dragged me towards the tack room and tied me to a ring nearby. Out she came with a scoop of cool mix in her hand. I was untied and led back up to the box. I was in and bumping along the winding country road. Well, what's a horse to do when there's a whole scoop of food on offer! Anyway, the box wasn't too bad. there was nice thick straw to stand on and comfy padding on the sides. We stopped. I heard the neighing and whinnying of other horses and ponies. I neighed back. The box filled with light as the back door opened. We had arrived. I don't know where but we had, most definitely, arrived. Kate walked in telling me what a good pony I was. She untied the lead rope and persuaded me to walk backwards and into a huge field filled with cars and 'boxes'. Someone came and put the big door back up and Kate tied me to one of the handles and a haynet to another. I then noticed there were loads of other horses tied here and there, and more arriving! I just stood there looking at all the other horses while Kate took off the unusual stuff and put on my familiar saddle, bridle and boots. She mounted and warmed me up the way she did at home and took me over a couple of small jumps in this fenced off area where lots of other horses were waiting. A very loud voice came out of nowhere saying, "Would Kate Fielding and Whisper enter the jumping ring. Thank you." Kate nudged me into a trot and took me into another fenced off area, this time filled with jumps which came to just above my knees. We approached the first in trot. it was a nice small cross pole so I practically stepped over it. I turned right to be faced with a larger upright. That was easy too. We turned right again diagonally across the field towards a double. The space in between turned out to be a little to long so I took a huge leap at the second element. Luckily Kate seemed to be expecting that. Left and over another upright, straight down towards another double followed by a large spread. I then had to jump number 2 then number 1 again. Every one cheered and I got loads of attention. I didn't see what all the fuss was about. I'd done stuff like that at home and nobody cheered then. Oh, well. I wasn't complaining. Kate let me cool off and then 6 horses, including me, had to line up. I was at the end. Someone started giving out rosettes and I got a red one. Kate was given a little wooden thing with shiny bits on it and then we all had a good old canter round. I was untacked and loaded with the strange stuff on again. What a day. All I could think about was getting home, having a nice drink and going for a lovely, long roll.

By Sarah Merrill 12

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