Michael Slade

Award winning children's novelist, playwright and TV writer.
Born in 1952. Best known for his many plays (for adults and children) and musicals which have been performed all over the world and his television work, which has earned him many accolades. Has written one unusual pony novel about a boy who can talk with horses.

There is also a Michael Slade writing adult thrillers but I am pretty sure that is an entirely different author.

Pony Books:

THE HORSES OF CENTRAL PARK
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1992)
Reprinted in paperback by Scholastic.
SUMMARY: Twelve year old Wendell loves the horses which pull the carriages in Central Park, he even believes they can speak to him. He introduces his friend Judith to the horses and together they decide to help them escape from their tedious and sometimes unpleasant life to have a few days of freedom.
The book won the International Society for Animal Rights Children's Book Award.

Collector's Info:
Very easy to find in the USA, especially the paperbacks. Fairly hard to find elsewhere, although UK collectors can order from America at a reasonable cost through Amazon.