The Taronga Road Riders is a series of eight books by this American author, set in Australia, about the Pokey Creek Pony Club. Toy Martin seems a force to be recognised with: when she was just 22, she had already been an Olympic speed skater. She migrated to Australia, and represented them in orienteering (about which she has also written books). Riding was a later accomplishment for her, but her two children were keen riders, and she became very active in her local pony club.
Many, many thanks to Danyele for all her help with this series. Almost all the information here comes from her, and I am extremely grateful!
Finding the books: alas the Taronga Road Riders series is very hard to find. Even in their native Australia they are uncommon. You might like to try ebay Australia for copies.
Toy Martin
Behind the Barricade, Taronga Road Riders 1
Millennium Books, Newton, NSW, 1991,
157 pp, paperback.
A Bird in the Hand, Taronga Road Riders 2
Millennium Books, Newton, NSW. 1991, ISBN
0 85574 324 7, 160 pp, paperback.
Blurb:
"What's that?"
"Somebody has blocked off the trail!"
"Why?"
Elizabeth the
oldest of the Taronga Road Riders, glared down at the bulldozers's work." This is
going to present a problem for the pony club on Saturday..."
"Well, it's not a problem
for us, is it?" said Matt.
"Oh,no," said Zoey, quick to catch the drift.
"Not for me,
either," put in Amanda.
With the youngest rider, Brook leading the way on Ryan, the
kids from Taronga Road jumped the barricade and rode on-
Blurb:
It was hard to believe that the odd looking woman in the large, steel toed
boots, and the large mix of blubber and muscle that was her husband, were related
to neat, elegant Amanda.
But it was very easy for the Taronga Road Riders to believe
that the this strange couple were up to something illegal. Then comes the discovery
of the black cockatoo caught in a trap, and the kids feel sure they have stumbled
onto a bird smuggling racket. While Elizabeth struggles to teach a disabled boy to
ride, and Matt has to face up to a power hungry trainer with his eye on Mad Max,
a young park ranger in a silver Porsche and his older partner complicate life even
more-
Fakes and Fast Horses, Taronga Road Riders 3
Millennium Books, Newton, NSW, 1992,
ISBN 0 85574 912 1, 161 pp, paperback.
Secret Stock, Taronga Road Riders 4
Millennium Books, Newton, NSW, 1992. ISBN 0 85574
913 X, 170 pp, paperback.
The Price of a Prize, Taronga Road Riders 5
Millennium Books, Newton, NSW, 1993, ISBN
0 85574 918 0, 117 pp, paperback.
Blurb:
Zoey couldn't believe what was happening. The Taronga Road Riders were enjoying
their camping trip to the Bimminy River Showground and a whole lot of new riding
adventures, and now she had gotten herself into this mess! Here was this funny kid
Quinn tearing around the track at full speed on Miss Ashworth's precious Esky-
Blurb:
It was going to be hard to like the new girl in the neighbourhood, with all
her money and talk of buying dressage horses from America and her fabulous brick
stable. The Taronga Road Riders think there is something funny about her father's
business too. But they have a lot of other things on their minds: Matt is into 'positive
mental picture techniques' in preperation for his first official horse trial. Amanda
breaks her ankle in two places when Lightning decides to try a rodeo buck, and Mrs.
Perrin soon has Lightning up for sale despite the TRR"s loud protests. Suddenly it
becomes a question of who's hiding what!...
Blurb:
Brook's mum wins a week of lessons from a famous dressage instructor, but
when Pippi Heatherington turns out to be 'the leopard lady', Rosie's prize becomes
a nightmare. Elizabeth and her boyfreind take on a legal challenge for ownership
of Lizzie and a recuperating Amanda starts her very own business. Through all this
Zoey is hurting...If Matt is turning from horses to motorcycles, where does that
leave their friendship?
Odd Bods, Taronga Road Riders 6
Millennium Books, Newton, NSW, 1993’ ISBN 0 85574
917 2, 123 pp, paperback.
Blurb:
Amanda's broken ankle is finally out of the cast and she's allowed to ride
again -
Brook's confidence is getting
a shaking too, not from a fall but from a neglected fifty dollar pinto pony that
Rosie finds out in the country. There's something odd about Chief Crazy Horse. Even
Willy knows that!
Matt thinks he's lost his drive for eventing, but is it his dad's
doing? Bruno wants him to concentrate on learning the family business, not playing
with horses. Matt makes up his mind. And Brook makes her choice too, when she has
the chance to own an advanced eventer...
Go For it!, Taronga Road Riders 7
Millennium Books, Newton NSW,1993, ISBN 0 85574
937 7, 121 pp, paperback.
Go For it!, Taronga Road Riders 7
Millennium Books, Newton NSW,1993, ISBN 0 85574
937 7, 121 pp, paperback.
Light Fingered Lessons, Taronga Road Riders 8
Millennium
Books, Newton, NSW, 1993 ISBN 0 85574 920 2, 121 pp, paperback.
Blurb:
Being the best and fastest is a problem for a timid newcomer named Adrian,
but his father is the one who learns a lesson the hard way. Amanda has a problem
too. Her ankle has healed, but her riding confidence seems gone for good. And Lightning
is behaving in a strange, wild manner. Desperate not to let the Amanda-
Bibliography -
Taronga Road
Behind the Barricade
A Bird in the Hand
Fakes and Fast Horses
Secret Stock
The Price
of a Prize
Odd Bods
Light Fingered Lessons
Go For It!