Catherine Harris

Another sadly over-looked author nowadays, but is an excellent writer who has a nice humourous touch. Born in 1910. Full name Catherine Harris Ainsworth. Ms. Harris was knowledgeable about horses and at one point she ran her own riding school. Like many horsy writers she was precocious, writing her first book (We Started a Riding Club) whilst still in her teens. Also wrote a non-fiction pony care book.

I have unfortunately been unable to find any more info on the author - so if you have anything to add I would be very grateful!

Cuckoo Mill Farm Series
Series about the Marsham family and their ponies, who are always getting into all sorts of scrapes! These are lively humourous reads.

1) THEY RESCUED A PONY
(BLACKIE 1956)
ILLUSTRATED BY GEOFFREY WHITTAM
Reprinted in hardback by Blackie with orange jacket in 1965.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Blackie edition
SUMMARY: The Marsham children see a badly treated pony in a circus and determine to rescue him at all costs.
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES

2) THE PONIES OF CUCKOO MILL FARM
(BLACKIE 1958)
ILLUSTRATED BY GEOFFREY WHITTAM
Reprinted in hardback by Blackie with orange jacket in 1965.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Blackie edition
SUMMARY: The children are dismayed to find their holiday plans spoilt when the townish Forrest family arrive to stay. Will the two very different sets of children ever be able to get along together?
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES

3) RIDING FOR RANSOM
(BLACKIE 1960)
ILLUSTRATED BY JOAN THOMPSON
Reprinted in hardback by Blackie with orange jacket in 1965.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Blackie edition
SUMMARY: The children re-enact a ghostly legend in order to solve a kidnapping.
PONYMAD VIEW: A rather sensationalist plot makes this the least satisfying book in the series in my opinion.
PONYMAD RATING: 2 HORSESHOES

TO HORSE AND AWAY
(BLACKIE 1962)
ILLUSTRATED BY LILIAN BUCHANAN
I don't think this one was reprinted.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition.
SUMMARY: The Marshams set out on a riding holiday from Wales back to Cuckoo Mill Farm.

Collectors Info:
The first editions are lovely books, some however were reprinted by Blackie with quite awful covers! The first 3 are easy to find, especially the Blackie editions, but the last one in series is a lot harder to come across. Quite a bit harder to find elsewhere, but not exactly impossible.

Other Pony Books:

WE STARTED A RIDING CLUB
(BLACKIE 1954)
ILLUSTRATED BY MAURICE TULLOCH
Reprinted in hardback by Blackie with orange jacket in 1966.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Blackie edition
SUMMARY: Mickey and her brothers and sisters are concerned about the poor standard of horsemanship in their area. They decide to start up their own riding club.
This has particularly lovely illustrations, including lots of small vignettes within the text.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

IF WISHES WERE HORSES
(BLACKIE 1961)
ILLUSTRATED BY CONSTANCE MARSHALL
As far as I know not reprinted.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition
SUMMARY: Prue is horse-mad, but the family don't have enough money for a horse. She has to content herself with the odd ride on her rich cousin's ponies. Then a riding school opens nearby. Of course she has no money for lessons, but can she pluck up the courage to ask for a job there?
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

THE HERONSBROOK GYMKHANA
(BLACKIE 1964)
ILLUSTRATED BY GERALDINE SPENCE
Reprinted in paperback.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, paperback edition
SUMMARY: A very interesting novel about how a gymkhana has different effects on a group of people. Written in a slightly different style to the other books. This really reminds me of The Horse Sale by Christine Pullein-Thompson.
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES

Collectors Info:
The Heronsbrook Gymkhana was reprinted as a Knight paperback but I think it was the only one to be re-issued in paperback format. It and We Started a Riding Club are reasonably easy to get hold of in the UK. If Wishes Were Horses seems to be the hardest of all to find, especially with dustjacket. Again, all harder to find outside the UK.