Autumn with Horses: White Cloud Station, #6

By Trudy Nicholson

The girls have decided to compete at the National Grand Champion Show where an unexpected winner takes out the ‘Grand Champion Show Horse’ award.

When they all return to White Cloud Station a mystery ride ends with a wrong turn and an overnight stay at a haunted house, where Suzy discovers a clue to the secret herd of curly-coated horses hidden in the hills behind the station.

Join Suzy, Alexa and Lucy and their White Cloud Stationbreds. A love of horses, friendship, and adventure are the key elements of this series, which combines great storytelling with an in-depth knowledge of horses and horsemanship.

Book 6 - White Cloud Station Series

Second Edition, Horsecrest Press, 2014
First published by Penguin Group, NZ, 2010

• Language: English
• Publisher: Horsecrest Press
• Release date: Mar 27, 2015
• ISBN: 9780994117762

Trudy Nicholson

Trudy is an internationally acclaimed author and photographer of twelve books. 'Ripple and the Wild Horses of White Cloud Station', published by Penguin Group, NZ,  2009 -- NZ CHILDREN & TEENS BEST SELLER LIST, is the first book in the White Cloud Station series. Second Edition versions, and new books, published by Horsecrest Press, 2014-15.  There are 7 books in the White Cloud Station series. There is a club for fans www.whitecloudstation.com  

Book preview

AUTHOR

Hi this is Trudy, the author of Autumn with Horses

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

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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.

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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

AUTUMN WITH HORSES

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

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ISBN 978-0-9941177-6-2

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Second edition published by Horsecrest Press, 2014

www.horsecrestpress.com

First published by Penguin Group, NZ, 2010

Copyright © Trudy Nicholson, 2010

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.

Front cover photos by Trudy Nicholson www.nicholsonphotography.co.nz

Originally typeset by Pindar, NZ

Cover design by Copy Press, Nelson, New Zealand

Editor: Belinda Mellor http://silvana.belindamellor.com/

Editing assistance: Julie Ward Thorpe

Illustrations: Trudy A. Nicholson

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www.whitecloudstation.com

Part 1

The Show-ring

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1. Butterflies

‘I love the smell of glycerine saddle soap,’ Suzy said, rubbing it into the saddle she’d placed on the saddle rack in the tack room. She felt proud that she’d finally saved enough money to buy a show saddle of her own; especially seeing as she was only 15 and still at school. She felt a sudden surge of butterflies inside, thinking that the next time the saddle was placed on her horse’s back would be just before she entered the show-ring tomorrow. She looked over at her friend Alexa who had already finished cleaning her saddle and was running the leathers through the stirrup bars.

‘I’m just going to put my gear in the back of the truck now,’ Alexa announced, leaving her two friends to finish cleaning their gear. She ran up the stirrups and placed the saddle, along with the girth strap, into her saddle carry bag. ‘How are you guys going?’

‘I’ve just got Hope’s bridle to do,’ Lucy replied. ‘Oh gosh, I’m nervous about tomorrow. Are you two?’

‘Yes, I am,’ Suzy admitted. ‘I thought I was the only one with butterflies.’

‘This is a really big show! There’s going to be top horses from all over the country there,’ added Lucy, pulling the brow band off the headpiece.

Suzy wiped Ripple’s girth strap. ‘Yes, top competition.’

‘Nothing we can’t handle!’ exclaimed Alexa, walking out the door with her saddlebag in one hand, and a bucket with sponges and shampoo in the other. ‘Back in a tick.’

‘Okay.’ Lucy was now undoing the buckle holding the bit. She watched Alexa making her way towards the horse coach with her arms full.

‘Alexa doesn’t seem too worried,’ Lucy said, dunking the snaffle into a bowl of warm water.

From the other side of the tack room, Suzy laughed. ‘Well, you know Alexa. She probably wouldn’t let on even if she was nervous.’

‘Well, she’s way ahead of us. She’s finished her tack already!’ Lucy exclaimed, looking at the clock on the tack-room wall, between the rows of rosettes and ribbons. ‘Just take a look at all those ribbons she’s won!’

Suzy glanced over while she wiped the cheek straps of her bridle. ‘Yes, but they’re not Liquorice’s showing ribbons. They’re the ones she won when she had ponies. This is Liqui’s first show.’

‘Yes, I guess . . . actually, it’s all of our horses’ first show, come to think of it,’ Lucy grimaced. ‘Scary!’

‘It’ll be great fun. Showing is so different to eventing and showjumping,’ said Suzy with a smile.

Alexa climbed up the ramp into the horse coach. Though it was freshly washed out, it still contained the scent of horses. It was great that Lucy’s father Joe had left their horse coach at the farm overnight for the girls to organise, before and after school. The horse coach was now loaded with much of the equipment and provisions needed for their three days away at the National Grand Championship Show.

Camping at the showgrounds, with horses, for two nights took quite a lot of organising. The three girls spent the afternoon stacking bags of horse feed in the bins in the horse compartment. Then they stuffed three bales of hay in the oblong cupboards underneath, along with heavier covers if needed, since the early autumn weather could be unpredictable.

Alexa pushed the horse partitions firmly against the wall with her body as she passed, her arms still full of gear. Placing the bucket on the rubber matting in the horse compartment, she opened the cupboard and placed her saddle on the rack, then hung her bridle alongside on the hook. She lifted the lid of the trunk and ticked off her list: bandages, hoof shine, make-up, body brush, polishing clothes, sponge, and spare horseshoes. The rest of her gear was still in her grooming kit in the stable block. She’d shampooed Liquorice earlier, and the girls agreed they’d get up extra early tomorrow morning to plait their horses.

Having spent a lifetime on the show circuit, both jumping and showing, Alexa had the preparations well sorted. Deborah, her mother, had travelled with Alexa the length and breadth of the country to show and jump the ponies they bred at Jasmine Farm. But now, at 15, this show felt different. Alexa wondered if this was because Liqui was a horse she’d chosen herself. She’d always wanted a black horse and choosing a wild horse from White Cloud Station, last year, wasn’t exactly what her mother had in mind when Alexa moved from ponies to hacks. However, Alexa had inherited her mother’s eye for a good horse and there was no doubting the fact that Liquorice had presence. All Alexa had to do now was present Liquorice immaculately to the judges tomorrow. She was feeling confident with how Liquorice was performing under saddle, confirmed by their resident instructor Netty. Netty lived in the cottage next to Alexa’s home. Over the past year she’d helped the girls with their riding, coaching them to novice-eventing level and elementary dressage.

Alexa left the trunk open for the other two girls to throw their gear into. She walked through to the living area of the horse coach and opened the wardrobe to check her jacket, bowler, shirt, boots and gloves. Her jodhpurs and the rest of her riding attire were neatly folded on the top shelf. She couldn’t wait for tomorrow.

She flopped down on the couch and picked up the National Grand Championship Show programme from the table. Then the dreaded butterflies hit her at full flight! The sheer size and prestige of this show almost overwhelmed her, and to think this would be Liquorice’s first show! She reminded herself that when she bought her horse it was with the intention of proving her in the show-ring. Imagine if we don’t even get a look in, she thought, most unlike the usually ultra-confident Alexa, and we come home with not one ribbon, now that wouldn’t reflect well on my ability to choose a show horse. But then she pulled herself together and the typical Alexa outlook returned. Don’t be stupid, she told herself. I’ve got the best show horse in the world, she’s got the X factor, no doubt about it. How others saw Alexa was important to her and especially seeing as she’d bought this horse without her mother’s contribution. She bit on her nails as she flicked to her classes.

‘Oh my gosh, ’ she shrieked. ‘There are 55 in my class!’ She flicked over to Suzy’s horse, Ripple’s class – 56! Lucy and Hope’s class – 60. ‘They’re huge classes!’

Alexa jumped down the steps of the living compartment and walked over to the stable block where the girls were settling their horses in for the night. When she arrived, Suzy and Lucy were tying hay-nets and filling water buckets.

Alexa waved the programme at them. ‘Take a look at the size of these classes. They each have 55 to 60 participants. And the horses will be the best in the country, not to mention the most expensive, imported show hacks.’

Lucy peered at the programme Alexa was still checking. ‘Yes, well, you knew that when you entered. Got an attack of butterflies, have you?’ she teased. Alexa huffed and held the programme at arm’s length to Lucy who was tipping hard-feed into the feed bin in Hope’s loose box.

Lucy stretched to tie the hay-net to the ring, ‘Hang on. I’ll just make sure this is secure. I don’t want