Our First Pony

by Marguerite Henry, Rich Rudish (Illustrator)

A heart-tugging picture book by the author of the Newbery Honor Book Misty of ChincoteagueSometimes it seems that the only thing these twins have in common is Midge, the family's Shetland pony. Joseph has fair hair and a deep love of the outdoors. Dark-haired Justin would rather play his piccolo or read a book. But they lovingly tend to Midge, and she, in turn, gives them the best gift of all -- a horse family of their very own.

Genres: Horses, Childrens, Animals, Picture Books, Fiction

64 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1984

About the author

Marguerite Henry (April 13, 1902–November 26, 1997) was an American writer. The author of fifty-nine books based on true stories of horses and other animals, her work has captivated entire generations of children and young adults and won several Newbery Awards and Honors. Among the more famous of her works was Misty of Chincoteague, which was the basis for the 1961 movie Misty, and several sequel books.

"It is exciting to me that no matter how much machinery replaces the horse, the work it can do is still measured in horsepower ... even in the new age. And although a riding horse often weighs half a ton and a big drafter a full ton, either can be led about by a piece of string if he has been wisely trained. This to me is a constant source of wonder and challenge." This quote was from an article about Henry published in the Washington Post on November 28, 1997, in response to a query about her drive to write about horses.

Marguerite Henry inspired children all over the world with her love of animals, especially horses. Author of over fifty children's stories, including the Misty of Chincoteague series, Henry's love of animals started during her childhood. Unfortunately, Henry was stricken with a rheumatic fever at the age of six, which kept her bedridden until the age of twelve. Born to Louis and Anna Breithaupt, the youngest of the five children, Henry was a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Because of her illness, Henry wasn't allowed to go to school with other children because of her weak state and the fear of spreading the illness to others. While she was confined indoors, she discovered the joy of reading. Soon afterward, she also discovered a love for writing when her father, a publisher, presented her with a writing desk for Christmas. On the top of stacks of colored paper her father wrote, "Dear Last of the Mohicans: Not a penny for your thoughts, but a tablet. Merry Christmas! Pappa Louis XXXX."

Henry's first published work came at the age of eleven, a short story about a collie and a group of children, which she sold to a magazine for $12. Henry always wrote about animals, such as dogs, cats, birds, foxes, and even mules, but chiefly her stories focused on horses.

In 1923, she married Sidney Crocker Henry. During their sixty-four years of marriage they didn't have children, but instead had many pets that inspired some of Marguerite's stories. They lived in Wayne, Illinois.

In 1947, she published Misty of Chincoteague and it was an instant success. Later, this book—as well as Justin Morgan had a Horse and Brighty of the Grand Canyon—were made into movies.

She finished her last book, Brown Sunshine of Sawdust Valley, just before her death on November 26, 1997 at the age of 95.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well perhaps I am being rather too overly critical with regard to Marguerite Henry’s 1984 illustrated chapter book Our First Pony, but indeed, the more I think about the combination of the author’s text and in particular Rich Rudish’s accompanying illustrations, the more annoyed and frustrated I do tend to become.

Because yes, although I do much appreciate that Marguerite Henry is with Our First Pony obviously attempting to demonstrate to her young (and likely very much interested in horses and ponies) readers that owning and adequately taking care of a pony always entails a lot of time consuming work (and that I am therefore also pleased that Joey and Justin’s new Shetland Pony Midge is not simply being described by Marguerite Henry as being totally simple to care for and without any encountered issues and problems), considering how very rare it actually is for ponies and horses to be pregnant with twins, I rather do find the entire scenario in Our First Pony of Midge giving birth to twins and that one of the two foals nearly dies and requires months of intensive hands-on care a bit exaggerated, a bit extreme, kind of unnecessarily melodramatic and even a bit overly complicated. For really, since in Our First Pony it is also only at the very end of the story that the attending veterinarian mentions the major rarity of mares being pregnant with and giving birth to twins, I am in fact kind of left wondering why Marguerite Henry needed to make Joey and Justin’s very first pony not only be obtained already pregnant but then to also give birth to two foals. For equine twins truly are a hugely rare thing and why therefore freak out potential pony owners with this often problematic and intensely difficult situation, as in my humble opinion, the entire Midge being pregnant and giving birth to not one but two foals does feel a trifle over the top so to speak and as if Marguerite Henry is trying in Our First Pony to feature and to present one of the rarest and the most extreme and problematic scenarios of pony ownership possible.

However, even with me textually rather wishing that Marguerite Henry’s plot for Our First Pony did not have as its main topic Midge being in foal with twins, both how Justin and Joey manage to obtain Midge and how both they and the veterinarian then successfully take care of the weaker of the two foals (how both of Midge’s twins end up healthy and thriving), this is still even with my above mentioned bones of contention a sweetly engaging story, and yes, if I were just considering Marguerite Henry’s printed words, my rating for Our First Pony would certainly be three stars, a lower than average three stars, but three stars all the same. But considering that Rich Rudish’s accompanying artwork seems to be a major visual component for Our First Pony and that I do have very huge visual and aesthetic issues with Rudish’s illustrations of in particular Midge, if I consider both the artwork and the text of Our First Pony I can and will only be posting a two star ranking. For indeed, aside from me finding Rich Rudish’s pictures for Our First Pony quite stagnant and generally lacking in emotion, feeling pretty lifeless, sorry, but since Midge is supposed to be a Shetland Pony, Rich Rudish has in my humble opinion ALWAYS depicted her as being much too large, with Midge looking more like a Welsh or like an Assateague Pony and certainly not really at all resembling a stocky and diminutive Shetland Pony with its short legs and neck. And indeed, since every time I look at how Midge is illustrated by Rudish in Our First Pony I truly do visually cringe and kind of even have to consider her as being any pony EXCEPT FOR a Shetland Pony, I really do not think I am at all in error for faulting Rich Rudish for his lack of depicted equine authenticity with his artwork (and thus also not wrong to only consider but two stars for Our First Pony).

And if Midge is actually supposed to represent an American Shetland Pony (which do seem to be somewhat larger and of a slightly more refined conformation) then this should have been made abundantly clear by Marguerite Henry within the narrative proper of Our First Pony. For naturally, if I hear or read “Shetland Pony “ I will of course be assuming that the pony in question is going to be small and stocky, that it will physically look like the ponies originally from the Shetland Islands, and not the much more recent and specifically bred to be larger American sub-type.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story about twins getting a Shetland Pony who has a surprise for them. Not quite as good as Henry's longer books, but still a good Henry. Beautiful illustrations.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

An old favorite of mine -- beautiful illustrations, sweet story.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is mostly a picture book, but it's a fun one. Little kids will get a kick out of it, and it provides a few good 'educational moments'.

There isn't much else I can say, since it's really not for older people and the story is extremely simple. I think you'll enjoy reading this with your kid, and your kid will like it a lot.

[Carolyn Wilhelm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our First Pony by Marguerite Henry is an old-fashioned farm story where the children all earn money, do work on the farm, learn about a horse that has twin colts and build a box stall with supplies they purchase themselves. Times have changed so much since when children had lives like the ones described in this story. Joseph feels his social life would improve if he just had a pony. His other farm animals just aren't ponies. He wants his pony to win in a Pet Show, but that does not happen. The free pony he gets is a little fat but later gives birth to two colts. The tiny colt is not breathing at first, and the family works together to help her live.

This is a true story of siblings getting along, looking up to adults (who are addressed Mr. or Mrs. or Dr.), and even get to miss school for the educational opportunity of learning some animal husbandry on the farm. They get to miss not just a day of school but a few weeks!  *NOTE:  When the horse earns a pink ribbon, the ribbon color is called "sissy." It is an older book.

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notes:
quite long, best for kids 8+
beautiful illustrations by Rich Rudish

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brings back memories of when we had Clint, our Tennesee walker

[Ani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childhood happy memories!!!! Oh my gosh I loved this book!!!!!

[Alec Caldwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fraternal twin boys and their family adopt a pony who happens to give birth to fraternal twins... Not a story I'll be likely to read ever again, but at least now I know why my Breyer "Our First Pony" has such a big belly on her petite frame.

The persistent mention of "God" and praying at the end make this a book you may not want to read to your kids if you aren't of that religious persuasion.

[Cristiana Moyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the most beautiful little stories! <3

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite horse books as a child. I read it over and over.