Riding High at White Cloud Station: White Cloud Station, #4

www.whitecloudstation.com

A catalogue record for this book is available from the National Library of New Zealand.

ISBN 978-0-9941177-0-0

www.horsecrestpress.com

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Second Edition, published by Horsecrest Press, New Zealand, 2014

First published by Penguin Group, NZ, 2009

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Copyright © Trudy Nicholson, 2009

The right of Trudy Nicholson to be identified as the author of this work in terms of section 96 of the Copyright Act 1994 is herby asserted.

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into 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 copyright owner or publisher.

Cover photograph (top) Trudy Nicholson www.nicholsonphotography.co.nz

Cover photograph (bottom) Bryce Frewin

Cover design by Copy Press Nelson

Originally typeset by Pindar NZ

Editing assistance Julie Ward-Thorpe

Illustrations Trudy Nicholson

Hi this is Trudy, the author of RIDING HIGH

Congratulations in joining the thousands of other horse loving young people from around the globe who read and collect the White Cloud Station series of books.

I’d like to thank you for taking an interest in my books and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.

I grew up with horses, attending pony club and competing – maybe you’re the same? My love affair with horses has continued into my adult life and I have to admit I’m still addicted to them after all these years! And, I love being in their company.

Here I am with my horse Gus, who you will hear much more about when you visit my website at www.whitecloudstation.com

This is where you and I can talk horses, share stories and read what fans from other countries are doing with their horses.

There’s also a cool club you can join where you can learn more about Suzy, Lucy and Alexa and their beautiful White Cloud Station horses.

I think it’s fabulous how our love of horses can unite us – no matter what part of the world we live in, which reminds me...

Depending on where you live, you may find that I speak a little differently than you; this is because I’m a New Zealander, or a Kiwi as we are often known. So you might find that some of the terms and names might be unfamiliar, but don’t worry as I’ve created a special ‘horse translator’ at the back of this book. It might be fun to compare words and learn what people in other countries call things. For example, here in New Zealand we call a ranch a station, hence White Cloud Station!

Thanks again and I look forward to connecting with you soon on the White Cloud Station website at www.whitecloudstation.com

JOIN THE CLUB

Join the White Cloud Station Club (it’s free) and get all the inside news and action from White Cloud Station.

The club is open to everyone so come and join the fun.

Just go to www.whitecloudstation.com and look for the Club logo.

FANS OF THE WHITE CLOUD STATION BOOKS

Thank you so much for the wonderful series. My older daughter loved reading them and I read them to my younger daughters each night, chapter at a time and that allowed me to relive my childhood of ‘obsessive pony book’ reading... Thanks again. We’ll look out to see what you put out in the future! Kim

My 10 year-old daughter started reading Ripple and thoroughly loved it. After her filling me in on how great it was I had to read it for myself and also got hooked... Your books are fabulous and even as an adult reader I’m enjoying reading them. Your books allowed me to share a wonderful mother/daughter experience with my daughter. Bobbie

I am totally obsessed with horses... You are a totally amazing writer, your work is my favourite. You fill my rainy days with horses!  Helen

I love your books so much that I am doing Ripple and the Wild Horses of White Cloud Station for my [school] book report. You are my favourite author.  Eliza

Hey Trudy, I am absolutely in love with your White Cloud Station books! Please write more. I am saving my pocket money to buy your series as I have issued them out of the library so many times. I NEVER get sick of them. Lots of Love:  Your Fan Sophie

I’ve been reading the White Cloud Station series for ages... I never get bored with them. Each time I read them, something different seems to happen! Amanda

Trudy I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your books they are the best books EVER! Are the characters based on any one you know? And is White Cloud Station a real place?  Esmeralda

I love the White Cloud Station books! I’ve read all 6 of them about 10 times! Maddie

PART 1

SAVING HORSES

1. LET’S GET GOING

Alexa was leaning against the open door of the barn, tapping her fingers impatiently on her arms. Her long black hair was pulled up in a ponytail. She was wearing her new designer jodhpurs and her current favourite teeshirt – the one that she’d worn days earlier when she rode with her best friends to bring down the wild horses from the ranges. She felt important displaying the White Cloud logo on her chest. She wanted everyone to know she’d been part of the official round-up team of the wild horses at White Cloud Station. Sighing to herself, she turned back to her horse Liquorice and checked the bags once more.

‘I don’t think I can fit anything else in here.’ she huffed, pulling the leather strap tight and fastening the buckle. She reached up behind the saddle and fastened her saddlebag. ‘Hey, c’mon,’ she said, looking at her watch. ‘Let’s get going!’

Everything felt good today. The barn smelt great too, with that mixture of grain, hay, fresh steamy manure and horse. Today was one of Alexa’s ‘on a high’ days. She’d made Suzy promise to show her the secret herd of horses and was excited at the prospect of this finally happening. Liquorice was tied to the rail of her loose box, saddled up with a woollen rug thrown over her back to keep her warm. It was obvious Alexa loved her.

‘I’ll just muck out and then we’re off!’ Alexa grabbed the fork, and delicately sorted out the manured and wet pieces, jabbing them on the end of her fork. She bent and flung them into the muck wheelbarrow and pushed it into the walkway of the barn where she parked it for a moment.

Everything to do with horses was awesome, even mucking out. It felt nice to leave the loose box clean and prepared for their return, much more fun than tidying he own bedroom. Liquorice watched her loving groom and personal servant fluffing up the straw high around the loose-box walls, making the perfect day bed. Alexa had done it plenty of times at her mother’s stables at Jasmine Farm so was an expert at making it perfect for the horses.

She smiled now when she thought of home. Her last adventure had nearly caused her father to have a nervous breakdown but this had turned out to be a good thing, she thought. She didn’t think she’d call him ‘Thomas the Geek’ any more, maybe something like ‘Thomas the Great’. She chuckled to herself as she fluffed more straw with the fork. She felt happy inside now because she knew ‘Thomas the Dad’ loved her.

She reached down for the wheelbarrow handles. Alexa was organised this morning. She was on a mission and expected her friends to work at her pace too, especially today. Today, Alexa, Suzy and Lucy were heading up to the hills on their own – to stay in the hut and have one last adventure before they went back to school.

Alexa wheeled the barrow to the dung heap, peering over to check if the others were ready.

‘For goodness sake, you guys, what are you doing,’ she exclaimed.

Lucy’s horse, Hope, was tied to the rail and wearing her western saddle. Alexa turned to Lucy and asked, ‘Where’s Suzy?’

‘She’s having a dressage lesson with Netty before we go,’ Lucy said. Hope opened her mouth and took the snaffle. Lucy gently pulled the headpiece behind her ears and fastened the throat lash. She twisted the reins and threaded them through the throat lash and tied her to the rail. Kneeling down, Lucy lifted Hope’s legs and cleaned her hooves.

Alexa watched, frowning. She said crossly, ‘A lesson now? Doesn’t she know we need to get going?’

‘Well, it’s important to her; the ODE’s coming up next week!’

‘Yes, well, I’m competing too, you know. But it’s not as important as getting up into those hills. We can do dressage any old time, but this, well, it’s not every day we can ride up there!’ Alexa pointed to Mountain View. ‘I really don’t understand Suzy sometimes . . .’

Alexa pushed the wheelbarrow out to the muckheap. Tilting it up, she emptied the manure onto the heap and stormed back into the barn.

Lucy sighed. ‘Alexa, chill out! We’ve got all day.’

‘Well, I’m ready to go!’

‘It’s not all about you,’ replied Lucy. ‘In case you’ve forgotten, if it wasn’t for Suzy we wouldn’t have even been invited to White Cloud Station. And another thing, you should be concerned about your dressage, you’re competing as a team as well as for yourself, so you should think of your team. You are, after all, a third of the White Cloud Flyers!’

‘Okay, point taken,’ Alexa sighed. ‘I’ll get my act together . . . Anyhow, thanks for offering to be our groom for the event. I promise I’ll come and groom for you at your next western show.’

‘It’s a deal,’ Lucy smiled, as she chucked the hoof pick into her grooming kit container.

***

Netty was taking Suzy through some suppling exercises. Ripple was warmed up and becoming more established in his elementary dressage work. Suzy felt quite confident as she’d be riding Ripple in a novice test at the event.

She was excited about the coming event, mostly because she knew Grandad Phillips would be there. For some reason, out of all the people in the world it was him she most wanted to impress. She was concentrating hard on making her test as perfect as possible. Ripple was working well on the bit and Suzy could feel the impulsion in his movement. She sat tall and felt proud of him as he trotted down the long side.

Ripple tracked right at ‘C’ at working trot and, crossing the diagonal, he went into a medium trot.

‘Excellent lengthening,’ called Netty. ‘Now Suzy, keep that contact and try a shoulder in up the long side.’

Suzy sat tall and closed her legs on Ripple’s sides. His shoulder came in off the track. ‘Sufficient bend,’ Netty instructed, ‘but now soften that inside rein . . . Simply splendid, my dear. Pat him and walk him on a free rein as a reward. Well done, Suzy.’ Beaming, she went on, ‘You know, you two never cease to amaze me. You’re going to go a long way with this horse. And this weekend I think you’re going to give Fine Duke some tough competition. I’m glad we’re at least in the same team,’ she teased, ‘at least I’ll have some chance of a rosette. Of course you won’t be working at that level at the event, so you should do well, Suzy.’

Suzy grinned and leant forward to give Ripple an affectionate pat on his shoulder. On a loose rein she rode out of the makeshift arena and walked up to Netty who was sitting on a nearby tree stump.

‘It’s a bit different working in this field than in our lovely arena at Jasmine Farm, but it’s good practice since you’ll be riding on grass at Mountain View Village,’ Netty added.

‘The long-term forecast is fine, so it should be good underfoot for the horses at the event. Especially around the cross-country course,’ Suzy said, dismounting and