About the author
Bernadette Kelly has written two pony series: Riding High and Pony Patch. Pony Patch, four books long, is about the greedy pony Norbert, whose owner Molly thinks he is the most perfect pony in the world. Riding High looks to be aimed at an older readership, and is about Annie Boyd and her local pony club. Annie is a fashion-loving city girl who moves to the country. There are eight books in the series.
Bernadette Kelly lives in Victoria with her husband, two children, six horses, two dogs, a cat and three cockatiels. She has been a district commissioner for her local pony club, and competes still. Her favourite writer as a child was Elyne Mitchell, and the character she’d most like to meet from children’s fiction is the Silver Brumby, Thowra. When she was in grade six at school, she was banned by her teacher from getting any more horse books out of the library (snap) but it didn’t stop her. Her own books are not particularly similar to the Silver Brumby books: the Riding High series is written firmly from a human point of view, but the Mitchell method of writing from the horse’s point of view has I think had an influence on Bernadette Kelly’s Norton: this series fully recognises ponies’ radically different point of view to that of their human ‘masters’.
Finding the books
The Australian versions don’t appear to be in print, but some of the UK ones are available.
Links and sources
Bernadette Kelly’s website
Boomerang Books on Bernadette Kelly
Series
Riding High
(UK: Ridgeview Riding Club)
If Wishes Were Horses
Making The Grade
Leap of Faith
Team Challenge
Heads or Tails?
Balancing Act
Making Waves
Pony Trek
Pony Patch
Naughty Norton
Losing Norton
Norton Saves the Day
Norton’s Blue Ribbon
Bibliography (pony books only – coming soon)
If Wishes were horses
Black Dog Books, Victoria, 2006
Raintree, London, 2013
The blurb:
When Annie’s family move to the country, she finds herself at the local pony club where everyone has a pony of their own. Everyone that is, but Annie.
Making the Grade
Black Dog Books, Victoria, 2006
As Courage to Ride
Raintree, London, 2013
The blurb:
Annie’s wish came true. She has a horse of her own. But can she afford to keep him? And will she have the courage to ride?
leap of faith
Black Dog Books, Victoria, 2006
Raintree, London, 2014
Annie has moved to Ridgeview. She is not happy. It’s hard moving, and she wonders if she’ll ever fit in at the riding club.
Team Challenge
Black Dog Books, Victoria, 2006
Raintree, London, 2013
Games Day is looming and Annie desperately wants to be a part of it. But who will win the one place left in the team. Will Annie triumph or will it be Jessica, Annie’s arch rival?
Heads or Tails?
Black Dog Books, Victoria, 2007
Raintree, London, 2014
The blurb:
There is a thief on the prowl in Ridgeview. Annie is determined to solve the mystery, but by doing so, will she be putting her horse in danger?
Balancing Act
Black Dog Books, Victoria, 2007
Raintree, London, 2014
The blurb:
It’s the Interschool gymkhana and Annie has double booked herself. But how can she manage to be in two places at once?
Making Waves
Black Dog Books, Victoria, 2007
Raintree, London, 2013
The blurb:
It all started out so well. But Annie’s perfect holiday is turning into a perfect disaster!
Pony Trek
Black Dog Books, Victoria, 2007
Raintree, London, 2013 (possibly under the title Taking a Break)
The blurb:
Just one silly mistake and everything that Annie knows is lost.
naughty Norton
Black Dog, Victoria, 2007
Raintree, London, 2014, illus Liz Alger
The blurb:
The most important thing is not to leave before your pony has learnt the day’s lesson. Today’s lesson was that I was in charge.
Losing Norton
Black Dog, Victoria, 2007
as Who Stole Norton?
Raintree, London, 2014, illus Liz Alger
Norton has been kidnapped.
Norton Saves the Day
Black Dog, Victoria, 2007
Raintree, London, 2014, illus Liz Alger
Molly decides to enrol Norton in the riding school. He can certainly teach everyone else a thing or two.
norton’s blue ribbon
Black Dog Books, Victoria, 2007
as Norton’s First Show
Raintree, London, 2014, illus Liz Alger
It’s the day of the show, and Molly can’t wait. At last every one wil lknow that Norton is a blue ribbon pony.
