Legend A True Story by Elizabeth Spencer

Lady Elizabeth, who is 77 and lives on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon, decided to write the beguiling story of the most famous show pony ever as a legacy for her grandchildren and in her book she recounts life as a young girl, during and after the war. She tells of what it was like growing up in the English countryside, of family life, of different communities, of a time where horses travelled up to London by train and of the magical impact they had on the showing world.

A renowned artist, Elizabeth has illustrated the book with her own paintings and she tells her story through both her own and Legend’s eyes giving a touching and amusing insight into the human world from a horse’s point of view.

She says:

“It was fun imagining I was Legend. We grew up together and I was just a year older. Legend had so much character and he always had such a sense of enjoyment about him. He loved life!”

Writing the book is another huge achievement in Elizabeth’s incredible life as she is dyslexic.  She says:

“But Legend achieved such a lot and it is important that he is always remembered. It was also a wonderful time in my life, and quite different from the type of childhood that is experienced today. During the war and after there wasn’t a lot of food around and our amusement was being outdoors and riding the ponies. I was surprised I could write the book at all but with the help of my husband (the retired Army General Sir Frank Kitson) we did and I hope it inspires other people that are dyslexic, and old too, to give it a go! It was a lovely process writing the book, although I’ve probably forgotten a huge amount.”

Elizabeth’s story begins in Surrey during the Second World War. Her father is away fighting and in 1943 Elizabeth and her mother move to Devon to live with Granny and Gramps. Elizabeth is four years old and it is here that her adventures begin. Life on Dartmoor during the war is hard but full of possibilities for this young girl. Not yet five, she is the first to ride Legend. After numerous falls, they finally become a team that goes on to win show after show, leading them to the most prestigious show of the time and to success that has never been repeated.