Nightstorm and the Grand Slam. Stacy Gregg

didn’t flinch as the needle went in all the way to the hilt.

      “It should take effect in a few minutes,” the vet said. “The main thing now is to keep walking him. It’s vital that you don’t let him roll.”

      The vet gestured towards the security gates at the front of the yard. “They have my number on speed dial,” he told her. “I’ll come back and check on you in the morning. But don’t be afraid to call me before then if there’s any change.”

      Issie watched the vet leave and hoped that a phone call wouldn’t be necessary.

      “Is there anything I can do?” The night guard was clearly feeling awful that he had tried to turf her out earlier. “Do you want me to lead him for you for a while?”

      Issie shook her head. She couldn’t bring herself to leave Storm’s side, not even for a moment.

      “Can you do me a favour?” she asked. “I need you to make a phone call for me.”

      By the time Avery, Francoise and Stella arrived at the yard the vet’s injection had begun to work and Storm’s pains seemed to be easing, but the stallion was still distressed and Issie still needed to keep him moving.

      “It looks like we might be lucky,” Francoise said gently to Issie. “If the pains are lessening then the chances are that he has spasmodic colic. It is painful – but it is the best kind of colic to get – he’ll get better again quite quickly.”

      “It’s not because I overfed him, is it?” Stella looked distraught. “I gave him a regular feed…”

      Francoise shook her head. “No – this kind of colic attack is usually brought on by nerves and stress, not food. He needs to be walked for the rest of the night, but the chances are good that he will recover.”

      Avery agreed. “It looks like the muscle relaxant is working.”

      “Will I be able to ride him tomorrow?” Issie asked. “It’s only a few hours until the cross-country.”

      Avery shook his head. “It’s too soon. Even if all of his symptoms were gone by then, riding him would be a huge risk. He could develop a second bout and it would kill him.”

      Issie’s heart plummeted. If you had asked her an hour ago she would have wept with gratitude just knowing that her horse was going to live – but to have her dreams yanked away like this… ohmygod, they were in the top three after the dressage! It was too cruel. But she knew what she had to do.

      She couldn’t ride – she had to retire. She was pulling Storm out of Badminton.