No one seems to like the Esmond family. "I've never known such a family of selfish, quarrelling, bad-mannered children," says their father. The Pony Club DC isn't a fan. "You don't seem to take any trouble over your riding, or your ponies," he says. "Do your parents make you ride?"

They don't. The Esmonds love riding. They love their ponies, but somehow it's all gone wrong.

They were nicer people when they didn't have much money, thinks Lewis, the oldest of the family. Now they have everything they ever wanted but it doesn't seem to have helped their characters. Surely it's not that hard not to quarrel? To put some effort into their riding?

There are five Esmonds, and there are five different points of view on how they're going to improve. But somehow, despite icy accidents, flood, blizzards and some very bad riding, improve they do.

This is a brilliant winter read. Be aware that hunting was legal when this book was written, and hunting does figure quite a bit.

Some recent comments on social media about this book:

"This is my most-read pony book, just love it."

"I absolutely love this book."