Judy Van Der Veer (1912-1982)

American author and poet born in Pennsylvania in 1912. As a child lived on a ranch and her love of horses and other animals began then. She also started writing as a child when she broke her leg, and eventually dropped out of school to work on the ranch and then write. Her first novel was published when she was just in her early 20s. Her books often feature animals from her real life on the ranch and as such there is a blurring between fiction and non-fiction in some of her work. Most of her books are about the rural life and the human relationship with it. Some of her books concentrate on the pony aspect of the ranching life and are featured below. The list may not be complete.

Horse & Pony Books:

HOLD THE REIN FREE
(GOLDEN GATE 1966)
ILLUSTRATED BY BERNARD GARBUTT
Reprinted in paperback a few times by Scholastic, possibly abridged
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Scholastic paperback edition
SUMMARY: When lovely TB filly Mia escapes from wealthy ranch owner and breeder Carver Richie's ranch and mates with an ill-bred Indian stallion, he orders the foal to be shot when it is born, not wanting to have a cross breed on his farm. Amy and Kiko, son of one of the ranch-hands determine to hide Mia until she has her foal and then raise it in secret.
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES

THE GREY MARE'S COLTS
(GOLDEN GATE 1971)
ILLUSTRATED BY BERNARD GARBUTT
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition
SUMMARY: An account of the horses in the author's life. I have not read so not sure if it is fictionalised or straight non-fiction.

Collector's info:
Fairly hard to find in the UK and anywhere else outside of America but quite common titles in the USA., especially Hold the Rein Free which was reprinted a number of times.