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Jump to the Top
1981. First Published. 127 pages. Paperback book with pictorial cover. Pages are moderately tanned and foxed throughout. Thumb-marking present. Brown staining to pages throughout. Sticker to first page. Binding remains firm. Paper covers have moderate edge-wear with curling to corners and rubbing to surfaces. Visible scuffing to edges. Book has a slight forward lean.
- GenresChildrens
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
2 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Leitch
123 books38 followersPatricia Leitch (July 13, 1933 - July 28, 2015) was a Scottish writer, best known for her series of children's books about a girl named Jinny Manders and her wild, traumatized Arabian horse Shantih, set in the Scottish Highlands.
The 12 books in the Jinny series were published between 1976 - 1988 by Armada. They are currently in reprint by Catnip Publishers.
Two more of her novels, Dream of Fair Horses (1975) and The Horse from Black Loch (1963) have been republished by Jane Badger Books.
Leitch has also written under the pseudonym Jane Eliot.
The 12 books in the Jinny series were published between 1976 - 1988 by Armada. They are currently in reprint by Catnip Publishers.
Two more of her novels, Dream of Fair Horses (1975) and The Horse from Black Loch (1963) have been republished by Jane Badger Books.
Leitch has also written under the pseudonym Jane Eliot.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 4, 2020
This is a nice lively tale of taking on a green promising pony, Flicka, and competing.
A few issues with this book stop me from giving higher marks.
A girl, Jacky, works hard outside school to earn money towards a pony, then as she hasn't enough, gives away the money to a busker (whom we never even see). Either she would keep it towards the day when she had enough for a pony, or she would give it to a horse charity. Or she could give it to her mother to buy something for the family.
Pony acquired, the issue of stabling arises and the girl happens to fall in with some better off young people who invite her to keep her pony with theirs, for years apparently, eating their feed and fodder, using their field and stable and jumps, using their tack and brushes, we hear no word of who pays the farrier. Without any cost to our heroine's family. Not that we are told of anyway. The cost of land or livery is the biggest cost involved in keeping a pony or horse. If she is indeed paying we should be told.
Our heroine does some stupid, stupid things on a five year old green pony. Like hacking along the lanes with no tack nor hard hat. I'm glad we are shown this does not go well. A responsible mother sees a young girl bleeding from the forehead after a fall and just gives her fizzy drink and snack, without insisting on washing the cut and ringing the girl's mother.
Nobody even suggests putting a pelham bit on a pony that pulls so much it runs away constantly and dangerously. The good solution of lighter hands so the pony has nothing to pull against, won't stop the pony running away across country. You can use a curb bit well with extremely light hands.
Our heroine decides not to be in the Pony Club any more when she really could have benefited from instruction and discipline. And friends.
The cover shows a pony in a running martingale saddle check, not mentioned in the book in which martingales are derided (but would have been helpful); while we see the ends of straps like noseband or bridle cheek pieces on either side of the pony's head are flapping out wildly as it jumps. Those should be tucked into keepers so they do not flap.
The original title is 'Jacky Jumps To The Top' from 1972. We get a mention of how land is being built upon which once held horse shows or stabling. All too common from that era onward, I'm afraid. This is a fun read, but don't do all that Jacky does.
This is an unbiased review.
A few issues with this book stop me from giving higher marks.
A girl, Jacky, works hard outside school to earn money towards a pony, then as she hasn't enough, gives away the money to a busker (whom we never even see). Either she would keep it towards the day when she had enough for a pony, or she would give it to a horse charity. Or she could give it to her mother to buy something for the family.
Pony acquired, the issue of stabling arises and the girl happens to fall in with some better off young people who invite her to keep her pony with theirs, for years apparently, eating their feed and fodder, using their field and stable and jumps, using their tack and brushes, we hear no word of who pays the farrier. Without any cost to our heroine's family. Not that we are told of anyway. The cost of land or livery is the biggest cost involved in keeping a pony or horse. If she is indeed paying we should be told.
Our heroine does some stupid, stupid things on a five year old green pony. Like hacking along the lanes with no tack nor hard hat. I'm glad we are shown this does not go well. A responsible mother sees a young girl bleeding from the forehead after a fall and just gives her fizzy drink and snack, without insisting on washing the cut and ringing the girl's mother.
Nobody even suggests putting a pelham bit on a pony that pulls so much it runs away constantly and dangerously. The good solution of lighter hands so the pony has nothing to pull against, won't stop the pony running away across country. You can use a curb bit well with extremely light hands.
Our heroine decides not to be in the Pony Club any more when she really could have benefited from instruction and discipline. And friends.
The cover shows a pony in a running martingale saddle check, not mentioned in the book in which martingales are derided (but would have been helpful); while we see the ends of straps like noseband or bridle cheek pieces on either side of the pony's head are flapping out wildly as it jumps. Those should be tucked into keepers so they do not flap.
The original title is 'Jacky Jumps To The Top' from 1972. We get a mention of how land is being built upon which once held horse shows or stabling. All too common from that era onward, I'm afraid. This is a fun read, but don't do all that Jacky does.
This is an unbiased review.
September 1, 2020
My daughter really liked this book. I read this when I was about her age.
December 2, 2018
Well, this was your usual horse book! I enjoyed learning more things about horse showing, and reading about things I already knew! Since I work with horses myself, I'm familiar with lunging and things like that! It was a somewhat enjoyable read, but I'm sure younger readers would it enjoy it more!
Content:
-A couple swear words
-Jacky (the main character) didn't seem to be that respectful to her dad, which kind of irritated me.
-Jacky also doesn't think school is important, and since she was so focused on her horse, her grades went very low.
Content:
-A couple swear words
-Jacky (the main character) didn't seem to be that respectful to her dad, which kind of irritated me.
-Jacky also doesn't think school is important, and since she was so focused on her horse, her grades went very low.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews