Horsey books

[TessaTassom]

Dd (11) has read and adores all the Stacy Gregg and Lauren St John books as well as Finding Wonder. She has re-read them all several time and is desperate for some new and interesting horsey stories. Any recommendations?

I keep meaning to write a pony book. A modern pony club one. There aren't many good ones. Something for kids aged 12 is h. Trouble is, it would really annoy my local pony club as I couldn't stop myself basing characters on real people and it wouldn't always be flattering.

I loved the SIlver Brumby series when I was about 10 and my grandma borrowed them from me after I'd finished and was saying how great they were!

When I went to Australia, I went to the Snowy Mountains because of these books. I did see wild brumbies, but not a silver one.

Clare Balding has a good series, maybe a bit young though?

They are really beautiful books.

DD likes the various Connemara series by Elaine Heney.

KM Peyton has written various other horse books, not just Flambards. She's also written a handful of books for adults.

I loved the Pullen-Thompson sisters' books when I was a young teenager. Their autobiography "Fair Girls and Grey Ponies" is lovely - the childhood I wish I'd had.

Have you ever come across Misty of Chincoteague? It’s a story about semi-wild ponies on a small island off the east coast of the US and is based on a real pony It was written just after WW2, but is a lovely story and I think she might enjoy it.

These were great. Was that the one with the horse Shanthi?

I loved the Christine pullein Thompson ones. Also I remember a three book series . The first one was called the first rosette
The second one was called Two to ride. They were great x

That’s because the silver brumby was unique! Now I want to read them again 😊😊

I used to love the Saddle Club books! Some great ideas on here, DD is horse mad so I need to order some of these.

I’d add Fly-by-Night and The Team to the KM Peyton suggestions.

I remember enjoying A Horse Called September by Anne Digby (who also wrote the Trebizon books) but have no idea whether it’s any good.

There was a nostalgia trip on what we're reading about pony books - have a look. Ponies Plot still my favourite!

I’ve just remembered King of the Wind by Margareute Henry. Probably the book that inspired my abiding love of Arab horses. Alongside the Jinny at Finmory books.

Amber's Pony Tales by Helen Haraldsen.

as well as these older ones which are all brilliant, Kate Lattey writes pony books set in New Zealand which are really quite good and each book follows a different child in the friendship group and their pony.

other authors I don’t think have been mentioned are patience mcelwee, Joanna cannan, Genevieve McKay (maybe a tiny bit old for an 11 year old there’s no sex ir anything but ultra controlling parents feature and they’re not as lighthearted as the older books) and grace Atkinson. Also Patricia Leitch wrote more than just the Jinny books to check out - but if she’s a particularly sensitive child then she might find night of the red horse and the horse from the black loch might be avoided unless you read them first.

Please, please do! 🙏

I'd forgotten this book and also Christine Pullen Thompson

Takes me back

My mum bought me a copy of Flambards when I was about 12 or 13. She told me it was a bit more "grown up" than the books I was used to reading about ponies. That's really stuck in my mind, for some reason. This was back in the early 1970s - I don't think we grew up as quickly then as children/teens do now.

Oh these take me back. I loved the saddle club, Jill series (black boy and rapide both terrible horse names!) and the one about the girl who won a pony, Jackie. It was my absolute dream so I read that over and over. The red pony by John Steinbeck is lovely. I didn't love Jinny I thought she was very annoying but the first book is beautiful. The thelwell books were always fun too.

Follyfoot also

Did you see the TV Adaptation of Flambards too? I loved the books and the TV show! I think I had my first crush on the guy who played Mark as they made Will a bit too wimpy for my liking.

@blobby10 I've not seen the TV show but I'd like to watch it. I wonder if I can find it on ITVX, although apparently its also on dvd.