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practice I had on the picnic ride of course! I was neck and neck with Jade and it was really close and before I became Megan the Brave I probably would have let her win to try and make her like me. But not today! I urged Mischief on with my legs and voice, and he seemed to understand my determination and just stepped up the pace a little bit more (without galloping this time, thank goodness). I could hardly believe it when I cantered back over the finishing poles before anyone else.
    Millie and Gabrielle and Mum and Dad and Jody and Sally went mad cheering for me. I was so happy I didn’t even wonder whether Jade was angry about me winning!
    We had loads of fun in the other games too, and I didn’t care one bit that Mischief did someexcited bucks in the egg and spoon and my egg went flying off to who knows where!
    In the Chase Me Charlie I actually got up to the fourth hole before knocking the pole down. Sally shouted, “Oh, Megan, you can jump higher than that!” and everyone who had been on the picnic ride laughed. I knew she was only joking, though, and I was really pleased with getting that far – I’m definitely going to work on my jumping back at my riding school.

    When I went up for winning the bending race at the prize ceremony, Sally handed me my rosette and said, “You need speed and control for that race and you and Mischief certainly have both now. Well done!” She shook my hand and Mum was clapping like mad and Dad was snapping away with his camera.

    Mum said later that even though her heart was in her mouth (her exact words) watching me do the races she couldn’t believe how confident I’d become. I was going to tell her about what happened on the picnic ride but I’ve decided to wait until she reads this pony diary – she’s probably had enough excitement for one day. And she had a present waiting for me in the car too – the army print half chaps! I gave her a big hug of thanks and said, “But how did you know I’d win a race?”
    Mum laughed. “They’re not for winning, Megan!” she said. “They’re for having the courage to go on holiday all on your own.”
    That’s when I realized I was already a bit brave to start off with, to come here without knowing anyone and to make new friends and try new things like beach riding and sandwiches with salady things in.

    Maybe Megan the Brave was somewhere inside me all along, but a bit hidden!
    I was just heading to the house to get my stuff when Jade came up to me. I thought she might be about to say something mean, but she just held out her hand. Before I could think what I was doing, my hand was shaking hers. “Sorry for being weird with you before,” she said. “And well done on winning the bending race.”
    “It’s okay,” I mumbled. “And well done in the apple bobbing.”

    I don’t know what changed her mind about me. Maybe she realized I’d stopped caring what she thought, or maybe she just wanted to try on my army print half chaps, but I didn’t worry about it. Us girls all said goodbye to each other with lots of hugs, and me and Millie and Gabrielle all swapped addresses and promised to keep in touch. Then I had to say goodbye to the one person (well, pony!) I would miss most of all, my Mischief.

    While the parents all had a cup of tea with Jody and Sally, Lydia and Johnny supervised us on the yard. I led Mischief back to his stable and untacked him, and took out his tail ribbons.
    I spent ages untying them so we could have as much time together as possible. While I was making a fuss of him, I whispered in his ear that even if I rode, say, twenty-two more ponies in my life, I would never forget him and he’d always be my favourite. That was when he nuzzled my neck in a way that said, “Even though different girls ride me on Pony Camp each week, you’ll always be my favourite too!”

    Finally I could hear Dad calling that it was time to go. I gave Mischief one last hug. I felt a bit sad, but mostly I was happy because I