Jill pony books Ruby Ferguson

[Blackcats7]

I loved these books as a child and escaped my not very nice reality into Jill’s world long before I ever started working at a stables in exchange for lessons.
I have just seen that the rights have been bought by Jane Badger who sells vintage pony books and she has republished the entire set so I’ve treated myself, sad old woman that I am.

I’ve been on a Facebook page called “our old pony books” for ages. People sell books pretty cheaply. Jane runs the page. I didn’t realise she’d republished. How lovely.

I loved these books and also the Black Stallion series of books too, along with Mallory Towers, the naughtiness girl in the school books. I was about 7 when I discovered them. It turned me into an avid reader.

I think the perfect pony was called Plum and didn't like sugar lumps.

I especially remember reading one of the Jill-books, "Jill and the Perfect Pony", I think. It was the one where Jill borrows a lovely expensive pony from a very rich girl, and then she pretends to BE that girl and goes away somewhere with the pony (with the girl's permission). I know the plot stressed me out, the whole pretending to be someone else! But she got to ride the expensive pony.

Does anyone remember the Ruth, K.M Peyton books, they were my favourite, but I loved the Jill and Ginny books too

I loved the Jill books. I'd only just started getting into horses and going riding and borrowed the books from the library. I was probably about 10.

I remember Jill had some friends, three girls called April, May and June Cholly-Sawcutt. I think their dad was a Captain or a Major, something military sounding anyway.

Happy days 😄

I read the whole thread now, and I see that @QuiltedHippo and @the80sweregreat remember "Jill and the Perfect Pony" too!

Oooh, I loved the Jill books too!

Yes, Black Boy and Rapide - but in the first couple of books Black Boy was called Danny, I think?

Memories well and truly unlocked 🤣🤣🤣🤣

@caringcarer Yes, the pony was called Plum!

Was it Patricia Leitch the author?

I never swung a bucket after Jill broke her wrist doing it.

Loved those books so much, i would read them over and over. Also loved April,May and June Cholly-Sawcutt.

Is that the one where for some reason that now escapes me, Jill has to pretend to be an obnoxious girl called Amanda who has a perfect pony called Plum, and they do a ‘musical ride’?

Oh I loved the Jill books. And the Jinny and Shanti books.

Does anyone remember the Phantom Horse books where she takes a wild palomino? Jean?

Am I right in remembering that in Jill and the Perfect Pony it turned out that the pony hadn't been well treated by Amanda the real owner and was why Jill found it difficult to ride?

Jill was a bit ghastly as a character though wasn't she? Kind of smug in a oh so humble way?

I really liked Fly by Night..can't remember the author. ....anyone?

Another really good read was Brat Farrar but that was less of a horsey book and more of an actual story with horses as a background...maybe Josephine Tey? Not sure.

I loved these. Also the books about Jackie, who won her pony, Misty, in a competition.

I think that must be another one, the perfect pony was boringly well schooled if I remember. Amanda just couldn't be arsed to spend her summer staying with the family I think.

Loving this thread! So many memories.
I have re-read a few recently. I do remember Fly By Night.
And The Phantom Horse!

One favourite book that I found going on Amazon so re- bought was Talking Of Horses by Monica Dickens. She also wrote the Follyfoot stories.

Recently I have read The Horse Dancer by Jojo Moyes and Airs Above The Ground by
Mary Stewart. Perfect for old pony book fans if anyone wants a couple of recommendations. Oh, and The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge.

Yes she was a bit smug! 😂

KM Peyton wrote Fly By Night

I may need to look at these and see whether there's any I don't have!

Did anyone else also love the Monica Edwards (I think) books? There were two series, Punchbowl Farm, I think, and one set near the coast somewhere - one of the books was all about smugglers?

Oh I used to love those books! Not sure if I'd dare reread them now, I'd be so sad if they turned out to be dreadful, reading them as an adult!

I desperately wanted riding lessons, but my parents wouldn't let me.

#scarredforlife

God I loved those. And the saddle club.

I bought a copy of follyfoot on Amazon recently - it’s on my tbr pile

Allthegoodnamestakken I have the Monica Dickens Talking of Horses , I absolutely love it. I've read it so many times.

I loved the Jill books but I thought she had a bit of a cheek always taking the piss out of her mum’s stories given that they put a roof over her head and enabled her to buy the bloody pony in the first place.

I thought Black Boy’s name was changed to Blackie in later editions because it’s not very PC, but I’ve just looked at a couple of books I have which were reprinted in the 90s and it’s unchanged 🤔