Loving Spirit

If she was honest, it felt like coming home.
    She walked Merlin on. For a small pony, he had a long stride and was very well schooled. He didn’t ever go faster than he needed to, but he was obedient to Ellie’s aids and when she asked him to trot and canter he obliged cheerfully. By the time Len came into the school, she was trotting and cantering circles.
    He strode into the middle and watched her for a few moments. ‘Looks like you can sit on a horse, anyway,’ he commented.
    From having watched him coaching Luke and Joe the past few weeks, Ellie knew that was about the most of a compliment she could expect. Still, at least it was better than him criticizing. She patted Merlin’s solid neck.
    Len got them all riding round together. It was basic stuff – circles in walk, trot and canter, transitions through all three paces, serpentines and loops. Elliehad done everything before in lessons with other teachers, but she had never known anyone as demanding as Len. Every circle had to be perfectly round, every transition dead on the marker. But she was determined to get it right. It wasn’t in her nature to do anything half-heartedly, and even though she disliked her uncle she was going to meet her half of the deal. After all, Spirit was at stake.
    Ellie found that when she was riding it helped to try to see her uncle just as a riding coach. Although he was tough to please, it was clear that he knew a lot and her own desire to prove her ability pushed to the fore. She concentrated hard and felt a determined sort of pride whenever she got a rare word of praise.
    ‘Turn in and halt!’ Len called to them all at last. He looked at Ellie. ‘You ride well. Let’s have you off that old pony and on to Picasso. Joe, take Merlin in and bring out Barney. We’ll do some jumping.’
    Picasso! Ellie glanced at Joe to see if he minded having to change ponies, but he didn’t look bothered. As she dismounted and they swapped, he smiled. ‘You’re doing brilliantly.’
    ‘Thanks.’ Ellie took Picasso’s reins. ‘Any tips?’
    ‘Sit deep,’ warned Joe. ‘He’s got a big jump on him and he might throw in a buck or two the first few times over a fence. He’s not like Merlin – you’ll need to watch out for yourself. See you in a minute.’ Heled Merlin out, and Ellie adjusted the stirrups and then mounted Picasso. He felt totally different to ride. Now Joe had ridden him in he had settled down, but it still took only the slightest touch of her legs to make him increase his speed. He pulled at the bit. She kept her contact light, riding him forward but not letting him go too fast. The first time round the ring he tested her out, shying away from the fence and shooting towards the gate, but she sat deep as Joe had said and within seconds had him back on the track at the side of the ring. She patted his neck as she rode him round at a brisk trot. He felt like a mini-racehorse, bristling with energy.
    Len was putting out some jumps. He set out a grid of three low fences, with a stride between each one. ‘All right then. Off you go, Luke. Take it at a trot.’
    Luke trotted Gabriel round, the usual careless look in his blue eyes replaced by an intense concentration. Gabriel tried to speed up but Luke sat deep in the saddle, his long legs wrapping round the horse as he slowed him down instantly. The bay horse responded and trotted over the jumps, taking them easily in his stride, with Luke light in the saddle. Luke patted his neck. Then it was Ellie’s turn. She could feel her breath shorten with excitement. She loved jumping. She wished she could canter, but she held Picasso back at a trot as her uncle had instructed, eventhough, like Gabriel, Picasso tried to rush. At the last moment she freed his head and they bounced easily over all three jumps. She was glad Joe had given her a warning about sitting deep. As they landed over the final one, Picasso put his head between his knees and bucked. She was ready for him and sat down hard, pulling his head up and turning him in a circle before he could try again.
    An uncharacteristic smile briefly touched Len’s face. ‘Well sat. Bring him round again.’
    As Ellie rode past Luke, she saw that he was grinning. ‘Thought he was going to have you off there.’
    Yeah, and then wouldn’t you have laughed , thought Ellie. But actually she was enjoying the ride too much to feel annoyed by Luke.
    Len had her go round two more times at a trot before letting her canter over the