Hilary Shalvey (nee Pooley) is also the author of The Horse's Skin, another Allen's title. She has owned and ridden horses for many years and is passionate about high standards of horse husbandry. Her career with horses spans many disciplines including breeding, breaking and schooling, showing and dressage, but today her skills are mainly directed at helping owners to rehabilitate horses that have been adversely affected by bad experiences.