Selma Hudnut

American author of whom I know very little. She appears to have only written three books, all of which are pony stories, two forming  a short series. Her books are set at a young adult level of readership and are well written, so are good reads for the adult pony book lover. Unfortunately only one of the books, A Horse of Her Own, is easy to find in the UK.

There has been a rumour doing the rounds that Selma Hudnut is a pseudonym for Patsey Gray, however according to Ms. Gray's grandson this is not true! They do however share a similarity in writing styles and both were very talented authors.

Rosemary and Irish series:

1) A HORSE OF HER OWN
FIRST EDITION VAN NORSTRAND 1963
FIRST UK EDITION BROCKHAMPTON 1965
ILLUSTRATED BY RUS ANDERSON
Reprinted as a paperback by Scholastic
Published in the UK in hardback by Brockhampton in 1965
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, Scholastic paperback, UK edition.
SUMMARY: Rosemary is delighted to get a summer job working in a local stables, even though she does not get on with the unpleasant and drunken stable manager Red. When she finds out Red has locked up a horse he has taken a dislike to and is neglecting it, Rosemary goes behind his back and risks her job to help the mistreated horse whom she calls Irish.
PONYMAD RATING: 4 HORSESHOES

2) IRISH HURDLES
FIRST EDITION VAN NORSTRAND 1966
ILLUSTRATED BY WALLACE NALL
Rare.
EDITION PICTURED: First edition.
SUMMARY: Rosemary and her horse Irish start a new life with her new-found Irish family and it is certainly not dull. Rosemary must re-school her mount to cure his many problems and at the same time she finds romance…
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

Collector's Info:
A Horse of Her Own is easy to find in the USA, a little harder in the UK, but there was a British edition which can be found without too much trouble. Irish Hurdles is much rarer, even in America.

Other Horse & Pony Books:

THE REDHEAD AND THE ROAN
FIRST EDITION VAN NORSTRAND 1963
ILLUSTRATED BY RUS ANDERSON
PAPERBACK ILLUSTRATED BY SAM SAVITT
Reprinted in paperback by Tempo with new illustrations by Sam Savitt.
EDITIONS PICTURED: First edition, paperback.
SUMMARY: Brooke is overjoyed to be finally getting her own horse at last. She is staying at her grandparents and helping look after the horses for a wealthy family nearby. There she falls in love with a beautiful roan called Firebird. She knows that she has found the horse she wants but not only is he dangerous and temperamental from being ill-treated, he is far too valuable for her parents to afford. Will Firebird ever be hers?
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

Collector's Info:
Hard to find outside the USA.