About the author
The Taronga Road Riders is a series of eight books by American author Toy Martin. The series is set in Australia, and features the Pokey Creek Pony Club. Toy Martin seems a force to be recognised with: when she was just 22, she had already been an Olympic speed skater. She migrated to Australia, and represented them in orienteering (about which she has also written books). Riding was a later accomplishment for her, but her two children were keen riders, and she became very active in her local pony club.
Finding the books
Alas the Taronga Road Riders series is very hard to find. Even in their native Australia they are uncommon. You might like to try ebay Australia for copies.
Links and sources
Many, many thanks to Danyele for all her help with this series. Almost all the information here comes from her, and I am extremely grateful!
Series
Taronga Road
Behind the Barricade
A Bird in the Hand
Fakes and Fast Horses
Secret Stock
The Price of a Prize
Odd Bods
Light Fingered Lessons
Go For It!
Bibliography
Behind the Barricade
Millennium Books, Newton, NSW, 1991, 157 pp, paperback.
The blurb:
With the youngest rider, Brook leading the way on Ryan, the kids from Taronga Road jumped the barricade and rode on – into a mystery that finally involved the whole Pokey Creek Pony Club, their parents, and the mounted police. The excitement reached its peak at the Gymkhana, when a scavenger hunt ended in a hail of bullets…
A Bird in the Hand
Millennium Books, Newton, NSW, 1991, 160 pp, paperback.
The blurb:
It was hard to believe that the odd looking woman in the large, steel toed boots, and the large mix of blubber and muscle that was her husband, were related to neat, elegant Amanda. But it was very easy for the Taronga Road Riders to believe that the this strange couple were up tos omething illegal. Then comes the discovery of the black cockatoo caught in a trap, and the kids feel sure they have stumbled onto a bird smuggling racket. While Elizabeth struggles to teach a disabled boy to ride, and Matt has to face up to a power hungry trainer with his eye on Mad Max, a young park ranger in a silver Porsche and his older partner complicate life even more.
Fakes and Fast Horses
Millennium Books, Newton, NSW, 1992, 161 pp
The blurb:
Zoey couldn’t believe what was happening. The Taronga Road Riders were enjoying their camping trip to the Bimminy River Showground and a whole lot of new riding adventures, and now she had gotten herself into this mess! Here was this funny kid Quinn tearing aroundthe track at full speed on Miss Ashworth’s precious Esky – Quinn who had never ridden before! The threat of tough Davo and his friends prevented Zoey from blurting out the truth to the stunned Miss Ashworth. Maybe if she faked a faint, she’d gain time to think of what to do next…
Secret Stock
Millennium Books, Newton, NSW, 1992, 170 pp
The blurb:
It was going to be hard to like the new girl, with all her money and talk of buying dressage horses from America. The Taronga Road Riders think there is something funny about her father’s business too. But they have a lot of other things on their minds: Matt is into ‘positive mental picture techniques’ in preparation for his first official horse trial. Amanda breaks her ankle in two places when Lightning decides to try a rodeo buck, and Mrs. Perrinsoon has Lightning up for sale despite the TRR’s loud protests. Suddenly it becomes a question of who’s hiding what!…
The Price of a Prize
Millennium Books, Newton, NSW, 1993, 117 pp
The blurb:
Brook’s mum wins a week of lessons from a famous dressage instructor, but whenPippi Heatherington turns out to be ‘the leopard lady’, Rosie’s prize becomes a nightmare. Elizabeth and her boyfriend take on a legal challenge for ownership of Lizzie and a recuperatingAmanda starts her very own business. Through all this Zoey is hurting… If Matt is turning fromhorses to motorcycles, where does that leave their friendship?
Odd Bods
Millennium Books, Newton, NSW, 1993, 123 pp
The blurb:
Amanda’s broken ankle is mended and she’s allowed to ride again – but her confidence has gone. The pesty Alison turns out to be more helpful than the Taronga Road Riders when it comes to getting Amanda on Lightning again. Then comes sad news from Chad… Brook’sconfidence is getting a shaking too, not from a fall but from a neglected fifty dollar pinto pony that Rosie finds. Matt thinks he’s lost his drive for eventing, but is it his dad’s doing? Bruno wants him to concentrate on learning the family business, not playing with horses. Matt make sup his mind. And Brook makes her choice too, when she has the chance to own an advanced eventer…
Go For it!
Millennium Books, Newton, NSW,1993, 121 pp
The blurb:
Being the best and fastest is a problem for a timid newcomer named Adrian, but his father is the one who learns a lesson the hard way. Amanda has a problem too. Her ankle has healed, but her riding confidence seems gone for good. And Lightning is behaving in a strange, wild manner. Desperate not to let the Amanda-Lightning combination ruin their chances at the mounted games championship, two of the Taronga Road Riders hatch a plot… Zoey makes a radical decision in fury when she learns what competitiveness has led her friends to do.
Light Fingered Lessons
Millennium Books, Newton, NSW, 1993, 121 pp
