The Collins Pony Library titles were published in the 1970s, and mostly featured books they had already published, but in a different format.  The books were published as hardbacks with specially commissioned pictorial covers, and no dustjackets.  The books were cheaper than the originals, and the paper quality was not particularly good:  surviving books tend to have browned pages.  However, the Pony Library was an excellent way for the pony mad child to buy a better quality book than the paperbacks.  I had three titles myself as a child, and they had pride of place amongst my library.  If I could have found more (rural Northamptonshire was a bit restricted on what it allowed the pony book buyer) I would have bought them.  When I look back at them now, they have lost their visual appeal:  but I thought them the last word in sophistication when I was young. Collins had obviously carefully worked out what would appeal to the pony-mad girl and they gave it to her:  bright, sometimes crudely coloured covers with a slightly other-world quality.

The Collins Pony Library included some titles it published as first editions: Patricia Leitch’s Rebel Pony and Pony Surprise. Her Afraid to Ride, First Pony, and Jacky Jumps to the Top were all originally published under the name Jane Eliot in the Collins Spitfire Series. Stable to Let, by Lilias Edwards is the only other book to be specially commissioned, as far as I can see.  

As to whether any of the books are abridged, it’s probable, apart from the first editions of course.  The Monica Edwards titles have had some alterations.  From John Allsup’s site on Monica Edwards, I gather that Wish for a Pony has lost its frontispiece, but is otherwise the same.  Cargo of Horses has lost 4 illustrations.  No Entry is abridged, and has only 5 of the original illustrations. Black Hunting Whip is abridged.  The new front cover is by Geoffrey Whittam.

How often, if at all, the Pony Library titles were reprinted is difficult to tell.  The British Library doesn’t list any reprints, but then it doesn’t have all the titles anyway, so this is not conclusive!  At any rate, Collins did not continue the Pony Library into the 1980s.   My enquiries with Collins are, so far, unfruitful, so I assume sales simply didn’t warrant their re-printing!  

Many thanks to Bettina for supplying the photographs from her epic collection.

The titles

5  We Hunted Hounds: Christine Pullein-Thompson

1  Wish for a Pony: Monica Edwards

2  Cargo of Horses: Monica Edwards

3  No Entry
Monica Edwards

4  Stolen Ponies: Christine Pullein-Thompson

10  Pony Club Camp: Josephine Pullein-Thompson

6  Riders from Afar: Christine Pullein-Thompson

7  Horses at Home: Diana Pullein-Thompson

8  I Wanted a Pony: Diana Pullein-Thompson

9  Riding with the Lyntons: Diana Pullein-Thompson

15  Jacky Jumps to the Top: Patricia Leitch (1973)

11  Pony Club Team: Josephine Pullein-Thompson

12  One Day Event: Josephine Pullein-Thompson

13  Stable to Let: Lilias Edwards  (1973)

14  First Pony: Patricia Leitch (1973)

20  Afraid to Ride: Patricia Leitch (1973 Leitch (1973)

16  Ponies on the Heather: Frances Murray (1973)

17  The Surprise Riding Club: Elinore Havers  (1973)

18  A Pony for Two: Denise Hill (1973)

19  Rebel Pony: Patricia Leitch (1973)

25  Ride by Night: Christine Pullein-Thompson (1974)

21  Clear Round: Pamela Macgregor-Morris (1973)

22  The Trick Jumpers: Josephine Pullein-Thompson (1973)

23  We Rode to the Sea: Christine Pullein-Thompson (1973)

24  A Pony for Sale: Diana Pullein-Thompson (1973)

30  Pony Surprise: Patricia Leitch (1974)

26  Three Ponies and Shannan: Diana Pullein-Thompson (1974)

27  I Had Two Ponies: Josephine Pullein-Thompson  (1974)

28  Show Jumping Secret: Josephine Pullein-Thompson (1974)

29  Black Hunting Whip: Monica Edwards  (1974)