Sheila Chapman

Today Sheila Chapman is perhaps best known for the scarcity of her pony books, all of which are rare and can be quite expensive to buy. For some reason however her books have been extensively re-printed in German and are actually easier to find in the German than English!

She was born in Somerset and had a horsy childhood, sharing a pony with her sister, working in the local stables and joining the Pony Club - where she was also a junior instructor. Like many pony authors she started writing young, with her first book published when still a teenager. Not very prolific - as far as I know these were the only books she wrote. They include a short series and two stand-alone books. The stories are for the most part not very up-beat and some readers have found them downright depressing! A Pony and His Partner is considered the best (and least down-beat) of the lot.

The books were all graced by excellent illustrators and some of the jackets on the first editions are very attractive indeed (paperbacks less so).

Carmen series:

1) A PONY AND HIS PARTNER
(BURKE 1959)
ILLUSTRATED BY GEOFFREY WHITTAM
Reprinted in paperback by Burke.
Also a German edition.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, paperback edition.
SUMMARY: The orphaned Carmen goes to live with her cousins. There she finds Oberon, a nervous and difficult pony. But with perseverance and riding skill, she manages to turn Oberon into a useful pony, and her efforts reward her with a visit to the Horse of the Year Show and a chance to start a new life.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

2) THE MYSTERY PONY
(BURKE 1960)
ILLUSTRATED BY WENDY MARCHANT
Reprinted in paperback by Burke.
Also a German edition.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, paperback edition,
SUMMARY: Carmen and Oberon are happy in their lovely new home. But then some relatives come to stay and everything drastically changes for the worse for them both. Then, when Carmen is in the depths of despair, she finds the mystery pony.
PONYMAD RATING: 2 HORSESHOES

Collectors Info:
First published as hardbacks by Burke, then as paperbacks also by Burke. These are both rare and can be pricey. However, although the hardbacks are always exepnsive you can occaisionally pick up a paperback for a reasonable price,
Both books were also published in German and can sometimes actually be easier to find in the German than English!

Other Horse & Pony Books:

PONY FROM FIRE
(BURKE 1960)
ILLUSTRATED BY GEOFFREY WHITTAM
Reprinted in paperback by Burke.\
Also German edition.
EDITION PICTURED: 1st edition, paperback.
SUMMARY: A rather strange pony book about a girl traumatised by a horrible riding accident. When she saves a pony from a fire she forms a bond with him which may help her overcome her own fears.
PONYMAD RATING: 2 HORSESHOES
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RIDE FOR FREEDOM
(BURKE 1961)
ILLUSTRATED BY SHEILA ROSE
Reprinted in paperback by Burke.
Also German edition.
Rare.
EDITION PICTURED: 1st edition.
SUMMARY: Orphaned Lynne lives an unhappy life in a dreary town with her foster parents. She dreams of a life in the countryside surrounded by ponies. Will her wish ever come true?
PONYMAD RATING: 2-3 HORSESHOES

Other Editions:

PONY ADVENTURE
(BURKE 1964)
ILLUSTRATED BY WENDY MARCHANT & GEOFFREY WHITTAM & LILIAN BUCHANAN
SUMMARY: 3 in 1 omnibus edition which contains two of Sheila Chapman's books: Pony From Fire and Mystery Pony, along with  a third novel: Joanna's Special Pony by Hilda Boden

Collectors Info:
First published as hardbacks by Burke, then as paperbacks also by Burke (except for Pony Adventure which is only available in hardback). These are all rare, with even paperbacks sometimes commanding fairly high prices. The hardest to find is Ride For Freedom. The 3 in 1 edition, Pony Adventure, containing two of the author's works is the easiest and cheapest route to these two novels, although this edition is not overly common. It has the added attraction of including a fairly rare novel by Hilda Boden also.
Both Pony From Fire and Ride For Freedom were also published in Germany, although not the 3 in 1 omnibus edition.