My Baby

This is a true story. 

When I was 7 my best friend was Donna. She went riding every Monday, and she loved these horses named Kaska, Dolly and Pumpkin. I would listen to her, and pretend I rode these horses as well. She asked me if I could do rising and sitting trot, which I thought was the levels at which you do them. Sitting first, and then as you rise, rising. So, a couple of months before my 8th birthday, I began to nag my mum for riding lessons. She refused, until on my birthday, in my card's envelope, was a certificate she had printed out on her computer. It read:

Dear Sweetheart. 
You have been such a good girl, you are going on a pony day at Birch Farm on Saturday 31st October. If you like horse-riding you may have weekly lessons. 
Love Mummy and Daddy. 

Of course, I was overjoyed at this. 

That Saturday was really cool. Dressed in a tracksuit, and Wellingtons, I was driven to Birch Farm. We pulled into the drive, my mum kissed me goodbye, and I rushed off to the office. 
A lady told me to go to the tack room, and I did. Inside were 20 kids, 3 of which I knew. A woman came in and discussed the rules of the stables with us. Then she split us into 2 groups, and told us who we were riding, and looking after. I waited for my name. 
"Donna, Rusty. 
Micheal, Kaska. 
Jon, Archie. 
Karla, Tutte. 
Billy, Pickles. 
Lucy, Dolly. 
Steevie, Pumpkin. 
Claire, Flora. 
Andy, Muffin
And Mandy, Tommy."

I was amazed to find I was looking after Pumpkin!

First we had to poo-pick, then we were taken to our mounts, and asked to lead them through to the indoor arena. Two boys and myself were shown to a barn, in which were three identical horses, a big one in front, a medium sized one in the middle, and a tiny one at the back. The horse at the front was led to one of the boys. That was Muffin. Then the tiny Shetland was led out, that was Pickles. Then the mare in the middle was led towards me. "This" said the woman "Is Pumpkin."
I took over her reins, and led her to the indoor school. Pumpkin was a 12.1hh dark bay Shetland x mare about 30 years old. She was really fat, and slow, but I knew straight away I would love her. My lesson went smoothly, and I went home, beaming with happiness. I started having weekly half hour lessons at Birch Farm, on a Monday at 5.00pm. 
After a year, I was brought riding equipment, and my lessons were upgraded to one hour. After another year, my lessons are at 90 minutes, 45 minutes riding, and 45 minutes lecturing. I am unable to ride Pumpkin anymore, she can not keep up with the work I do. But I still see her, and I will never, EVER stop loving my baby. 
Pumpkin and I have a really close bond. If I pat another horse she whinnies as loud as she can, and she waits for me to see her after my lesson. In a way, I loved her before I had even met her. 
Pumpkin was the first pony I loved, the first pony I rode, the first pony I trotted on, the first pony I cantered on, the first pony I jumped on, and the first pony I loved.

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