Review: JOSEPHINE - One Day Event

One Day Event is this week's book. It is the fourth book in the ever popular Noel and Henry series (also known as the West Barsetshire Pony Club). It was first published in 1954. It has been republished several times, including in 2019 by Jane Badger Books. It is currently available as an ebook and paperback. 

The blurb reads (taken from the first image):-

WE HAVE already met Henry Thornton and his friends in Pony Club Team and The Radney Riding club. In One Day Event Josephine Pullein-Thompson describes what happens when Henry's uncle, who runs the local Pony Club, is hurt in a train accident. Henry and his friends, who riding has hitherto been more slapdash than the Major considers right, all fall to help look after his large stable. Henry organises the proceedings, helped by Noel Kettering, and in the course of exercising the Major's horses they all find themselves training fast. When the Major returns he is surprised to find how greatly their riding has improved and organises a cross-country course, the aim of which is to produce a well-schooled hunter or one day event horse. The Pony Club finds it difficult to keep up the exacting standard Major Holbrooke demands, but in the end the value of hard and constant training is proved. A great many hints of practical use will be found in this new story by Josephine Pullein-Thompson.

The action starts several months after the events of The Radney Riding Club. Henry, having done dreadfully at a dressage test, decides, along with Noel, to set up an enterprise schooling horses. This does not come to fruition as it says from the blurb that the Major and his wife are hurt in an accident. So both Henry and Noel return to the Major's residence to help exercise the horses. Susan and the Radcliffes from the previous book reappears in this book too. 

Most of the book is taken up with the children taking charge of the stables and running them. It has to be noted that there is a bit of hitting of horses on a ride: something that was acceptable when the book was first published. I am not sure if that has been taken out of later editions  as all consequent edition were edited (bar Jane Badger's). I am using the first edition and do not have a later edition to check.  Barring that, it's enjoyable to read. There is a far bit of lungeing and some schooling. 

In chapter 5 the Major seems to be in good spirits and suggests that Henry and the rest of the Pony Club do an One Day Event. This is met with mixed response; with some people reluctant and Noel convinced that she is hopeless.  But they are mostly happy with it as chapters 6, 7 and 8 are mostly taken up by schooling. It is not until chapter 9 that they actually tackle the cross country course and even then that's mainly schooling.

Chapter 10 is taken up with practising of the One Day Event.  This mainly focuses on the jumping side of things rather than the dressage. But it's a relatively short chapter.  

Chapter 11 is about the actual competition itself. The dressage isn't described in great detail but overall mixed. It must be noted that only the Pony Club members are involved in this competition; in previous books outside members are introduced/involved.  Then the showjumping commences. This is described in more detail with mixed results; none of the Pony Club members achieve a clear round. Finally the main event is upon us: the cross country. It is initially met with sheer horror as all the jumps seem formidable (at least from the members point of view). It mainly focuses on Noel's round and also John's. But the members have mostly good rounds and it is judged to be noted as bad as initially seemed. The results are announced though it has to be said that an archaic form of scoring is used unlike today. The ending is a bit abrupt: taking place after the results.

If you dont mind the lot of schooling (it is the most heavily weighed towards that of the series so far) then you might enjoy this book. It is an good read especially if you enjoy competition and children running a yard. Personally speaking it is my least favourite out of the series but it's still a well written book.