Wilson Sisters Adventures 2, page 1
CAN NINA TRANSFORM A KAIMANAWA COLT FROM WILD TO MILD IN JUST FOUR WEEKS?
Ever since she helped Kelly Wilson train a wild Brumby, twelve-year-old Nina has dreamed of taming a wild pony of her very own. When she learns that 300 horses face slaughter in an upcoming muster, she and her sister Lily sign up for the Wild Kaimanawa Workshop to save a colt each. With just one month to tame their horses and bring them home, the Sutherland sisters will do whatever it takes to give their new Kaimanawas a second chance at life.
From Kentucky, USA to remote New Zealand beaches, the girls embark on an exciting challenge. Only one will get the colt they hoped for, and the other will star in a television show documenting the mustered horses’ journey. Which will it be?
From the author of the bestselling Showtym Adventures series, this novel is inspired by true events.
CONTENTS
1. New dreams
2. The Kaimanawa muster
3. Paperwork
4. Road to the Horse
5. Study, study and more study
6. Taming the Wild
7. Settling in
8. Wild Kaimanawa Workshop
9. Elder, the wildest Kaimanawa
10. The Kaimanawas arrive
11. Safety first
12. First touch
13. Fight, flight, freeze
14. Milestones
15. Hugs
16. Haltered
17. Stormy skies
18. Follow the leader
19. Beach adventure
20. Autumn showjumping
21. Ninety Mile Beach
22. Final goodbyes
23. Kaimanawas at home
24. Television stars
25. New opportunities
How to: Save your own wild horse
Acknowledgements
About the Authors
Also by Kelly Wilson
Shyla, the Snowy Brumby
Allegiance, the Wild Kaimanawa
Follow Penguin Random House
This book is dedicated to my parents, Denise and Glenn. Without your ongoing support, this story wouldn’t have been possible. Thank you for encouraging us to follow our dreams.
— Nina Sutherland
CHAPTER 1
NEW DREAMS
“CAN YOU BELIEVE it’s only been eighteen months since I met Shyla for the first time?” twelve-year-old Nina asked her sister Lily, as they lay in the grass watching their ponies. “I’m still amazed by just how far she’s come!” In the dustiest patch of the paddock, Shyla grunted and rolled over, before pulling herself to her feet and shaking herself off.
In fact, so many horsey things had happened since Nina had first crossed paths with the once-wild Brumby that she still struggled to believe how much their lives had changed. She’d been only ten when she’d been asked by her mentor and friend Kelly Wilson to help train Shyla, after the pony had travelled all the way from Australia’s Snowy Mountains to New Zealand, on a cargo plane. After five short months of training, the jet-setting pony had flown back to Melbourne to compete in the Australian Brumby Challenge, before returning to New Zealand to become Nina’s very own pony.
“We’ve all come a long way,” Lily replied, nodding her head in agreement. “I was only jumping 90-centimetre courses back then.”
“And now you’re competing 1.10 metres on Sparkles,” Nina said, with a twinge of awe. Lily’s goal was to compete at Grand Prix level within the next two years and she was well on her way to achieving it.
Lily flashed her younger sister a smile. “And just a few months ago we had four ponies in the paddock to keep us busy, but now we’re back down to one each.”
Nina’s face fell as she thought about her champion Show Hunter pony Maybelline, who she’d had to sell at the beginning of the year. “That’s the worst thing about growing up,” she said, unable to hide the wobble in her voice.
Lily cocked her head. “Only having one pony?”
“No, not that.” Nina sighed heavily. “Outgrowing them. Maybelline meant everything to me, and it’s even worse knowing I’ll outgrow Shyla one day, too.”
“Not for another year at least,” Lily reassured her. “That’s plenty of time left to enjoy her.”
Nina thought over all the goals she’d already ticked off with Shyla over the past year. Not only had they won classes in Show Hunter, and jumped a clear showjumping round at 90 centimetres, but at Equifest four months earlier they’d also won the Under 18 Championship in the Off-Road Challenge. Her heart lifted as she realised how versatile Shyla had become.
“Do you think we should ask Mum and Dad if we’d be allowed another pony each?” Lily said as she gazed out over the grassy meadow, which was encircled by native forest and a small stream. “We have so much more space for them now we’re living here.” The Sutherland family had recently moved to a new farm, and both girls were excited to have 8 hectares of their own to ride over, with plenty of paddocks, yards and stables for their horses.
Nina froze — she wasn’t ready to think about replacing Maybelline yet. “There’s no rush; Shyla’s more than enough for me at the moment. I still have so many things I’d like to teach her,” she eventually replied. “Do you really think we need new ponies?”
It was Lily’s turn to pause. “With our big trip coming up, I don’t think we could afford another pony as good as Sparkles anyway,” she said. Their family was only a week away from flying to Kentucky in the United States with the Wilson sisters, to watch Vicki compete at Road to the Horse, the World Championships of Colt Starting. “And thanks to the Wilsons, we get to ride plenty of amazing horses at their place too.”
Nina nodded. “Remember the first time Vicki trusted us enough to ride one of her showjumpers?”
“I’ll never forget it,” Lily said, her face serious. “I was so terrified of making a mistake. I didn’t feel like I was ready to be sitting on such a talented horse.”
“To be honest, we probably weren’t ready,” Nina giggled.
“Definitely not,” Lily said, joining in her sister’s laughter. “But we did learn a lot from all the things we did wrong. We really got thrown in the deep end, didn’t we?”
Nina nodded, before pushing herself to her feet and walking over to give Shyla a hug. The pony was now resting under the shade of a towering tōtara tree. “And I’d do it all again, to be where we are now.”
Lily followed her, stopping to give her grey-andwhite pinto mare Sparkles a scratch.
“We might not need new ponies,” she said to Nina, “but wouldn’t it be fun to get another one each anyway?”
Nina’s eyebrows rose. “I just told you, I’m not ready to replace Maybelline.”
“But now we have all this land, and enough time and love for two ponies each. Look at how much you learnt from Maybelline, and now from Shyla. Imagine what you’d learn if you got another pony.”
“But aren’t we learning anyway, riding Vicki’s horses?” Nina reminded her.
“Yes …” Lily’s eyes gleamed. “But we do have another dream that will never come true if we’re just riding showjumpers.”
“Aren’t all your dreams about showjumping?” Nina asked, frowning.
Lily laughed. “Most of them are, but there’s a few others on my list. Come with me and see.”
And with that she gave Sparkles one last pat, before sprinting down the hill and back to the house. Her curiosity sparked, Nina followed closely behind.
CHAPTER 2
THE KAIMANAWA MUSTER
THEY ARRIVED AT the house breathless, dodging chickens who were scavenging in the bushes around the lawn. Their border collie, Louie, who was lying in the shade of the porch, wagged his tail at their approach. Nina reached down to burrow her fingers in his glossy fur and scratch his ears, but there was no time to linger as Lily kicked off her boots at the front door and headed inside.
“Come on,” she called over her shoulder. “I’ve got something to show you.”
Nina followed her upstairs, wondering what crazy idea her sister had come up with.
“You want to show me something in my own room?” Nina said suspiciously, as Lily stopped outside the door of Nina’s bedroom.
Lily nodded, and led her over to the wall above Nina’s bed, where all the ribbons and rosettes she’d won on her ponies were proudly displayed.
But these weren’t what drew Lily’s attention. Nina’s eyes widened when her sister pointed at the Dreams List that Amanda, the youngest Wilson sister, had helped her write a year earlier. Initially they’d only listed a few goals, but every few weeks Nina had added more to it, and now the piece of paper was filled with almost sixty things she’d love to do in her lifetime — some of which she’d already put a tick beside.
“This is why you need a new pony,” Lily said, pointing to a place on the paper where a number of big dreams were still unchecked:
* * *
Grand Prix showjump
Swim with dolphins
Teach a horse to lay down
Ride in the snow
* * *
Nina huffed in exasperation. “I’m not ready for a Grand Prix showjumper. Besides, by the time I’m ready to jump that high you’ll have outgrown Sparkles anyway, so I’ll be able to compete her.”
Lily rolled her eyes. “Keep reading.”
* * *
Whitewater rafting
Ride a camel
Start a horse under saddle
* * *
“You want to buy unbroken poni es?” Nina gasped. “Are you crazy? We don’t even know how to start a horse under saddle!”
Lily shook her head. “Keep reading just a little further …”
* * *
Tame a wild horse
* * *
Nina’s eyes shot to her sister’s. “You really think we could?”
“The Kaimanawa muster is in two months’ time,” Lily replied, unable to hide the excitement in her voice. “Ever since we first watched Keeping Up With The Kaimanawas it’s been a big dream for both of us. Maybe this is the year?”
Nina’s mind was in overdrive. The Wilson sisters’ television show, which followed them as they tamed twelve wild Kaimanawa horses they’d saved from the biennial muster, had aired two-and-a-half years earlier. Back then, the thought of taming a wild pony of her own had seemed like an impossible dream. But now, with everything she’d learnt training Shyla, perhaps it wasn’t so far-fetched after all?
Darting to the window, she looked out over their small set of cattle yards.
“Won’t the yards be too small? There’s only two of them.”
“That’s enough for one wild pony each,” Lily reasoned. “Besides, it’ll only be for a month or so, until they’re tame enough to go out in paddocks.”
“We’d better ask Mum and Dad what they think …”
Nina was not at all sure their parents would be so excited about the idea. But now that the seed was planted, she realised just how much she wanted them to say yes. Getting a wild Kaimanawa as her next pony would be a dream come true.
Five minutes later, the Sutherlands had gathered on the couch to hear the girls present their idea — even their brothers, ten-year-old Grayson and eight-year-old Toby, joined them. But Nina soon felt her excitement slipping away as she saw her parents’ doubtful faces.
“I know we joked that we could use the stockyards for wild horses when we first looked at this property,” their dad said, rubbing his chin, “but I didn’t think it would be this soon. What do you think, Denise?”
Nina turned to her mother, her eyes pleading for a different answer.
“I think it would be an amazing experience,” their mum finally said. Nina and Lily swapped glances of cautious hope, before she added, “But I’m just not sure you have the abilities yet to tame a wild horse on your own. Do you agree, Glenn?”
Their dad nodded. “How about you ask Vicki, Kelly and Amanda if they’re planning to tame wild horses this year and, if so, see if they’d let you watch their training process. Then at the next muster you can put everything you learn into practice and try with a Kaimanawa of your own.”
Nina’s heart sank. She knew her dad was being logical, and that watching the Wilsons tame wild horses would still be the experience of a lifetime, but the idea of taming a wild Kaimanawa of her own had already taken root. The musters happened only every two years — which meant she’d be fourteen before she would have the opportunity again. That seemed like an impossibly long time to wait.
“Sure. Let’s message the Wilsons and see what their plans are,” Lily said, her shoulders slumping as she reached for her mum’s phone.
As Nina watched Lily type out the text message, she reminded herself that their parents had said not now, rather than a flat-out no. Maybe a two-year wait wouldn’t seem so long …
Later that day, Nina and Lily rode back along their long gravel driveway after checking the mailbox. When they’d first bought the property, they’d been delighted to discover it was a two-and-a-half-kilometre loop to the main road and back, and they would often ride up to get the mail to keep their ponies fit.
Nina sat quietly on Shyla, who trailed a long way behind Sparkles. Luckily, the pony seemed unfazed by the fact she couldn’t keep up the with the larger showjumper’s speed-walk.
As the girls rode past the house, their mum came outside to meet them. “Kelly’s replied,” she announced, reaching up to rub Shyla gently between her eyes.
“Really?” Nina said, butterflies in her stomach. “Can I see the message?”
Her mum passed her the phone, and with bated breath she read:
Smart parents, don’t be too mad at them! I agree you girls aren’t quite ready to tame wild Kaimanawas on your own just yet, but if your parents are happy for you to come stay for a month I could mentor you through the process of taming a yearling each during my Wild Kaimanawa Workshop. If you get colts you could even compete them in the Freedom to Friendship Challenge that will be held at Equidays in October! Amanda and Vicki are too busy with their showjumpers this year, but I’ll be taking on a stallion of my own to train for it.
“Ummm, how are we that lucky?” Lily said breathlessly, reading over Nina’s shoulder. “Mum, please tell us we can take Kelly up on her offer!”
“It’s a long time to be away,” Mum replied, “and a huge commitment. If you decide to do the competition, it’ll be six months of training.”
“What exactly is the Freedom to Friendship anyway?” Lily asked.
Nina shrugged. “I’ve never heard of it.”
“I looked it up when the message came through,” Mum said. “It’s similar to the Australian Brumby Challenge that Shyla competed in, as well as the Kaimanawa Stallion Challenge that Vicki, Kelly and Amanda competed in during their television show.”
“I thought only professional trainers were invited to compete in that,” Lily said, frowning.
“Apparently this year the wild herd numbers are double what they’re supposed to be, and Kaimanawa Heritage Horses is needing to rehome three hundred horses. That’s a huge challenge. So, as an incentive, they’ve opened the competition up to anyone who wants to tame a colt or stallion from the muster.”
Nina’s eyes widened. “We’d be competing against Kelly?”
Her mother chuckled. “That would be a bit tough, wouldn’t it! I forgot to mention that they’ve added a youth division for the very first time.”
“You realise this is, like, double-dreamworthy?” Lily said.
“Please, please can we sign up?” she begged her mum. “This is exactly the kind of opportunity you said we needed! Kelly will be helping us tame our wild ponies every step of the way.”
“Dad and I have already talked it over, and we agree it’s perfect,” their mum assured them. “Provided you’re happy to do extra schoolwork before you leave, so you’re well ahead in your studies, we’re happy for you to stay at the Wilsons’ for an entire month and work with horses full time.”
Nina leant down from Shyla’s back and hugged her mum. “Thank you, thank you!” she squealed. “Training wild horses and no schoolwork sounds triple-dreamworthy!”
“You might not think that over the next eight weeks while you’re studying double-time,” Mum reminded them with a wry grin.
“Eight weeks! Oh my gosh, that’s so soon. Lily, we’re going to have wild ponies of our own in just eight weeks!”
“That will fly by, with us spending three of those weeks in America,” Lily grinned.
Nina gasped. She’d been so excited about the muster, she’d almost forgotten they were all going to the US to watch Vicki compete. It meant they’d only have a month back home before the wild Kaimanawas arrived.
Mum shook her head. “Oops, I’d forgotten all about Road to the Horse too — if you want to attend Kelly’s workshop you’re going to have to fit in twelve weeks’ worth of study into less than six weeks.”
“Deal,” Nina promised. “At this point I’d be happy to study twenty-four hours a day if it means I don’t miss out on either of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.”
Even Lily, who only did schoolwork under duress, nodded in agreement. “We can give our ponies a holiday so we’re not distracted.”
Lily’s offer was so out of character, Mum did a double take. “I’m sure you’ll have enough time to ride them a couple of times a week, but yes, schoolwork will definitely be the top priority for the next wee while. I’ll ring the Wilsons and explain you won’t be able to go and help out there like you usually would, until the Kaimanawas arrive.”
