backside, making the poor creature gallop and then slide to a halt up against the wire fence. She wanted to tell Linda to stop. She knew there was no need for such roughness. The pony was already willing to do what it was told. It didn't need to be treated like an unbroken horse.

But that was how Linda treated all the ponies she rode. She liked to be 'in charge' as she called it. That meant showing no mercy. She was keen on punishing what she rode whenever it displeased her, or annoyed her. She had moments of kindness, but they were few and far between.

Eventually, Shara grew tired of just watching. Her heart went out to the pony, and she longed to be able to do something to help it, but she was powerless. She sighed and walked away.

In the evening, when Linda was inside and the shadows were joining together into dusk, Shara went quietly out to the paddock. She made sure Linda was nowhere to be seen and clicked to Zeras. The pony came over right away and nuzzled Shara's hands.

"Poor girl," said Shara, "She didn't treat you properly, did she?"

Zeras sniffed her face and looked at her with curiosity. "I wouldn't ride you like that," said Shara, "If my sister gave me a turn I'd be gentle. She's just jealous because I'm better at riding ponies than she is."

Shara knew this wasn't strictly true, but it sounded good.

The pony kept its nose close to Shara's face and breathed hot air on to her cheek. She spoke gently to the pony, and scratched its head, and she noticed a small scar on its skin, just below the left nostril. It was shaped like a 'Z'

"How did you get that?" she whispered, "Did you scratch yourself on a fence?"

And then she thought about Linda again. "I bet she doesn't know you've got that mark. She wouldn't look close enough to see it."

The pony leaned against her and said something in pony language.

"Yes, I'll be your friend," said Shara, "'Even if my sister treats you like, like . . ." but she couldn't think of a suitable word.

"What do you think you're doing?"