Simon

[Simonssister]

 Chapter XXXIII:  Training Days (Part 1, Wednesday)

Wednesday 31 August.  I would have overslept had my aunt not woken me.  On my way back from work on Sunday evening I discovered the extent of my newly-acquired notoriety.  I was stared at, pointed at, and laughed at, several times.  So I had stayed indoors for the first two days of the week.  Friends whom I hadn’t seen for weeks had called round, probably to interrogate me about the gymkhana or just to gloat or take the piss.  Alice and Debbie turned up twice.  I got Bea to tell them I was out.  I’m sure they didn’t believe her – I saw them staring up at my window from the street hoping to catch sight of me - but I didn’t care.  And last night my dreams kept waking me up.  In the morning, I cycled to Holly End, and just made it by nine. It was a mild, sunny morning with little wind, but I could see clouds piling up on the western horizon, and I hoped they weren’t a harbinger of rain.  I saw Sadie parking her car, with Clarissa in the passenger seat, and as I pushed my bike up the path I could see a little knot of people outside reception.  Rebecca and Tamsin were there, Mrs Willoughby, Mrs Westfeather, Jane and Beth.  Jane noticed me first.  She said something to the others, and all eyes turned in my direction.  A moment later Geraldine appeared in the doorway, and came running down to meet me. 
“Simon!  Simon!  Look at my new outfit!”
“You look very smart, Geraldine.”
“My mummy said my new boots would look best with black breeches.”
“She was right.”
She did look smart, actually.  Along with her new breeches she wore a dark blue short-sleeved riding top.  She grabbed my hand and led me back up to Reception.  I was just feeling thankful that Billy hadn’t arrived yet, when he too appeared out of the main door in conversation with Sue.  As soon as he noticed me hand-in-hand with Geraldine he started smirking.
“Good morning, Simon.” said Sue, “I hope you’re feeling fit.  The sooner we get started the better.  There’s rain forecast for later.”
“Good morning, Simon,” smiled Mrs Westfeather, “I hope you like Geraldine’s new outfit.  She can’t wait to get astride you!”
I smiled back by way of reply.  I headed inside, accompanied by Sue, Rebecca and Tamsin.  I went straight to the costume room.  My suit was on the counter.  I grabbed it and went into the changing cubicle.
“Don’t forget these,” said Tamsin,” a little addition to save your blushes.”
She handed me a pair of pink latex pants.  When I got inside, I discovered they incorporated a sheath about six inches long, terminating in a sphincter, like the mouth of a balloon.
“What are these for?” I asked.
“If you have to do a wee in public, at least no-one will be able to see your thing.  Unless you want them to.”
“Of course not.  Sue, talking about that, I hope you’ve made appropriate arrangements for Sunday?”
“Yes, don’t worry.  You’ll have your own private tent or screen well away from the activity areas.”
“Okay, thanks for that, anyway.  I won’t be a moment.”
It took me only minutes to zip myself into my suit, and then I came out of the cubicle and let the women take over, hitching up my ankles and fitting my hood, my arm bindings, my hooves, my head harness, my saddle, and my tail.  I was relieved to find it was the same tail as before, which was not uncomfortable once it was in.  I knew there was no way out, so I had resigned myself to the whole thing, and determined to make the best of it.  After all the publicity I couldn’t very well let down Holly End, which I relied upon for my income, and also, yes, I would have hated to have disappointed Geraldine. 
“Could you leave the bit loose till the last minute, please, Miss Strickland?” I asked.
“Of course.  We don’t need to buckle it in place till we fit the reins.  Come on then, pony.”
I clip-clopped out to Reception.  I was quite adept at walking now.
“You’re really getting the hang of it, Simon,” said Sue.
“Today you’re going to learn to trot,” said Tamsin.  She looked very businesslike in black jods and boots and a white riding top.  “You won’t find that so easy.  People can’t move in the same way as horses.  Horses can move with a single hoof on the ground.  People can’t.  You’ll find anything beyond a trot is pretty much impossible, especially trussed up as you are.  I’d love to have you cantering, but I’ve never ponified anyone yet capable of that.”
“How many people have you ‘ponified’ then,” I queried.
“Oh, enough, Simon.  Enough to know that you’re an exceptional mover, and you must also be quite fit.”
I felt quite proud of myself.  Praise from Tamsin was rare indeed.
“Can I get on him now, Tamsin?”  pleaded Geraldine.
“I’m sorry, darling, you’ll have to wait a bit today.  We’re going to have three two-hour sessions, with an hour’s break in between each.  The first session will be dedicated to what is called ‘lungeing’.  The purpose of this is to teach an inexperienced pony to relax, to be obedient to the aids, and in Simon’s case to accustom him to different paces and see how well he can walk and maybe trot.  But you can help me, of course!”
“What do I do, Tamsin?”
“Okay, dear, now first you can buckle up Simon’s bit.  That’s it, not too tight…  Perfect!  Now we need to attach another strap to the side-pieces of his bridle, like so…  I’ll put it under his nose so it won’t slip about.”
“What’s that for?”
“I’ll show you.  We use it to attach the lunge line.  We couldn’t use the bit ring because it would hurt poor Simon’s mouth.  This is the lunge line.”
She picked up a coil of flat braided cord and clipped it to the new strap.
“There.  This is very long, see?  So I can make him go round and round in circles and see how he moves.”
“But he won’t go unless I ride him…”
“Oh, yes he will, Geraldine.  This will make him.”  And Rebecca handed her the longest whip I have ever seen!  It was very thin, with a rigid handle as tall as Tamsin herself, and a whip on the end almost as long!  She cracked it in the air to demonstrate its power.  Geraldine’s mouth fell open.
“Won’t it hurt him, though?”
“I won’t hit him properly unless he stops.  It’s just to encourage him along.  Watch me for a while, then you can have a go.”
Tamsin picked up the end of the lunge line and walked backward into the field adjacent to Reception.  There were no horses there today.   I followed at the end of the line.  When she was almost in the middle of the field, she called to me.
“Right, Simon.  Stop there.  Now when I tell you, I want you to start walking anti-clockwise around me.  Keep at the end of the lunge rein, don’t start spiralling in or drifting out.  Keep in a nice round circle.  And start off slowly.  All right?  When I want you to speed up, I’ll tell you, or use the whip to get you to move on.  Ready?  Okay, go!” 
I started to walk.  Because I was going in a circle, centrifugal force tended to pull me outwards, away from Tamsin, so the line remained fairly taut.  I had done about five circuits, and was feeling quite comfortable, when she shouted, “Right – move on!” and cracked the whip behind me.  I actually felt the tip hit my left foot.  I went a bit faster.  But again she called, “move on, pony!  Pick up the pace, please!”  I wanted to complain, but I couldn’t speak with the bit in my mouth and she wouldn’t have heard me if could.  My muscles were beginning to ache now, and I was sweating inside the heavy rubber.  I wouldn’t have minded a couple of minutes’ rest.  But Tamsin had other ideas.  “Come on!  Pick up those hooves!  Faster!”  The whip connected behind the saddle, and then on my shins.  Now I really wanted to get away from it.  My walk turned into something between a walk and a run.  My limbs were moving in an unaccustomed rhythm, dictated by the desire to escape from the whip on the one hand, and the constraints of my costume on the other.  But she was merciless, pushing me to move ever faster, till eventually I caught one of my front – I’m sorry, fore - hooves on one of my back hooves, and tumbled face first into the ground!
I lay there, stunned, for a moment.  I couldn’t feel my nose, and vaguely registered blood welling somewhere at the edges of my vision.  With my front legs strapped into bindings I had been unable to take any evasive action.  I lay on my side, my hooves waving ineffectually.  I heard running footsteps, and then I was accosted by a number of hands - in my dazed state I couldn’t tell how many.  My two rescuers turned out to be Billy and Geraldine.  No-one else came to my aid, and all I heard of Tamsin were the words, “Okay, let’s take a break!”
Geraldine cradled my head, repeating over and over, “poor pony, poor pony!” while Billy squeezed and poked various irrelevant parts of my body, enquiring, “Are you all right, Sim?  Have you broken anything?”   When he finally realised the necessity of removing my bit, I was able to reply.
“If I have, it’s my dobe!”  I don’t know why they both thought that was funny. 
“Can you help me back onto my feet?  Thanks.”
Together they hauled me up, allowing the blood from my nose to drip steadily onto the grass, and accompanied me as I trudged wearily back towards reception.  Sue appeared from the doorway with the first-aid box, and met me half way.  She removed the lunge strap, and made me lie down again while she cleaned my nose and wiped specks of blood from my front legs and hooves.
“It’s not broken anyway,” she announced, flexing it gently, “but it’s a bit red.  The bleeding should stop soon.  Just lie there quietly.  I’ll get you some water.”
“Thanks, Sue.”
“I think that’s the morning session over.  We’ll have an hour’s break and resume about one.”
“Thank goodness.”
“Yes, she’s a hard taskmistress.  But she got you trotting there.”
“Yeah?”
“Oh yes.  She’s very pleased with you.”
“She has a funny way of showing it.”
“That’s Tamsin.  She knows how to give it out.”

Sue brought us a towel to catch the blood.  Geraldine insisted on sitting on the grass with my head in her lap, cushioned on the towel.  The bleeding soon stopped.  She stroked my hooded and bridled head with awkward gentleness.  Billy sat beside us.
“That looked awful, Sim,” he said in a low voice, “I hope they don’t do it to me.  I don’t think I could run like that.  I’d just fall over straight away, and then she’d probably come and beat me.”
“Watch out, here she comes!”
“Good effort, Simon.  You’re a natural.  You were trotting there at the end.  That’s what I was hoping for.  Well done!”
“What’s next?”
“Next we do it all over again, this time with your rider.”
“Yippee!” cried Geraldine.
“I’ll keep you on the lunge line for a bit, but it’ll be up to Geraldine to keep you moving.  See if you can duplicate your performance of the morning.”
“Okay, I’ll try…”
“Relax for now.  Take on some refreshment.  We’ll start again in forty minutes.”

I ate lunch, drank a can of juice, and trotted round the back of the offices for a pee, aided by Billy.  He was a bit less inclined to make fun of me now. 
“Hey, Sim, do you think they were serious about doing this to me too?”
“Doing what?”
“You know…  Ponification.”
“Absolutely.  Wait and see.”
“I hope not,” he said, anxiously.  “It looks really hard.  And that’s not even the worst part.”
Tamsin was calling me.  I went back round.  Geraldine had put on her black riding coat, her new gloves, and her riding hat.  She held her little whip in one hand and what I took to be her cloak in the other, rolled up tight and fastened with a strap. 
“Come here, Simon,” said Tamsin, “Geraldine wants to strap this behind your saddle, in case it rains.  Actually, it looks as though it might.”
The cloak was secured, and Geraldine climbed astride me, encouraged by her admiring mother.  Tamsin clipped on the reins, knotting them short so Geraldine could keep a close hold of my head.  She refitted the lunge strap, and attached the line.
“You look so smart in your new outfit, darling.  You’re going to be the only rider at the gymkhana with yellow boots and gloves,” simpered Mrs Westfeather.
“I know, mummy.  And a proper riding cloak.  I do hope it rains on Saturday, so I can wear it!”
“Just a couple of piccies before you start.”  She held up her phone.  “There, dear. Now off you go.  Have a nice ride!”
Tamsin led me into the field again on the lunge line.  On her word, Geraldine gave me a gentle kick.  Obediently I started off, and when she kicked me again, and gave me a little slap down my flank, I broke into my version of a trot.  They worked me together for the first half hour or so, then Tamsin came and took off the lunge strap and line.
“Okay, Geraldine.  You’re on your own now.  Show me what you can do.  Remember what I told you.  Control and discipline.  Keep him on a tight rein, show me how you can make him go, and make him stop.  Show me how you can turn him.  And don’t be afraid to push him to the limit occasionally.  Go!”
For the next hour, Geraldine rode me around the field, sometimes at a walk, sometimes as fast as I could go.  She was a good trainer herself.  We seemed to develop a close sympathy.  I could usually sense what she wanted of me.  She transmitted her demands through the pressure of her calves on my sides, and with quiet instructions.  When she wanted me to change direction, she used the reins, not to pull my head round, but merely as a signal, to which I would immediately respond.  It was hard work, but the sense of working as a team, and putting on a good display, was also enjoyable. It sounds ridiculous, and I wouldn’t admit it openly, but I liked having her on my back, and took pride in responding well to the aids.  I wanted to impress the onlookers as much as she did.
However, our display was interrupted by a sudden squall.  Our audience ran for cover, but Geraldine reached back and grabbed her cloak from behind the saddle.  In no time she had unrolled it and thrown it over her shoulders, fastening it at the throat. 
“There.  It can rain as much as it wants, now!  I’ll be nice and dry in here.”
The scent of new latex filled the air, giving me an unexpected thrill of pleasure.  Geraldine walked me back up to Reception, where the others were sheltering.
“I don’t think it’s going to stop,” said Sue.  “Let’s all go into the indoor school.”
The indoor school was in a big hangar-like construction half way between the offices and the showground.  It had an arena and several tiers of viewing seats.  The arena was a loose artificial surface.  We made a dash for it, and were soon inside, where it was dry, and rather warm under the metal roof.  It was decided the rest of the day’s training would take place there.
“You know, you two are doing great,” said Tamsin.  “It’s such a shame we don’t have more time.  I really need a fortnight to prepare you for the gymkhana, and to get you completely fit, Simon, but here we are just a few days away.  Never mind.  You’ll be completely prepared for the next event, whatever it is.”
Geraldine patted my flank encouragingly.
“They’re amazing,” cried Clarissa, with genuine admiration, “they work so well together.  Simon, I wouldn’t have believed you’d be such an awesome pony!  I’m so glad we cancelled that stupid party and came here instead, aren’t you, Sadie?”
“Oh, darling, I wouldn’t have missed this for the world, trust me!”
“We’ll carry on doing the basic stuff for the remainder of today,” said Tamsin, “and then dedicate tomorrow to jumping and tricks.  Okay?”
We both nodded.  Our training was resumed.  It had been a dry summer, and outside in the field the ground had been quite hard, making my muscles ache.  The surface of the arena, however, was yielding, even slightly springy.  Over the course of the next couple of hours I perfected my trot, and Geraldine her posture, much to Tamsin’s satisfaction.
“Good work, you two!  Sue, I need a few more weeks with them, and I swear we’ll be able to show them by Christmas!” she laughed.
“Oh, don’t give me ideas,” she returned.  “How about you offer a full ponification service here at Holly End?  I bet there are plenty of mothers – and wives – who’d like their boys put into training!”
“Hmm, I might just consider that.  Wouldn’t it be fun?  What do you think, Geraldine?  Would you like a whole stable of ponies to ride?”
“No thank you.  I just want Simon.  I don’t need any others.”
“Billy looked at Sue and grinned broadly.  Unable to speak, I blew a gentle nicker of gratitude, which Geraldine understood just as well, for she stroked and patted my cheek.
“Doesn’t Geraldine look special in her cloak?” said Sue.  “You know, darling, you might get your wish on Sunday. The forecast for more rain over the next few days.”
“And more mud,” murmured Billy, looking innocently out at the field.

[Simonssister]

apter XXXIII:  Training Days (Part 2, Thursday)

Thursday 1 September.  My muscles were aching when I got out of bed, but after I’d been up for half an hour, I felt fine.  I certainly felt fit!  It was overcast and drizzling, so I guessed my last day of training would also be inside.
When I arrived at Holly End, I found a different audience from yesterday.  Sadie and Mrs Willoughby were not able to be there, and Mrs Westfeather had dropped off Geraldine and would be back later on to collect her.  Stella had turned up with her usual photographic equipment.  Worst of all, Beth had been joined by three of her mates, Phoebe, Laura and Denise.  Before I’d even got to the top of the path I could see them in animated conversation with Billy.  They greeted me with pretended innocence poorly disguised by smug grins.

After I was kitted up, we all made our way down to the covered school.  The drizzle had transmuted into a heavy mist, and by the time we got inside my rubber suit was slippery with moisture.  Geraldine found a roll of tissue and helped to dry me off.  Tamsin ushered everyone to their seats, then turned to me.  Billy was sitting between Phoebe and Beth, and looked as though he was cracking jokes.  I could see from the self-satisfied expression on his face that now he thought he was safe, he could play the cool dude.  He actually put him arm round Phoebe at one point!  If I hadn’t been in pony mode, I swear I would have gone over and kicked him up the butt!
“Simon.  Today we need to work on a few basic tricks.  Geraldine will act as ring-mistress, and encourage you to run through a hoop, and a plastic tunnel – you can see that by the door. We are also going to see if we can get you to rear.  It won’t be easy, I realise that.  It requires great fitness and muscle control, and perfect balance.  And finally, we’ll see if you can jump a pole on the ground.  You may think that’s easy, but it’s not, and you’re in danger of falling flat on you face.”
“Like yesterday!” remarked Billy, with a snort of laughter.
“Please be quiet, Billy!” returned Tamsin, with a glare that would have stopped a charging grizzly in its tracks.  “Or you’ll feel the weight of my riding crop across your backside!”
He blushed, suitably chastened.

The trials began.  Negotiating the hoop and tunnel was a piece of piss.  But rearing was an impossibility.  The design of my back hooves and the attachment of my ankles to my upper thighs prevented any movement which might be used to counterbalance the elevation of my front legs.  And because I couldn’t bend my front legs, I couldn’t use them to give myself any upward impetus.  However, when Tamsin lifted up my front half, I found I could balance on my back hooves for a while. 
“That’ll have to do, I think,” she reflected.  “Can you paw the air a bit?”
I made a rather melodramatic attempt, which, since I couldn’t bend my arms, couldn’t help but look pretty pathetic.  But the general opinion was that it was the best that could be expected, so it was decided that two of the girls would help me rear, and my resulting stance might be useful as a photo-opportunity.  Finally, we came to the pole.  Now, you might think it would be easy to jump a pole a few inches across lying on the ground.  But I couldn’t jump as such.  The trick was to run at the pole and meet it just on the right stride, so each hoof was in the air at the moment it crossed it.  I quickly mastered the art of getting my fore hooves over, but co-ordinating the back ones was a nightmare.  I tripped and fell many times.  Geraldine was becoming distressed.  “Poor pony!” she whimpered, as I went down for the tenth time.  Even Billy occasionally looked sympathetic.  Perhaps he still had some regard for my welfare.
“Simon!  Concentrate!  It’s all in the approach speed.  Get that right and you’ll flow over it,”
said Tamsin.  “Again.  Slightly quicker this time.”
She was right.  Eventually I got the speed right, and suddenly it became easy.
“Now with Geraldine.  Mount up, darling!”
Geraldine jumped eagerly into the saddle, and gave me an encouraging pat.  “Go on, pony.  You can do it!”  And I did!  I had learnt my lesson well, and now I had got the correct pace off I discovered I could clear the pole without touching it.  Tamsin instructed me to maintain the pace after the pole, and having watched me carefully and made some marks on the ground, she placed a second pole about twelve feet after the first.   After a few minor adjustments I was able to run through and clear both without difficulty.   Tamsin measured the distance between the two poles.
“On Sunday we’ll set them up just like this, and you can clear both.  That should impress the cognoscenti.  Well done, Simon.  And you, Geraldine.  All that remains is for you to practise what you’ve learned until it’s perfect.  But we’ll have break now and continue in an hour.”

Tamsin unbuckled my bit, and Beth came over and fed and watered me.  The others lounged around the arena, eating their lunches and chatting.  Jane appeared at the doorway and called Sue to come to Reception.  After she left, Billy came over to say hello.  I wasn’t feeling that conversational.
“Why are you hanging out with those girls?" I asked. “You know they’d  be making fun of you if  you were in my shoes.”
“In your hooves, you mean!” he laughed.
“Look, Billy,” I went on, “I don’t know what’s happened to you lately.  I don’t even know if you’re my friend any more.”
“Same here.  You seem to have another friend now!”
“What?”
“You know who I’m talking about.”
“You’re not serious?  I didn’t choose her, anyway. This has all been imposed on me.”
“Yeah?  Well you seem pretty happy about it.”
I was stunned. 
“You’re jealous of a little kid?  Is that what this is about?  You’re crazy, Billy.”
“Maybe I am.  But it’s not just that.  I would never have got into all this if it hadn’t been for you.  I’m realising how dangerous it all is.  Look what they’ve done to you!  You have no free will any more.  They can make you do anything.  Now they’ve turned you into an obedient little pony, and they’re going to parade you in front of half the town!  Doesn’t that bother you?”
“Of course it does.  But since there’s nothing I can do about it, I might as well go along with it.  It would be even more humiliating if I’m seen to be acting under duress.  Don’t you see?”
“I see perfectly.  You’re going along with it all right.  But is it because you have to, or because you want to?  Yes, I’m trying to make friends with the mistresses, it’s true.  But only because I don’t want to end up in the same position.  I don’t want to be a slave to all their kinky whims and fancies!”
I fell silent.  I couldn’t help but feel there was an element of truth in what he said, however small.  Why did my treatment sometimes – often – make me feel at peace?  Why did it feel so natural to be governed by these women, or so eager to please Geraldine?
“I understand, Billy,” I said, quietly.  “I admit there’s something in me that has adapted to my situation too willingly.  I’m sorry.  But don’t desert me, please.  I need you so much.”
“I’ll never do that, Sim.  But I have to look after myself.  To tell the truth, I understand how you feel.  I could see how I could easily slip into the same submissive life.  That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“Billy!  Billy!  Come here!”  Sue was back.  “I’ve got a surprise for you!”
“A surprise?  What is it?”
“Your costume’s arrived!  Your pony suit!  They finished it early!  Come and try it on!”
“No!” he gasped, “It’s not true!”
But Rebecca was already at his elbow.  She took him firmly by the arm, and marched him over to where Sue was waiting.  Tamsin followed close behind.
“Sim!  Help!”  he called back.  But there was nothing I could do, and in a moment he had disappeared from view.

[Simonssister]

Chapter XXXIII:  Training Days (Part 3, The Grey)

There was nothing to be done until Tamsin and the others got back.  Geraldine sat on the ground by my head feeding me squares of milk chocolate, softened by the warmth of the school.  I ate the squares and obediently licked the melted chocolate off the tips of her gloved fingers, like a pet puppy.  The girls kept up a constant chattering and giggling.  With all my strapping, it required no effort to stand there in my pony gear.  I know now how horses can so easily fall asleep standing up.  I think I was almost falling asleep myself, when a sudden squeal from one of the girls restored me to full consciousness.  I stared at them for an instant, then followed their gaze to the far end of the school.  A little door had opened in a gap in the tiers of seating, and being led through it by Tamsin herself was a little shiny grey pony, his long ears nodding slightly as he walked.  His front legs were encased in white leather sheaths, tightly buckled.  His head was fitted with a red leather bridle.  Rebecca followed behind, carrying a little red saddle and the girths.   Billy walked awkwardly, his back hooves catching against each other now and then.  Tamsin led him over to where Geraldine and I stood.  Poor Billy!  His eyes were wide and frightened, and he looked as though he had been crying.  Instead of a bit, a red rubber ball was strapped into his mouth.  I looked at Tamsin enquiringly.  She dumped her rucksack on the ground.
“He wasn’t very cooperative, your little friend.  Surprising, after his enthusiasm in front of the Committee.  He complained so much we decided to give him a ball-gag instead of a standard bit.  But the suit fits him perfectly, don’t you think?”
“Er, yes, perfectly.” 
“Is Billy pony unhappy?” asked Geraldine, concerned, patting Billy’s head.  “Don’t cry, pony!  Now you’ll be able to play with Simon pony all day.
All Billy could say was, “mmm”.  Saliva oozed from the sides of his mouth.  I’m ashamed to say I felt little sympathy for him.
Tamsin gave him a sharp flick with her dressage whip.  “Keep quiet, please.  I’ve had enough of your moaning for one day.”
The girl grooms now arrived on the scene, barely able to contain their delight.
“All right, you can watch, but please don’t crowd him,” said Rebecca.  “He’s been through a rather traumatic preparation, and he’s still a bit anxious.”
“Oh, he’s so cute!” simpered Denise.
“He looks so pretty,” marvelled Phoebe.  “What a beautiful pony suit.  He looks like a real pony!  The markings – those greyish streaks and the spots down his flank!  Who does he remind you of?”
“’E looks like Polo, don’t ‘e?” cried Laura.
“He does,” agreed Beth, “except that Polo’s a girl.”
“Well ‘e could be a girl, providin’ no-one unzips ‘im!”  countered Laura.
“What are you going to do with him?” I asked.
“Well it’s too late to start training him now.  He’d be useless for doing tricks at the gymkhana.  But I think he should at least make an appearance.  Sue’s rung Mrs More-Burley, and she’s going to bring Elizabeth here today to see him and maybe lunge him a bit.  Then on Sunday she can lead him around the parade ring while Geraldine rides you.  We can say he’s a yearling, too young to be ridden yet.  But we should put a saddle on him, just to get him used to it.”
“His back’s not quite level, Tamsin,” remarked Rebecca.  “His thighs are quite short.  Maybe an insert?”
“Yes, you’re right,” agreed Tamsin, checking him from the side.  She rummaged in her bag and pulled out two wooden discs a few centimetres wide.  “Here, lie down a minute.”
She pushed Billy onto his side, and detached both his rear hooves.  Then she fitted one disc to the top of each hoof.  They clicked firmly into place, and then she re-attached the hooves to the cups. 
“Now stand up.”  She hauled him back onto his feet.  “There, that’s fixed it, I think.”
Rebecca squatted down and ran her hand along Billy’s back, regarding him with an experienced eye.  “Yes, that’s better.  Okay, let’s saddle him.  This is almost a toy saddle, it’s so small, but it’ll do for the time being.  Breathe in, young man, while I get this on you.”
She fitted the saddle and stirrups.  The saddle was of red leather, as were the stirrup leathers, and the stirrups themselves were the quick-release type, black and red.  She tightened the girths.  Clarissa wandered over and joined the girls. 
“The red leather looks nice against the grey rubber, don’t you think, guys?”
“Yes, Miss Mitchell,” said Beth, “I think Simon is going to be upstaged on Sunday, even if Billy does only stand around looking cute.”
“The tack matches Lizzie’s boots, too,” remarked Geraldine.  “She’ll be so happy.”
“One last thing,” said Rebecca.  “Geraldine, be a good girl and go up to Reception for me, would you?  I left a red plume on the desk.  Could you bring it?  Thank you.”
As Geraldine trotted out of the school, Rebecca winked at the girls.  “The next bit isn’t suitable for children,” she quipped.  “Tamsin?  Could you pass his tail, please?”
Tamsin fished the requisite article out of her rucksack and tossed it over.  The grooms stared open-mouthed.  “Does that go inside him?” asked Denise, in disbelief.
“Yes,” said Beth.  “I put Simon’s in the other day?  Didn’t I, Sim?”
I nodded.
“That’s right.  All that’s needed is a little lube.  This tail came with the suit.  I’ll show you how it works.  Tamsin, dear, could you hold his head, please?”
The tail looked like mine, except it was grey instead of brown, and perhaps a little longer.  The butt plug was similar to mine, except that the point was tipped with steel.  The plug and the tail were joined together by a thickish metal disc.  But Rebecca showed us that the disc was in fact two discs, which could be unscrewed from each other.  There was a threaded shank, about a centimetre long, protruding from the one attached to the butt plug, and a receiving hole in the tail section.
“Now, for toilet purposes this suit has a long zipper running from front to back, and two sliders, one at each end.  The pull-tabs are both pierced, as you can see.  First, we inject a little lube….so.” “Mmm!” protested Billy.  “Then, we push the plug in, slowly but  firmly…so.”  “Mmm!  Mmmm!”  The girls watched, fascinated.  The butt plug had disappeared inside, and all that could be seen was the metal button with the shank sticking out of it.  “Then we close the zippers, and fit both the little holes in the pull tabs over the shank, so!  Now all we have to do is screw on the tail…screw it up tight…and hey presto!  Our pony has a nice swanky tail which he can’t eject no matter how hard he tries!”
“That is so neat!” exclaimed Denise.
 â€œYes.  And the plug will help correct his action, so he’ll be less prone to clipping his back hooves as he walks.”
“Could I have a go at doing that?” asked Denise, sheepishly.  But at that very moment, Geraldine returned, clutching a red plume of feathers, closely followed by Sue, Mrs More-Burley, and Elizabeth.  Elizabeth, all kitted out in her riding gear looked around expectantly.  Her gaze alighted on Billy, and she made a beeline for him.
“My little pony!” she screamed, throwing her arms around his neck.  “He’s so beautiful!”
Billy would have frowned, or glared, or spat or sworn – had he not been firmly gagged, of course.  But as he was firmly gagged, he couldn’t say, or do, anything.  The two little girls had soon got the red plume attached to the front of his head-harness.  It waved and nodded prettily with every slight movement of Billy’s head.
“Can I ride him?” pleaded Elizabeth, almost jumping up and down with excitement.
“I’m sorry, darling, he’s not really ready yet,” said Tamsin.  But Elizabeth looked so sad, that she added, “Well, I suppose a couple of times round the school wouldn’t hurt.  But don’t bounce on him, and let him go at his own pace, okay?”
“Yippee!  I will Tamsin.  I’ll be very careful!” she cried, jumping into the saddle and giving Billy a slap down the flank with her whip. “Gee up, pony!”  Tamsin smiled grimly.
As they moved away down the arena, followed by the grooms and Stella, with her video camera, Sue turned to Mrs More-Burley.  “Well, Edith, I think we’ve just made her day!”
“You did.  She’s been moping about all week because her pony wasn’t going to be ready in time for Sunday.  Do you think he’ll be ready to do anything?”
Sue passed the question on to Tamsin.  “What do you think?”
“Well, he completely untrained and unpractised.  I think we’re going to be limited to showing him.  Elizabeth can lead him around for people to pet, and maybe give a demonstration of lungeing.  I can teach her the basics today”
“I had a couple of ideas,” said Rebecca.  “We could allow each of the girls to ride Simon around the main field, leading Billy behind them.  That’s a facility they’ll need to master at some point anyway.”
“That would work, Becca.  They’re both competent enough.”
“And we could organise a race, just the two unmounted ponies.”
“Simon would win hands down.”
“Give Billy a start, then.  Or put Geraldine up on him. 
“Oh my god, I’ve just thought of something!” interrupted Sue.  “Somewhere in the back room I’ve got a half life-size doll, dressed in riding gear.  We used to have it at Reception just as a joke.  If I can find it, we could strap it onto Billy’s saddle.  That way he wouldn’t be without a rider!”
“That would be funny all right,” said Rebecca.
Oh yes, I thought, hilarious.  He’ll really see the joke.  So much for his strategy of consorting with the enemy.  It didn’t do him much good after all.

By now Elizabeth had completed her first circuit, and the grey pony had arrived back at its starting point, still accompanied by its little posse of pony groupies.  A string of dribble was hanging from Billy’s chin.
“Tamsin, don’t you think you could take that gag out now and give Billy an ordinary bit,” I suggested.  “He looks so unhappy.”
She glanced down at him, unmoved.
“No, he can stay like that for a bit.  I like him better with his mouth full.  Look at his sad little face!   Well, pony boy, you shouldn’t have objected when I told you to put on your suit, should you?  Eh?  You’re going to have to learn to do as you’re told young man.”  She smiled.  “Perhaps he should stay like that till Sunday, so he’s not tempted to run away and hide.”
Billy’s eyes widened in fear.
“Tamsin, you’re not serious, are you?” gasped Denise.
“Unfortunately, no, I’m not.  I don’t think that would work.”
“Why not?” asked Rebecca.  “Simon, does he have any commitments he can’t get out of?”
I could have made something up.  But for some reason I told the truth.  “Not that I know of.”  Billy looked at me with big eyes.  But I turned my head away.
“Then it could be done.  Suppose we put him in one of the stables.  They’re nice and warm and dry.  Give him plenty of straw to sleep on.  Undo his ankles and take off his hooves at night, but tether him on a long chain so he can’t escape.  Undo his zips and take out his tail so he can use the toilet.  Leave him food and water.  Someone would have to be responsible for him, but it is possible.”
“Me! Me!” shouted all the grooms at once. 
“Yeah, miss, let us do it,” pleaded Phoebe, who was the most senior, “we often sleep here at night if one of the horses is unwell.  We’ll look after him and make sure he’s nicely groomed and ready on Sunday morning.  We’ll polish his hooves and clean all his tack.  Jean can even plait his tail if you want!” 
Billy was shaking his head vigorously.
“Sue?  What do you think?” asked Rebecca.
“I don’t know.  I can’t really see any objection.  He’ll be well looked after.  I’ll go and give Mrs Turner a ring.  If she’s happy for him to stay, then yes, we’ll keep him here.”
“Yesss!” chorused the girls.
“Mmm!  Mmm!” whined Billy, frantically.  But to no avail. 
“I’ll go ring your mum now, Billy.  Let’s hope she agrees, shall we?” 
She walked to the door of the indoor school.  It was pouring with rain now.  Cruelly I said to Billy, “More rain Billy – more mud on Sunday!”  He tried to scowl at me, I could tell, but with his lips stretched over a slimy rubber ball he just looked ridiculous.  Elizabeth gave him another crack with the whip, and set him going on his second circuit of the arena.  Sue was back within ten minutes, by which time he had only got about half-way round.  He must have been tiring, because I could hear Elizabeth’s impatient voice, punctuated with smacks of her whip, like little pistol shots, and Billy’s muffled protestations.  Mrs Turner had agreed, of course.  She probably imagined Billy would be tucked up in a nice warm bed by that sweet motherly Mrs Dawson, not chained up in a stable, strapped and gagged, at the mercy of a bunch of malicious girl grooms.  Well, he only had to survive for three nights.  I justified my complicity in his fate by recalling his behaviour towards me over the last few days.
But the other thing was this.  Sue had found the old doll.  She was about two and a half feet tall, and deliciously crazy-looking.  When Billy and Elizabeth finally arrived back at their starting-point, Billy looked at it with puzzlement and some alarm.  Elizabeth dismounted, and Sue sat the doll in the saddle. 
“How does she look?”
“Ha, ha!  Perfect!” laughed Rebecca.  “You can strap her ankles to the saddle bars.  He’ll never be able to buck her off!”
“Don’t look so worried, Billy!” added Tamsin.  “At least she isn’t carrying a whip!”

[Simonssister]

Chapter XXXIV:  Come Uppance

Such was Billy’s swift downfall.  Phoebe and the girls led Billy away, still emitting muffled bleats of remonstration, to find a suitable stable for the night.  Clarissa accompanied them, I imagined from sheer malicious curiosity.  Geraldine led me back to the office block, where her mum was waiting.  She kissed me goodbye on my nose.  “I can’t wait for Sunday, Simon pony!” she whispered.  Mrs Westfeather pinched my cheek familiarly.  “Neither can I!” she winked.  Sue led me off to the changing-room and helped me out of my suit.   It was such a relief to stretch my legs and my fingers.  I had a shower, dressed, and collected my bike.  I was just wheeling it out of Reception when Sue called after me, “Simon!  Do you want to come for a quick drink with Tamsin and me?  We just going to pop down to the pub for half an hour.”
“Yeah, thanks.  That would be nice.”
I replaced my bike and we walked up to the pub, which was only five minutes away.  The rain had stopped, and it was a sunny evening, but there were puddles by the side of the road.  “If it rains again tomorrow, it’s definitely going to be muddy down around the showground on Sunday,” remarked Sue.  “Not that that should worry you, Simon.  You’ll be nice and snug in your pony suit.”   Sue bought me a beer.  She and Tamsin ordered wine.  It was quiet in the bar.  We took our drinks to an outside table, overlooking one of the school’s fields.  The sun was sinking, and the landscape was level and quiet, except for the occasional distant neighing of a horse, and the lowing of cattle on the adjacent farm.  We sat there chatting about the gymkhana, which led the ladies to start reminiscing about some piece of mischief they’d got up to in the past.  I decided to enquire about Tamsin’s history.
“Do you mind me asking, Tamsin, how you learnt the technique of ponification?”
“Now you’re asking, Simon,” grinned Sue. 
“I don’t mind.” said Tamsin. “I guess you’ve earned the right to know.  I started off training yearlings to the saddle – I don’t much like the term ‘breaking’ in relation to horses…”
“No.  Only in relation to people!” interrupted Sue.
“Quite, Sue.  Yes, I don’t mind breaking in people at all.  But anyway, I started training horses when I was still a teenager.  My mother was good friends with Rebecca, and she was one of the best.  She pretty much taught me all I know, and I think I had a talent for it as well. I was only nineteen when I had a revelation.  I called to see Rebecca one day to ask advice about a particularly difficult yearling I had been entrusted with.  I hadn’t called ahead to see if she was in.  I was distracted by my problem, and so I just drove over there.  I knocked at the door, but there was no reply.  I tried the door.  It was open.  I walked in.  I called Rebecca but still no reply.  I looked around the whole house, but I couldn’t find her.  Then I thought of the cellar.  I’d never been down there, and I had no idea what it was used for.  I tried the cellar door.  It opened easily and silently.  The cellar was dimly lit.  There was classical music playing, which I suppose was why she didn’t hear me.  I went down a few steps, and then I saw….”
“Yes?  What did you see?”
“In those days she kept a maid.  A girl called Effie.  She kept her in full maid’s costume, which I thought a little eccentric, but charming.  I saw Effie….”  She shook her head slowly.  “I can still remember the shock.  Effie was down on all fours.  She had a ball gag in her mouth, and was wearing a collar and lead.  Her dress was thrown up over her back, and her knickers were around her knees.  Rebecca was holding the lead in one hand, and chastising her with a dressage whip.  She still hadn’t noticed me, but when she did….”
“What did she do?”
“She invited me down to help.  Effie had been disobedient, she said, and needed punishing.  She let me use the whip on her.  I was reluctant, but when I saw how she responded to the strokes, how she whimpered and flinched, I suddenly knew this was the most exciting, most arousing, thing I had ever done.  With Rebecca’s help I moved on from there, adapting my equestrian skills to the human animal.  I’ve never looked back.”
“Gosh.  Is Rebecca’s cellar still…. “
“Not for me to say.  You’ll find out one day, I’m sure.”
“This is our little secret, Simon.  Okay?” said Sue.
“Of course.  I’m grateful to Tamsin for letting me in on it.”
“Tamsin’s a very naughty girl.  You’ve only scratched the surface so far.  So take care.”
“Yes, Sue, I will,” and then added, “it’s an honour to have been ponified by such an expert.”
“You sweet boy,” smiled Tamsin.  “I’m not finished with you, not by a long chalk.  You’ll see.”

I had one more drink, and left the ladies to their conversation.  As I cycled home, I was feeling distinctly curious about Tamsin’s – and indeed the whole Committee’s – plans.  I had almost forgotten about the plight of my best friend.  But later that night, as I was getting ready for bed, I had a call from him.  At least, his name came up on my phone. 
“Hi?  Billy?”
“Hello, Simon.  This is Beth.  Just thought I’d give you a call to let you know how your friend’s getting on.  Would you like to have a word with him?”
“Yes, please.”
“Here.  Say hello.”
“Hi?  Billy?  Billy?”
“Mmmph!  Mmm!   Mmm!”
“Oh, dear.  He’s not very articulate tonight, is he?  I’m not sure what he’s trying to say. Probably trying to tell you how much he’s enjoying himself.”
“Haven’t you taken his gag off yet?”
“We haven’t taken anything off yet.  All we done is unzipped him a little.”
“I thought you were supposed to be taking off most of his pony stuff so he could go to sleep.”
“Oh, we will.  But he’s so full of energy, he so sort of, fizzy, that Miss Mitchell suggested we should tire him out a bit first.”
“Tire him out?”
“Yes.  We took him for a little run round the lower field.  It’s terribly muddy there now, you know.  Anyway, that didn’t really do it, so Denise rode him back to his stable…”
“She rode him?”
“Well, not so much rode…I mean, her feet were on the ground.”
“Just as well.”
“Yes.  But he’s much stronger than he looks, you know.”
“And what then?”
“Oh, then we strapped up his feet so he couldn’t run about making trouble.  Now we’re…
Well, I don’t know what to say, exactly.  It was Clarissa’s – I mean Miss Mitchell’s - idea.  Did you know Laura’s parents had a dairy farm when she was younger?  Her experience is coming in very useful now!”
“Experience?  What do you mean?"  In the background I could hear a faint regular sound, like a series of muffled sobs.
“Miss Mitchell said he probably needs it.  To relieve the pressure.  He can’t do it for himself, I mean, can he?”
“But…”
“Oh, hold on a moment, Simon.”  The sobbing sound ended abruptly in a slightly louder moan of what sounded like indignation.   
“Laura?  Was that…?  That’s number five, then!  Show me.  Gosh, it’s still coming!  Miss Mitchell will be pleased!  Sorry Simon, gotta go.  Don’t worry about him.  He’s in good hands.  I’ll send you a video, if you like.”
“Why not?”
“Have a good night then.  Bye bye, sweetie!”

The video came through a few minutes later.  I watched it several times, not without amusement, and perhaps a little fascination too, I have to confess.  I remembered him hitting on Phoebe this afternoon.  Well he was certainly getting a response now!  From all four of them!  Stella would have been proud of the standard of direction.  Beth must have been doing the filming, because Laura was certainly doing the physical work, and as film neared its climax, Phoebe and Denise appeared at Billy's head, pointing and making peace signs! What was Clarissa up to, I wondered?  It was only as I was falling asleep that I remembered the shiny boots competition on Sunday.   

[Simonssister]

Chapter XXXV:  Dress Rehearsal

Friday 26 August.  Today was the dress rehearsal for the Queen Alexandra show.  My dress rehearsal, I mean, since my costumes were being kept secret from the other performers.  I had an hour’s session with Miss Morel at six, and I needed to talk to Miss Benson about my change of costume for the opening number.  After what I’d been through recently, and in the context of the gymkhana, it now seemed a minor matter.
I felt lethargic all the morning.  It rained steadily, and the clouds were moving sluggishly, like big grey binbags full of water.  I wondered how Billy was getting on.  At lunchtime I decided to text him to let him know I was thinking of him, if nothing else.  I kept the tone as downbeat as possible.  “Hi, Billy.  How are you?  I’m busy with rehearsals today, but I’m coming to visit you tomorrow morning.  Hope you got eventually some sleep last night. x”

When I got to Queen Alexandra, I found Miss Benson and Miss Morel waiting for me in the hall.  Miss Morel smiled warmly.  I had been working hard at her classes, and she had been more than happy with my progress over the last few weeks.  Miss Benson was her usual sarcastic self.
“Simon!  It’s been a while.  Are you all set for the show?”
“Yes, Miss.  I was wondering….  Did you get that picture I sent you?  You know, the dress I liked.  The pink one.”
“I did.  And it’s fine if you want to substitute that for the waitress one.  Actually, I think it’s prettier.  It’s certainly more girly.  Almost as girly as the boy who’ll be wearing it!”
I ignored that.  “Oh, thanks.  I’m not sure whether Sandra still has it or whether it’s with my aunt.  But I’ll get it out for next Thursday.”
“I’ll just need to modify the words of your song a little bit,” she said, referring to her papers.  “Let me see….  How about, “I hope you like my frothy skirt, You know I’m quite the little flirt, To capture boys my plans I hatch, A shame it is, my socks don’t match!”  What do you think?”
“That’s very clever, Miss.”  It was!  Miss Benson’s good at stuff like that.
“Now, you’ll wear appropriate socks for each costume.  You’ll need short ones for the pink dress – I’m thinking maybe bright yellow and bright blue, so they clash with the dress as much as possible.  I’ll get those.  For the closer, you’ve got long hooped ones.  You’ll find them with the rest of your costume.  It’s in the side room next to the stage.  Why don’t you go and try it on now?”
I went over and let myself in.  There was the leotard and the purple and pink pants.  I sighed.  It seemed an age since I’d been able to dress up in something so comfortable and innocent.  The socks were yellow and black and green and black respectively.  I pulled them on first.  They came right up nearly to the tops of my thighs.  I stepped into the spandex leotard.  So slippery and stretchy!  I pulled it up, got my arms in, and wriggled around until it moulded to my body.  Then my pants, which slipped on easily over the smooth spandex, and my matching taps. It certainly felt nice.  I looked at myself in the mirror.  Incredibly cute and incredibly embarrassing.  Just what she wanted.  But I didn’t care now.  I knew this show might well be the last time I attended Queen Alexandra.  Of course, I was going to miss some of my friends.  But me and Billy were embarking on a whole new adventure!

I returned to the body of the hall.  Miss Benson and Miss Morel cooed with delight.
“Oh, he looks so sweet!” exclaimed Miss Morel.
“Yes, sweet is right, but now it’s obvious he’s a boy,” she added, with a glance at my pants.  “Pity we couldn’t make it a bit more obvious, really.  Never mind.  I think we’ll have two ribbons in his hair as well, one purple, one pink, just to complete the effect.  Now, shall we see what he can do?”
Miss Morel had been a good teacher, and I had been diligent pupil.  Miss Benson was delighted with my performance.
“You’re going to be a sensation, Simon.  I can’t think when we’ve ever had a more exciting closing act to our show.”  She smiled archly.  “Almost as big a sensation as you’re going to be on Sunday!”
“Oh.  Yes.  Are you coming, then?”
“We both are, Simon,” said Miss Morel.  “I think most of the school’s coming, too.  Everyone’s seen the posters.  You are the main attraction, after all.”
“Hmph.  Well, I won’t be the only one.  My friend Billy will be there too, as a grey pony.  We’re only doing it cos it’s for charity, you know.”
“Oh, how altruistic!” cried Miss Benson, spluttering with laughter.  “Especially as it looks like being quite muddy there on Sunday.  You must be very dedicated to the donkey sanctuary, you two!”
“We are,” was all I could think of to say, frowning.  I remembered now why I hated her so much.

It was still raining as I walked home.  In the evening I checked the forecast.  The rain was set to stop early the next morning, and then the weekend would be sunny.  The worst scenario.  Muddy, sticky ground, and nice weather to attract big crowds.  At about nine I had a text from Billy’s phone.  “Hi, Simon.  Billy’s asleep.  He was happy to hear from you, and can’t wait to see you tomorrow.  He had a good day.  His training went well.  See you tomorrow.  Love, Phoebe.”   â€œTraining,” I thought?  I didn’t think he was having training.  I thought he was just being kept prisoner.  Unless what she calls “training” is what they were doing to him the previous night.  Yeah, I bet that’s it.  Poor kid.  I’ll make sure they let him rest tomorrow.  But I’m glad he’s okay. 

[Simonssister]

Chapter XXXVI:  Subjection

The day dawned bright and fresh.  I was woken by sunlight streaming into my bedroom.  I made my way downstairs.  Bea was cleaning the kitchen.
“Good morning, Simon!  How are you today?  I hear you’re going to see Billy this morning.”
“Yes, aunt.  I see the grapevine’s still working normally.”
“Well, dear, these days it’s more like a whole mass of convolvulus.  The network’s constantly growing.  I think it’s mainly due to you and Billy.”
“But you and Stella were the ones who started it all.”
“Yes.  Me and Stella.  All we wanted originally was to find a way of calming you down.  But look at all the things it’s led to, all the schemes and adventures.  And all the new friends we’ve made.  Life seems much more fun these days.  And really, I have you to thank.”
“And I’ve grown up.  I would probably have turned out okay anyway, you realise that, don’t you?  It’s was just my age.  But I’m not complaining.  Life is getting complicated, it’s true, but it’s interesting at least.  And I hooked up with Billy, which is the best thing.”
“I’m glad too, Simon.  And when you see him, give him my love, won’t you?”
“Sure.  I’m a little worried about what they’re doing to him, though.  I feel guilty I sort of left him to his fate.  But I was feeling angry with him, to tell the truth.”
“Oh, don’t be worried!  Take it from me, he’s fine.  I know.  You’ll see.”

I cycled to Holly End.  There were big pools of water everywhere.  It didn’t bode well for the state of the showground.  My wheels were so muddy I parked my bike at the back of the offices for a change, and then headed down the slope to the stables.  I met one of the young grooms coming up.
“Excuse me, do you know which stable Billy’s in?”
“Yes.  Third one along on this side of the first courtyard.  There’s a new bale of hay right outside.”
“Thanks.”
I turned right into the first row of stables.  Beth and Laura were outside, chatting.  Immediately they ran towards me, grabbed my arms and pushed me back onto the path.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Listen.  We just want a quick word before you go in,” said Beth.
“What have you done to him?”
“Nuffink.  ‘E’s fine, Simon.  Listen.  We’ve bin wiv ‘im all the time, see?  We used our own special magic on ‘im.  Bef an’ me an’ Denise gave ‘im what for, like we bin told to, an’ Phoebe, she was nice to ‘im, see?  An’ between the lot of us, we brough’ ‘im round.”
“Like you were told?  By Clarissa, was it?”
“No, Simon,” said Beth.  “Clarissa was just Tamsin’s agent.  Tamsin’s the one in charge.  She takes care of all the training.  We were instructed to break him - and we did.”
“Break him?  I don’t understand.”
“Break him.  You know.  Like breaking a horse.  I mean, he is a horse, or at least a pony, so far as Tamsin’s concerned.  We kept him trussed up and gagged, and we…well, never mind that.  We kept him disciplined and exercised, until eventually he broke down.  And then we agreed to take off his gag – just his gag, mind – if he promised to speak very politely and not to misbehave.  It took several goes, but in the end he gave in.  When we were sure he was genuine, we undid his hooves and took out his tail.  Then Phoebe cuddled him all night.  He’s a changed pony, you’ll see!  But don’t do anything to upset him, okay?  Agreed?”
“Sure.  Just let me see him.”

I entered the stable quietly.  Billy was lying on the straw.  His tail was out, his gag and all his other tack was lying in the corner, his ankles were unhitched, but he was in his pony suit still.
“Billy?  How are you?”
“Simon!”  His eyes lit up.  He started to struggle to his feet.  I knelt down and put my arms around him.  He held me tight. 
“It’s so good to see you,” he smiled, kissing my face.  “It seems and age…”
“You’re still in your pony suit.  And your hooves and legs are muddy.  I’m sure you could take it off now.”
“No, Simon.  I don’t want to.  Really.  The girls showed me what a privilege it is to be a pony, to have my own stable, and be looked after by a groom.  Later today they’re going to clean me up, polish all my tack, and Jean has promised to plait my tail to keep it out of the mud.  Phoebe – Phoebe has been so nice to me – Phoebe has promised to find me a proper bit to wear, which will be red rubber, to match all my other tack.  I can’t wait for the gymkhana.  I know I’m not properly trained yet, but I’m going to do my best not to let down Elizabeth.”
I was gobsmacked, but I tried not to show it.
“Oh, Billy, that’s….that’s wonderful.  I’m so glad you’ve reconciled yourself to your rĂ´le, your very important rĂ´le, in the gymkhana.  I need you, you know.  I couldn’t do it by myself.”
“I know Sim.  I realise now.  I’m sorry for my terrible behaviour before.  So, so sorry.  The girls explained how horrible I’d been to you.  They punished me.  They whipped me, and then they.….. but anyway, I’ve learned my lesson.  I really have.  I’m going to try so hard to be a good pony, to make everyone proud of me.  Tamsin called in first thing.  I was so frightened at first.  I heard her asking, “Where’s that naughty pony, then?”  And she was carrying her dressage whip.  But when the girls explained how good I’d been, and how sorry I was, she relented.  “Good boy!  She said.  Yes, she called me “Good boy”.  Apparently, she’d been intending to give me a good hard whipping out in the courtyard, in front of everyone.  But when Phoebe explained how I’d turned over a new leaf, apologised to everyone, and promised always to wear my pony suit when I was told, she decided to postpone it.  “All right, Billy,” she said, “just make sure you put on a good show on Sunday, and make Elizabeth proud of you.”  I told her I would.  I told her I was looking forward to it now.  She was very pleased.  She said as a reward I won’t have to wear that horrible gag any more unless I’m rude to someone.”
This new docility was a revelation.  He was not pretending.  The girls’ strategy seemed to have transformed him.  We spent another hour chatting and cuddling.  When I had to leave, he seemed perfectly content to lie down in the straw again, just like a real pony.  I returned to Reception to check on the arrangements for the next day.  Phoebe was talking to Mary at the desk.
“Well?  What do you think of our reformed character?”
“It’s amazing!  What did you do?”
“A bucket of punishment and a teaspoonful of love.  And keeping him in that suit all the time.”
“That helped?”
“Oh, yes.  You know he’s not unlike you, Simon.  The rubber relaxes him, and makes him submissive.  It makes him feel safe and protected.  Tamsin realised that right at the beginning, and determined to exploit it.  She’s so clever.  In that suit, his behaviour changed from the macho guy to the little boy.  We all wore latex gloves when we were handling him, and he became incredibly pliant, and eventually totally compliant.  Even when I cuddled him, I kept stroking his face, making him feel the rubber and inhale its scent.  It was like hypnotising him.”
“That’s how he seems – hypnotised.”
“Yes.  After he takes off his suit, I suppose the spell may wear off too.  But by then it’ll be too late!”
“Well, I guess we’ll see.  I think the fear of Tamsin will help keep him in line as well.  I’m not saying I approve of what you did, mind, but he’d certainly become a bit arrogant lately, and that’s completely disappeared, thank goodness.”
“Thank Tamsin,” she smiled.
“Well, I have a customer shortly, so I’d better get back to the salon.  I’ll see you later.”
“Ooh, Simon.  Before you go.  There’s something you need in the fridge.”
I followed her into the kitchen.  She opened the fridge door and produced a plastic pot from the back. 
“Here.  Clarissa will be calling in this evening, and you’ll need this.”
“Is it what I think it is?”
“Erm, probably, yes.”
“I’ll put it in our fridge till I see her.  There’s quite a lot, by the feel of it.”
“It took quite a lot to subdue him.”
“Fair enough.  Thanks.  Treat him gently till tomorrow, won’t you?”

[krystalasbaby2017]

First, thank you for the many chapters yesterday. I am glad that Billy's pony suit came early and nice to see that he was brought down a peg or two.  Please continue the story as i like it a lot.