Sapphire was taken down the hallway and tethered in a holding bay while the paperwork was completed. Once that had been done the young girl who had been bidding came and collected her. As she approached Sapphire, the girl told her that her name was Fatima and that she had been designated as Sapphire’s groom. She was very gentle with Sapphire and explained that she would be transported over to her new home just as soon as they got back to the Embassy.

Sapphire was taken to the embassy in a similar trailer to the one she was in when she started her Pony girl life. Fatima made sure she was secure and then drove off. When they reached the underground car park that belonged to the embassy Sapphire was off loaded and walked around the car park while her means of transport was brought round.

Her transport was a small low loader and on the back was a crate. Fatima could see that Sapphire was frightened at the prospect of being put in the crate so she took Sapphire away while the men opened it up ready. When Fatima and Sapphire were some distance from the crate, Fatima spoke quietly to Sapphire she told her that the Sheikh’s ponies had been transported all over the world in these crates, there were plenty of air holes in the crate so Sapphire wouldn’t suffocate, Fatima said that Sapphire’s tail would be removed because there was a seat for her to sit down on which was also a commode, so that if Sapphire was caught short she could just go. Fatima explained that Sapphire would be strapped in to prevent her falling but that the men would take great care to see that she arrived safely as the Sheikh would be most displeased should anything happen to his prize mare. Finally Sapphire was told that Fatima would be travelling with her, although she smiled not in the crate. Fatima also told Sapphire that the journey would be taken by air and that Sapphire would be in the cargo hold, she was also told that the crates were thermally heated so she would not feel cold. The plane they would be flying in was one belonging the Sheikh himself who would be travelling with them. The actual journey time should be around 6 hours from door to door. All this information did calm Sapphire somewhat, although she was still quite nervous about the whole thing. Fatima made the men go away from the crate while she coaxed Sapphire inside, talking to her all the time. Once she had Sapphire strapped in safely and the sides of the crate fastened she looked over the top, kissed Sapphire on the nose and placed the lid on and fastened it down.

Once all the straps holding the crate on the low loader were checked the truck drove off to the airport. Because the crate was going as diplomatic baggage, there was no need to stop through customs, so the truck was driven straight out to the waiting plane. By this time Sapphire was coming to terms with her situation, although still apprehensive.

True to Fatima’s promise the men were very careful when the loaded the crate onto the plane and strapped it down tightly. Fatima came into the cargo hold and spoke to Sapphire through the ventilation holes, telling her that they would soon be taking off and that she should relax and if possible get some sleep. The sound of Fatima’s voice soothed Sapphire and she did indeed relax. She told herself that the Sheikh wouldn’t travel on this aircraft if there was any danger, but that didn’t really help as the Sheikh was in the cabin being waited on, while Sapphire was parcelled up with no way of helping herself. The engines, which were running while she was being loaded on board suddenly roared and the plane was taxiing down the runway, then they were airborne. It was at that moment that Sapphire urinated in fright. She laughed hysterically thinking I would have wet myself had I been wearing clothes. When her hysteria died down she felt a lot better, the plane had straightened up after climbing to its flight path and she took comfort at the steady throb of the powerful Rolls Royce engines.

Contrary to what she believed, Sapphire did in fact get some sleep and was awoken by the descent of the plane. She stretched herself as best she could, given her restraints, and gradually became more awake just as the plane touched down.

Just a few moments after the plane had stopped the cargo doors were opened and Sapphire heard Fatima’s voice calling to see whether she was all right. The lid of the crate was taken off and Fatima looked in to find a Sapphire who was slightly sleepy but otherwise fine. Fatima told her that she could have a few moments with the lid off her crate but it would have to go back on while she was taken to her new home.

Sapphire’s crate was once more very carefully loaded onto a truck, the Sheikh’s employees not wishing to suffer his wrath if anything happened to such a valuable animal.

When Sapphire arrived at her new home she was stunned by the absolute splendour of it all. The stable block was white marble and the cobble yard was wide and easy to walk along. There were fountains at either end of the courtyard. There were beautifully kept lawns as far as her eye could see. Sapphire also noticed several naked males and females tending to the lawns and flowerbeds. Fatima told her they were the Sheikh’s slaves. The stalls were twice as large as the one she had at Honor’s stable.

Fatima wasn’t able to take Sapphire for a tour of the facilities, as she had to get her ready for the Sheikh, which meant having her cleaned and harnessed and finally having a brilliant blue sapphire inserted into her navel. Fatima explained that she had been given the responsibility of bidding for Sapphire but had been told to stop at £200,000. The Sheikh had been entertaining important guests so couldn’t oversee the bidding himself. It seems that one of his sons, had seen Sapphire on the video link to the auction and had seen that Sapphire’s photograph in the catalogue didn’t do her justice. He took a chance to tell his father that he really should look at you. It is considered very bad manners in our country to leave guests but the son was insistent, so the Sheikh made his excuses and came to look at you. What he saw was the most beautiful animal he had seen in a very long time. He took over and told me to go as high as necessary, then went back to his guests giving profuse apologies. So as he wasn’t able to see to your transportation himself he is coming to see you now.

Sapphire was obviously nervous about meeting her new owner but Fatima told her that she was to look at the Sheikh as any animal would. She was not a slave, even though he owned her. Fatima continued, you must just be yourself, he wants you to be comfortable around him in the same way any other animal would be.

At that moment the Sheikh arrived. He petted Sapphire and rubbed behind her ear and also ran the back of his finger up and down her nose, all the time talking to her in Arabic. Sapphire found herself strangely calm and relaxed. So relaxed in fact that she nuzzled him. The Sheikh turned and spoke to Fatima this conversation was also in Arabic. All the while he continued to caress Sapphire.

The Sheikh stayed with Sapphire for at least an hour. Before he left he said something further to Fatima.

Fatima led Sapphire out of the stable block and into the main grounds there they saw dozens of ponies being put through their paces, on lunge machines, running around the track or out on the gallops. While they were walking Fatima told Sapphire about the conversation she had had with the Sheikh. The Sheikh had told Fatima that she was to take the greatest care of Sapphire, that he would hold her completely responsible should anything happen to her and that no one else, apart from her trainer and her driver was to have any dealings with her. Sapphire wanted to ask what would happen to Fatima if something did go wrong but even if she hadn’t been bitted she wouldn’t have risked speaking. She just nuzzled Fatima to let her know she would be fine.

‘I think that is enough for today,’ commented Fatima as she led Sapphire back to the stable block. ‘You need to get some rest because the day after tomorrow you will begin training for your first race.’ She then told Sapphire that she would be introduced to her stable mates.

As they entered the stables, Sapphire saw that other mares were being brought in. She had a quick count and found that each block catered for 24 ponies, 12 either side. As the mares were brought in they were divested of the harness, which was taken away by female slaves to be cleaned and polished. The slaves had to keep their eyes down towards the ground, as they were not permitted to look directly at either the grooms or the mares. Sapphire saw that several of them bore whip marks on their bodies.

When the harnesses were taken away, food and water for each mare was brought through, the grooms stayed with the charges while they ate and drank. At the end of the meal Sapphire, along with the rest of the mares was taken to the washing station. This consisted of one enormous shower room, with jets of water emerging along the walls. On the floor by each jet was a slave kneeling with her head on the ground. As Sapphire stood in front of a jet of water the slave started to soap her, gradually raising herself, as she washed higher up Sapphire’s body. Still keeping her eyes lowered, she felt around Sapphire’s face while she washed it. Sapphire moved into the stream of water in order to rinse the suds off and as she did so she saw that the slave had adopted her previous prostrate position. She stayed like that until the water had been turned off and then went quickly to fetch towels for drying. Once again the moment she had finished drying Sapphire, she dropped to the prostrate position. Fatima called to Sapphire to come to her; other grooms were doing likewise with their charges and they were led back to their stalls.

When all the grooms had left for the evening and the mares had been looked safely in, everyone wanted to know about Sapphire. She told them all about agreeing to become a Pony girl to save her husband’s business how she found out that her husband and her best friend were lying to her and how she was completely taken in by the deception.

The following day, after breakfast and ablutions, just as Sapphire was wondering what she would be doing, as Fatima had said she wouldn’t be training until tomorrow as the Sheikh was coming to take her for a drive.

Half an hour later, with Sapphire in her best harness and glowing with health, having been buffed, oiled and perfumed, the Sheikh arrived and hitched Sapphire to a sulky, got in and off they went. Sapphire found that the Sheikh was an excellent driver; he was gentle on the reins and sparing with the whip. She found out later, from Fatima that he was once a renowned amateur driver and had won many competitions several years ago.

The Sheikh drove Sapphire, who was trotting in an exemplary manner, keeping her knees up at the required height and keeping to a steady pace, all round his property, explaining what everything was as they went. He showed her the stalls where the draft animals were kept, the milking sheds where his milk herd were milked and the arena where Dressage and related competitions were held. Finally he drove her on to the racetrack; Sapphire had raced at many tracks but never had she seen one so awe inspiring as this. The track itself was of a tar macadam substance and was slightly springy to her hooves. The track itself didn’t run straight there were bends to the left and right before it finally wound back to the starting grid. The grass around the side of the track was beautifully kept; there were flowerbeds every 10-15 metres. The stands seemed to go on forever, though they were only about 20 rows high. The stands were placed either side of the track at the start and finish line.

Sapphire didn’t realise it but by the time she was taken back to her stall she had been out for over an hour. Fatima took control of her from the Sheikh and fed and watered her.

In the afternoon Fatima introduced Sapphire to her driver. The driver, whose name was Soraya, took time to get to know Sapphire, talking to her and generally petting her. All the time Fatima was close at hand. When Soraya was happy that she had got Sapphire’s confidence she climbed into the sulky and took her for a drive. By the time they returned both Soraya and Sapphire understood each other and Sapphire in particular, had great confidence in Soraya. Once Soraya had left, Fatima told Sapphire that Soraya was the granddaughter of Sheikh Tariq Mohammed.

The following day, all the mares, including Sapphire were awakened by the grooms at 5.30 a.m. in order to have them washed, fed and harnessed and lined up hitched to their sulkies. They had been waiting just a few minutes when the drivers appeared and with walk-on being called out along the line the procession trotted off. Sapphire being in the centre of the group only had to follow the mare in front though she had to be alert in case her driver indicated a change of direction.