Early Start!

EARLY START!

As I woke up, I rolled over in bed and became aware of the sun shining
through my bedroom window. Sitting up in bed I suddenly remembered that
it was Bank Holiday Monday. I jumped out of bed, grabbed the towel from
the bottom of my bed and ran to the bathroom. After a wash I went back
to my bedroom, found my watch and looked at the time. To my surprise I
found that it was only 5.30 AM.
Happy that I had not overslept, I sat on the bed and looking around my
room, noticed that Mum had put my freshly ironed clothes on the chair
at the bottom of the bed. "Thanks Mum," I thought, feeling a nervous
shiver running up my spine as I thought of the excitement of the day
ahead.
It was the day of the annual races, which had been held on the moor
since the early 1900's. Apparently, they had not taken part during the
1st and 2nd world war but had restarted when each had ended. It is now
three years since the races resumed for the second time, this year I am
to ride in them, for the first time!
We live on a hill farm, one of the highest on the moor. From the house
on a fine day you can see all the way to the sea, about four miles
away. The farmland is nearly all on the side of the hill. There are
three flat fields close to the house that we keep for the horses. The
rest of the farm is fields and open moorland.
We keep sheep and beef cattle. As well as these animals, we have five
horses. Two cart-horses, who do the ploughing and three others. The
oldest horse is my father's the one that he used to ride in the
races.

The second is my pony. He is 6 years old. I've had him for 2 years but
I've been riding since I was 4 years old. Now I'm 11! The last is just
a baby. He is 4 years old and a great character. Whenever we go to his
stable or field, he follows us around. My dad is going to ride him in a
race this year. Last year he rode him, but only around the outside of
the course, to get him used to the noises and the crowds.
I suddenly began to feel excited again, last year there had been about
400 people at the meeting. I wondered how many there would be this
year.
My thoughts were interrupted when my parents bedroom door opened. I
knew that it was now time to get dressed and go downstairs to help Dad.
I put on my old trousers as I always help Dad get the cows in and to do
the milking before breakfast.
At the end of milking, after we had turned the cows back out in the
field, Mum would have the most wonderful breakfast ready for us.
Before we went in for breakfast we fed the horses. Once we had
finished eating I went upstairs to put on my riding clothes. Dad went
to do the same and Mum got the picnic lunch ready. George the farm
worker, who looked after the cart-horses, arrived and started to get
them ready to take the cart with Mum and our lunch, to the races.
The sun was shining and it looked as though it was going to be a
lovely day. I just hoped that the horses would all behave
themselves!
An hour later the horses were all ready, brushed, tacked up and
excited about where they were going. The race course was about three
miles away; across the moor.
It would take three quarters of an hour to get there, especially as we
were going slowly so the horses wouldn't be too hot when they got
there.

They certainly seemed to know where they were going, it was very hard
to keep them from dancing around and going too fast.
When we arrived there was a queue to get through the gate. The hedges
were high and I couldn't see over them, as we entered the field I was
pleased to see the number of people already there. It was half past
twelve and the first race was at two o'clock. First there was to be a
parade of harness horse, our two were going to take part in that.
The field was the flattest on that part of the moor and kindly lent
for the races, by one of our neighbours. From the field there was a
wonderful view down the river. The view today, down valley was clear.
The river in the bottom meandered away to the South.
At the first bend it was about 20 feet wide, the Oak trees overhanging
the bank dipped their branches, touching the surface in places. Wild
ponies, sheep and cattle, sheltering from the flies, stood in various
places along the bank.
We walked slowly around the field looking to see were Mum had stopped
with the horses. We soon found her. She found a wonderful place to park
the cart. It was under a huge oak tree. The branches spread out for 5
yards around the massive trunk and gave the horse shelter from the sun
and flies. As we trotted across to the cart we noticed that the spot
Mum had chosen was right opposite the finishing post on the race
course!
"Hello", called Mum as we approached. "I wondered where you two has
got to, I have been here about 10 minutes. Do you think this will do
for our lunch?" She asked, indicating the shade from the tree.

Dad and I thought it could not have been better. We dismounted, taking
the saddles and bridles off our horses and tying them to the tree. Soon
we were sitting on the grass enjoying a cup of tea.
So many people were now arriving that I began to feel quite nervous.
Dad said that he'd never seen so many people here before, he supposed
that the fine weather had something to do with it. Just then I saw my
best friend Lucy. I ran over to where she was and she told me that she
couldn't ride in any of the races today. She said she had fallen over
last week and hurt her ankle.
Just then I heard Dad call me. Telling Lucy that I would see her
later, I ran back to where he was. He asked me to help get James and
John, our two cart horses, ready for the parade in 15 minutes. I
suddenly realised that I must've been talking to Lucy for ages and I
hadn't had anything to eat. I was starving!
Dad was brushing the dust off the horses. I grabbed a home-made
sausage roll in one hand and a brush in the other and went to help him.
Soon the horses were looking smart and ready to go. George and Dad
would be leading them in the parade, so Mum and I stood where we could
get a good view of the parade.
Nine horses, including our two, were in the parade. They all looked
very smart with their harnesses gleaming in the sun.
Soon the judges arrived and started looking at the horses. I suddenly
realised I was sitting with my fingers crossed. When I looked at Mum,
she was too! The judges looked at the horses, and their harness, one at
a time.

The handlers were asked to walk and trot the horses around. When this
was done and the judge had written his comments on a clipboard, he
walked to the middle of the ring and talked to the other judges.
I wished that he would hurry up and decide which one was going to win.
Mum told me not to be impatient but that didn't help the butterflies in
my stomach!
Mum nudged me and pointed. The judge was about to make his final
decision and I jumped to my feet. The first horse that he called in
belonged to Lucy's father. He was very handsome, big and black with a
white face and a beautifully plaited mane and tail.
The second horse that he called into the line up was James. I felt so
proud for Dad and the horse. They both looked very happy. I didn't know
the third horse but was thrilled when he called John and George into
fourth place.
Once the cart horses had all left the ring the Officials took the
ropes down and put them back to complete the race course. Dad and
George brought the horses back and tied them up to the tree again,
giving them a drink and hanging their rosettes on the side of the
cart.
The first race was about to start when Dad ran across to me and said,
"Lucy's father has just asked me if you would like to ride Lucy's pony
in the first race." I was so excited that all I could say was, "Yes
please!"
When all the ponies were ready we were called to the starting line.
This race was for small ponies and children under 12 so there were lots
of people that I knew riding against me.

At the start we all managed to get away almost together. Bella was
very excited and tried to get to the front. She was pulling very
strongly but I managed to slow her down a bit. There were lots of
ponies pushing each other. Thankfully they were behind me. I could hear
the other riders shouting at each other to move out of the way. I
stayed out of the way, near the front. As we came around the last
corner and I could see the winning post in the distance I let Bella
have her head. Before I knew what was happening she was one from the
front. I could hear Dad shouting and I gave her a kick, she shot
forward and crossed the line just in front of the grey pony who had
been in front of us at the corner.
I saw Lucy waving at me. She was so pleased for her pony that she put
her arms around Bella's neck and kissed her. "Oh Nancy," she cried
"Thank you." I jumped off Bella and Lucy limping quite badly led her
away to cool off and have some fresh grass.
It was now time to get my pony ready for the race we were entering. It
was due to start in 20 minutes. I was very pleased with my pony as it
was his first race and he finished in 5th place.
Dad and I rode home with Mum and George, who were in the cart. We
talked about all the people that we had seen, how much we had all
enjoyed ourselves and how, when we got home we would have to do the
evening milking!