Lavinia R. Davis (1909-1961)

American author. Also known as Lavinia Riker and additionally used the pseudonym of Wendell Farmer. Fairly prolific author, mainly of children's stories, but also some non-fiction and adult novels. Her pony stories have a strong adventure/mystery theme. Some of her pony books were reprinted in the UK, although she is not widely known here. Amongst her equine themed books are also two donkey stories. The books were well served by good illustrators, including the highly collectable Paul Brown.

Horse & Pony Books:

HOBBY HORSE HILL
(DOUBLEDAY [USA] 1939)
ILLUSTRATED BY PAUL BROWN
Reprinted quite a number of times in hardback
Reprinted in paperback by Scholastic/Comet.
Paperback editions were illustrated by Charles Beck
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, two different paperback editions
SUMMARY: When Terry goes to visit her cousins she isn't  sure she is going to like them or Hobby Horse Hill, as all the family seemed to think about are horses. But then she too catches the horse bug and that is the start of many adventures.

BUTTONWOOD ISLAND
(DOUBLEDAY [USA] 1940)
ILLUSTRATED BY PAUL BROWN
Reprinted a few times in hardback by original publisher.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition
SUMMARY: Lyb and Sandy and their new neighbour Sig decide to start a secret riding club on Buttonwood Island. But Sandy is a bit nervous and will only ride the farm horse Potato Pete!

PONY JUNGLE
(DOUBLEDAY [USA] 1941)
(1st UK edition COLLINS 1944)
ILLUSTRATED BY GORDON ROSS
Published in the UK by Collins in 1944
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, 1st UK edition
SUMMARY: Dibs feels out of it. She wants to ride with the new children Rosemary and Patrick but she only has a work horse to ride. One day Mrs. Edgemont  catches her riding her pony Gray Mouse, but it all works out well as Mrs. Edgemount allows her to ride her pony and she can at last have fun with the other kids!

PLOW PENNY MYSTERY
aka PLOUGH PENNY MYSTERY (UK title)
(DOUBLEDAY [USA] 1942)
(1st UK edition COLLINS 1944)
ILLUSTRATED BY PAUL BROWN
Published in the UK under the name of PLOUGH PENNY MYSTERY (using the English spelling of 'plough').
There was also another UK reprint by Collins in the 'Junior Mystery' series.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st UK edition, Junior Mystery series edition
SUMMARY: Connie is disappointed when her new neighbour Larry turns out to be scared of horses!

MELODY, MUTTON BONE AND SAM
(DOUBLEDAY [USA] 1947)
ILLUSTRATED BY PAUL BROWN
Reprinted in hardback by original publisher.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition?
SUMMARY: Sam's favourite horses are Melody and (the rather oddly named) Mutton Bone but when the stables they live in may have to close down, Sam decides to try and find them a new home.

SANDY'S SPURS
(DOUBLEDAY [USA] 1951)
ILLUSTRATED BY GRACE PAULL
Also a Book Club edition by the Junior Literary Guild
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition
SUMMARY: Sandy must spend the summer at the home of his mother's friend in Virginia. There he learns to ride but he does not get on well with the children Ashe and Matty until the trio decide to do some historical investigation together.

THE SECRET OF DONKEY ISLAND
(DOUBLEDAY [USA] 1952)
ILLUSTRATED BY JEAN MACDONALD PORTER
Also a Book Club edition by the Junior Literary Guild
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition
SUMMARY: When author Captain Kirk (not he of Starship Enterprise fame!) goes to live on Lion Island with his donkey Bunty, Jamie visits him and tries to find out the secrets surrounding the island.

DONKEY DETECTIVES
(DOUBLEDAY [USA] 1955)
ILLUSTRATED BY JEAN MACDONALD PORTER
Reprinted in hardback by original publisher
Also a Book Club edition
EDITIONS PICTURED: Book Club edition
SUMMARY: Duffy wins a donkey in a raffle, then with the donkey's help he also solves a mystery!

Collectors info:
Most of these were reprinted but as far as I know only one (Hobby Horse Hill) was reprinted in paperback. Pony Jungle and Plow Penny Mystery were also published in the UK (the latter under the title of Plough Penny Mystery) and can be found here without too much trouble. The other books however did not have a British printing and are all harder to get hold of outside of America. In the USA the books are all reasonably easy to find, with the Scholastic paperback edition of Hobby Horse Hill being by far the most commonly seen title.