Richard Ball

Jane Badger Books

Richard Ball

Richard Ball wrote about Broncho, an army horse who became a showjumper. I think the story is based on Col. Malise Graham and his horse Broncho. Graham rode the veteran charger at Olympia. To the right is a portrait of him, from Country Life, 6th July, 1929. Richard Ball imagined a history for Broncho. The book is sought after now for its wonderful illustrations by G D Armour, who also illustrated Penny Farthing, the story of a colt and his progress in the racing world.

Finding the books: the limited edition of Broncho is very expensive: reasonable reprints with dustjackets are usually reasonably priced. Penny Farthing is generally more expensive than the run of Broncho copies, though not as expensive as the limited edition.

Broncho, an Imaginary Biography of a Horse
Country Life, London, 1930, illus G D Armour

Limited edition of 200 copies, Country Life, 1930, Quarter tan morocco and red cloth.

Reprinted 1932,

Rober Arbuthnot rescues Broncho from bad treatment at
the hands of a dealer, and forms an undying bond with the
horse. Their story takes them from hunting and point to
point, through the First World War and on to Olympia.

Hounds Will Meet (I suspect this is non fiction)
Country Life, London, 1931, illus Lionel Edwards

Penny Farthing
Country Life, London, 1931, illus G D Armour

This is the story of Penny Farthing, race horse, from
foalhood through to his racing career. More than a
portrait of a horse, the book also shows the full gamut
of racing life: “the tout, the tipster, the stable lad, the
"big" breeder and the "small", the stud groom and his
underlings, the auctioneers, the fellows who lay and take
the odds - we meet them all, looking just as we know
them.”

Left - Broncho
Right - Penny Farthing

Bibliography