She cleans his tack, mucks him out everyday, fills the water buckets before school and diligently grooms his entire body in between kisses, cuddles, shared conversations and Instagram-ing his every move. She never says she doesn't want to come to the stables and always, with a big wide genuine grin, works hard to keep her pony healthy and happy.
My eldest daughter loves her pony. Really loves him, despite his foibles.
The other one, her younger sister is not so keen, and that's OK as there are cats to feed and cuddle, and hay bales to play on at the yard. But as competition day drew closer, and a promise of a medal beckoned...the little one wanted to have a go.
We all arose early to polish his hooves and brush his mane. I packed a bag full of snacks for us and some polo's for Spot, bribing him to be good. They'd warned us when we bought him that Spot is very strong on showjumping days, he's a sociable sort of chap and gets excited by the atmosphere and so many ponies to introduce himself to. And true to his sellers advice, he was a complete tit; leaping and nearly bucking my youngest daughter off in front of a big crowd. The commentator called her a true champion for staying on, at least I think that's what he said, and she trotted over a pole on the way out of the arena with me hanging onto her leg as we 'retired' before we had even started. Oh Spot.
The local riding school let my daughter have a go on a much more sane animal, and she rode to medal victory - grinning and pleading to ride more, claiming that she can't wait to do it all over again.
As Spot's behaviour worsened it became clear that my eldest daughter wasn't going to be able to ride him. And there were no more riding school ponies left to have a go on. Dressed in her very best white jodhpurs, her pony gleaming but unrideable; my daughters dreams of the day were trampled on while her sister gloated proudly over her success.
I thought my heart was breaking in two.
And still she grinned that there was always another time. And still she grinned as she was photographed with all her friends bearing medals. And still she grinned and kissed her pony forgiving him instantly. Oh my bleeding heart, the pain of motherhood and realities of life.
As a friend once said, horses are great levellers, not that she needed levelling at all.
