Long shot - trying to identify a pony book from my childhood!

[neepsandtatties]

It was an annual sized hard back book. It had a yellow cover with a head- portrait of a grey pony with a girl with brown hair in an Alice band. It was probably late 80's/early 90's. I think the name of the book was something like 'Your pony'. The book contained a mixture of factual articles and pony stories.

I am desperate to find the book because on the inside front cover spread (I think) there was a photo, taken at dusk, of an orchard with a palomino pony grazing in it, with a house lit up in the background. I used to LOVE that photo, and spend ages dreaming about it, wishing I could have a pony of my own. I would love to relive that moment!

I've been trawling through google images with no luck. Can anyone help?

Yes I had it too. It was called "the pony book"

I can't find a picture anywhere either. It was one of my favourites and I hope you find it

It wasn't the Princess Tina Pony Book was it?

Thanks both! Great that you remember it too soundedbetter. I think I would recognise that cover girl anywhere! I hope I can find it.

Pixel I've just looked up the Princess Tina books and they stopped in 1983 so it's not one of those. I did however see one of the annuals that I also had as a child, so it was a nice trip down memory lane!

Something makes me think the book I am looking for might have been a St Michael (i.e. M&S) book. But I might be getting confused.

Or maybe Hamlyn??

I remember it vividly - it was one of my favourites. It had "the" in little writing then PONY in big and then "book" tiny again on the front. WE may be expecting too much of even the Internet, but I will have a look too as I am intrigued now. Let us know if you find it!

Just looked on The British Library catalogue. The only possible one I can find with that name is "The Pony Book" by Nancy Roberts. I can't find a cover image. It was published 1984, which seems a bit early to me, as I remember it being fairly modern in layout etc. What year do you think it was Soundedbetter?

I did find a blog post about it: "The book I would have loved to have included was The Pony Book by Nancy Roberts. It’s not a novel, but a book on pony care, which my parents gave me one Christmas years ago. I read it cover to cover countless times and I must have read the chapter about riding holidays about a thousand times. Just looking at the pictures now evokes such a strong memory."

Might buy it anyway - it's only a couple of quid from Abe Books...

I think that the year might be about right - if you buy it, do post a picture! Hope it's the one we're talking about!

Yes, I had that book too and it is by Nancy Roberts. I have it in my bedroom at my mum's house (what? I'm only 38, of course I have my kids books still) if you need it.

That's great - looks like you've found it then! Gotta love Mumsnet.

Cool! I ordered it a couple of days ago so hopefully should arrive soon. Will post some pictures here when it arrives!

The book has arrived and it is the one! It is so freaky, every singe photo in it I recognise as if it was yesterday - even though I have not seen this book for over 20 years. Also I recognise all the text - I'm finishing paragraphs inside my head before I reading the words!

I'll upload some photos now. Thanks Mumsnet!

Front cover

Riding holidays

Choosing a pony.

By the way, the image of the palomino in the orchard on the inside front cover isn't the one I'm thinking of (or more likely, it is the one, but I'd embellished it in my dreams!)

That's the one!