Pamela Kavanagh

British author. Better known in the USA, where she has had more pony books published. Most of her pony books have a strong dash of mystery and the supernatural, but they are also fairly traditional type stories at the same time.

Pamela Kavanagh's interest in horses began at an early age. She saved up to buy her first horse Shamrock, who although a handful, turned out to be a champion. She has also broken and schooled ponies, bred Welsh Section As and Shetlands, and also has been involved in the Pony Club with her daughter's two ponies. A dog-lover, as well as horse-lover, she has additionally bred and trained dogs. For many years she worked as a primary school teacher but now writes full time. She lives in Wales.


Horse & Pony Books:

THE PONY SWAP
(J A ALLEN PB 1994)
Part of the J A Allen Pony Library series.
SUMMARY: Nicky swaps her unruly pony Comet for the gypsy boy Zac's mount Cobby who looks identical, but is perfectly schooled. But is this really the solution to her problem?

TALADDIN
(PONY CLUB/STABENFELDT [USA & GERMANY] 2003)
SUMMARY: Sisters Ceri and Leoni arrive at Falcondale Farm when older sister Leoni starts a new job there. However sinister events threaten to ruin Falcondale...could this be the work of the phantom horse Taladdin or is there another explanation?

PONY FARM MYSTERY
(STABENFELDT PB [USA & GERMANY] 2006)
SUMMARY: When Hannah stays at her grandparent's horse farm she finds herself strangely attracted to the statue of the pony boy there. But she never imagines the statue could be the key to uncovering the truth about her grandfather's past and saving the farm.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

HOOFBEATS ON THE WIND
(STABENFELDT  [USA & GERMANY] 2004)
SUMMARY: Shelley and her mother move from America to England. Once there, Shelley soon settles into her new home when she learns to ride and gets a pony of her own. But then she starts to fear a mysterious stalker is after her. Could this have something to do with the sinister legend of Hob Tor?

DREAMCATCHER
(STABENFELDT  [USA & GERMANY] 2008)
SUMMARY: Ghostly pony story. Tessa and friend Nick try to uncover the secret of the curse and phantom horse at their farm. And Tessa also has the worry of taking part in a competition to win the horse of her dreams.
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES

HOOFBEATS AT MIDNIGHT
(STABENFELDT  [USA & GERMANY] 2009)
SUMMARY: Supernatural pony story. Kate's mare Cobweb returns after being missing for two years. Delighted to be reunited with her pony, Kate soon realises that there is something strange about Cobweb. Could it have something to do with the mysterious brand her pony now has, and is it linked to the legend of the ghostly moon goddess?

ACROSS THE SANDS OF TIME (Adult fiction)
(HALE  2009)
Also a large print edition published by Ulverscroft in 2010.
SUMMARY: Slight pony content in this adult romance with fantasy element set against a backdrop of farming and show ponies. Thea is happily engaged to Geoff and enjoying life showing her ponies and renovating an old cottage. But when Irish vet Dominic arrives on the scene Thea is attracted to him. She begins to experience waking dreams about the cottage which reveal uncanny parallels to the present day.

Collectors Info:
The Pony Swap, published as part of the J A Allen equestrian fiction series, and her adult title appear to be her only equine novels published in the UK. Both are reasonably easy to find here. The others were all published in America where they can be easily found.

Short stories in other books & collections:

PONYSTRUCK
in
RIDE LIKE THE WIND
(ORION 1997)
Paperback original
SUMMARY: Tracy becomes interested in the mysterious Jonathan and his two hidden ponies…
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

Collectors Info:
This short story compilation containing her story, along with 4 others is easy to find in the UK, although may be a little harder elsewhere.