Plenty of Ponies

by Josephine Pullein-Thompson

The Esmond family are hopeless, despite having lovely
ponies and a groom, so they decide to start a self-
improvement campaign, but they seem to get worse,
not better.

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1949

About the author

The Pullein-Thompson sisters — Josephine Pullein-Thompson MBE (3 April 1924-[1]), Diana Pullein-Thompson (born 1 October 1925) [2] and Christine Pullein-Thompson (1 October 1925–2 December 2005[2] — are British writers of several horse and pony books (mostly fictional) aimed at children and mostly popular with girls. They started at a very young age (initially writing collectively) and they were at their peak in the 1950s and 1960s, but their popularity has endured. They have written a collective autobiography Fair Girls and Grey Horses.

All 3 sisters have written at least 1 book under a different name; Josephine wrote 1 under the pseudonym of Josephine Mann, Diana 3 books under her married name of Diana Farr and Christine wrote 2 books under the name of Christine Keir.

Their mother, Joanna Cannan (1898–1961), sister of the poet May Cannan, wrote similar equestrian stories, but is better known for detective mysteries.

Reviews

[Sheila Wyver · Rating 2 out of 5]

I saw this in a charity shop and couldn’t resist it! I read hundreds of these pony books as a child, desperate for a pony! Having reread this one I think I should have stuck with my memories! Rich families and hunting but did remind me of growing up.

[Debbie Tink · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book the 5 Esmonds have a good life a big house and a pony each. But there not really happy, they argue and don’t school there ponies. Then they get a telling off by there pony club instructeur. So they try schooling them and are surprised when it works and there ponies do better at the children’s meet.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Re-reading old favourites so they don't just gather dust on my bookshelves!

[Dark-Draco · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a horrible bunch of children? This book actually made me smile, as it reminded me of the constant sniping and one-upmanship me and my sister used to get up to, although we didn't involve ponies! I liked the way the siblings tried to change, but didn't always succeed, and it was good to read about not so perfect characters, especially in a children's book of this era! An enjoyable little read.

[Mousie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edifying equestrian entertainment

While the Esmond children are pretty much as obnoxious to each other as in the other stories, I liked the passages with valuable advice about riding and horse care. And I'm glad the fox apparently escaped the dogs in the last chapter...