Jane Ayres


	Jane Ayres British author. Born in Peterborough in 1962, Jane Ayres loved horses from an early age but gave up riding after a bad fall. She had her first story published when she was just 14 years old, and went on from there to write a number of stories, articles and books, including many pony books. Although she is a British author, most of her earlier pony books were not published in the UK, in fact some may not have even been published in the English language. Thankfully there are now British editions of most of her stories, as well as e-book editions. Jane writes some of the best modern pony stories around. Many are very traditional in nature, and for that reason will also appeal to the adult pony book reader who may be a little jaded by the current crop of vacuous 'teen' stories which seem to dominate at the moment - Ms. Ayres does also write the ubiquitous teen stories, with adventure and added boyfriends, but these are better than most of that sub-genre. As well as her pony novels she has also written an excellent cat story called Coming Home. Jane is not only an author, she also teaches music and English. Jane is a vegetarian and is interested in animal welfare, in particular supporting the Brooke Hospital for Animals. The proceeds from her book Coming Home go to the charity Cats Protection, and those from her Matty series go to the Redwings Equine Sanctuary. Many thanks to Jane who did a short interview for us on the Pony Mad Book Lovers Blog. (See link)


	Matty series: 1) MATTY AND THE MOONLIGHT HORSE (PONY/STABENFELDT [USA] PB 2005) Also published in Germany (possibly originally) Also available as an e-book It was additionally published in a 2 in 1 volume along with Gallop to the Sea by Sharon Siamon SUMMARY: Meet Matty and her best friends Ronnie, Spike and Gena. They're the charter members of the Pony-less Club. They work hard at the local riding academy, mucking out stalls, sweeping the yard, washing the water buckets, grooming the ponies, praying that Miss Pugh, the world's worst riding instructor, will allow them a few measly rides. But now they have a plan - to work even harder, pool all their savings, and buy a horse together! But then a mysterious horse appears in the local graveyard… PONYMAD VIEW: Written in a chatty, light-hearted style which is a marked contrast to most of the author's other pony books. Although I prefer the other more complex and emotionally challenging books, this one and its sequels are nevertheless very readable, with lively and sympathetic characters and are ideal for a nice light read. PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES 2) MATTY AND THE PROBLEM PONIES (PONY/STABENFELDT [USA] PB 2006) Also published in Germany (possibly originally) Also available as an e-book SUMMARY: Matty and her three friends are now the proud co-owners of their own pony. But Comfort does not turn out to be the sweet, placid pony she was advertised as, and has many uncomfortable surprises in store for them. Add a glamorous blonde bedazzling Matty's boyfriend Mark and a frantic search for Mark's old pony Daydream into the mix, and there is never a dull moment for Matty and her pals! PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES Read Review 3) MATTY AND THE RACEHORSE RESCUE (2014) Only available as an e-book SUMMARY: The gang get mixed up in the hunt for a missing racehorse and find themselves in terrible danger... Collectors Info: The print editions of the first two Matty books are fairly easy to get hold of in America or Germany, though may be harder to find in the UK. All are available in the UK as e-books. The third in the series has not as yet (December 2017) been published in print form and is only available as an e-book.


	Horses and Secrets Series: 1) THE HORSE ON THE BALCONY (PONY/STABENFELDT [USA] PB 2009) Also available as an e-book SUMMARY: Two accidents crush the lives of two girls in very different ways: for Jenni, an accident on her horse Smokey causes her to withdraw from life; and for Holly, an accident that she feels responsible for involving her sister Claire alienates her from her own family. But when a mysterious horse appears on the balcony of an apartment complex in a very unlikely part of town, the two girls find themselves drawn together with a common goal that may help both of them. PONYMAD VIEW: One of the best pony books written in recent years. Combines a traditional pony story with a sensitive portrayal of grief and guilt. PONYMAD RATING: 4-5 HORSESHOES Read Review 2) DARK HORSES (PONY/STABENFELDT [USA] PB 2009) Also available as an e-book SUMMARY: When Jenni takes on two rescue horses named Firebrand and Laser, she's convinced that they are perfect, although her friends Ella and Holly aren't so sure. Then Ella is injured by one of the horses, and the girls start looking for clues about the horses' strange behaviour. A hidden diary mysteriously appears and Holly learns of a terrible tragedy and even darker secrets. She discovers that her friends are in danger, and she'll have to race against time to save them! PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES 3) THE RUNAWAY HORSE (PONY/STABENFELDT [USA] PB 2010) Also available as an e-book??? SUMMARY: Holly is off to spend the summer holidays at her Aunt's B & B at a seaside town, but she feels left out of things as her twin cousins don't seem to take to her. When she rescues a runaway horse she meets a boy named Jordan who lives in a creepy old house. She feels drawn to the boy but her cousins warn her against him, hinting of some dark secret in his past. But worse than that the runaway horse is condemned to death! Can she solve the mystery and save the horse? PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES Collectors Info: Print editions are reasonably easy to find second hand in the USA; harder elsewhere. Also available as e-books in the UK and USA.


	Gemma Series: (E-book Only) Pony series aimed firmly at teens with adventure and slight romance. The books are short novella sized. 1) GEMMA AND THE PONY CLUB DANCE (2013) SUMMARY: Gemma and her friends are trying to raise money for horse rescue by organising a Pony Club dance. But a gang of vandals is causing trouble. Things go from bad to worse when Gemma's pony Fireworks disappears and she starts to suspect her best mate Callie of going out the with vandal's gang leader! 2) GEMMA AND THE TATTOOED HORSES (2013) SUMMARY: Stolen treasure, a runaway thief and a pair of beautiful and mysterious Arabian horses called Sahara and Delphi cause a whole load of trouble for Gemma and her pony-mad friends, leading to a nail-biting climax. What do the strange symbols tattooed on Delphi and Sahara mean - and is there really a curse? 3) GEMMA AND THE BLACK COLT (2013) SUMMARY: Gemma risks losing both her boyfriend Steve and her new colt Starchaser. Can her friends help her save both? 1) GEMMA AND THE DISAPPEARING SHOWJUMPERS (2013) SUMMARY: Gemma finds herself without her pals for the Summer, but makes a new friend in Sam eho has a lovely mare called Aura. But the friendships leads to mystery and danger! Collectors Info: At time of this update (2017) only available as e-books.


	Other Horse & Pony Books: HORSES IN THE GALLERY (ARMADA PB 1990) ILLUSTRATED BY RICHARD ALLEN SUMMARY: A collection of short stories within a story, as two children visit an art gallery and learn the stories of the horses in the pictures. Good quality short stories. PONYMAD RATING: 3-4 HORSESHOES THE GREAT HORSE RESCUE (J A ALLEN PB 1996) SUMMARY: When the local livery yard is due to be demolished to make way for a DIY superstore, Moya and Sue search desperately for a new place to keep their ponies. Just when things are looking hopeless, the girls meet a bunch of squatters living at an abandoned manor house, and they suggest the girls keep the horses in the stables there. However problems arise when more horses appear and all have to be looked after in secret. And to make matters worse the former mystery occupants of the house reappear! PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES TRANSITIONS aka THE HORSE IN MY HEART (UK Edition) (PONY/STABENFELDT PB [USA] 2001) Published in the UK under new name by CREATESPACE in SUMMARY: Annie is in the enviable position of looking for a new pony. After having lost her nerve somewhat with the flighty pony she used to share with a friend, she is now looking for a quiet easy to ride type. When she meets Elizabeth and her horse Rocket, she soon realises this handsome but fiery horse is too much for her. But Elizabeth seems determined that Annie should take on Rocket. When Elizabeth explains that she must sell her horse because she has a terrible illness and that she feels Annie is the right person to have him, Annie is unable to refuse. But learning to cope with Rocket and becoming close friends with a very ill girl are not easy tasks. PONYMAD VIEW: Superb traditional pony story, perhaps the author's best. This is not a comfort blanket read, and like many of the author's other books, explores difficult situations and emotions at the same time as providing a highly readable pony story. Considering the subject matter, it is not at all maudlin or mawkish. Highly recommended. PONY MAD RATING: 5 HORSESHOES ZEPHYR OF WILD HORSE ISLAND aka THE HORSE WHO DREAMED OF HOME (E-book Edition) (PONY/STABENFELDT PB [USA] 2009) Re-published under new title as e-book SUMMARY: Unusual pony story. When his owner dies, an Arab stallion living on a remote stud farm on an island escapes to live in the wild with his mares. But his idyllic wild existence is cut short by a poacher. He escapes but is now far from home and injured. As he tries to find his way back home to his mares, he encounters three lonely people who help him and in return he changes their lives forever. PONYMAD RATING: 3-4 HORSESHOES Read Review LAST CHANCE HORSE (PONY/STABENFELDT PB [USA] 2010) Also available as e-book SUMMARY: Kat's twin sister is a famous teen film actress and Kat feels left out and neglected. Her behaviour takes a downward spiral and she gets into trouble at school. When she meets Pagan, a TB-Shire cross who has also been branded a trouble maker she feels an immediate affinity. Can girl and horse help each other? PONYMAD VIEW: Above average, intelligent pony story. The author has once again combined a very readable traditional pony story with a sensitive study of emotions, in this case the jealousy and a sense of isolation and inadequacy which our heroine feels. PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES THE PERFECT HORSE (SLOW GALLOP PRESS 2014) Also available as an e-book SUMMARY: When teenage Krista encounters the magnificent grey stallion Seahawk, while spending summer by the coast, she thinks she's found the perfect horse. She's right - Seahawk is exceptional - so special, in fact, that some folk will do anything to get their hands on him, putting Krista in terrible danger. But where does this perfect horse come from? And why is he so shrouded in mystery? PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES BEWARE OF THE HORSE (CREATESPACE PB 2014) Also available as an e-book SUMMARY: Troubled teens Jan and Richard are brought together by Cassius, the beautiful but dangerous horse. Can they save him and bury the demons of their pasts at the same time? PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES JOYRIDER (CREATESPACE PB 2015) Also available as an e-book SUMMARY: Linzi seems to have it all: good looks, life in a stunning apartment and a beautiful horse called Ambrose. Punky Bex lives in a tiny flat above a café and is a loner with a tragic past. A mysterious joyrider who is riding the local horses at night brings the two very different girls together. PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES VALENTINE HORSE (CREATESPACE PB 2015) Also available as an e-book SUMMARY: Teen horse story with a romantic element. 16 year old Lara receives the beautiful horse Skylark as a Valentine's Day present and her life changes dramatically. When she becomes hospitalized after an accident on the flighty horse, Lara's world changes. In the hospital she meets Ant, whom she develops strong feelings for, threatening her life-long friendship with Ryan. Then she has to face riding again after her accident and also finds out a terrible truth about her old pony Spook. TRICK RIDERS Includes TRICK RIDER & TIA'S CHALLENGE (2016) Only available as an e-book Not sure if these are available as 2 separate novels. SUMMARY: A 2 in 1 book following the adventures of Tia, a shy, pony-mad girl who finds friendship and a horse of her own when she becomes involved in the unusual world of equestrian vaulting. But has she got the nerve to take up the sport herself? FOREVER HORSE - COMPLETE TRILOGY Includes ALWAYS IN MY HEART, HEARTBREAK HORSE, FOREVER HORSE (2016) Only available as an e-book Not sure if these are available as 3 separate novels. SUMMARY: 3 in 1 edition containing 3 novels, following the complete adventures of the piebald cob Logan and the various girls who fall in love with him and lose him. Will he eventually find happiness with a special owner one day? Read Review Collectors Info: As far as I know none of these were ever published in hardback. All the books are easy to find in the UK. Most - with the exception of Horses in the Gallery and The Great Horse Rescue, which did not have American editions - are easy to find in the USA also. Once again with the exception of the earlier books, Horses in the Gallery and The Great Horse Rescue, these are also available as e-books. At the moment (2017) Trick Riders and Forever Horse are only available in e-book format. It is possible print editions may be available at a later date - I will update this page if that is the case.


	Short stories in other books & collections: RIDING FOR A RED in RIDE LIKE THE WIND (ORION PB 1997) A short story contained in a compilation of 5 pony stories by various other authors including Christine Pullein-Thompson STORY SUMMARY: When Gerry's older sister Louise breaks her leg she pleads with Gerry to ride her thoroughbred Gothic in an upcoming event she has spent ages qualifying him for. But Gothic is temperamental and Gerry is more at home on her quiet gentle Welsh mare: how will she cope? PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES BOOK SUMMARY: More about the compilation itself can be found on the British Short Story Collections web page Collectors Info: Paperback original. Easy to find in the UK on Amazon, etc. A bit harder to get hold of elsewhere.


	Miscellaneous: HOOFBEATS in WHY WE RIDE: WOMEN WRITERS ON THE HORSES IN THEIR LIVES (Edited by Verna Dreisbach) (SEAL PB [USA] 2010) SUMMARY: This is an essay by Ms. Ayres in an interesting book in which women writers (mainly USA) talk about how horses have influenced their lives. Although not fictional, it is a glimpse into the author's personal relationship with horses. The book has a foreword by fellow equine author Jane Smiley Collectors Info: Paperback original. The book is in print at the moment and can be bought new and second-hand in both the UK and USA.