Loving Spirit

classes are show classes. The horses are ridden round the ring and they are judged on how suited they are to being hunters; the judges give them marks for how they move, what they look like and what they are like when they are ridden. Working hunters are kind of the same but they have to do a course of jumps as well, not show jumps but rustic ones – and they get marks for that. There are other types of classes too for hacks and riding horses; they look different from hunters.’
    He moved along to the stable next to Gabriel where there was a beautiful dapple-grey mare with a fine, elegant head. ‘Starlight here is a hack. Dad rides her.’ He rubbed the mare’s neck and she nuzzled him. ‘She’s done really well. She won Supreme Champion at the Horse of the Year show last October for the second year running. The aim of everyone showing is to qualify for the Horse of the Year show. When you qualify, people say that you’ve got your ticket. There are other important shows too. For the ponies there are the BSPS –’ Joe caught Ellie’s frown and grinned. ‘Sorry! I mean, the British Show Pony Society winter and summer championships, as well as some other big shows. The ponies we have here are all show hunter ponies or working hunter ponies. Luke and I ride them.’ He shot her a sideways look. ‘Though Dad was hoping you would ride the smaller ones now.’
    ‘He can hope,’ muttered Ellie.
    Joe looked at her curiously. ‘Don’t you like riding? Is that it? Luke reckons you must be scared.’
    Ellie felt a flash of annoyance. ‘I’m not scared. I love riding. I just don’t like being bossed around.’
    ‘You’ll have to get used to that staying here,’ Joe commented drily.
    They walked round the rest of the boxes with Joe reeling off the names of the horses, and then they went to the livery barn. ‘The liveries are all show animals,’ Joe explained. ‘Dad produces them – he teaches the riders, gets the horses into condition and takes them to shows. If the owners can’t ride them, we do. We also have some horses like Gabriel whose owners never ride them; they just like owning horses and watching them at shows. They pay for Dad to produce them.’
    Finally, they went to the pony horse barn. Ellie saw the beautiful dark bay pony that Joe had been riding the day before. ‘He’s so lovely,’ she said, going over to him. The pony moved away and stood at the back of the stall, his expression aloof.
    ‘He’s a looker all right but not that friendly,’ said Joe. ‘Not like Barney here.’ He went up to the liver-chestnut pony in the opposite stall who was pawing at the ground. As soon as Joe reached him, the pony butted him with his head.
    Joe pointed out the clips on the stable lock. ‘He’sa right Houdini – escapes at a moment’s notice. He’s even learnt to let the other horses out. He pulls back their bolts with his teeth and kicks their doors until the kick bolt at the bottom flips over. It’s really important you put the extra locks on his door if you come out.’ Joe rubbed the gelding’s ears. ‘You’re a nightmare, aren’t you, Barney?’ he said with a grin. ‘He’s brilliant to ride, though, and won at the Horse of the Year. Dad thinks he and Picasso are both going to have a stellar year.’
    ‘So what about the other ponies?’ asked Ellie, wandering down the aisle.
    ‘That’s Milly.’ Joe pointed to a small bright chestnut with a flaxen mane who looked about 13.2 hands high. ‘She’s a show hunter pony. And that’s Gem next to her, another show hunter pony. He’s only four, but Dad wants to get him out to a few shows this year so he can get used to the atmosphere. And this is Merlin.’ Joe’s eyes took on a new warmth as he walked over to the old bay pony. He was only about 12.2 hands high, too small to even look properly over his stall door.
    Ellie leant over and patted him. ‘Who does he belong to?’
    ‘Well, he’s pretty much mine. He’s been here longer than any other horse or pony. He’s twenty now and I learnt to ride on him. Luckily, he’s good if we have kids come for showing lessons who can’tbring their own ponies for some reason, and he’s a good companion to the other horses. He’s so calm he can be turned out with anyone. That’s why Dad lets him stay. I’m glad. I never want him to go.’ Joe rubbed Merlin’s neck. ‘You and me go back a long way, don’t we, lad?’
    Ellie saw the affection in Joe’s eyes and smiled. She could see