Who Is The Instructor?

Is my lesson finished? asks Terence.

Not at all, says Madame Ponty. You must trot back to the gate, where you mounted. 

Go! says Terence, squeezing Buster's sides with his knees.

Very good, says Madame Ponty. Follow up with a mild kick with your heels.

I'm not moving, says Buster.

What is it, Buster? asks Madame Ponty. Sore tummy?

Buster nods, in a pony-like fashion.

Just take Terence back to the gate, then you can relax, says Madame Ponty.

Yes, says Terence. Go! You have to. You ate the whole pancake.

I knew it! says Madame Ponty.

How was it? asks Belle.

It doesn't matter how it was, says Madame Ponty. He shouldn't have had it.

Neither should Terence, says Belle. 

What do you mean? asks Madame Ponty.

You forced him to eat it, says Belle. Though it's my fault, for not saying in time.

Such misunderstandings, sighs Madame Ponty.

She pats Buster.

Buster moves off towards the gate at a fast trot, before Terence is ready.

But Terence remains in the saddle.

Well done Terence! calls Madame Ponty. Heels down! Back straight and flexible!

What's flexible? asks Terence.

Only Buster hears the question.

Bendy, says Buster.

How can I keep my back straight AND bendy? asks Terence.

That's your problem, says Buster.

Can we go back and ask? asks Terence.

I suppose so, says Buster.

He turns and heads back to the tree.

Non! Non! cries Madame Ponty. Look where you want to go!

Maybe he wants to ask a question, says Belle.

Tut! He forgets Buster has a sore tummy, says Madame Ponty.

Buster stops. 

He knows Madame Ponty will not like this question.

How can I keep my back what you said? asks Terence.

Straight? asks Madame Ponty.

And bendy, says Terence. 

Who said it had to be bendy? says Madame Ponty.

You, says Terence.

Flexible! says Madame Ponty. It's not the same thing.

It's not that different, says Belle.

Who is the instructor? asks Madame Ponty.

You, says Belle. But it was rather clever of Terence to know that flexible means bendy.

When it doesn't, says Madame Ponty.

It's clear she is in a bad mood.

What she means, I suppose, says Belle, is try and keep your back straight as possible, while moving your bottom back and forth to match the movement of the pony.

It's called having a good seat, says Madame Ponty. And there's a great deal more to it.

Okay! says Terence.

Let's see if you learned it, says Buster. 

I learned it! says Terence.

Buster trots back to the gate, fast.

Terence keeps his back straight, and doesn't fall off, but that's all.