Jill Has Two Ponies

Jane Badger Books

Jill Has Two Ponies

Synopsis

The different versions

Original Hodder & Stoughton printing
1952 Illustrated by Caney

Armada 1960s
Cover by Mary Gernat
Illus Caney

Knight 1973
Cover W D Underwood, text illustrations by Bonar Dunlop

Knight 1983
Cover David Cox Studios

Knight 1980s
Cover uncredited
Illus Bonar Dunlop

Abridgements: a small section at the beginning of Chapter 2 where Jill’s mother buys cigarettes is cut in the Knight version. Interestingly, this is also cut from the Hampton Library hardback - early political correctness? It’s difficult to see that including it would have made much difference to the length.

Jill and her mother come to see the Penberthys, who own Rapide, whom Jill’s mother hopes will be her promised new pony. However, Rapide seems to take an instant dislike to Jill, and the feeling is mutual. Jill also can’t bear his jumping action: she describes him as “the rocking-horse fly”. However, Jill doesn’t want to be beaten by Rapide so they buy him. She is completely unenthusiastic when he arrives, to the extent of stabling him at Mrs Darcy’s. Once Mrs Darcy points out Rapide’s behaviour is probably due to being ill-treated at his previous home Jill has a change of heart. Jill and Ann find, and lose a hound: Jill and Diana have a duck hunt when they try and ring Diana’s aunt’s ducks (helped by Mercy Dulbottle). Mrs Darcy’s stables are going through a hard time because of competition from the new Lime Farm, so Jill and her friends start a club to Boost Mrs Darcy. The club withers fairly soon: but then Mrs Darcy has to go and look after her brother’s horses, so Jill and her friends help at the stables. There is a wobble when Mrs Darcy’s Blue Smoke has a fit of the vapours and convinces Wendy and Jill that she is dying, but otherwise all goes well: Jill succeeds in teaching the three Cholly-Sawcutt girls to ride, and their famous father, Captain Cholly-Sawcutt does an open day for the stables. The Lime Farm Stables close, owing money everywhere, and the book ends with Jill coming second on Rapide in the Hunter Trials.

Hampton Library edition
Illustrated by Caney

Knight 1990s
Cover uncredited
Not illustrated

Knight 1960s
Cover by Bonar Dunlop
Illus Bonar Dunlop

Knight 1990s
Cover Adrian Lascom
Not illustrated

Hodder, 1974
Frontis Elizabeth Grant