Post by haffyfan on Nov 14, 2007 21:54:46 GMT 1
Kunuma mentioned these and starting a thread so here goes
Peter Grey is not the best known author of pony stories and the Kit Hunter books, well you love them or hate them with no in between. I fall into the love catergary and if you overlook the fact that the author was clearly writing to a spec and appears to have very little, if any, equine knowledge, what you are left with is actually an entertaining and well written story. It is hard to get over the gross equine blunders at first but once you do the story's will capture you.
They follow the adventures of recently orphaned Kit, who goes to live with her Uncle (of the family friend variety). Here she meets Mary Trent and first comes across Wild One, a south American cross, bred by the colonel but now living on the moors. Kit captures and trains him and 'overnight' turns him into the best show jumper in the world...oh it's so easy....the series see's her travelling around the world, solving mysteries along the way (very Nancy Drew) and competing in a variety of show Jumping events in each continent she visits. The First editions have the most beautiful Dust Jackets however when reprinted in the 70's they went on the 'Nancy Drew' theme and you would hardly realise some were pony stories. The 80's reprints were even worse and the person in charge should be shot. I particually like the ones where Kit looks ready to audition for fame! I know leg warmers were big in the 80's but did we really ride in them?
There is one glaring mistake on the back of the original dust jackets where it tells you to travel the world with Kit Hunter and the coal-black Dixie. However in the first book we are told Dixie was the name of the pony Colonel Hamden bought for a young Kit, who had died prior to the start of these stories.
Peter Grey is not the best known author of pony stories and the Kit Hunter books, well you love them or hate them with no in between. I fall into the love catergary and if you overlook the fact that the author was clearly writing to a spec and appears to have very little, if any, equine knowledge, what you are left with is actually an entertaining and well written story. It is hard to get over the gross equine blunders at first but once you do the story's will capture you.
They follow the adventures of recently orphaned Kit, who goes to live with her Uncle (of the family friend variety). Here she meets Mary Trent and first comes across Wild One, a south American cross, bred by the colonel but now living on the moors. Kit captures and trains him and 'overnight' turns him into the best show jumper in the world...oh it's so easy....the series see's her travelling around the world, solving mysteries along the way (very Nancy Drew) and competing in a variety of show Jumping events in each continent she visits. The First editions have the most beautiful Dust Jackets however when reprinted in the 70's they went on the 'Nancy Drew' theme and you would hardly realise some were pony stories. The 80's reprints were even worse and the person in charge should be shot. I particually like the ones where Kit looks ready to audition for fame! I know leg warmers were big in the 80's but did we really ride in them?
There is one glaring mistake on the back of the original dust jackets where it tells you to travel the world with Kit Hunter and the coal-black Dixie. However in the first book we are told Dixie was the name of the pony Colonel Hamden bought for a young Kit, who had died prior to the start of these stories.