Jade and the Hunters Page 13
‘Pip’s not going on Trade Me!’
‘Why not, Jade?’
‘Because … because … we can’t give her to just anyone!’ Jade’s voice was rising.
‘Isn’t that what happens to horses and ponies, Jade? They go through several homes in their lifetime? Look at Black Beauty.’
Jade stared at her dad, aghast. ‘Do you remember some of Beauty’s homes?’
‘OK, bad example. But, Jade, we’re serious about this: Pip can’t stay at Mr White’s forever.’
‘Why not? She takes up hardly any room.’
‘No, but she’s still an extra animal who needs water, food, medical attention, mucking out, covering and uncovering, and Mr White feels that he’s had to do these tasks a lot more often than he’d like to since Tani arrived.’
‘He doesn’t like Pip?’
‘He doesn’t like being your groom, Jade.’
‘He isn’t! I never asked him to be. And he’s never told me this himself.’
‘He was worried you’d get over-excited.’
‘I wouldn’t!’ Jade yelled. Then, realizing that this was exactly what she was doing, she fell silent.
‘There’s no rush, Jade. But it’s something you’ll have to think about seriously. OK?’
‘OK.’
Somehow the bath felt both too hot and too cold; the bubbles smelt too flowery; the Milo was too weak. Worst of all, none of the horses appealed to Jade. Had something about the magazine changed? There seemed to be fewer horses and more ads for saddleries and four-wheel-drives.
If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well it were done quickly, Jade thought. It was something her mum used to say a lot, usually when she was taking out the rubbish or cleaning out the slimy, hairy gunk that clogged up the plughole in the bathroom.
Out of the bath and dressed in her ugliest track pants and jumper, Jade sat down at her desk with a piece of refill paper and her good blue pen.
Beautiful 14.3-hand, black mare with white stockings.
24 yrs.
Bombproof beginner’s mount or good-natured paddock mate. Perfect in every way.
Only available to the very best home.
$10,000 or near offer.
Jade scribbled out the last sentence. No, she had to be serious.
Price negotiable.
It was done. She’d give the ad to her dad for editing soon. Not just yet, though. After all, he’d said there was no rush.
How to Groom a Pony
Generally, horses and ponies love to be groomed. When done well, grooming is a luxurious all-over massage, which puts the pony in a good mood before you saddle him up for a ride.
If you have your own pony, grooming him every day (even if you are not planning to ride) will remind him that you are his friend and will ensure that he’s healthy and handsome.
Even if you are just looking after the pony for a few hours or days, a good grooming will help build rapport.
Before you roll your sleeves up and get your hands dirty, here are some tools to familiarize yourself with:
The hoof-pick
This simple and important little implement is perfect for removing any mud or stones that have become lodged in the pony’s hooves.
The curry comb
In winter, this firm plastic or rubber brush is extremely useful for getting dried mud out of your pony’s coat. In summer, it is a good quick way of combing the dirt out of your body brush. And in between seasons, when the pony is shedding, it is the most effective brush for removing loose hair.
The dandy brush
If your pony is not too muddy, you can skip the curry comb and go straight to the dandy brush. Its firm bristles flick any dust off your pony and bring out the natural oils in his coat. It is also good for removing caked mud from your pony’s knobbly extremities (hocks and knees, for instance) — the parts that are too sensitive for the curry comb.
The body brush
In summer, when your pony has a beautiful fine coat, this may be the only brush you need. Its softer bristles are ideal for bringing out your pony’s natural shine.
A clean sponge or cloth
A gently moistened sponge or cloth is good for dusting off any last dirty patches. (They do not have to be new; old flannelette pyjamas work fine.) Having different cloths for the pony’s face and its rear end keeps things hygienic.
The mane comb
Usually small and made of metal, these combs are excellent at getting the tangles out of your pony’s mane and forelock, although they tend to be a bit rough on the tail. In fact, if your pony suffers from a rather thin mane or forelock, a plastic curry comb or even dandy brush would be a gentler alternative, as well as for the tail.
Hoof oil
This not only instantly makes your pony’s hooves glisten attractively, it also disinfects them and keeps them strong, preventing cracks.
There are plenty of other tools available for primping your pony and keeping him looking stunning. But, to be honest, if you have only a dandy brush, a hoof-pick, hoof oil and a mane comb, you’ll probably get by with these essentials. The main thing is to keep your tools as clean as possible, and to be as caring as you can while grooming.
Unless your pony is very co-operative and has a small yard, you are going to have to put a halter on him. Tie the lead rope in a quick-release knot to a loop of twine attached to a fence post. (A quick-release knot can be untied with one yank on the loose end.)
Once your pony is safely secured in a yard or to a fence, the grooming can begin.
Start by picking out the hooves. Begin with a fore hoof, usually the near (or left). Stand with your back to your pony’s head, crouch down a little, and slide your left hand down your pony’s leg. As your hand reaches the fetlock, say ‘up’, or whatever command he is used to, and lift the hoof gently. If he is reluctant, leaning against his shoulder with your shoulder will help shift his weight and give him a hint.
Once you are holding the hoof in your left hand, have a good look. If your pony is shod, how are his clenches (the nails that keep the shoe on)? Is the wall of the hoof growing over the side of the shoe? If so, it may be time to call the farrier again. In the centre of your pony’s hoof, between the heels, you will see a slightly squishy triangular part; this is called the ‘frog’. Try not to touch this with your hoof-pick, as it’s rather sensitive. Instead, holding your hoof-pick in your right fist, use the pointy end to scrape any mud or stones out from both sides of the frog. Make sure you are picking away from yourself and your pony’s leg.
Once you have repeated this job on all four hooves, apply a layer of hoof oil with a brush (a small unused house paintbrush would do). Often it’s enough to paint just the outside hoof wall, but if the underside of the hoof seems dry or infected (if there is a bad smell coming from the frog, there may well be an infection), apply oil there, too.
When you are happy with your pony’s hooves, pick up your curry comb. Moving around the pony — starting at the left side of the neck, going towards the rump, and then beginning again at the neck on the other side — use the curry comb in firm, circular strokes to remove any caked mud. However, do not use the curry comb on your pony’s knees, fetlocks, hocks or face. If there is caked mud there, carefully use a dandy brush.
Once the worst of the mud has been combed away, find your dandy brush and prepare to do some hard work. Using energetic, circular motions, move around the pony as before, this time aiming to massage the muscles, especially in the neck, shoulders and hindquarters.
The body brush is soft enough to use on your pony’s face and stomach. These are ticklish areas that some ponies do not particularly like being handled, so watch out for nips from your pony while brushing under his tummy.
To finish, a slightly moist sponge or cloth will remove the last of the dust from your pony’s coat. You can also use a cloth, if need be, to wipe around your pony’s nostrils, eyes and under his tail. Remember to keep one cloth for your pony’s front end and another for the rear.
About the Author
From age five to sixteen, Amy Brown belonged to Flaxmere Pony Club and competed in regional and national showjumping events. An avid reader of pony fiction, when she left home she gave up riding and took up writing. Amy now lives in Melbourne, where she spends her time writing, tutoring a poetry class at the University of Melbourne, and fostering stray animals for Victorian Dog Rescue. As often as she can, Amy returns to Hawke’s Bay to visit her parents and their elderly horses, Ginny and Toby.
The Pony Tales series
Jade and the Stray
Jade at the Champs
Copyright
HarperCollinsPublishers
First published 2011
This edition published in 2011
HarperCollinsPublishers (New Zealand) Limited
P.O. Box 1, Auckland 1140
Copyright © Amy Brown 2011
Amy Brown asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
HarperCollinsPublishers
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National Library of New Zealand Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
Brown, Amy, 1984-
Jade and the hunters / Amy Brown.
(Pony tales; 3)
ISBN 978-1-86950-921-7
ISBN: 978-0-7304-9992-3 (epub)
1. Horses—Juvenile fiction. [1. Horses—Fiction.
2. Horsemanship—Fiction. 3. Ponies—Behavior—Fiction.]
I. Title. II. Series: Brown, Amy, 1984- Pony tales; 3.
NZ823.3—dc 22
ISBN: 978 1 86950 921 7
ISBN: 978-0-7304-9992-3 (epub)
Cover design by Ingrid Kwong
Cover photography by Steve Bacon
Special thanks to Malabar Riding School