'Muffin'

"Ok, have a couple of goes around the jumps then we'll call it a day," Dave, the riding instructor at Equine Pastures stated. For some reason, he didn't quite seem his usual bright self.
"Come on, boy," I whispered to an enthusiastic little bay whom I was riding, 
"Let's soar over them, let's show everyone how amazingly wonderful you are!" 
My favourite pony nodded in agreement and took off at a fast trot. He leaped leaped much earlier than needed and flew twice as high as the first jump required to land smoothly on the other side. A few strides later, I slid my left leg back to ask for canter. Muffin needed no further encouragement, he shot forward in that incredible canter of his, the land falling away from us as we approached the next jump. I felt Muffin bunch up beneath me and shoot into the air like an arrow from a bow. The tiny jump was miles away as we cleared it before touching down once more. 
I grinned ecstatically as Muffin glided over the next few jumps. I loved jumping more than anything else in the world, but jumping just wouldn't be jumping without Muffin, none of the other ponies could jump anywhere near as well as Muffin! Yep, I completely in love with the amazing bay! Couldn't live without him, really!
"OK guy's," Dave announced, "we'll have to stop there."
Before long I was standing by Muffin stroking and patting him.
"Umm, Jade."
"Yes?" I looked up, Dave looked really grave.
"I have some bad news for you." By the sound of his voice I could tell that it was worse than bad, more like horrifying.
"What is it?" I demanded urgently.
"It's about Muffin."
Fear grabbed my soul, 'not Muffin, not MY Muffin,' I thought desperately.
"What?"
"Perhaps we'd better go somewhere alone to sit down."
"NO!" I replied firmly, "I want to know, now," my voice was shaky.
Dave cleared his throat, "Muffins...ill."
"What are you talking about? Didn't you see him jump? An ill horse couldn't jump like that!" My voice had gone an octave higher, I was hysterical!
"What he has takes a while to affect him," Dave informed me, while he stared at the floor.
"What has he got?" I asked, my voice cracking.
After a couple of minutes, Dave replied, "cancer."
My head swam, the whole world was hurtling around me, then suddenly, everything went black.


TO BE CONTINUED...

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