British Horse and Pony Short Story Collections & Anthologies


	British Short Story Collections & Anthologies A to Z There is quite a good selection of British collections for the short story enthusiast with lots of stories by very well-known pony authors. The Pullein-Thompsons in particular wrote quite a few short stories and published a few collections, some with stories by other authors included. This section is concentrated upon short story collections by various authors. For collections by single authors please visit the specific authors' web pages. The Short Stories home page lists links to all the authors on the web site who have written collections of short stories. Also please visit the Pony Annuals page to find out about short stories in the various horse and pony annuals. Below are some of the short story collections I have researched in alphabetical title order. If I actually own the title I have listed all the stories with a short precis and perhaps a rating. If not, I have provided a brief overview. There are also links to the authors if they already have their own page on the website. This section will be constantly evolving as I add more, if you have any short story collections not included here please let me know so I can add them. American short story collections have their own page, and I will also be adding an Australian section in time.


	ANIMAL STORIES FOR GIRLS Edited by Peter Rolls Stories by various authors (HAMLYN 1975) Reprinted by original publisher a number of times in hardback. SUMMARY: A substantial book of animal stories which is mainly biased towards pony stories, including one by K M Peyton which I have never seen elsewhere. An extra bonus is a dog story by pony book stalwart Judith M. Berrisford. Proper stories, not excerpts, and of a fairly high overall standard. PONYMAD OVERALL RATING: 3-4 HORSESHOES Stories (pony only) include: THE NEW RIDER AT CLEARWATER By K M Peyton SUMMARY: A new rider appears at Clearwater Riiding Stables and things start to change…. PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES TRUDIE'S PONY CLUB By Frances Lindsay SUMMARY: School pony story. Trudie's idea that her school should adopt one of the retired pit ponies is thought a good one by her teachers. But someone has other ideas and Trudie ends up in trouble…. PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES SKYLARK By Susan Drake SUMMARY: Beth wants to buy an ex point-to-pointer. TWO OF A KIND By Esme Nolan SUMMARY: A lonely girl who doesn't fit in with the rest of her family feels an affinity for a wild colt. THE MUD PONY By Frances Olcott SUMMARY: Fantasy. A young Indian boy is too poor to have a pony of his own so he makes one from clay. THE STOLEN SHOW JUMPER By Shirley Dene SUMMARY: Adventure story. Penny finds a stolen horse and stumbles on a dastardly plot! A LOVE OF SUGAR By John Morgan SUMMARY: Zebra story set in Africa. Frances and her brother rescue a baby zebra. LITTLE LADY LIZA By Sarah Flower SUMMARY: Ranching story. Liza wants to prove she is as good a rider as her brothers. THE NEW PUPIL AT ORCHARD STABLES By Elizabeth Dale. SUMMARY: Ruth longs to start riding. But her elder sister who is her guardian forbids her. THOSE LUCKY LESSONS By Pamela Purnell SUMMARY: Janet hated having to learn shorthand but it came in unexpectedly useful when her pony was ill. Collector's info: Fairly easy to find in the UK through internet booksellers. Much harder elsewhere.


	CPT'S BOOK OF PONY STORIES Edited by Christine Pullein-Thompson Stories by various authors (PAN PB 1975) ILLUSTRATED BY GARETH FLOYD Reprinted in paperback in 1977 SUMMARY: Mixture of stories, some by Christine and sister Josephine, plus other top pony authors. Most are proper stories, with only two being excerpts, though some were previously published elsewhere. PONYMAD OVERALL RATING: 4 HORSESHOES Stories include: THE WILD WHITE HORSES By Joyce Stranger (Originally published in THE NOEL STREATFIELD CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY BOOK) SURE MAGIC By Monica Edwards (Originally published in THE PONY CLUB ANNUAL NO. 6 in 1995) SUMMARY: Paul is saving up to buy a pony but it looks like it will take some time. When a friend's mare gets lost in a blizzard and has a foal, Paul goes to the birthplace of the foal to make a wish as instructed by an old countryman and finds something very surprising there…. PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES A MATTER OF BACKGROUND By Primrose Cumming (Originally published in THE PONY CLUB ANNUAL) THE LAST OF THE HORSEMEN By Reginald Ottley (Originally published in BRUMBIE DUST) PRINCESS AT THE CIRCUS By Kathleen O'Farrell (Originally published in HORSE AND PONY STORIES FOR GIRLS) SUMMARY: The story of how a circus pony ends up in a horse sanctuary. THE SKELETON RIDER By Christine Pullein-Thompson (Originally published in THE FIFTH ARMADA GHOST BOOK) SUMMARY: Ghostly pony story THE SUMMER FILM By Selina Charlton (Originally published in PONY CLUB ANNUAL ) MY WELSH PONY By Laurian Jones UP IN THE WOODS By Ursula Moray Williams (Originally published in HORSE AND PONY STORIES FOR GIRLS - see below) SUMMARY: A girl rides to rescue when there is an accident in the woods PONYMAD RATING: 2 HORSESHOES THE SCAVENGER HUNT By Josephine Pullein-Thompson Also excerpts from: TALKING OF HORSES by Monica Dickens PARADE OF HORSES by Vian Smith Collector's info: Easy to find in the UK and usually cheap. Can be harder elsewhere.


	(CPT'S) THE SECOND BOOK OF PONY STORIES Edited by Christine Pullein-Thompson Stories by various authors (PAN PB 1977) ILLUSTRATED BY RON STENBERG SUMMARY: Nice little book with some superior stories including some by Christine and sister Josephine, plus other top pony authors. All are proper stories, no excerpts, though some were previously published in pony annuals. PONYMAD OVERALL RATING: 4 HORSESHOES Stories include: BILLY THE SECOND By Vian Smith (Originally published in THE MAGPIE BOOK OF STORIES) SUMMARY: Very well-written racing story. Has Billy got what it takes to follow in the footsteps of his dead father, a top jockey? PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES TAM AND THE BUSHFIRE By Mary Elwyn Patchett (Originally published in PONY CLUB ANNUAL No. 4) SUMMARY: A girl, her horse Tam, and dog Ajax must undertake a perilous escape route to avoid a bushfire. Unfortunately the illustrator of the story in the Pan paperback has drawn the main character as a boy! PONYMAD RATING: 2 HORSESHOES CHOP AND CHANGE By Josephine Pullein-Thompson SUMMARY: Humourous pony-point-of-view story. At a pony club camp, the ponies there discuss the various merits and faults of their riders. Two of them decide to persuade their riders to swap mounts, but results are not what they expect! PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES DARKIE By Reginald Ottley SUMMARY: Set in Australia. A wrangler must try and break in the son of a rogue mare and a brumby stallion. I BECOME A RACEHORSE OWNER By Vic Oliver SUMMARY: Humourous account of how a man becomes the proud owner of a racehorse. PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES BOUNTY'S STORY By Christine Pullein-Thompson SUMMARY: A welsh pony tells his life story…. THE GREAT DESIRE By Pamela Whitlock (Originally published in PONY CLUB ANNUAL No. 5) SUMMARY: Pony story with a twist in the tale. Set on Dartmoor. Elizabeth's 'great desire' is to buy a Dartmoor foal and train him from young. But when she gets to the auction with her money, things don't go quite to plan… PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES A HORSE CALLED GEORGE By Michael Williams (Originally published in PONY CLUB ANNUAL 1968) SUMMARY: The escapades of a characterful horse called George. May be a true story? NIGHT VISITORS By Selina Charlton (Originally published in PONY CLUB ANNUAL 1975) SUMMARY: Two girls worry that a bad-tempered farmer will turn their ponies out of their field. ISOBEL'S PONY By Christine Pullein-Thompson (Originally published in SIXTH ARMADA GHOST BOOK) SUMMARY: Ghost story. A girl visiting relations sees a ghost horse which she somehow seems to recognise… PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES Collector's info: Easy to find in the UK and usually cheap. Can be a lot harder elsewhere.


	DAILY MIRROR SECOND BOOK OF HORSES & PONIES Stories and articles by various authors (HAMLYN 1971) SUMMARY: An annual type horse book. Contains a number of non-fictional articles with two short stories. PONYMAD OVERALL RATING: 2 HORSESHOES Stories include: SUMMER SURPRISES By Georgie Henschel SUMMARY: Julie is annoyed when she hears her cousin Peter is coming to stay for the summer holidays. She has been told he has an expensive pony with which he wins everything at all the shows and is sure that his boasting will spoil the lovely rides she had planned with her homely but loveable pony Fluffy. But when Peter and his beautiful pony Portia arrive she finds that she couldn't have been more wrong about her cousin and it is up to herself and Fluffy to help Peter. PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES THE RAFFLE PONY By Georgie Henschel SUMMARY: Twins Vicky and Lyn win a pony in a raffle but he turns out to be far from the horse of their dreams - can they make something of him? PONYMAD RATING: 2 HORSESHOES Collector's info: Fairly hard to find, although not usually too expensive.


	FAVOURITE PONY STORIES Stories by various authors (OCTOPUS 1981) ILLUSTRATED BY REGINALD GRAY & LINDA GARLAND Revised edition published in 1987 and reprinted in 1989. SUMMARY: Mainly excerpts with a sprinkling of short stories. Illustrated with black and white drawings and some colour plates. Some of the excerpts are from unlikely sources which gives the book added interest. The short stories are mainly quite good. There is also quite a lot of content from adult books so it is suitable for a wide range of ages. PONYMAD OVERALL RATING: 2-3 HORSESHOES Stories include: A COUP OF THE LONG LANCE By Jack Schaefer SUMMARY: A story about a tribe of Cheyenne Indians and their horses. THE PHANTOM ROUNDABOUT By Ruth Ainsworth (Originally published in THE PHANTOM ROUNDABOUT AND OTHER STORIES by Ruth Ainsworth) SUMMARY: Silas loves horses but the nearest he gets to them is riding the horses on the carousel at the fair which comes to town once a year. When he rides his favourite, the black Pegasus, he imagines he is riding a real horse. When the roundabout is scrapped, Silas sets out to find where it is stored to see his beloved Pegasus for one last time, not realising he is in for a magical surprise. A well written story with a fantasy element. PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES THE WILD WHITE PONY By Robert Moss SUMMARY: Girl guide/pony story. Polly and her cousin Linda discover a wild pony in the forest when on a guiding exercise. When searching for the pony one night they get involved with deer poachers and an adventure which leads to a wonderful conclusion. PONYMAD RATING: 2-3 HORSESHOES ON HORSEBACK By Guy de Maupassant (Originally published elsewhere [date and publisher not known] and entitled THAT COSTLY RIDE) SUMMARY: Humourous adult story from the well-known 19th century French author. A man's boastful claims about his riding prowess leads to unforeseen - and costly - consequences. Revised from original text. PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES This story can be read on-line for free here THE CHIMAERA By Nathaniel Hawthorne SUMMARY: A story about Pegasus from the respected author. Also excerpts from: INTERNATIONAL VELVET by Bryan Forbes GULLIVER'S TRAVELS by Jonathan Swift I CAN JUMP PUDDLES by Alan Marshall THEY BOUGHT HER A PONY by Joanna Cannan FLY-BY-NIGHT by K. M. Peyton QUARTER HORSE BOY by Mary Patchett LET SLEEPING VETS LIE by James Herriot LITTLE MEN by Louisa M. Alcott THE BLACK STALLION by Walter Farley THE COUNTRY CHILD by Alison Uttley THE HORSE AND HIS BOY by C. S. Lewis PONIES FOR HIRE by Margaret MacPherson ANNA KARENINA by Leo Tolstoy A SPANISH ADVENTURE by Pat Smythe BLACK BEAUTY by Anna Sewell THE LITTLE WHITE HORSE by Elizabeth Goudge BLACK VELVET by Christine Pullein-Thompson Collector's info: Easy to find in the UK and usually cheap. Can also be found in America, although it may possibly be cheaper to buy copies from UK sellers on Amazon.


	HORSE AND DOG STORIES Edited by Charlotte Fyfe Stories by various authors (CAVALIER 1995) SUMMARY: A bit of a mixed bag which contains about an equal amount of horse and dog stories. A few extracts including the ubiquitous Black Beauty, plus a couple of classics you would not normally associate with ponies. However the bulk of the book is taken up by proper short stories which are mainly of good quality. The highlight is the Monica Edwards story. PONYMAD OVERALL RATING: 3 HORSESHOES Stories (pony only) include: SURE MAGIC By Monica Edwards (Originally published in THE PONY CLUB ANNUAL NO. 6 in 1995. It was also included in CHRISTINE PULLEIN-THOMPSON'S BOOKOF PONY STORIES (see above). SUMMARY: Paul is saving up to buy a pony but it looks like it will take some time. When a friend's mare gets lost in a blizzard and has a foal, Paul goes to the birthplace of the foal to make a wish as instructed by an old countryman and finds something very surprising there…. PONYMAD RATING: 4-5 HORSESHOES THE SLUGHEART By Lucy Bickersteth SUMMARY: Betsy, a lonely girl separated from her parents takes to 'The Slugnheart' an ugly stubborn roan pony owned by a neighbouring family. His owner thinks he is useless and that anyone who can ride the horse in a figure of eight and jump him can have him. Armed only with a book, Betsy, who has never ridden before, sets out to train him…A nice little story but highly unlikely! PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES RORY'S DAY OUT By Lilian Gask SUMMARY: A troublesome army horse with an evil reputation is rehabilitated. A HORRIBLY HORSEY DAUGHTER By Josephine Pullein-Thompson (Originally published in The Pony Club Annual 1971) SUMMARY: Miranda is horse-mad but her father thinks that all horsy people are bores and refuses to let her have her own pony. PONYMAD RATING: 3HORSESHOES THE HORSE THAT KNEW IT WAS FRIDAY By Evelyn Smith SUMMARY: A milkman's horse proves his intelligence when his master is injured. PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES RIDING OUT By Guy de Maupassant (Originally published elsewhere [date and publisher not known] and entitled THAT COSTLY RIDE) SUMMARY: Humourous adult story from the well-known 19th century French author. A man's boastful claims about his riding prowess leads to unforeseen - and costly - consequences. PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES This story can be read on-line for free here Also excerpts (pony only) from: PHANTOM HORSE by Christine Pullein-Thompson ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS by Lewis Carroll BLACK BEAUTY by Anna Sewell LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY by Frances Hodgson Burnett Collector's info: Still in print in the UK although I think new copies are only available from the publishers, Cavalier Books. Second hand copies are reasonably easy to find on the internet also. Elsewhere, the book is harder to find but not completely impossible.


	HORSE AND PONY GIFT BOOK Edited by Robert Owen and John Bullock Stories & articles by various authors (HAMLYN 1975) SUMMARY: Large format book, similar in style to a pony annual but with more pages. Mainly non-fictional articles but also includes 4 short stories. The articles are for the most part fairly basic horse care stuff but there are a few more interesting snippets. The stories are all proper stories not excerpts and are of fairly good quality. Stories include: PETER AND THE GREY PONY By John Bullock SUMMARY: Peter persuades his father to rescue an injured grey ponies from some gypsies who were going to have him put down. COPRA: A SHETLAND PONY By Stella Ranns SUMMARY: Joanna's parents are perplexed when she wants a Shetland pony as she is too big to ride him. LOOKS AREN'T EVERYTHING By John Bullock SUMMARY: Jenny and her pony Caesar go to stay at her horsy aunts and her shaggy roman-nosed pony is overshadowed by all the expensive well-bred animals there. But are looks really that important? THE DIDEKAI By Judith Campbell SUMMARY: A piebald gypsy pony is left behind when they move on and needs a home. Can the Twala Club step in? Collector's info: Although not common, it can be found without too much trouble on the internet and is usually not expensive. Harder to find elsewhere, although copies can be found in the USA.


	HORSE AND PONY STORIES Edited by Janet Barber Stories by various authors (SUNDIAL 1979) Reprinted in hardback in 1985. Substantial book, with lots of excerpts and a few of stories, most of which are good. Lots of adult stories too, making it more suitable for older readers. Some of the excerpts are from non-fiction books. PONYMAD OVERALL RATING: 3 HORSESHOES Stories include: THE OLD GREY MARE By J. Frank Dobie SUMMARY: Historical horse story. CARROT FOR A CHESTNUT By Dick Francis SUMMARY: Excellent racing story about a lad who is tempted to nobble a racehorse. Great twist at the end. PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES THE HAUNTED HUNT By R. J. Richardson (Originally published in STRANGE STORIES OF THE CHASE) SUMMARY: Adult ghost story set against a hunting backdrop. THE COOP By Edgar Wallace (Originally published in EDUCATED EVANS by Edgar Wallace) SUMMARY: Humorous adult racing/betting story from the famous American crime writer. Perhaps a little hard to follow for younger readers and those who don't know betting terms. PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES SILVER BLAZE By Arthur Conan Doyle (Originally published elsewhere - details not known) SUMMARY: A classic short detective story and a very good read. The inimitable Sherlock Holmes investigates the disappearance of a race horse. PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES A HORRIBLY HORSEY DAUGHTER By Josephine Pullein-Thompson (Originally published in THE PONY CLUB ANNUAL 1971) SUMMARY: Miranda is horse-mad but her father thinks that all horsy people are bores and refuses to let her have her own pony. MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR By R. Surtees SUMMARY: Hunting story. Also excerpts from: FLY-BY-NIGHT by K. M. Peyton MY FRIEND FLICKA by Mary O'Hara ALL CREATURES GEAT AND SMALL by James Herriot MOVIE HORSES by Anthony Amaral PIT PONY HEROES by Eric Squires NATIONAL VELVET by Enid Bagnold THE LITTLE BOOKROOM by Eleanor Farjeon BLACK BEAUTY by Anna Sewell LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY by F. Hodgson Burnett BLACK EBONY by Josephine Pullein-Thompson MY DANCING WHITE HORSES by Alois Podhajsky JANE EYRE by Charlotte Bronte FOLLYFOOT FARM by Monica Dickens RED RUM by Ivor Herbert THE HORSE AND HIS BOY by C. S. Lewis JUMP FOR JOY by Pat Smythe PICKWICK PAPERS by Charles Dickens GULLIVER'S TRAVELS by Jonathan Swift OPERATION SIPPACIK by Rumer Godden SNOW CLOUD STALLION by Gerald Raftery Collector's info: Easy to find in the UK and usually cheap. Can also be found in America, although it may possibly be cheaper to buy copies from UK sellers on Amazon.


	HORSE AND PONY STORIES CHOSEN BY CHRISTINE PULLEIN-THOMPSON Edited by Christine Pullein-Thompson Stories by various authors (KINGFISHER 1992) ILLUSTRATED BY VICTOR AMBRUS Reprinted in paperback in 1994 and then subsequently with different covers in 1997 and 2003. SUMMARY: Gorgeous illustrations by Victor Ambrus, but otherwise not a wholly great offering. Most of the stories are excerpts from novels. Of the few proper stories, two are by the PTs and can both be found in their own collected short story edition, The Pullein-Thompson Treasury of Horse and Pony Stories. However, what little stories there are, are of a high quality and include some by celebrated authors, although perhaps they are more suited to older children and adults than younger readers. The low rating is for the overall book and takes into account the large percentage of excerpts rather than the quality of the few full stories contained within. PONYMAD OVERALL RATING: 2 HORSESHOES Stories include: SILVER BLAZE By Arthur Conan Doyle (Originally published elsewhere - details not known) SUMMARY: A classic short detective story and a very good read. The inimitable Sherlock Holmes investigates the disappearance of a race horse. PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES BELLEROPHON By L. S. Hyde (Originally published in FAVOURITE GREEK MYTHS by L. S. Hyde) SUMMARY: A re-telling of the Greek myth of the legendary winged horse Pegasus and Bellerophon. BANKS AND MOROCCO By Ruth Manning-Sanders (Originally published in ANIMAL STORIES by Ruth Manning-Sanders) SUMMARY: Historical story set in Elizabethan times. A performing horse and his master are suspected of witchcraft. Can the horse's skill save them both from being burnt at the stake? A good short read. PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES THE GHOST IN THE TOP MEADOW By Christine Pullein-Thompson SUMMARY: Mark's riding leaves something to be desired, until a ghostly riding instructor appears to help him! PONYMAD RATING: 3-4 HORSESHOES THE ROCKING HORSE WINNER By D. H. Lawrence OH COBWEB HOW COULD YOU? By Josephine Pullein-Thompson (Originally published in PONY CLUB ANNUAL 1983) SUMMARY: When Cobweb inexplicably loses form, spoilt rich Fiona wants rid of her. But surprises are in store all round. PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES THE BROGUE By Saki SUMMARY: Funny story by one of the masters of the short story. The Mullet family have been trying to get rid of a rogue horse for years. When Toby Mullet does finally sell him to a new rich neighbour, his mother is horrified, as she is hoping to marry off one of her daughters to the newcomer and worries the horse may kill him first! Good read for adults. PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES Also excerpts from: MY FRIEND FLICKA by Mary O'Hara THE WILD HEART by Helen Griffiths BREED OF GIANTS by Joyce Stranger BLACK BEAUTY by Anna Sewell HORSE IN THE HOUSE by William Corbin THE HORSE AND HIS BOY by C. S. Lewis THE BLACK STALLION by Walter Farley GAUDENZIA PRIDE OF THE PALION by Marguerite Henry LORNA DOONE by R. D. Blackmore FOLLYFOOT by Monica Dickens MORE PONIES FOR JEAN by Joanna Cannan WAR HORSE by Michael Morpurgo Collector's info: This was reprinted a number of times, some editions have different covers, and some internet sellers list the subtitle, others don't, so do make sure you check that you are not buying the same book twice! Easy to find in the UK. Some copies around in the USA also.


	HORSE AND PONY STORIES FOR GIRLS By various authors (HAMLYN 1971) ILLUSTRATED BY F. D. PHILLIPS Reprinted a number of times in hardback. SUMMARY: An excellent book of short stories; they are mainly of good quality, some are longish and, apart from one excerpt from Black Beauty, all are proper stories. PONYMAD OVERALL RATING: 4 HORSESHOES Stories include: THE BATTLE FOR BLANDY COMMON By Robert Bateman SUMMARY: Two girls find the place where they ride their ponies blocked by barbed wire when a new owner buys the land. It seems there will be no-where left for them to ride...until a bit of lateral thinking saves the day! PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES LEAVE IT TO LADY By David Gammon SUMMARY: Adventure story set on Dartmoor. A girl out riding on the moors comes across an unconscious man and gets involved in a mystery. PONYMAD RATING: 2 HORSESHOES RACING RIVALS By Marjorie Stace SUMMARY: A girl wants to follow in her jockey father's footsteps and compete in a point to point. A very long story. I WANTED A PONY By Lilias Edwards SUMMARY: When the family moves to a new house in the country, Elizabeth hopes that she will be able to ride. But her attempts to get close to the local ponies don't go well! A good humourous story. PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES THE GHOST HORSE OF HIDDEN VALLEY By Sheila Austin SUMMARY: Adventure. A girl goes to stay with her aunt in America and gets involved with the legend of a ghost horse. UP IN THE WOODS By Ursula Moray Williams SUMMARY: A girl rides to rescue when there is an accident in the woods PONYMAD RATING: 2 HORSESHOES PRINCESS AT THE CIRCUS By Kathleen O'Farrell SUMMARY: The story of how a circus pony ends up in a horse sanctuary. HORSE SENSE By Evelyn Day SUMMARY: Historical pony story. REDSANDS GYMKHANA By Sheila Thom SUMMARY: Nobody expects shaggy little Bundle to win anything at the gymkhana, least of all his rider Jane…. Also excerpts from: BLACK BEAUTY by Anna Sewell Collector's info: Easy to find in the UK, quite a bit harder elsewhere.


	KINGFISHER BOOK OF HORSE AND PONY STORIES Edited by Jenny Oldfield Stories by various authors (KINGFISHER 2005) ILLUSTRATED BY VARIOUS ARTISTS Reprinted in paperback in 2006. SUMMARY: Book of proper short stories with two by the editor Jenny Oldfield. Stories are for the most part good quality and there is a very good mix of settings, from different places and historical periods. Its also a very attractive book, being large and glossy with full colour illustrations throughout. Mainly lesser known authors, apart from Ms. Oldfield, Pamela Kavanagh is probably the most well known. PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES Stories include: THE LAST ROUND UP By Jenny Oldfield SUMMARY: USA set ranching story. Old ranch-hand Sam doesn't approve when his boss take his young daughter out with him on a cattle drive, but the dramatic and tragic events on the drive bring the pair closer together. PONYMAD RATING: 4-5 HORSESHOES THE RIVALS By Gill Harvey SUMMARY: Set in the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. Two rival pupils at the school try to prove themselves. Interesting detail of haute ecole but story is a bit dull. PONYMAD RATING: 2 HORSESHOES A HORSE WITHOUT EQUAL By Elizabeth Holland SUMMARY: Re-working of the legend of the meeting of Alexander and Bucephalus. PONYMAD RATING: 2 HORSESHOES A DIFFERENT KIND OF PONY By Matilda Webb SUMMARY: Rather odd fantasy story about a merry go round horse that comes to life. PONYMAD RATING: 2 HORSESHOES MADRIGAL'S MELODY By Lois Ruby SUMMARY: Another slightly odd story about a girl who can communicate with a police horse through his 'song.' PONYMAD RATING: 2 HORSESHOES THE CAR PARK PONY By Judy Paterson SUMMARY: Heart-warming story about a girl who loves the stables where she learns to ride, especially the first ever pony she rode, Shetland Ben. However when the stables have to close she must make a choice which could mean never seeing Ben again…. PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES LITTLE MISS PERFECT AND ME By Rebecca Kraft Rector SUMMARY: A girl and her new step-sister learn to get a long with the help of a horse. PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES INKBLACK By Rosemary Chiba SUMMARY: Set in medieval Japan. The daughter of a famous breeder of war horses has a special bond with the former war horse Inkblack who is now used for breeding. But when an important General's horse goes lame, her father offers Inkblack to him as his mount. PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES RIDE LIKE THE WIND By Pamela Kavanagh SUMMARY: Set in France. Chantal has lost her nerve after falling from her pony. When she rescues a small Romany child, she is drawn into the world of the Romanies and the beautiful grey mare Mistral. But she knows she will never have the nerve to ride her. Nice to see a story with gypsies as the good guys! PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES DRIVING ROSIE By Jenny Land SUMMARY: Set in 1950s Vermont. Whilst her younger sister is recovering from polio, Marie goes to stay at with her grandfather. At first she is embarassed that he still has horses and carts instead of a car, but when she meets the old mare Rosie and learns to drive her, Marie is soon converted. Then she has an idea which may help her crippled sister... PONYMAD RATING: 3-4 HORSESHOES JOEY'S LAST GALLOP By Cindy Jefferies SUMMARY: Heartwarming fantasy story about a magical chalk horse and an old grey pony. PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES RED By Jenny Oldfield SUMMARY: Australian set story. Abi and Red are hopefuls for the Olympic eventing team, but in the trials a freak accident - or is it sabotage - threatens their chances. Can the pair's bond overcome this obstacle? PONYMAD RATING: 3-4 HORSESHOES Collector's info: Easy to find. Still in print and can be bought new in both the UK and USA.


	A PATCHWORK OF PONIES Edited by Charlotte Fyfe Stories by various authors (CAVALIER PB 1996) SUMMARY: Mixture of stories, non-fiction, quizzes. Poems etc. Could do with more stories and less odds and ends. One pretty good story and a couple of the excerpts are from lesser known books. PONYMAD OVERALL RATING: 2 HORSESHOES Stories include: BILLY THE COB By Roy Wirgman SUMMARY: Fiona helps her widowed mother run a small market gardening business. Their cob Billy is essential to help them do the work on the place and he is also Fiona's best friend. When Billy is injured it is a double tragedy for Fiona. Will he ever recover? A nice little story. PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES THE WHITE HORSE - A FAIRY TALE By E. Nesbit (Originally published elsewhere - date and publisher not known ) SUMMARY: Horsy fairy tale from the classic children's author. This story can be read on-line for free here Also excerpts from: THE PICKWICK PAPERS by Charles Dickens BRONCHO by Richard Ball KHYBERIE by Capt Enriquez BLACK BEAUTY by Anna Sewell THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK HORSE by Ireene Wicker Collector's info: Paperback original. Reasonably easy to find in the UK. Quite a bit harder elsewhere however.


	PONY PARADE Edited by Christine Pullein-Thompson Stories and articles by various authors (GRANADA PB 1978) SUMMARY: Not much in the way of stories, quite a few factual articles, poems and other bits and bobs. A lot of the articles are now a bit dated, some are quite interesting. The book however is worth getting for the new Pony Patrol story which I don't think was ever published elsewhere. PONYMAD OVERALL RATING: 2 HORSESHOES Stories include: PONY PATROL END A RACKET By Christine Pullein-Thompson SUMMARY: Short story addition to the Pony Patrol series. The Patrol try to stop a horse-drawn caravan holiday scheme in which the ponies pulling the caravans are ill-treated. Also excerpts from: A PONY FOR JEAN by Joanna Cannan BLACK BEAUTY'S CLAN by Diana Pullein-Thompson PIT PONY HEROES by Eric Squires Collector's info: Although not that common can be found on internet book shops and is usually cheap. Hard to find elsewhere.


	A PONY SCRAPBOOK Edited by Christine Pullein-Thompson Stories and articles by various authors (PAN PB 1972) Reprinted by original publisher in 1973. SUMMARY: A book of 'bits and pieces' rather than a book of short stories. It actually only has one story, plus a few book excerpts - the rest are articles, quizzes, poems, etc. The highlight however is the excellent story by Monica Edwards and if you are a fan it will be worth getting for this alone. PONYMAD OVERALL RATING: 2 HORSESHOES Stories include: THE GREAT HORSE By Monica Edwards (Originally published in THE PONY CLUB BOOK 11 in 1960) SUMMARY: Historical story set in the time of the English Civil War. Robin lives and works on his father's farm and the love of his life is a huge black horse called Barbarossa. But when his father's landlord Sir Robert Dudley spots the horse he wants it to use as a cavalry mount. The family know that if they refuse they could be turned out of their farm, so Robin comes up with a plan to trick Sir Robert and keep the horse. PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES Also excerpts from: WE MET OUR COUSINS by Joanna Cannan BLACK BEAUTY by Anna Sewell HORSES AT HOME by Diana Pullein-Thompson JACKANAPES by Juliana Horatia Ewing Collector's info: Easy to find in the UK and cheap. Harder to find elsewhere but not very expensive to buy from the UK and have shipped to other countries.


	A SECOND PONY SCRAPBOOK Edited by Christine Pullein-Thompson Stories and articles by various authors (PAN PB 1973) Reprinted by original publisher in 1973. SUMMARY: A book of 'bits and pieces' rather than a book of short stories. It actually only has one not very appealing story, plus a few book excerpts - the rest are articles, quizzes, poems, etc. Not as good as the first Scrapbook which was graced with a top class short story. Unless you like quizzes and facts, not really worth a look for the short story lover. PONYMAD OVERALL RATING: 1-2 HORSESHOES Stories include: POOR JONATHAN By Christine Pullein-Thompson SUMMARY: Jonathan thinks too much of his own pleasure, and not enough of the needs of his elderly pony Seagull...leading to tragic consequences. PONYMAD VIEW: An unpleasant and tragic short story which is, considering the content,unbelievably followed by a 'quiz' type of affair with questions asking what Jonathan has done wrong. I see the reasoning behind this in instructing kids to think of their pony's needs before their own but it is done in an insensitive and clumsy manner that will be upsetting to many a young reader. PONYMAD RATING: HORSE DROPPING BOOBY PRIZE! Also excerpts from: LONDON PRIDE by Joanna Cannan BLACK BEAUTY by Anna Sewell SUMMER AT WORLD'S END by Monica Dickens TICKNER'S LIGHT HORSE by John Tickner Collector's info: Paperbacks only. Fairly easy to find in the UK. Harder to find elsewhere but not very expensive to buy from the UK and have shipped to other countries.


	PONY STORIES Edited by Ian Woodward Stories by various authors (CAROUSEL PB 1983) ILLUSTRATED BY TREVOR PARKIN Revised and reprinted by Carousel. SUMMARY: Collection of proper stories, no excerpts. Mainly by lesser known authors, but of a good quality. PONYMAD RATING: 3-4 HORSESHOES Stories include: MUCH ADO ABOUT BRANDYSNAP By Laurie Gay SUMMARY: A shy and timid girl's plan to make friends with a neighbouring child backfires. But when the neighbours are in danger she has the chance to make amends. PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES OMAR CIRCUS HORSE By Jaqui Flynn SUMMARY: What is the mystery behind the behaviour of the beautiful but ill-tempered Arab circus horse? PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES PRIDE OF WOODBINDA By Irvine Crawford SUMMARY: Australian pony story. Kevin is determined to make the stray pony his own. NEARLY AN EXPERT By Diana Pullein-Thompson SUMMARY: A prideful young lady who thinks she knows more about horses than all those around her finds herself in the wrong. PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES FORTUNE RIDES HIGH By Edmund Burton SUMMARY: Racing story. When a wealthy trainer is fatally injured he makes a will leaving his fortune to whichever of his two young relatives - both jockeys - win the upcoming Linbury Cup. Greed causes one of the riders to resort to underhand tricks. PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES HULLO STRANGER By Margaret Priestley SUMMARY: Tess would love to learn to ride but is terrified of horses. However when a stray and injured horse appears on the scene she must overcome her fear to help him. PONYMAD RATING: 3-4 HORSESHOES CANYON OF DEATH By Gordon Grimsley SUMMARY: Set in 19th century USA. A small boy is lost when his pony bolts, but he ends up helping the white men and Indians in the area come to an understanding. PONYMAD RATING: 2 HORSESHOES Collector's info: Fairly easy to find in the UK and usually quite cheap. Can be hard to find elsewhere, though can be inexpensive to buy from the UK and have shipped to other countries.


	PONY TALES Edited by Julia Goodwin Stories by various authors (PONY MAGAZINE PB 1988) ILLUSTRATED BY CLAIRE COLVIN & STEVE HUMFRESS SUMMARY: Excellent little paperback produced by Pony Magazine. No excerpts, all proper stories including the only short story I know of by Patricia Leitch, as well as other well-known authors like CPT, Carol Vaughan and Rosemary Simmonds. PONYMAD OVERALL RATING: 4 HORSESHOES Stories include: A LITTLE GREY FOAL By Christine Pullein-Thompson (Originally published in THE PULLEIN-THOMPSON TREASURY OF HORSE AND PONY STORIES ) SUMMARY: Sharon finds owning a pony takes more than just love… PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES THE TREASURE SEEKER By Antoinette Lee SUMMARY: Two disparate children become friends despite their differences. THE MIDNIGHT STALLION By Patricia Leitch SUMMARY: Very well written story. Kate longs for a life working with horses but fears she may be stuck forever on her parent's remote farm. Then she finds out her father has a shady past in the world of racing. When this past catches up with him again it brings something wonderful into Kate's life. PONYMAD RATING: 5 HORSESHOES IF WISHES WERE HORSES By Linda Rostron SUMMARY: Jenny begins working at a stud but finds it harder to get along with one of the other workers than with the horses. JOKER'S PROMISE By Fliss Gillott SUMMARY: When Lucy returns to stay with her aunt she rushes off to see the horses she befriended on her last visit, but to her horror they have gone! SAVING UP By Anna Banness SUMMARY: Can a real pony be as good as the dream pony Philippa is painting? THE RUNAWAY By Carol Vaughan SUMMARY: After a terrible tragedy, Valerie has lost her nerve. PONYMAD RATING: 3-4 HORSESHOES GOOD PROSPECTS By Rosemary Simmonds SUMMARY: Karen learns that working with horses isn't all she hoped it would be. EMMA By Catherine Maclean SUMMARY: A tragedy occurs at a show and changes the life of two girls forever. Collector's info: Appears to in print at the moment and can be bought new from the UK. Harder to find elsewhere.


	RIDE LIKE THE WIND Edited by Wendy Cooling Stories by various authors (ORION PB 1997) SUMMARY: One of the more modern collections of stories. A small book which only contains 5 stories, but they are of a good standard and as far as I know they were all original stories for this compilation. PONYMAD OVERALL RATING:3 HORSESHOES Stories include: TOPAZ By Lorna Read SUMMARY: Kirsty's favourite things in life are ponies and photography. Whilst on holiday in Wales she spots a beautiful palomino and longs to ride him, but his owners are unpleasant and have fierce guard dog, so she makes do with taking photos of him, little knowing what effect the pics will have on her life and the pony's PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES PONYSTRUCK By Pamela Kavanagh SUMMARY: Tracy becomes interested in the mysterious Jonathan and his two hidden ponies... PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES RIDING FOR A RED By Jane Ayres SUMMARY: When Gerry's older sister Louise breaks her leg she pleads with Gerry to ride her thoroughbred Gothic in an upcoming event she has spent ages qualifying him for. But Gothic is temperamental and Gerry is more at home on her quiet gentle Welsh mare: how will she cope? PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES A REAL PAIN By Linda Jennings SUMMARY: Sandy spends her holidays on a farm riding with her friend William. When her cousin Trish comes with her one year she thinks the holidays will be spoilt as Trish is boring and doesn't even like riding! But when William has an accident Trish proves she is of greater substance than they had thought. PONYMAD RATING:2-3 HORSESHOES THE VANISHING PONY By Christine Pullein-Thompson SUMMARY: A girl's new pony goes missing. But through this seeming disaster comes new understanding and friendship. PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES Collector's info: Very easy to find in the UK. Can be a lot harder elsewhere however.


	THUNDERING HOOVES aka MORE HORSE AND PONY STORIES aka RIDING STORIES Edited by Christine Pullein-Thompson Stories by various authors (KINGFISHER 1996) ILLUSTRATED BY VICTOR AMBRUS Reprinted in 1998 when it was re-titled MORE HORSE AND PONY STORIES. Reprinted in 2005 when it was re-titled RIDING STORIES Still in print (under it's last title) SUMMARY: A companion book to Horse and Pony Stories Chosen by CPT (see above) and very similar in that it has the lovely Ambrus illustrations, a number of classic authors, and again a high proportion of excerpts rather than full short stories. However this edition is a little better in that it has more full stories than the other and includes an excellent Patricia Leitch story plus one by DPT which I don't think was published elsewhere. PONYMAD OVERALL RATING: 3 HORSESHOES Stories include: THE WHITE MUSTANG By Edward McCourt THE FIREBIRD, THE HORSE OF POWER AND PRINCESS VASILISSA By Arthur Ransome THE BROKEN BRIDGE By Reginald Ottley A GAUCHO IN THE PAMPA By A. F. Tschiffeley THE OUTLAW By Sinclair Ross MIDNIGHT STALLION By Patricia Leitch (Originally published in PONY TALES ed by Julia Goodwin - see above) SUMMARY: Very well written story. Kate longs for a life working with horses but fears she may be stuck forever on her parent's remote farm. Then she finds out her father has a shady past in the world of racing. When this past catches up with him again it brings something wonderful into Kate's life. PONYMAD RATING: 5 HORSESHOES A STAR FOR A LADY By Diana Pullein-Thompson Historical pony story. BILL MOSBY'S NIGHT RIDE By Robert D. Dan Souci Also excerpts from: THE SILVER BRUMBY by Elyne Mitchell FLAMBARDS by K. M. Peyton THE MAGICIAN'S NEPHEW by C. S. Lewis KING OF THE WIND by Marguerite Henry THE BLACK STALLION REVOLTS by Walter Farley JAMAICA INN by Daphne du Maurier PHANTOM HORSE COMES HOME by CPT ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell SNOW CLOUD STALLION by Gerard Raftery GREEN GRASS OF WYOMING by Mary O'Hara NERVE by Dick Francis Collector's info: Why do publishers keep changing titles when they republish? This is a question that springs to mind when looking at the publishing history of this book which has had three different titles! It is an annoying habit which can lead to people buying the same book more than once thinking they have found something new. But I digress! The book is easy to find in all its incarnations in the UK. The latest edition - Riding Stories - is in print at the moment and can be bought new. The book is also quite easy to find in the USA.


	TREASURY OF PONY STORIES aka KINGFISHER TREASURY OF PONY STORIES Edited by Linda Jennings Stories by various authors (KINGFISHER PB 1996) ILLUSTRATED BY ANTHONY LEWIS Reprinted in hardback in 2003 and in paperback in 2005, 2008. Later editions had 'Kingfisher' in the title. Still in print. SUMMARY: All proper stories although seem aimed at a younger readership than the other compilations. Quite a few are by lesser known authors. PONYMAD OVERALL RATING: 3 HORSESHOES Stories include: MANAGING WITHOUT THE MOON By Joan Aiken NUTMEG AND SNOWSTORM By Adele Geras PATIENCE (A French story retold by Linda Jennings) NOW YOU SEE ME NOW YOU DON'T By Marjorie Darke McGREGOR AND THE KELPIE (A Scottish folktale retold by Dinah Starkey A HAT FOR CRUMPET By Barbee Oliver Carleton UNICORN By Peter Dickinson PONY ISLAND By Ann Wigley THE HORSE OF FIRE AND THUNDER By Maggie Pearson ROCKING HORSE LAND By Laurence Houseman CANDY STOPS A TRAIN By Christine Pullein-Thompson THE HALLOWEEN PONY (A French folktale retold by Robert D. Dan Souci) ANOTHER GIRL'S PONY By Ann de Gale THE HORSES OF THE SUN (A Greek myth retold by Linda Jennings) THE CHRISTMAS PONY By Lincoln Steffens SWALLOW By Julia Sykes Collector's info: Not to be confused with the Kingfisher Book of Pony Stories which is edited by Jenny Oldfield! Easy to find in the UK and is still in print if you want to buy a new copy. Copies can also be found in the USA.


	TWENTY ANIMAL STORIES OF DOGS, HORSES, PONIES AND CATS Edited by Cyril Swinson Stories by various authors (ADAM & CHARLES BLACK 1940) ILLUSTRATED BY VARIOUS ARTISTS Reprinted by original publisher a number of time in hardback. SUMMARY: Vintage book of animal stories. Lovely illustrations by various illustrators (not credited but appear to be by the originals). Some equine stories which are mainly of the excerpt variety, although, as many come from lesser known/rarer books, this book may be of more interest to the collector than the usual excerpt collection. Plus the bonus of some cat and dog stories. PONYMAD OVERALL RATING: 3 HORSESHOES Stories (pony only) include: A DARTMOOR BOG By Allen W. Seaby (Originally published in AN EXMOOR LASS AND OTHER STORIES by Allen W. Seaby) SUMMARY: A girl and a Dartmoor pony rescue a young man from a bog in Dartmoor. Nice local interest about Dartmoor but the story itself is a bit dull, and the bog plot was weary even back then) PONYMAD RATING: 2 HORSESHOES Also excerpts (pony only) from: DOWSHA THE STORY OF A DONKEY by Frediswid Sturges MAY THE MARE by G. W. Jennison BLACK BEAUTY by Anna Sewell KHYBERIE by Captain Enriquez Collector's info: Reasonably easy to find in the UK. Prices tend to vary a lot so shop around. Can be harder elsewhere, though by no means impossible.