The Pony Club Book again

The Pony Club Book Number 1

Threshold Books Ltd

Editor: not specified.  Editorial Assistant:  Suzannah Staley
Date of publication:  1985
 

Yet another new format saw the light of day.  Certainly as far as content went, it was a return to
the 1950s, with articles of general horsy interest, such as The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and

Horses as Actors.  Joan Wanklyn returned to the fold with an article on perspective.  There were
short stories too: both written by authors much better known for other things!  Elisabeth Beresford
wrote the Wombles series, and Kate Robertson the Dilbert the aeroplane books.

Short stories:

Elisabeth Beresford:  The Island Pony.  Caroline moves from London to a small island.  Island life
seems grim until she meets Ilona, who is ponymad.  

The Rag and Bone Pony:  Two farm children go to stay with their uncle, who is a Bishop in a South
London diocese.  They find a rag and bone pony who must be sold because his owner is retiring.

The Pony Club Book Number 2

Threshold Books Ltd

Editor: not specified.
Date of publication:  1988

It took three years before another Annual was published, but when it appeared, it followed the same
format as Pony Club Book 1.  Reflecting changing times, this annual had an article from Kit Houghton
on photographing horses. Sylvia Loch wrote on The Warrior Breed, and Kate Robertson contributed
another story.

Short stories:

Louise Johnson: Lord of the Horses (illus the author).  A fantasy, in which Galaxos, Lord of the Ice
Horses, is threatened by a war lord’s desire to catch him.

Playing Hard to Get:  a fictionalised diary on catching a ponywho doesn’t want to be caught!

Kate Robertson:  To Catch a Thief.  Saddle rustlers threaten the Pony Club’s plans to compete.

The Pony Club Book Number 3

The Pony Club

Editor: Barbara Cooper
Date of publication:  1995

There was an even longer gap in publication between this Annual and its predecessor:  7 years.  The
mixture remained as before, with a mix of factual articles, stories and pictures.  There was a lovely
article on the artist and sculptor Frederic Reminton, as well as, on the lighter side, Cooking for Your
Pony.   

Short Stories:

Louise E Johnson:  The Horse from the Sea.  A girl meets a horse from the sea, and goes for a ride
that at first seems wonderful.

Elisabeth Beresford:  The Girl Who Didn’t Like Ponies.  Bibi moves from London to the country. She

is horrified to meet horsy people, and even more horrified to be bought a pony.

The Pony Club Annual 2009

Publisher:  the Pony Club

Editor:  none stated

Date of publication: 2009

There are no short stories at all in this new Annual.  It’s really a photographic record of the Pony Club
year.