“The Pony Riders” is a young adult adventure novel written by Guy N. Smith, published in 1983. Unlike Smith’s more well-known horror works, this novel offers a departure into the realm of children’s literature, specifically aimed at horse-loving readers.
Plot Summary
“The Pony Riders” follows the adventures of a group of children who share a love for horses and horseback riding. The story is set in the picturesque countryside, where the children spend their days exploring the outdoors and caring for their beloved ponies.
As the narrative unfolds, the children become embroiled in a series of adventures and challenges that test their courage, resourcefulness, and friendship. From navigating treacherous trails to competing in equestrian competitions, each chapter brings new excitement and obstacles for the young riders to overcome.
Amidst the thrills and adventures, the novel also explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and the bond between humans and animals. The children learn important life lessons as they face adversity together and support each other through triumphs and setbacks.
Themes and Style
- Adventure and Friendship: “The Pony Riders” is primarily a story of adventure, friendship, and camaraderie among a group of young riders who share a passion for horses.
- Outdoor Exploration: The novel celebrates the beauty of nature and the joys of outdoor exploration, with vivid descriptions of the countryside and the children’s adventures in the great outdoors.
- Character Growth: As the children confront challenges and overcome obstacles, they experience personal growth and development, learning valuable lessons about courage, perseverance, and teamwork.
- Accessible Language: Written for a young adult audience, the novel features accessible language and relatable characters that resonate with horse-loving readers.
Reception
While “The Pony Riders” may not have received the same level of attention or acclaim as Smith’s horror novels, it has been well-received by its target audience of young readers, particularly those with an interest in horses and outdoor adventure. The novel’s engaging storyline, relatable characters, and positive themes have made it a favorite among children who enjoy stories of friendship and adventure.
Author Background
Guy N. Smith (1939-2020) was a British author known primarily for his horror fiction. Over his prolific career, he wrote over 100 novels spanning various horror subgenres. “The Pony Riders” represents a departure from Smith’s usual horror themes, showcasing his versatility as a writer and his ability to appeal to different audiences.
Legacy
While “The Pony Riders” may not be as well-known as Smith’s horror works, it remains a charming and engaging novel that has delighted young readers for decades. Its celebration of friendship, adventure, and the bond between humans and animals continues to resonate with readers who enjoy stories of outdoor exploration and equestrian pursuits.
“The Pony Riders” was certainly a departure from my horror novels. It is also my lengthiest novel at 380 pages.
Why, then, did I write a western? Since boyhood I have been an ardent fan of westerns, and tales of the pony express captivated my imagination, especially those featuring the notorious gunman J.A. Slade. Slade, though, was romanticised in some of the stories about him in boys’ papers. In reality he was a drunken gunman and murderer which is perhaps why he was appointed Road Boss on a section of the route ridden by those brave carriers of the U.S. mail.
Mark Twain wrote of him “He was so friendly and gentle spoken that I warmed to him in spite of his awful history. It was hardly possible to realise that this person was the pitiless scourge of the outlaws, the raw-headed-and-bloody-bones the mothers of the mountains terrified their children with. And to this day I can remember nothing remarkable about Slade except that his face was rather broad across and the cheek bones were low and the lips peculiarly thin and straight. But that was enough to leave something of an effect upon me, for since then I seldom see a face like that without fancying that the owner of it is a dangerous man.”
All of the pictures which I have seen of Slade portrayed him dressed in black with a matching brimmed hat.
As a boy, armed with a toy cap-firing pistol, I used to pretend that I was J.A. Slade, gunning down outlaws and Indians.
Moving on many years, Jean and I went to New York to meet my Zebra editors. We were taken to lunch and clearly they were looking to commission my next two horror books. That was when I dropped my bombshell announcing that “I would like to write a western!”
There was a stunned silence, then “well, let us have a synopsis and some sample chapters and we will give it every consideration.”
I did just that on my return home and “The Pony Riders” saw publication in 1997. It was a factual history with a fictional plot interwoven. Of course, one of the leading characters was J.A. Slade.
It was published under the Pinnacle imprint and did tolerably well. In fact I recently noticed that a copy was offered on the internet at £30!
For myself, J.A. Slade lives on.
I have it in mind to write another western sometime. I wonder how it would be received by my current fan base.
Guy N. Smith