Horsfield, Betty

About the author

Betty Horsfield wrote two pony books published in English: she did write more titles but these were only published in translation in Germany. I haven’t been able to find any biographical information on her at all.

Finding the books
No Place for Ponies is very hard to find, and is therefore pricey. The Pony Fund turns up much more often, and is generally reasonably priced.


Bibliography


The Pony Fund

Max Parrish, London, 1966,  Cover art Margaret Timney

Jane has outgrown her first pony, Welsh Mountain Frosty, but there’s no money to buy another one. So, she decides to make the money herself, and eventually decides to do this by boarding dogs. This of course brings its own problems, especially when Aunt Dorothy’s out of control terrier Rip turns out to be a sheep chaser. Then officialdom stops the dog boarding business, but Jane manages to find work as a kennel maid.

After her father boosts the Pony Fund, they go to choose a pony, but Barleycorn, whom Jane has been longing for, has gone. Instead, she chooses Lassie, who is unsafe, the dealer thinks, and bound for the knacker’s. Lassie turns out to be a quite spectacular jumper, and Barleycorn’s new owners try and exchange him for Lassie. Jane will have
none of it.

No Place for Ponies

Max Parrish, London, 1967,

“Jane dreaded having to spend her holidays with her aunt and uncle in a large town.  How awful it was going to be separated from her ponies, having to wear her best clothes all the time, and Bossy, her corgi, was sure
to be miserable shut in the kitchen. But things don’tturn out quite so badly. Jane finds poines and makes friends, she rides and helps to save a riding school and Bossy even manages to make Jane’s fussy aunt into a
dog-lover!”

Many thanks to Hannah Fleetwood for the photograph and blurb.

SHORT STORIES

The Making of Misty
Pony  Magazine, November, 1960, illus the author

One Horsepower
Pony Magazine, May 1968, illus the author

Thanks to Pancho
Pony Magazine, September, 1969, illus the author