It felt strange to get him ready. Her cousin Joe, Len’s son, had always ridden him before, but Joe was now in Canada, working on a yard that specialized in natural horsemanship techniques. “I know you miss him, don’t you, boy?” Ellie said, patting Barney’s liver-chestnut neck. “Me too.” The pony picked up the bottom of her T-shirt in his teeth and pulled it up, exposing her tummy. “Hey!” Ellie exclaimed, hastily pulling it down and checking no one had seen. Barney snorted, sending a splatter of water droplets all over her. “Barney!” Ellie could have sworn Barney winked. He was the cheekiest pony in the yard and if not watched would undo his stable door and the doors of the ponies around him, and let them all out. Ellie hoped he’d behave for her in the ring. “You’d better!” she warned him. Barney gave her a wounded look, as if to say, Would I ever do anything else? Leaving him tied with a double knot, Ellie got changed and then rode him to the working-in area.
