Equestrian author Josephine Pullein-Thompson dies

Equestian author and horsewoman Josephine Pullein-Thompson (pictured centre) died last week (19 June) aged 90.

Her books were — and still are — essential fodder for every pony-mad young girl who loved reading, with gymkhanas and hunt balls taking a starring role.

Her first novel Six Ponies was published in 1964 and she went on to write dozens more, including One Day Event, The Trick Jumpers and The No-Good Pony.

Her younger twin sisters, Diana and Christine — who died in 2005 — also wrote pony-based novels between the 1950s and 1980s.

Accomplished riders, the sisters also helped set up the Woodland Hunt as a Pony Club branch in its own right in 1950. Josephine was the first branch secretary and was district commissioner in the mid-1970s.

Do you have fond memories of the Pullein-Thompson books? Which was your favourite? Tell us below…

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