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A Leg at Each Corner
An unflinching student of pony psychology, Norman Thelwell's hilarious pony cartoons draw on a uniquely British source of humor. This welcome reissue of a classic book of comic equestrian drawings gives a timely reminder of the late master's peculiar talent. Norman Thelwell 's books include Pony Panorama , Pony Cavalcade , Top Dog and Magnificat .
130 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1962
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About the author
Norman Thelwell
99 books20 followersNorman Thelwell was an English cartoonist well-known for his humorous illustrations of ponies and horses. A promising young student from Liverpool College of Art, he soon became a contributor to the satirical magazine Punch in the 1950s, and earned many lasting devotees by illustrating Chicko in the British boys' comic Eagle.
Known to many only as Thelwell, he found his true comic niche with Pony Club girls and ponies refusing fences, a subject for which he became best-known. His cartoons and drawings delighted millions.
For the last quarter of a century of his life he lived in the Test Valley at Timsbury, near Romsey, gradually restoring a farm house and landscaping the grounds which gave rise to his first factual book, A Plank Bridge by a Pool, which detailed the first two lakes he dug there. A third lake was later featured on the BBC’s South Today programme. Written much earlier, but published three years later, A Millstone Round My Neck described his experiences in re-building a Cornish water mill (Addicroft Mill at Liskeard, which he called Penruin), that was sold before the book was published. He always loved old buildings, and in his auto-biography, Wrestling with a Pencil wrote about his joy in the beauty of old cottages.
Known to many only as Thelwell, he found his true comic niche with Pony Club girls and ponies refusing fences, a subject for which he became best-known. His cartoons and drawings delighted millions.
For the last quarter of a century of his life he lived in the Test Valley at Timsbury, near Romsey, gradually restoring a farm house and landscaping the grounds which gave rise to his first factual book, A Plank Bridge by a Pool, which detailed the first two lakes he dug there. A third lake was later featured on the BBC’s South Today programme. Written much earlier, but published three years later, A Millstone Round My Neck described his experiences in re-building a Cornish water mill (Addicroft Mill at Liskeard, which he called Penruin), that was sold before the book was published. He always loved old buildings, and in his auto-biography, Wrestling with a Pencil wrote about his joy in the beauty of old cottages.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 23, 2014
I've read this numerous times & it still makes me chuckle all the way through. It's a book about kids & their hunter/jumper ponies. Each page is a cartoon, usually just one frame, that is absolutely perfect. I grew up & raised my 3 kids with ponies like this, so it really speaks to me. It would probably be a great way for authors to learn a bit more about horse life, too.
November 6, 2017
It really is a shame that nobody knows much about Thelwell anymore. We own almost all of his books, but his horseback riding books especially just ooze charm and hilarity. The drawings manage to be cute, sarcastic, droll, and ironic all at the same time.
August 6, 2011
I have owned this book since childhood. Timeless and still has me ROFL !!!
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June 20, 2011Thelwell was so associated with equestrian cartoons that a Punch cartoon shows a disheveled child returning to the stable, with the caption: "...And to make things worse, Mr Thelwell was sitting right in the front row."
The stout, dappled ponies, often depicted in mid-buck, forelocks obscuring the eyes...far from inimitable (indeed, often imitated), and the often brilliant captions make Thelwell a fun read at any time.
I think I acquired both my Thelwell books used--at least, there's no dust cover on either.
The stout, dappled ponies, often depicted in mid-buck, forelocks obscuring the eyes...far from inimitable (indeed, often imitated), and the often brilliant captions make Thelwell a fun read at any time.
I think I acquired both my Thelwell books used--at least, there's no dust cover on either.
February 7, 2023
The most hilarious book ever! I absolutely loved it.
November 18, 2011
I have loved Thellwell's pony cartoons since I got this book for Christmas when I was 8 or 9. Years later they still make me smile.
October 30, 2013
If you want a laugh to cheer you up, here it is. Brilliant!
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January 7, 2012I LOVED this book - it was a hoot when I was a 13 year old, and it's still a hoot today.
August 13, 2024
I’m reading my Thelwell books for the “n”th time, giving myself the excuse of “trying to get some books off my shelf”. It’s all a bit hopeless, really.
A Leg at Each Corner: Thelwell’s Complete Guide to Equitation was originally published in 1962. It follows on thematically from “Angels on Horseback” Norman Thelwell’s very first collection of cartoons published in 1957, although he published several others in between, as well as his regular satirical cartoons in “Punch”. The humour here varies between sardonic and laugh-out-loud ridiculous, the back cover proclaiming:
“After years of careful study from a safe distance, Thelwell has prepared a unique and comprehensive volume for the guidance of young equestrians. ‘A Leg at Each Corner’ covers the whole field of equitation from how to get a pony, to how to prevent one from getting you; from how to pull his tail, to how to bandage your legs.”
The fanciful and droll description continues:
“Books for horse lovers have been written before, but most suffer from a serious defect - they are difficult to read on horseback. Not so this book. Thelwell’s information is short and to the point and each item is illustrated with deadly clarity. It is designed to be referred to at any emergency - at the walk, trot or canter, or from the depths of a blackthorn hedge.”
Just as the tongue in cheek humour slyly creeps up on you here, so it does with many of the cartoons. Each is a single picture, ostensibly illustrating a helpful tip on all levels of equestrianship from beginners upwards. But the caption belies the absurd picture, which is either an hilarious exaggeration, or the complete opposite of what is recommended.
A Leg at Each Corner is a classic, and I’m hanging on to it. But maybe I had better have another look in a few months, just to make sure, you understand …
A Leg at Each Corner: Thelwell’s Complete Guide to Equitation was originally published in 1962. It follows on thematically from “Angels on Horseback” Norman Thelwell’s very first collection of cartoons published in 1957, although he published several others in between, as well as his regular satirical cartoons in “Punch”. The humour here varies between sardonic and laugh-out-loud ridiculous, the back cover proclaiming:
“After years of careful study from a safe distance, Thelwell has prepared a unique and comprehensive volume for the guidance of young equestrians. ‘A Leg at Each Corner’ covers the whole field of equitation from how to get a pony, to how to prevent one from getting you; from how to pull his tail, to how to bandage your legs.”
The fanciful and droll description continues:
“Books for horse lovers have been written before, but most suffer from a serious defect - they are difficult to read on horseback. Not so this book. Thelwell’s information is short and to the point and each item is illustrated with deadly clarity. It is designed to be referred to at any emergency - at the walk, trot or canter, or from the depths of a blackthorn hedge.”
Just as the tongue in cheek humour slyly creeps up on you here, so it does with many of the cartoons. Each is a single picture, ostensibly illustrating a helpful tip on all levels of equestrianship from beginners upwards. But the caption belies the absurd picture, which is either an hilarious exaggeration, or the complete opposite of what is recommended.
A Leg at Each Corner is a classic, and I’m hanging on to it. But maybe I had better have another look in a few months, just to make sure, you understand …
July 29, 2019
An unflinching student of pony psychology, Norman Thelwell's hilarious pony cartoons draw on a uniquely British source of humor. This welcome reissue of a classic book of comic equestrian drawings gives a timely reminder of the late master's peculiar talent.
April 20, 2022
3.5 stars. This book belonged to my late aunt, who was a great animal lover, especially horses. A quick and entertaining read with cute illustrations, I suspect I'd have appreciated it even more if I'd ever owned a horse.
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May 25, 2025Norman Thelwell was an English cartoonist who was well known for his drawings in Punch.
A Leg at Each Corner is a comic book about owning a pony with his distinctive cartoons.
Very humorous, it would be enjoyed by pony lovers and people who enjoy Thelwell's work.
A Leg at Each Corner is a comic book about owning a pony with his distinctive cartoons.
Very humorous, it would be enjoyed by pony lovers and people who enjoy Thelwell's work.
July 1, 2017
I've loved these since I was little and riding ponies myself...I can state from experience that every word is true!
October 16, 2018
15 minutes of enjoyment, plus a few chuckles. Dry English wit at its best!
November 12, 2020
Adorable and fun
May 22, 2022
Ok.
Nothing to say 😆
Nothing to say 😆
February 13, 2026
just perfection.
March 10, 2017
Loved this one!
September 23, 2022
Reading a couple of these in succession makes me realise that it is hard to give each one a distinctive review but that is because he is so consistently good. The stylish drawing doesn't flag, the ironic captions are well in place and the range of topics is impressive. Obviously this one is about horses which is his best known topic but all the others are equally good. If you like Thelwell you'd have no reason not to like this. If you've never tried him (but like cartoons) you should really give them a go.
January 11, 2017
I've seen the illustrations from this book MANY times, but I didn't know about the little gem of a book they came from until very recently. This book of funny "advice" for young horseback riders and owners, written/illustrated by the British Norman Thelwell in the early 1960s, could not be more charming (or more true). The hilarious illustrations of pony and child, combined with the wry text, are just so spot-on—probably, honestly, funnier for me with 20 years of riding experience than for a young child—this one will definitely keep a special spot on my bookshelf.
December 18, 2023
Best of the best
"A Leg at Each Corner covers the whole field of equitation from how to get a pony to how to prevent one from getting you; from how to pull his tail to how to bandage your legs." Norman Thelwell's information is short and to the point, and each item is illustrated with deadly clarity. It is designed to be referred to in an emergency - at the walk, trot or canter, or from the depths of a blackthorn hedge.
"A Leg at Each Corner covers the whole field of equitation from how to get a pony to how to prevent one from getting you; from how to pull his tail to how to bandage your legs." Norman Thelwell's information is short and to the point, and each item is illustrated with deadly clarity. It is designed to be referred to in an emergency - at the walk, trot or canter, or from the depths of a blackthorn hedge.
March 19, 2013
If you were ever a kid, and if you ever had a pony (or a horse for that matter) this book and subsequent ones, will send you off the chair and rolling on the floor laughing! And the illustrations.....priceless.
July 30, 2014
For anyone who loves horses and ponies and is able to take them in the spirit they come to us, Norman Thelwell will make you laugh. He knows the mind of a pony better than anyone and has a keen eye for the chaos a pony and a little girl can create.
August 24, 2014
Just 'found' again on my real bookshelf (Where it's been for over 30 years) after seeing it on someone's virtual shelf. Started reading, couldn't stop. The Thelwell effect. Tears of laughter still running down my cheeks. The man was a genius.
April 7, 2010
Loved these cartoons.
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May 1, 2017Edition: New Ed
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews