Random Ponies On Covers

Having just taken the below picture of the photographic cover edition of Christine Pullein-Thompson's The Horse Sale, It got me thinking about Random pictures (mainly seems to be photographs) on Pony books. I could not quite work out where this pic relates to the characters human or equine in the book, however it is a long way from the worse I thought of.

But it did get me thinking about what is going through the publishers mind at the time, I am assuming as they tend to be reprints the author has no input, even if not horsey individuals you would think they would try to match the ponies to the story at least. It is not too dissimilar to having a football pitch on the front cover of a tennis book really.

This one really has to take the Golden Carrot for worse cover.

Magic and Moonshine were grey Shetlands so how someone came up with a palomino welsh to star on the cover is anyone's guess. Maybe the guide dog chose?

And the Lions reprints of the Brumby books are not far behind as they feature Goldie, star of the Silver Brumby Movie (or should they have re-titled it The Golden Brumby?)

Elyne Mitchell was present at some of the filming and was involved with the film so clearly she gave her consent to changing the colour...I have not had chance to read my copy of the movie book yet so will have to see if an explanation is given?

There was also an illustrated edition of a pony to school featuring the rearing in front of the car episode where the pony was steele grey/black but on the whole illustrated covers tended to match the contents, maybe illustrators bothered to research the subject. There is also a line of thought that Knight changed Ruby Ferguson's Blackboy into a piebald after new illustrator Bonar Dunlop interpreted him as a piebald. So some publishers clearly considered the details of correct cover pic important.

On the other hand some did manage to get it just right! Here are Magic and Moonshine again, in an earlier re-print, and they are grey shetlands, just as described in story with handlers who could easily be Ian and Angela.

And they got it more than right for this, my favourite non illustrated cover, Welsh Tristram and Connemara Saffron along with Nettie and Alice are represented to perfection by this pair of ponies and riders. Pony Club Cup is also excellent with Alice and Saffy agin and an Asian model to play the part of Hanif. So what happened with Trek????? The bay is far too big to be the only bay pony partnered by a girl, Bowie, could be Ferdinand but then whom was the mystery rider?
Can't be Sea king and Jennifer as they did not feature after part way through Challenge.

Lot's more did get it right and the Jinny books spring to mind also making sure the model had long red hair. Shame they chose a stallion to play the mare Shantih in the 80's editions! But you can't have everything.

I was recently asked who is my favourite author of pony stories? There are so many greats out there it is really hard to choose but I have narrowed my own favourites down to two whom I cannot choose between.

I grew up on Josephine Pullein Thompson, especially the Woodbury Pony Club books, and these along with the West Barsetshire books remain firm favourites. Six Ponies and Pony Club Camp are real classics, a mix of fantastic characters, who develop throughout the series, good instructional advice, an underline of humour and of course lots of good old fashioned (and innocent) charm, that I never fully appreciated until an adult. The modern pony books and even the lovely books that Josephine wrote in the 80's seem to lack this charm.

The other author is Caroline Akrill, I adore the Eventers Trilogy and she managed to capture the charm that no other more modern books could. The Galloping Fanes are surely amongst o the best book characters ever created (ah...Rupert Campbell Black springs to mind) and 100 books could have been written about their hilarious exploits. Such was the strength of the characters in this series, is it only me who still wonders if Elaine and Legend ever made it to the top and what became of the Fanes and their riches. I am sure if a sequel were published it would still, over 20 years later, sell by the lorry loads.

Now I have chosen two I feel almost guilty as there are so many other authors equally deserving. Primrose Cumming (on the strength of Silver Snaffles) should and is well up there, although apart from Silver Snaffles so far her books have disappointed me. Patricia Leitch is a wonderful author and the Jinny books have a huge fan base as do Ruby Ferguson's Jill books, I doubt any horse mad girl since the 50's has not grown up with Jill and they are still extremely popular, with Mums buying them for daughters, as indeed my first Jill book had been my mums before. Elyne Mitchell's Brumby books are almost legendary with a real cult status and Judith Berrisford, Gillian Baxter, Joanna Cannan, Diana and Christine Pullein Thompson should not be forgotten for their contributions.

The modern pony books I have read are on the whole very disappointing and I do feel pony mad youngsters are missing out on proper pony books, unless of course they are provided with vintage classics. I Just don't get Heartland, Chestnut Hill, Thoroughbred, Half Moon Ranch etc. Don't people go the pony club any more? On the other hand characters such as Jill and Jean are a little 'Smug' (sorry Andrea, pinched that one didn't I) by modern standards and are maybe beyond comprehension for youngsters today? I think the nearest thing to a good modern pony book is Samantha Alexanders Riders series. She clearly knows her subject and I guess has tried to bring the pony book into the 21st century by adding the now all important love interest. Underneath she does manage to maintain a more traditional element to her books than most I feel. The fact that these books are still popular over 10 years after first printing (although out of print!) makes me wonder if in years to come they will be classics too?

Oh nearly forgot, I think the reason it is not allowing posting is because this blog is imported from http://ponybooks.blogspot.com/