|
Other Horse & Pony Books:
BREED OF GIANTS
(HAMMOND HAMMOND 1966)
Reprinted in paperback by Corgi.
First USA edition published by Viking in 1967
ILLUSTRATED BY DAVID ROOK
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Tree of Life edition, Corgi paperback, USA Viking edition
SUMMARY: Josh Johnson is a farmer who also breeds Shire horses and, with almost fanatical devotion, brings them to championship status. But when his best horse is injured and an outbreak of foot and mouth disease strikes the area, it seems his dreams are falling apart…
PONYMAD VIEW: An excellent adult novel of horses, the countryside and farming and also of trying to keep hold of old traditions. Perhaps a little slow for younger readers.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 - 4 HORSESHOES
ZARA
(HARVILL 1970)
Reprinted in paperback by Corgi.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 2 different Corgi paperback editions
SUMMARY: Richard Proud coveted the golden-brown mare from the moment he saw her. Although he couldn't afford Zara he bought her nevertheless, to breed him winners - foals that would restore the fortunes of the Yorkshire stud where he bred and trained racehorses.
PONYMAD VIEW: Intelligent adult novel about the horse racing and breeding world, but also about families and relationships. Perhaps not as gripping as some of the other horse stories however.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES
THE WILD PONIES
(KAYE AND WARD 1976)
ILLUSTRATED BY ROBERT RUTHERO
Rare.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition
SUMMARY: Aimed at a younger readership than the other books. The story of a herd of wild ponies.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES
KHAZAN THE HORSE THAT CAME OUT OF THE SEA
(COLLINS & HARVILL 1977)
Reprinted in paperback by Corgi.
EDITION PICTURED: Corgi paoerback
SUMMARY: In all Debbie's bleak existance nothing had happened until the day the horse was washed up on the Cornish coast. The young girl saved his life and suddenly found her own miraculously transformed. She made new friends in her desperate plight to keep him. For Khazan captured everyone's imagination: a king amongst horses, born to race…
PONYMAD VIEW: Great story aimed at teenagers upwards. IMHO the author's best horse story and certainly her most traditional.
PONYMAD RATING: 5 HORSESHOES
THE JANUARY QUEEN
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1979)
Reprinted in paperback by Corgi.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Corgi paperback
SUMMARY: Kate is a spoiled and selfish twenty year old. She is supposed to be helping on her father's farm but through her carelessness causes a terrible and expensive accident. Her parents take drastic action to force her to grow up. They give her a tumbledown cottage on the farm and a few animals and tell her she has to fend for herself. At first Kate is devastated but then she helps save the life of a beautiful Shire horse mare called The January Queen. Old Joe the ex-farmer and breeder who thought he would lose the mare when forced to retire at the age of eighty, is overjoyed. A warm friendship develops between the pair and Joe helps her make something of the smallholding. But when disaster strikes will Kate show she is made of sterner stuff than before…
PONYMAD VIEW: An superb and insightful adult story of horses, animals and the human problems of both growing up and growing old.
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES
THE STALLION
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1981)
Reprinted in paperback by Corgi.
Published in the USA in hardback by Chivers Press
EDITIONS PICTURED: Corgi paperback, unknown hardback edition
SUMMARY: Adult horse novel. When Rhea's husband dies her life changes and she finds herself turning once more to her first love: horses.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES
HOUND OF DARKNESS
(DENT 1983)
Reprinted in paperback by Corgi.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Corgi paperback
SUMMARY: When the wind howled at night in the Welsh village, villagers spoke of the legendary hound of darkness, Cafell, whose ghost haunted the mountains, guiding unwary travellers to safety. Raoul comes to the village, bringing with him an Arab mare and stallion. When floods attack the village Raoul's house becomes a sanctuary for the homeless villagers. Micky the gypsy boy who works for Raoul sets off with the stallion to get help...will Cafell protect them on their journey.
STRANGER THAN FICTION
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1984)
Reprinted in paperback by Corgi.
EDITIONS PICTURED: Corgi paperback
SUMMARY: Fictionalised account of the true story of Elspeth (Elfie) Bryce-Smith, based on her diaries. Elfie was crippled by polio as a child but learned to walk and ride and eventually became a jockey. Amazingly, in a time when ladies were not allowed to ride in races, she masqueraded as a man to fulfill her ambitions!
PONYMAD VIEW: Although based on a true story this is not a dull factual account but a real story. It is a fascinating and unusual novel for older teenagers and adults. It also provides an insight into the very different role woman had in the equine society back in less enlightened days. As an interesting aside, Joyce Stranger actually rode at the stables owned by Elfie in later life.
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES
THE HOUNDS OF HADES
(MICHAEL JOSEPH 1985)
As far as I know not reprinted in paperback.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition
SUMMARY: When Joel inherits a prosperous stud farm from the great uncle he has never met, he finds that things are not quite as they appear to be. His uncle had amassed a fortune in shady circumstances. Determined to unravel the mystery, Joel begins to read the old man's diaries. Will they tell him the truth behind his uncle's fortune and what are the mysterious Hounds of Hades his uncle constantly refers to?
PONYMAD VIEW: Excellent and unusual horse-themed story with a hint of mystery. This is a story within a story as our hero Joel reads the diaries of his uncle, a man embittered by the loss of his beloved horse and the farm his grandfather had promised him.
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES
MIDNIGHT MAGIC
(LIONS PB 1991)
Paperback original.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition (paperback)
SUMMARY: Mandy has lost her nerve after falling from a horse. Then she moves to a new home and meets Kirstie, an old woman who owns a livery stable. After realizing that Mandy has seen the local ghost horse Midnight Magic, Kirstie and ex-jockey Luke who now owns the local pub, take her under their wing. With the help of a Shetland pony whom they rescue, and Kirstie's patient teaching, Mandy begins to regain her nerve and may even be allowed to ride the magnificent black Star…
PONYMAD VIEW: Aimed at a younger readership than most of the author's other horse stories, this is a pretty good story about losing nerve and overcoming it with a bit of a ghost story thrown in for good measure.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 - 4 HORSESHOES
GEORGIE'S SECRET
(LIONS PB 1991)
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition (paperback)
SUMMARY: Part of the House of Secrets animal series. The other books in the series are not horse-related Click here for info on full series
SUMMARY: In hospital Georgie wishes she were at home with her beloved horse. But when she emerges from her coma, she faces a long struggle to walk again, let alone ride. How can she fulfill her dreams of becoming a show jumper now?
Collectors Info:
Most of these were reprinted as paperbacks (Midnight Magic was a paperback original) and are fairly easy to find. One or two, such as The Hounds of Hades and Hound of Darkness are harder to find. The Wild Ponies is the rarest of the lot and not often seen. Two of the books at least were published in the USA, January Queen and The Stallion, I am not sure if any of the others were. If I find out more on this point I will update this page.
|
|