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Post by Claire on Apr 17, 2009 20:46:28 GMT 1
Oh yes Darkling and Blind Beauty what fab books! KMP is a ***ing genius! ;D Kunuma, Cross country pony is the one where they start an animal holiday centre in the hope that one of their customers will be a pony (as you do!) and they do in fact end up with a pony called Harold, ugly and cantankerous but a brilliant jumper - when he is in the mood. I think its good fun.
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Post by cally on Apr 21, 2009 13:16:26 GMT 1
I finished Crab the Roan at 11.30pm last night so picked up Janet must Ride to have something to read (can't get to sleep if I don't read). Found Crab a bit...dunno; not dull, but I couldn't get into it all that much because the characters were a bit shallow (sorry Crab fans). Printed out Stables at Hampton (ta Claire) so will probably start that tonight.
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Post by Claire on Apr 21, 2009 19:51:28 GMT 1
Aghh!!! Crab the roan dull its one of my favourite books! Going to sulk in a corner ;D
Oh damn it had to come out of the corner and say The Stables at Hampton is really good! Have you read the Team at Low Moor or Sweet Rock also by Gillian Baxter, Cally?
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Post by cally on Apr 22, 2009 1:10:42 GMT 1
No, I think this is my 1st Baxter book. So far it reads like a Leitch Ginny book- red haired, pale skinned horse nut from a grimy town...mmm. Re Crab, not into hunting or racing at all and hate that competitive win at all costs even if the horse dies under you bollocks, tho I was pleased when she pulled him up before the finish. I liked all of the characters but I felt that the main one, Anna, was curiously underdeveloped. Crab was the star however.
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Post by trixiepony on Apr 22, 2009 6:29:21 GMT 1
I have been reading my Jill books I have just finished Jill and the runaway and now reading Rosettes for Jill.
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Post by beswickcollector on Apr 22, 2009 11:15:38 GMT 1
Crab is not a dull book, it is just so unrealistic, more of a fairy story! I was given a copy for Christm as1958, only because my father bought it brand new in a book sale. I hated the pink cover with race horses on but I read it and it was quite good . I think the reason it is a rare book is because by the 1950s little girls wanted books on gymkhanas and show jumping in brightly coloured DJs and Crab looked more like a 1930s book. I don't think there were any 14yr old girls in Britain who would prefer an ancient roan cob to a lively chestnut arab. Didn't Conrad do well, zero to hero so quickly! I do not want to spoil the plot for anyone who has not read it. Last year I read Poor Badger and the plot is reversed and it is more realistic. A star jumping pony goes down in the world happily in that, but we are all entitled to our opinion. Sorry Claire if I have said bad things about Crab the Roan
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Post by Claire on Apr 22, 2009 19:46:22 GMT 1
Hi no worries about criticising Crab you two, cant expect everyone to like the same stuff. It is the ending of Crab I like as it doesnt go the win at all costs route which I dont like either. Incidentally nor do I like hunting but it seems a necessary evil in such a lot of pony books
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Post by cally on Apr 23, 2009 2:50:11 GMT 1
I'm a long time vego (30+ years) anti animal cruelty sort, yet one of my favourite books is 'A Day to go Hunting'! In most cases they don't get the fox and I loathe it when they do and all that talk about brushes and masks and blooding...YECK! Drag hunting sounds ok but I wouldn't have the courage to do it!
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Post by Claire on Apr 23, 2009 11:11:25 GMT 1
At the moment I am just reading 'Irish Hurdles' by Selma Hudnut, a USA book set in a hunting stables but it is drag hunting so not a mangled fox in sight hurrah! Yes I imagine drag hunting is not for the faint hearted!
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Post by cally on Apr 26, 2009 1:29:35 GMT 1
I just finished 'Lucky Purchase' and loved it. I like the books where the ordinary pony is favoured over the posh one because that's often the case- you fall in love with the shaggy pony for no discernible reason.
I didn't like the bit where she talks about Kitty missing out on her 1st kill, and it did end rather abruptly, but a really enjoyable read all the same. Started on the Intruders but 80 pages in and there's not enough horses for me!
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Post by Claire on Apr 26, 2009 10:58:21 GMT 1
Hi Cally yes I agree with you about the ending of Lucky Purchase, it does slightly mar a very good book. I hope you continue with The Intruders cos it gets more horsy later on, and there is a real equine character in it. Its quite a fun book.
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Post by haffyfan on Apr 26, 2009 11:39:41 GMT 1
Lucky purchase was my least favourite of her books so far...isn't it funny how we like different books for different reasons but i agree the ending was rather abrupt.
I have just read I wrote A Pony Book, preffered it to Jean but I still like gaze At The Moon best,.
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Post by konstanze on Apr 26, 2009 14:32:07 GMT 1
At the moment I am just reading 'Irish Hurdles' by Selma Hudnut, a USA book set in a hunting stables but it is drag hunting so not a mangled fox in sight hurrah! Yes I imagine drag hunting is not for the faint hearted! In Germany, you can only drag hunt (fox hunting has been banned since the end of WWII at least) or have a rider as the designated fox to hunt down (no hounds and almost every riding school has an annual 'Hubertus Hunt'). Drag-hunting WITH hounds is rare (costs of keeping hounds) and definitely NOT for the faint-hearted! Unlike a fox, who can be clever enough to 'lose' hounds, which means hours of standing around while hounds draw copses, the rider with the 'drag' starts off from a point agreed with the master, so it's almost constant cantering and jumping massive fences (in some riding schools, in others, no jumps at all). Imagine doing that for about 90 to 120 minutes, and then it's over, and you get an idea of drag hunting - in Germany. Could be totally different here (do they drag hunt here now?). I don't hunt, I used to in Germany (and for 1 season in England, because my Black loved it - never caught a fox, the Wilton Hunt was famous for NOT getting the fox), normally not drag hunting, but the common form of fox hunting in Germany, i.e., following a rider with a fox's brush pinned to his/her jacket at the back, and the field with master and huntsmen, trying to follow the 'fox's' trail ending with a kind of race in a wide open field, where the master gives the riders the go-ahead to chase the 'fox' and the rider who reaches the 'fox' first who gets the brush is the winner and usually receives a rosette and medal and or the brush. Sorry, sounds very complicated, but apparently the Swedish do it the same way, I have many pony books, translated from Swedish to German. I can't speak for other European nations. The two countries have a lot in common, equestrian-wise. Young Swedish riders, just like German ones, usually start off by joining the vaulting team until they are large enough to ride a horse (Swedish Warmblood), similar stabling, etc, etc. Sorry, totally off target, I don't like the thought of foxes being pulled to pieces, although I would defend to death the right of people who hunt within the legal framework (you know, the idea of democracy and all that). The two alternatives on the other hand are great fun, and not a fox in sight, dead or alive. On the Continent foxes are still pretty rare due to rabies, and therefore, protected under law. Claire, is there ANY chance, I could borrow or in some way get hold of Irish Hurdles. Like many people, I have A Horse of her Own and it is so frustrating knowing that there is a sequel, but I can't lay my hand on a copy.
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Post by Claire on Apr 26, 2009 19:04:37 GMT 1
Konstanze unfortunately the copy of Irish Hurdles I am reading is not mine, only borrowed. Havent read Horse of Air, tho have read Wild Pony and that was pretty good. Horse of Air ihas been on my list for a bit.
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Post by trixiepony on Apr 27, 2009 1:59:40 GMT 1
Im now reading a book from the church library its 'The Day the School Blew Up' cool tital, I have a list of kids wonting to read it, thay must be hopping theres a how to secshion in it. Mmmm I may have to keep this one under lock and key.
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Post by Claire on Apr 27, 2009 11:09:01 GMT 1
Hehe trixiepony, I know how the kids feel I would have like to have blown up my school! Who's the author btw?
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Post by trixiepony on Apr 28, 2009 11:43:31 GMT 1
It's by Seth J. Pierce its a christian kids book for 10 to 14 year olds. Very cute read.
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Post by Claire on May 5, 2009 10:53:55 GMT 1
I'm about half way thru reading Dark Sunshine by Dorothy Lyons (thanks Sarah ) I really like it. Well written, nice characters, lots of info about training a horse. I am eager to read more of her books now!
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Post by haffyfan on May 5, 2009 19:34:15 GMT 1
I'm about half way through (knicking Claires line) Ride A painted Pony by Kathleen Eagle...not really a pony book but very, very good so far!
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Post by sarah on May 5, 2009 19:55:25 GMT 1
Just finished Flying Changes - Lynn Hall.
Trying to decide what to read next - either the Katie/Exmoor books or the Connemara trilogy - choices/choices!
Claire - Dorothy Lyons would be an expensive habit!!!
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Post by Claire on May 5, 2009 20:37:10 GMT 1
Claire - Dorothy Lyons would be an expensive habit!!! I know Just hoping against hope some cheapo copies will come my way. I like the Connemara trilogy, especially the first book in the series which is the best by far and very funny. Also it reads like an adult novel.
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Post by konstanze on May 6, 2009 6:59:55 GMT 1
Could you do me a favour and list the books of the Connemara trilogy? Sounds good, and I have to buy Dorothy Lyons as a labour of love, as she can be SO expensive.
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Post by Claire on May 6, 2009 10:21:18 GMT 1
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2009 7:38:04 GMT 1
I've just started reading Timber, the story of a horse by Judith M. Berrisford. Not read any of hers before but it's good so far.
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Post by Claire on May 8, 2009 20:28:28 GMT 1
A bit of a departure from pony books but I am now reading Ben Eltons Chart Throb which is quite a cutting indictment of the x factor style reality shows, with the premise that the whole thing is actually staged to make the best TV. Its really funny and a bit silly too especially the Sharon Osborne and Simon Cowell caricatures. Wonder how much of it actually goes on in real life. I am not a fan of these shows much, especially the bits where they humiliate obviously untalented but sadly misguided people, so I really get where the book is coming from.
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Post by Claire on May 22, 2009 13:02:47 GMT 1
Finally got round to reading K M Peytons Marion's Angels which I have had for ages and forgot about! About half way thru and love it so far. Its non horsy but Ruth Hollis and Patrick Penningon from earlier series appear in it. For anyone who hasnt read the Pennington series where a grown up Ruth meets Patick Pennington I would really recommend them even tho they are not pony stories.
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Post by Buster on May 22, 2009 19:37:46 GMT 1
Im reading Plenty of Ponies I quite like it as some of the characters are a similar age to me, almost finished it though. My avoiding revision tactics are wearing thin :/
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Post by carrot on May 28, 2009 6:44:33 GMT 1
I'm reading Cassidy in danger. I haven't read it since I read it the first time about 20 years ago. It's every bit as good now as it was then.
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Post by trixiepony on May 28, 2009 7:19:30 GMT 1
Im reading one off my Taroga Road Riders, Fakes and Fast Horses its book 3 in the series.
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Post by haffyfan on May 28, 2009 8:04:35 GMT 1
I have just read The perfect distance By Kim Ablon Whitney (excellent) which i think was a book Susanb recommended somewhere along the line? I also have also read The Silk purse (very weird in the middle indeed) and just started The Horsemasters which is pretty good so far.
I also have something quite special (well I think) winging it's way to me so hopefully that will be next!
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