Christine Pullein-Thompson (1925-2005)

Along with her two sisters and mother (Joanna Cannan) Christine forms part of the most famous pony book writing dynasty of all time. She was born in 1925 and wrote over 100 books before her death in 2005.  She and her two sisters, twin Diana, and elder sister Josephine, decided to write a pony book together when still in their teens. From then on the rest, as they say, was history. The girls' knowledge and experience of ponies and riding - they competed, broke and trained ponies and ran their own riding school - shines through in their books.

Christine was the most prolific of the three sisters, writing a huge amount of pony stories, plus many other non-pony books (many of which are now hard to find). Her books tend to be slightly darker than those of her sisters in tone, and many also dealt with important social issues of the time such as poverty, housing problems and urban development. The many poverty-stricken characters in her pony books dispel the myth that pony stories are all elitist and full of spoilt rich kids!

Her daughter Charlotte Popescu is also an author, having written a number of non-fiction pony books and cookery books. She runs the Cavalier Paperbacks
publishing company which has published a number of her mother's (and aunt's) pony books.




Chill Valley Hounds Series:

PONYMAD SERIES RATING:  3 HORSESHOES

1) WE HUNTED HOUNDS
FIRST PRINTED: COLLINS 1949
ILLUSTRATED BY MARCIA LANE FOSTER
Reprinted in hardback by Collins.
Reprinted in hardback with pictorial boards part of the Collins Pony Library (number 5) in the 1970s.
Reprinted in paperback by Armada in the 1960s and 70s.
Reprinted in paperback by J A Allen in the 1990s (revised).
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Collins Pony Library edition, Armada paperbacks, J. A. Allen paperback.
SUMMARY: Sandy and Laurence and their friends the Days decide to form their own pack of hounds. But raising the money and running the pack proves harder than they thought.

2) I CARRIED THE HORN
FIRST PRINTED: COLLINS 1951
ILLUSTRATED BY CHARLOTTE HOUGH
Reprinted in hardback by Collins.
Reprinted in paperback by Armada in the 1960s and 70s.
Reprinted in paperback by J A Allen in the 1990s (revised).
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Armada & J. A. Allen paperbacks.
SUMMARY: Trials and tribulations abound in the fortunes of the Chill Valley Foxhounds, culminating in Sandy becoming huntsman and 'carrying the horn.'

3) GOODBYE TO HOUNDS
FIRST PRINTED: COLLINS 1952
ILLUSTRATED BY CHARLOTTE HOUGH
Reprinted in hardback by Collins.
Reprinted in paperback by Armada in the 1960s and 70s.
Reprinted in paperback by J A Allen in the 1990s (revised).
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Armada paperbacks, J. A. Allen paperback.
SUMMARY: With the future of the Day's farm in jeopardy, will the children have to give up their hounds? Or can they come up with a plan to save their pack?

Collectors Info:
Paperback editions are fairly easy to find in the UK and can also be found in the USA. The Collins Pony library edition and first editions with dustjackets are quite rare.

Phantom Horse Series:
Follows the many adventures of Jean who acquires a beautiful wild horse from America and brings him home to England. The series starts off fairly traditional but gets more adventure/mystery orientated in the later books.

PONYMAD SERIES RATING: 3 - 4 HORSESHOES

1) PHANTOM HORSE
FIRST PRINTED: COLLINS 1955
ILLUSTRATED BY SHEILA ROSE
ILLUSTRATED BY ERIC ROWE (Award editions only)
Reprinted in hardback by Collins, including Collins Seagull Library edition.
Reprinted in hardback with pictorial boards by Award in 1997.
Reprinted in paperback in various editions by Armada in 1960s, 70s and 80s, by Ravette in 1989 and by Award in 2011.
EDITIONS PICTURED: Collins Seagull edition, Armada paperbacks, Ravette paperback, Award hardback, Award paperback.
SUMMARY: Jean and brother Angus move to America and there Jean falls in love with the beautiful wild palomino Phantom Horse. But he has been running loose and evading captors for a long time. Can she and Angus succeed where others have failed?

2) PHANTOM HORSE COMES HOME
FIRST PRINTED: ARMADA PAPERBACKS 1970
ILLUSTRATED BY ERIC ROWE (Award editions only)
Paperback original. 
Reprinted in hardback by Severn House.
Reprinted in hardback with pictorial boards by Award in 1997.
Reprinted in paperback by Armada in the 1970s and 80s, Ravette in 1989 and Award in 2011.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Armada paperback reprint, Ravette paperback, Award hardback, Award paperback.
SUMMARY: Jean and Angus return to the UK bringing Phantom with them. How will he adjust to his new life?

3) PHANTOM HORSE GOES TO IRELAND
aka PHANTOM HORSE DISAPPEARS (Award paperback)
FIRST PRINTED: ARMADA PAPERBACKS 1972
ILLUSTRATED BY ERIC ROWE (Award editions only)
Paperback original. 
Reprinted in hardback by Severn House in 1980.
Reprinted in hardback with pictorial boards by Award in 1997.
Reprinted in paperback by Armada in 1978, Ravette in 1989 and Award in 2011
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Armada paperback reprint, Ravette paperback, Award hardback, Award paperback.
SUMMARY: Jean and Angus discover a dreadful secret in their Aunt's attic and end up having adventures in Ireland.

4) PHANTOM HORSE IN DANGER
FIRST PRINTED: ARMADA PAPERBACKS 1980
ILLUSTRATED BY ERIC ROWE (Award editions only)
Paperback original. 
Reprinted in hardback by Severn House.
Reprinted in hardback with pictorial boards by Award in 1997.
Reprinted in paperback by Ravette in 1989 and Award in 2011.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Ravette paperback, Award hardback, Award paperback.
SUMMARY: Can the children save their beloved ponies from slaughter?

5) PHANTOM HORSE GOES TO SCOTLAND
aka PHANTOM HORSE ISLAND MYSTERY (Award paperback)
FIRST PRINTED: ARMADA PAPERBACKS 1981
ILLUSTRATED BY ERIC ROWE (Award editions only)
Paperback original. 
Reprinted in hardback with pictorial boards by Award in 1997.
Reprinted in paperback Ravette in 1989.
Reprinted in paperback Award in 2011 with a change of title.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Ravette paperback, Award hardback, Award paperback.
SUMMARY: Jean and Angus are staying on a beautiful Scottish Island but all is not as it seems…

6) WAIT FOR ME PHANTOM HORSE
FIRST PRINTED: SEVERN HOUSE 1985
ILLUSTRATED BY ERIC ROWE (Award editions only)
Reprinted in hardback with pictorial boards by Award in 1997.
Reprinted in paperback by Ravette in 1989 and Award in 2011.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Ravette paperback, Award hardback, Award paperback.
SUMMARY: More mystery and danger for Jean and Angus as they befriend a strange new girl and Phantom is stolen.

Collectors Info:
Only two of these had hardback first editions, most were paperback originals. Fairly easy books to find, as they were printed in many editions in both hardback and paperback. The latest paperback editions by Award are still in print. Please note that two of the books had their titles changed in this edition, there are not 2 new stories! The only really hard edition to find is the first edition of the first in series.
Unfortunately many of the editions of this series had no illustrations. If you like illustrated stories I would suggest the Award editions as they are all illustrated quite nicely by Eric Rowe.

David and Pat Series:
A favourite traditional series which incorporates themes of jumping, running a stable and working with horses. It follows the fortunes of a boy who from humble beginnings follows his dream to become a top showjumper.

PONYMAD SERIES RATING: 4 - 5 HORSESHOES

1) THE FIRST ROSETTE
FIRST PRINTED: BURKE 1956
ILLUSTRATED BY SHEILA ROSE
Reprinted in hardback by Burke
Reprinted in paperback by Dragon in 1960s and 70s.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Dragon paperbacks.
SUMMARY: David's ambition to become a top showjumper is hampered by the fact he cannot afford a horse! Then he meets Pat and her wealthy father.

2) THE SECOND MOUNT
FIRST PRINTED: BURKE 1957
ILLUSTRATED BY SHEILA ROSE
Reprinted in paperback by Dragon in the 1960s and 70s.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Dragon paperbacks.
SUMMARY: David and his friend Pat have left school and decide to start up a riding stables together, but disaster is just around the corner…

3) THREE TO RIDE
FIRST PRINTED: BURKE 1958
ILLUSTRATED BY SHEILA ROSE
Reprinted in paperback by Dragon in the 1960s and 70s.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Dragon paperbacks.
SUMMARY: When Pat decides to give up horses to become a debutante, David leaves home in order to try and fulfil his ambition of jumping for England. However things don't go well, he misses Pat and he may even lose his beloved Tornado!

Other Editions:

PONY STORIES
(With K. M . Peyton & Carol Fenner)
FIRST PRINTED: RED FOX PAPEDRBACKS 1999
EDITION PICTURED; First edition.
SUMMARY: A 3 in 1 omnibus edition containing
Three to Ride along with Fly-by-Night by K. M. Peyton and A Summer of Horses by Carol Fenner.

Collectors Info:
There were a few paperback editions published and these are easy to find in the UK, and to a slightly lesser extent in the USA.. The hardbacks are also reasonably easy to find compared to some of the author's other hardbacks, and can be bought fairly cheaply. The omnibus edition is not often seen but is usually cheap to buy.

Mick and Janice Series:
Slightly linked to the above series in the fact that David appears as an adult character in the books.

PONYMAD SERIES RATING: 3 - 4 HORSESHOES

1) THE LOST PONY
FIRST PRINTED: BURKE 1959
ILLUSTRATED BY SHEILA ROSE
Reprinted in hardback by Burke.
Reprinted in paperback by Burke in the 1960s, Dragon in the 1970s and Cavalier in 1994 (possibly revised).
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Burke paperback, Dragon paperback, Cavalier paperback.
SUMMARY: Mick and Janice move to the country to live with foster parents. Although they miss their mother, the two horse-mad children are caught up in the excitement of looking after a lost pony

2) FOR WANT OF A SADDLE
FIRST PRINTED: BURKE 1960
ILLUSTRATED BY ANNE BULLEN
Reprinted in hardback by Burke.
Reprinted in paperback by Dragon in 1972 and Cavalier in 1994 (possibly revised).
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Dragon paperback, Cavalier paperback.
SUMMARY: At last the children have a pony to ride but without being able to afford a saddle how can they learn properly?

Collectors Info:
The 1970s Dragon paperbacks are the most common and are easy to find. The first editions and the 1960s Burke paperbacks are quite rare. The Cavalier editions are still in print as of 2019  and can be bought from Cavalier Paperbacks. They may been revised and/or updated.

Fishers and Allcotts Series:

1) THE EMPTY FIELD
FIRST PRINTED: BURKE 1961
ILLUSTRATED BY ANNE BULLEN
Reprinted in hardback with pictorial boards by Goodchild in 1984.
Reprinted in paperback by Dragon in 1967 and a few times in the 1970s.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Goodchild edition, Dragon paperbacks.
SUMMARY: A group of disparate children at a local riding school band together to try and save a group of Shire horses from death by organising a gymkhana to raise money.
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES

2) THE OPEN GATE
FIRST PRINTED: BURKE 1962
ILLUSTRATED BY BARBARA CROCKER
Reprinted in hardback with pictorial boards by Goodchild in 1984.
Reprinted in paperback by Dragon in 1967 and a few times in the 1970s.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Goodchild edition, Dragon paperback.
SUMMARY: The riding school ponies have been hurt by thugs and some are now missing. Can the children find the lost ponies and stop the thugs?
PONYMAD RATING: 2 HORSESHOES

3) THE DOPING AFFAIR
aka THE PONY DOPERS (Dragon paperback editions)
FIRST PRINTED: BURKE 1963
ILLUSTRATED BY ENID ASH
Reprinted in hardback with pictorial boards by Goodchild in 1984.
Reprinted in paperback by Dragon in 1968 with new title, and also a  few times in the 1970s, again with new title.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Dragon paperbacks.
SUMMARY: Audrey's new showjumper Romany has been doped. Is it their old enemy Jim Morgan or Nicholas' beautiful new girlfriend? The children set out to find who is responsible. At the same time they are worried that Audrey may be thinking of closing the stables.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

Collectors Info:
Very easy books to find in paperback form. The Goodchild hardback editions are not often seen. First editions are also quite rare.

Riding School Series:
Traditional series which is set against a non-traditional urban background and is concerned with the problems of riding and keeping horses in such an environment. Fairly downbeat.

1) RIDERS ON THE MARCH
FIRST PRINTED: ARMADA PAPERBACKS 1970
Paperback original.
Reprinted in hardback by Severn House in 1980.
Reprinted in paperback by Dragon in 1979 and Cavalier in 2001.
EDITIONS PICTURED; First edition, Dragon paperback, Severn House hardback, Cavalier paperback.
SUMMARY: When their riding school is threatened by developers taking over the land the local horsy kids fight to save the stables.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

2) THEY RODE TO VICTORY
FIRST PRINTED :ARMADA PAPERBACKS 1972
Paperback original.
Reprinted in hardback by Severn House in 1979.
Reprinted in paperback by Dragon in 1970s/80s and Cavalier in 2001.
EDITIONS PICTURED; First edition, Dragon paperback, Severn House hardback, Cavalier paperback.
SUMMARY: The riding school gang take part in a team riding competition But they're up against stiff competition from posh schools as well as being beset by other problems, including sabotage!
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

Collectors Info:
First editions were paperbacks and are fairly easy to find in the UK, although harder elsewhere. The hardback reprints are not often seen. The Cavalier editions are still in print and can be bought direct from Cavalier Paperbacks website. These editions are possibly revised however.

Black Beauty's Family/Clan Series:
(With Josephine & Diana Pullein-Thompson)
A series of historical pony novels following in the hoofprints of Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. Written by all three of the Pullein-Thompson sisters.  The novels are set from the horse's point of view and are the life stories of a number of Black Beauty's supposed relatives/ancestors.
The books were originally published as omnibus editions containing three novels/novellas in each. Four of these novels were also published as single volumes.

Original Omnibus Editions:

1) BLACK BEAUTY'S CLAN
aka BLACK BEAUTY'S FAMILY (Red Fox paperback)
Includes: 
BLACK VELVET 
(by Christine)
BLACK PRINCESS (by Diana)
BLACK EBONY (by Josephine)
FIRST PRINTED: BROCKHAMPTON 1975
ILLUSTRATED BY ELISABETH GRANT
Reprinted in paperback  by Red Fox in 2000 when it was very confusingly (and rather stupidly) re-titled
Black Beauty's Family - which is also the name of the second instalment in the original series!
USA edition published in hardback by McGraw-Hill in 1980.
The three stories were also published separately in paperbacks by Knight. (See 'Single Volumes' section below)
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Red Fox paperback, USA edition.
SUMMARY: Follows the stories of Black Beauty's younger brother Black Ebony who falls on hard times when he is injured, and two of his later descendants Black Princess, who takes part in the First World War and Black Ebony, who is a show jumper.
Read Review (off web-site)

2) BLACK BEAUTY'S FAMILY
aka MORE FROM BLACK BEAUTY'S FAMILY (Red Fox paper-back)
Includes:
BLACK NIGHTSHADE
(by Josephine)
BLACK ROMANY (by Diana)
BLOSSOM (by Christine)
FIRST PRINTED: HODDER & STOUGHTON 1978
ILLUSTRATED BY ELISABETH GRANT
Reprinted  in paperback by Red Fox in 2001 and re-titled.
USA edition published in hardback by McGraw-Hill in 1980.
Black Nightshade was reprinted as a single volume in paperback by Knight in 1980. (See 'Single Volumes' section below)
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Red Fox paperback, USA edition.
SUMMARY: Three stories of Black Beauty's relatives from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Read Review (off web-site)

3) BLACK BEAUTY'S FAMILY 2
Includes:
BLACK RAVEN AND THE WITCH
(by Josephine)
BLACK PIPER (by Diana)
BLACK PIONEER (by Christine)
FIRST PRINTED BEAVER PAPERBACKS 1982
Paperback original.
As far as I know. Not reprinted at all.
EDITION PICTURED: First edition.
SUMMARY: Shorter than the other omnibus editions: the three stories are novella size rather than full length novels.

Other Omnibus Editions:

BLACK BEAUTY'S FAMILY 1
FIRST PRINTED: BEAVER PAPERBACKS 1981
ILLUSTRATED BY ELISABETH GRANT
Paperback original.
EDITION PICTURED: First edition.
SUMMARY: Paperback 2  in 1 containing: Black Romany and Blossom

BLACK BEAUTY'S FAMILY
FIRST PRINTED: CHANCELLOR PRESS 1986
EDITION PICTURED: First edition.
SUMMARY: A large hardback omnibus edition with pictorial boards. Contains Velvet, Princess, Ebony, Nightshade, Romany, Blossom.

Single Volumes:

BLACK VELVET
FIRST PRINTED: KNIGHT PAPERBACKS 1979
Reprinted in paperback by Knight in 1983
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, reprint

BLACK PRINCESS
FIRST PRINTED: KNIGHT PAPERBACKS 1979
Reprinted in paperback by Knight in 1983
Also a Swedish and Danish edition.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, reprint, Danish edition

BLACK EBONY
FIRST PRINTED: KNIGHT PAPERBACKS 1979
Possibly reprinted by Knight - need confirmation.
EDITION PICTURED: First edition.

BLACK NIGHTSHADE
FIRST PRINTED: KNIGHT PAPERBACKS 1980
EDITION PICTURED: First edition.

Collectors Info: 
If there is a more confusing series to collect (or explain!) I've yet to encounter it. I'm not sure what the various publishers were thinking, but for a start there were three omnibus editions, all completely different, all entitled Black Beauty's Family and this is only the start of the confusion! I have tried to make sense of this publishing nightmare so that nobody ends up buying duplicates of the stories. I hope I have succeeded!
The series was first published in omnibus form, each volume containing three stories (novel or novella length), making a total of nine stories in all. Four of these were then published as single volume paperbacks. The first six stories appeared in a number of different omnibuses, although the last three were not reprinted at all and are only available in
Black Beauty's Family 2
The first two omnibus editions were also published in the USA under their original titles and mercifully don't appear to have been reprinted or their titles changed! The series is reasonably easy to find, especially the paperback editions and the American editions are easy to find in the USA.
Black Beauty's Family 2 is probably the hardest edition to find, especially outside of the UK, although it is not usually expensive.

Black Pony Inn Series:
A family start a hotel for both people and horses and find it gives them plenty of hard work and many adventures.

Read/join in with a discussion of the series on the chat forum

1) STRANGE RIDERS AT BLACK PONY INN
FIRST PRINTED: PAN PAPERBACKS 1976
Paperback original. 
Reprinted in hardback by Severn House and Swift (pictorial boards).
Reprinted in paperback by Ravette in 1989.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Ravette paperback.
SUMMARY: The Pemberton family have fallen on hard times and may have to sell their beloved ponies. But then they decide to make ends meet by turning their home into the Black Pony Inn

2) MYSTERY AT BLACK PONY INN
FIRST PRINTED: PAN PAPERBACKS 1976
Paperback original. 
Reprinted in hardback by Severn House and Swift (pictorial boards).
Reprinted in paperback by Ravette in 1989.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Ravette paperback.
SUMMARY: The children find themselves mixed up in a kidnapping.

3) SECRETS AT BLACK PONY INN
FIRST PRINTED: PAN PAPERBACKS 1978
Paperback original. 
Reprinted in hardback by Severn House and Swift (pictorial boards).
Reprinted in paperback by Ravette in 1989.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Ravette paperback.
SUMMARY: More trouble arrives at the Inn in the form of the Travers family.

4) PRINCE AT BLACK PONY INN
FIRST PRINTED: PAN PAPERBACKS 1978
Paperback original. 
Reprinted in hardback by Severn House and Swift (pictorial boards).
Reprinted in paperback by Ravette in 1989.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Ravette paperback.
SUMMARY: Prince, a beautiful but troubled pony arrives to stay.

5) CATASTROPHE AT BLACK PONY INN
FIRST PRINTED: RAVETTE 1989
Paperback original.
Reprinted in hardback by Swift with pictorial boards.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition.
SUMMARY: A hurricane hits the stables.

6) GOOD DEEDS AT BLACK PONY INN
FIRST PRINTED: RAVETTE 1989
Paperback original.
Reprinted in hardback by Swift with pictorial boards.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition.
SUMMARY: Last in the series. The children attempt to raise money for a sick child but all does not go smoothly, especially when their Appeal is taken over by a newspaper who plans to exploit it for their own ends...

Other Editions:

ADVENTURE STORIES FROM BLACK PONY INN
FIRST PRINTED: AWARD 1998
SUMMARY: Hardback omnibus edition containing the first 3 books in the series

MORE ADVENTURE STORIES FROM BLACK PONY INN
FIRST PRINTED: AWARD 1999
SUMMARY: Hardback omnibus containing the last 3 books in series.

Collectors Info:
The paperbacks are very easy to find in the UK and the USA and are low cost. The omnibus editions are also easy to find. The Swift hardback editions are slightly rarer than the other editions, but still not hard to find.

Pony Patrol Series:
Adventure/mystery series. A group of children set up a mounted patrol to combat crime and solve mysteries.

1) PONY PATROL
FIRST PRINTED: DRAGON  PAPERBACKS 1977
ILLUSTRATED BY JENNIFER BELL (Simon & Schuster edition only)
Paperback original
Reprinted in hardback by Severn House in 1979.
Reprinted in hardback with pictorial boards by Simon & Schuster in 1991.
Reprinted in paperback by Simon and Schuster in 1992.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Simon & Schuster hardback.
SUMMARY: When an arsonist attacks the neighbourhood William and his friends set up a mounted patrol to try and find the culprit.

2) PONY PATROL S.O.S
FIRST PRINTED: DRAGON  PAPERBACKS 1977
ILLUSTRATED BY JENNIFER BELL (Simon & Schuster edition only)
Paperback original.
Reprinted in hardback by Severn House in 1979.
Reprinted in hardback with pictorial boards by Simon & Schuster in 1992.
Reprinted in paperback by Simon and Schuster in 1992.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Severn House hardback, Simon & Schuster paperback.
SUMMARY: The Pony Patrol get back together to find a girl lost on the marshes

3) PONY PATROL FIGHTS BACK
FIRST PRINTED: DRAGON  PAPERBACKS 1977
ILLUSTRATED BY JENNIFER BELL (Simon & Schuster edition only)
Paperback original.
Reprinted in hardback by Severn House in 1979.
Reprinted in hardback with pictorial boards by Simon & Schuster in 1992.
Reprinted in paperback by Simon and Schuster in 1992.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Severn House hardback, Simon & Schuster paperback.
SUMMARY: The Patrol find themselves threatened when they advertise their services

4) PONY PATROL AND THE MYSTERY HORSE
FIRST PRINTED: DRAGON  PAPERBACKS 1980
ILLUSTRATED BY JENNIFER BELL (Simon & Schuster edition only)
Paperback original.
Reprinted by Severn House in 1980.
Reprinted in hardback with pictorial boards by Simon & Schuster in 1992.
Reprinted in paperback by Simon and Schuster in 1992/1993.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Simon & Schuster paperback.
SUMMARY: The Patrol try and solve the mystery of an owner-less horse which keeps appearing every night

There was also a short story featuring the Pony Patrol in the author's book PONY PARADE (see Short Stories section below for more details of this book)

Collectors Info:
Easy to find in paperback in both the UK and USA. Hardbacks are a bit harder to find than paperbacks, however none are particular rare or valuable.

Ponies in the Park Series:
Series about a family who start their own animal park. Possibly not for very sensitive readers as contains some scenes of animal cruelty, especially the last in series.

1) PONIES IN THE PARK
FIRST PRINTED: BEAVER PAPERBACKS1982
Paperback original.
Reprinted in hardback by Severn House.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition.
SUMMARY: Rosie, Clara, Andy and their mother are left Park Farm by an elderly uncle. Rosie thinks her dreams have come true. At last they can live in the country and have ponies of their own. To make ends meet they decide to start an animal park. They also make a friend who teaches them to ride. But the park isn't making enough money and may have to be closed. Then the children save some endangered badgers and this leads to an unexpected upturn in their fortunes.
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES

2) PONIES IN THE BLIZZARD
FIRST PRINTED: BEAVER PAPERBACKS 1983
Paperback original.
Reprinted in hardback by Severn House in 1986.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Severn house edition.
SUMMARY: The children and their ponies become lost in a blizzard.
PONYMAD RATING: 2 HORSESHOES

3) PONIES IN THE FOREST
FIRST PRINTED: BEAVER PAPERBACKS 1984
Paperback original.
Reprinted in hardback by Severn House.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Severn house edition.
SUMMARY: A terrible event devastates the family.
PONYMAD RATING: HORSE DROPPING BOOBY PRIZE!

Collectors Info:
Fairly easy to find in the UK. The first one is easier to find than the other two. They are a lot harder to get hold of outside the UK. Hardback editions can be quite elusive.

Candy Series:
Short picture book series for younger readers about a pony called Candy and her young owners. (Not related in any way to A Foal for Candy.)

CANDY GOES TO THE GYMKHANA
FIRST PRINTED: LADYBIRD 1988
Reprinted in paperback by Paperbird in 1989.

CANDY STOPS A TRAIN
FIRST PRINTED: LADYBIRD 1988
Reprinted in paperback by Paperbird in 1989.

Collectors Info:
The first editions are small hardbacks with pictorial boards. The paperback reprints look almost identical. The books are quite easy to find in the UK and to a slightly lesser extent in the USA. The paperbacks are more common than the hardbacks.

Pony Series:
Younger reader's illustrated series in which the stories have something of a moral message.

I WANT THAT PONY
FIRST PRINTED: SIMON & SCHUSTER 1993
ILLUSTRATED BY GILLY MARKLEW
Reprinted in paperback by Hodder Wayland in 1994.
SUMMARY: A young girl befriends a pony that lives in a nearby field and wishes that it were hers.

THE BEST PONY FOR ME
FIRST PRINTED: MACDONALD 1995
ILLUSTRATED BY PETER CLOVER
Reprinted in paperback by Hodder Wayland in 1995.
SUMMARY: Sophie is desperately disappointed when she is given a dull, plodding pony, Maisie, to ride at the horse show.

THE PONY TEST
FIRST PRINTED: MACDONALD 1997
ILLUSTRATED BY GILLY MARKLEW
Reprinted in paperback by Hodder Wayland in 1997

THE PONY PICNIC
FIRST PRINTED: MACDONALD 1998
Reprinted in paperback by Hodder Wayland in 1998
SUMMARY: Claire is looking forward to the pony picnic. She collects many important things she may need on the trip. But when she gets to the riding school the other riders make fun of her overflowing rucksack. However, by the end of the day everyone is pleased that she was so well prepared.

Collectors Info:
They are at the moment fairly easy to find in paperback in the UK and the USA.

Horsehaven Series:
Series about a horse sanctuary. Can be down beat at times and does contain some scenes of animal cruelty. As well as being a horsy series, this also explores how the main character Cathy starts to grow up and learns to accept change.
PONYMAD SERIES RATING: 4 HORSESHOES
Read Review of series

1) HORSEHAVEN
FIRST RINTED: CAVALIER PAPERBACKS 1996
Paperback original.
Reprinted in paperback by Cavalier in 1999 (revised).
SUMMARY: Cathy spends her life at Jenny's riding school along with her best friend Josh. It seems like the end of the world when Jenny tells her that she can't afford to run the stables any longer and is auctioning it off. But when no-one will buy the property, they decide to start a horse rescue centre instead and become a charity. Things don't run smoothly when a rich girl called Sammy turns up and threatens Cathy's friendship with Josh, and one of their favourite horses goes missing. Yet the worst blow for Cathy is when her parents announce they are moving away. How can she survive without Horsehaven?

2) HAVOC AT HORSEHAVEN
FIRST RINTED: CAVALIER PAPERBACKS 1999
Paperback original.
Reprinted in paperback by Cavalier.
SUMMARY: With Jenny is hospital, Cathy is left alone at Horsehaven one night to cope single-handed. As luck would have it, there is an attack on the centre that very night! There are more money problems and Cathy is worried that she will not be able to pay for a bet she made with Sammy. But it is Cathy who manages to solve everyone's problems in a most unexpected way.

3) HORSEHAVEN LIVES ON
FIRST RINTED: CAVALIER PAPERBACKS 1999
Paperback original.
SUMMARY: A new helper arrives at Horsehaven, an old but horsy woman called Alice. It is the first of many changes at Horsehaven. But as always money is a problem.  Jenny's partner Mark has left her and is threatening to sue her if she does not pay money she owes him and an arson attack burns all the season's hay stores. Desperate for money, Jenny is contemplating selling some of the land which contains Cathy's favourite bluebell wood. How can it be saved?

Collectors Info:
Still in print as of March 2019. and can be bought direct from Cavalier Paperbacks. Used copies are fairly easy to find in UK and USA.

Other Horse & Pony Books:

IT BEGAN WITH PICOTEE
(With Diana & Josephine Pullein-Thompson)
FIRST PRINTED: A & C BLACK 1946
ILLUSTRATED BY ROSEMARY ROBERTSON
COLLECTOR'S INFO: Not reprinted. Fairly rare, especially with jacket.
SUMMARY: Early collaboration by all three sisters, written when they were just teenagers.
PONYMAD RATING: 2 HORSESHOES

WE RODE TO THE SEA
FIRST PRINTED: COLLINS 1948
ILLUSTRATED BY MIL BROWN
Reprinted in hardback by Collins with a different dustwrapper.
Reprinted in hardback with pictorial boards as part of the Collins Pony Library (number 23) in 1973.
Reprinted in paperback by Armada in 1965.
COLLECTOR'S INFO: First edition rare. The other editions are easier to find but still not that common.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Collins hardback reprint, Armada paperback, Collins Pony Library edition
SUMMARY: Christine's first solo novel. An adventure set on a long distance ride. The Macgregors set off on a riding tour of the Highlands and find more excitement than they bargained for…
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

RIDERS FROM AFAR
FIRST PRINTED: COLLINS 1954
ILLUSTRATED BY CHARLOTTE HOUGH
Reprinted in hardback by Collins a couple of time in the 1950s/60s.
Reprinted in hardback with pictorial boards as part of the Collins Pony Library (number 6) in 1972
Reprinted in hardback  by White Lion.
Reprinted in paperback by Armada in 1968.
COLLECTOR'S INFO: The first edition and the White Lion are the hardest editions to find, the paperback the easiest.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Collins Pony Library edition, White Lion edition, Armada paperback.
SUMMARY: Two very different pairs of kids, from England and the USA, learn to get along, with the help of horses of course!
PONYMAD RATING: 5 HORSESHOES

A DAY TO GO HUNTING
FIRST PRINTED: COLLINS 1956
ILLUSTRATED BY SHEILA ROSE
Reprinted in paperback by Armada in 1969 and 1975.
COLLECTOR'S INFO: First editions fairly rare, Armada paperback editions quite common. As far as I know there were no other editions.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Armada paperbacks.
SUMMARY: A day in the life of a group of characters united by a hunt.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

STOLEN PONIES
FIRST PRINTED: COLLINS 1957
ILLUSTRATED BY SHEILA ROSE
Reprinted in hardback with pictorial boards as part of the Collins Pony Library (number 4) in 1973
Reprinted in paperback by Armada in 1964, 1974, 1983.
Reprinted in paperback by Cavalier in 1994.
COLLECTOR'S INFO: The first edition and Collins Pony Library edition are rare, but the paperbacks are easy to find. The Cavalier edition is still in print as of 2019 and can be bought directly from Cavalier Paperbacks
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Armada paperbacks, Collins Pony Library edition, Cavalier paperback.
SUMMARY: When their parents marry the Richardson and O'Connor children dislike each other intensely,  but they have to learn to get on in order to save some wild moorland ponies from death.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

THE IMPOSSIBLE HORSE
(Originally written under name of Christine Keir)
FIRST PRINTED: EVANS 1957
ILLUSTRATED BY MAURICE TULLOCH
Originally published under the pseudonym of Christine Keir.
Reprinted in paperback by Knight under the author's real name.
COLLECTOR'S INFO: First edition published under the Christine Keir name is quite rare, paperbacks are fairly easy to find.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Armada paperback
SUMMARY: Seventeen year old Jan has left school and is breaking and schooling horses for a living. After a hunting accident, everyone says the bay horse Benedictine is too dangerous to ride but jan is determined to prove them wrong and prove he can be a champion. Aimed at a slightly older readership than the other books.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 - 4 HORSESHOES

RIDE BY NIGHT
FIRST PRINTED: COLLINS 1960
ILLUSTRATED BY SHEILA ROSE
Reprinted in hardback by the Childrens Book Club in 1961.
Reprinted in hardback with pictorial boards as part of the Collins Pony Library (number 25) in 1974.
Reprinted in paperback by Armada in 1967 and 1979.
COLLECTOR'S INFO: Not a particularly hard title to find. The Collins Pony Library edition and firsts with dustwrappers can be quite elusive, however.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Collins Pony Library edition, Armada paperbacks.
SUMMARY: Desmond and Sheila decide to go camping with their ponies and get mixed up in a dangerous adventure.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

THE HORSE SALE
FIRST PRINTED: COLLINS 1960
ILLUSTRATED BY SHEILA ROSE 
Reprinted in hardback by Collins in 1962.
Reprinted in paperback by Armada in 1971 and 1979.
COLLECTOR'S INFO: Although the first edition is rare the 1962 hardback reprint and the paperbacks are quite easy to find and usually low cost.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Armada paperbacks.
SUMMARY: Excellent novel, one of author's best, about the effect an upcoming horse sale has on a group of characters and their horses. For Olga and Maurice it signals disaster and could mean the loss of their beloved ponies, but for Edwin it heralds the excitement of buying his own horse.
PONYMAD RATING: 5 HORSESHOES

LITTLE BLACK PONY
FIRST PUBLISHED: HAMISH HAMILTON 1967
Published as part of the Reindeer Library series of books.
COLLECTOR'S INFO: Rare, but not usually too expensive.
SUMMARY: Picture book for younger readers.
PONYMAD RATING: 2 HORSESHOES

I RODE A WINNER
FIRST PRINTED: ARMADA PAPERBACKS 1973
Paperback original.
Reprinted in hardback by Severn House in 1984.
Reprinted in paperback by Armada in 1979.
Reprinted in paperback by Cavalier in 1994.
Published in the USA in paperback by Scholastic.
COLLECTOR'S INFO: First edition is paperback and not too hard to find. All paperback reprints are easy to find. The least common edition is the Severn House hardback. Cavalier edition still in print as of 2019 and can be bought directly from Cavalier Paperbacks website.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition (paperback), Armada paperback, Severn House hardback, Cavalier paperback, USA Scholastic edition.
SUMMARY: A classic traditional pony story. A girl forgets her family troubles as she learns to ride and eventually trains a show jumper.
PONYMAD RATING: 5 HORSESHOES
Read Review

A PONY IN DISTRESS
FIRST PRINTED: CAVALIER PAPERBACKS 1994
COLLECTOR'S INFO: Still in print as of March 2019. Can be bought direct from the Cavalier Paperbacks website.
SUMMARY: A misfit young boy and a neglected pony form a deep bond in this excellent emotional story.
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES

SUNDANCE SAVES THE DAY
FIRST PRINTED: CAVALIER PAPERBACKS 1997
COLLECTORS INFO: Quite rare but usually cheap.
SUMMARY: Special story written to tie in with the
Julip model horse toys, which are pony characters in the book. Aimed at a much younger readership than the majority of the author's books.

Collectors Info:
For individual  book information see above. All of the hardback first editions are fairly rare with jackets. The rarest is It Began with Picotee, especially with a jacket. The hardest of the other books to find is Little Black Pony, however it is not usually fairly low cost. All the others have been reprinted in paperback, some many times, and are quite common, especially if you just want a reading copy.
The only book that I know had a USA edition is
I Rode A Winner, but there may be more. In any case most of the books can be found in some shape or form in America without too much bother.
Some of these (see above) are still in print and can be bought directly from the publisher  Cavalier Paperbacks.

Short Story Collections & Miscellanea
Christine also wrote many short stories, most of which are collected in various volumes:

FOLLYFOOT PONY QUIZ BOOK
FIRST PRINTED: PICCOLO PB 1974
Paperback original.
SUMMARY: Book of pony quizzes, relating to the TV show in title only as the actual Follyfoot content is negligible.

THE PULLEIN-THOMPSON TREASURY OF HORSE AND PONY STORIES
(With Diana and Josephine Pullein-Thompson)
FIRST PRINTED: AWARD 1995
ILLUSTRATED BY ERIC ROWE
First edition is a hardback with pictorial boards.
Reprinted again in pictorial hardback by Award.
Reprinted in hardback and paperback by Award in 2015.
SUMMARY: Contains many pony stories from all three sisters which were first published in various pony annuals, plus lots more other stories.
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES

BEDTIME PONY STORIES
FIRST PRINTED: CAVALIER PAPERBACKS 1997
Paperback original.
SUMMARY: Pony stories aimed at younger readers

MORE BEDTIME PONY STORIES
FIRST PRINTED: CAVALIER PAPERBACKS 1997
Paperback original.
SUMMARY: Pony stories aimed at younger readers

INCREDIBLE PONY TALES
FIRST PRINTED: CAVALIER PAPERBACKS 1997
Paperback original.
SUMMARY: Pony stories aimed at younger readers

MAGICAL PONY TALES
FIRST PRINTED: CAVALIER PAPERBACKS 1997
Paperback original.
SUMMARY: Pony stories with a fantasy element aimed at younger readers

Collectors Info:
Apart from the Treasury, the books were all original paperback first editions. As of March 2019 the Treasury is still in print in paperback and so is Magical Pony Tales which can be bought direct from the publisher at Cavalier Paperbacks or the usual internet bookshops. The other paperbacks can be found second-hand without too much trouble in the UK and USA.

Short Stories in Other Books & Collections:
This section includes stories by the author which were not included in the above short story collections. They are from collections edited by other authors or from various pony annuals. The stories from the girl's annuals tend to have a romantic element in keeping with the annual's themes.

This list may not be exhaustive: there could be more stories out there! If you know of any others please let me know. Many thanks to Dawn for her help with the girl's annuals and use of pictures.

THE VICIOUS CIRCLE
in PONY CLUB BOOK NO. 10
FIRST PRINTED: NALDRETT 1959
ILLUSTRATED BY HELEN COLLINS
SUMMARY OF BOOK: One of a long running series of annuals produced to tie in with the eponymous Pony Club. Includes other short stories and many articles and photos. See the Pony Club Annuals web page for more info.
SUMMARY OF STORY: Why will Sunstar only jump at home?

A JOB IN LIFE
in THE CRACKERJACK BOOK FOR GIRLS
FIRST PRINTED:  CHILDREN'S PRESS - date unknown
ILLUSTRATED BY SHEILA ROSE
SUMMARY OF BOOK: Large annual sized book of short stories aimed at girls. The book also includes a short pony story called
The Telegram by Monica Edwards
SUMMARY OF STORY: Judy leaves school and embarks upon a career working with horses.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

STAR PUPIL
in OUR OWN SCHOOLGIRL'S ANNUAL
FIRST PRINTED: WORLD - date unknown
SUMMARY OF BOOK: Collection of quality stories aimed at girls. Also includes stories by authors Mollie Chappell and Dorothy Clewes, amongst many others.
SUMMARY OF STORY: When Sheila starts to ride she feels that she is hopeless and everyone is laughing at her, and finds it hard to make friends at the local pony club. Will the pony club dance change things for her?
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

UNEXPECTED HUNT
in DAILY MAIL ANNUAL FOR GIRLS
FIRST PRINTED: DAILY MAIL- date unknown
SUMMARY OF STORY: Cherry is sad as she can't afford to hire a horse for the upcoming hunt and she is also afraid that she won't be able to get a job with horses and will have to work in an office. She decides to go on the hunt anyhow as a foot follower and events transpire there which change her life completely!
PONYMAD RATING: 3 - 4 HORSESHOES

A NEW BEGINNING
in COLLINS GIRLS ANNUAL
FIRST PRINTED: COLLINS 1958
SUMMARY OF STORY: When Janet's father goes to prison for embezzlement she feels like a pariah and thinks no-one will want to talk to her again. She starts to train problem ponies to make some money, but finds it hard to mix with the other teenagers at the Pony Club. A fall from one of her mounts makes an unexpected change in her life when she is rescued by the handsome Patrick.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

THE VANISHING PONY
in RIDE LIKE THE WIND (Edited by Wendy Cooling)
FIRST PRINTED: ORION PAPERBACKS 1997
Paperback original.
SUMMARY OF BOOK: Small book of only 5 stories but they are of good quality and include offerings from Jane Ayres and Pamela Kavanagh, as well as Christine. More info on the British Short Story Collections page.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES
SUMMARY OF STORY: A girl's pony is lonely by himself and goes missing, looking for for company. The solution to the problem also brings a new friend for his owner.
PONYMAD RATING: 2 HORSESHOES

Collectors Info:
The old annuals may be quite hard to find, especially outside of the UK. Price can vary enormously so it may be worth shopping around. Ride Like the Wind is an easy to find small paperback.

Short Story Collections Edited By The Author:
Christine edited a number of books of short stories and other compilations which included works by various authors as well as herself and her two sisters.

All of the following books are explored in much more detail (including a list of stories in each) in the British Short Story Collections web-page.

A PONY SCRAPBOOK
(By various authors)
FIRST PRINTED: PAN PAPERBACKS 1972
Paperback original.
SUMMARY: Compilation of stories, articles, quizzes, etc by various authors.

A SECOND PONY SCRAPBOOK
(By various authors)
FIRST PRINTED: PAN PAPERBACKS 1973
Paperback original.
SUMMARY: Compilation of stories, articles, quizzes, etc by various authors

CPT'S BOOK OF PONY STORIES
(By various authors)
FIRST PRINTED: MACMILLAN PAPERBACKS 1975
Paperback original.
SUMMARY: Book of short stories by various authors.

THE SECOND BOOK OF PONY STORIES
(By various authors)
FIRST PRINTED: MACMILLAN PAPERBACKS 1977
Paperback original.
SUMMARY: Book of short stories by various authors.

PONY PARADE
(By various authors)
FIRST PRINTED: DRAGON PAPERBACKS 1978
Paperback original.
SUMMARY: Compilation of stories, verses and other horse-related bits and bobs by various authors.

HORSE AND PONY STORIES CHOSEN BY CPT
(By various authors)
FIRST PRINTED: KINGFISHER 1992
ILLUSTRATED BY VICTOR AMBRUS
Reprinted in paperback in 1994 and then subsequently with different covers in 1997 and 2003.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, 1994, 1997 & 2003 paperbacks.
SUMMARY: Book of short stories by various authors including one by Christine herself and one by sister Diana (both these stories can also be found in
The Pullein-Thompson Treasury of Horse and Pony Stories)

THUNDERING HOOVES
aka MORE HORSE AND PONY STORIES CHOSEN BY CPT
aka
RIDING STORIES CHOSEN BY CPT
(By various authors)

FIRST PRINTED: KINGFISHER 1996
ILLUSTRATED BY VICTOR AMBRUS
Reprinted in paperback by Kingfisher.
Reprinted in paperback in 1998 when it was re-titled.
Reprinted in paperback in 2005 when it was again re-titled.
Also an American edition published by Kingfisher.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First paperback reprint, 1998 & 2005 paperbacks.
SUMMARY: Book of short stories and excerpts, including a story by sister Diana.

Collectors Info:
Most of the books are fairly easy to find, especially in the UK. Some of the older books may be harder to find in the USA and elsewhere. Annoying title changes make it easy to duplicate the later collections, consult the above list to prevent this!

Books about the author:

FAIR GIRLS AND GREY HORSES
By Christine, Diana & Josephine Pullein-Thompson
FIRST PRINTED: ALLISON & BUSBY 1996
Reprinted in paperback by Allison & Busby a number of times.
Also a large print edition published by Isis in 1997 in both hardback and paperback.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1990s and 2014 paperbacks, large print edition.
SUMMARY: Joint autobiography of the three Pullein-Thompson sisters. Written with Diana and Josephine. Suitable for adults or older children.

Collectors Info:
At time of this update (March 2019) the book is in print in the UK and USA. Used editions are also fairly easy to find.