Joanne Webster

British author. She wrote one short under-rated  pony series which is good enough to make it seem a shame this was her only foray into equine fiction. She also wrote a few other children's books which I think are mainly young teen romance type stories.

As well as writing books, she worked as a radiographer and teacher and as a contributor to teaching journals.

Lolly & Knocker series:
Short traditional series about a girl called Lolly and Knocker, the unusually named pony she loves. These are taken out of the ordinary by the deft writing style and excellent characterisation.

1) NOBODY'S HORSE
(HODDER & STOUGHTON 1975)
ILLUSTRATED BY HARRY BISHOP
Reprinted in paperback by Knight.
EDITIONS PICTURED: Knight paperback edition.
SUMMARY: Despite his anti-social attitude, Lolly loves Knocker best out of all the ponies at the riding school. But then he and some of the other ponies are stolen. Will she ever see her beloved pony again?
PONYMAD RATING: 3-4 HORSESHOES

2) HORSE ON A HILL TOP
(HODDER & STOUGHTON 1976)
ILLUSTRATED BY SHEILA BEWLEY
Reprinted in paperback by Beaver.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Beaver paperback edition.
SUMMARY: Lolly's irrational fear of a frightening old man whose house she has to pass on the way to her pony's field is starting to take over her life. An extremely unusual story.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

3) HORSES IS LIKE PEOPLE
(HODDER & STOUGHTON 1979)
ILLUSTRATED BY BERYL SANDERS
Reprinted in paperback by Beaver.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Beaver paperback edition.
SUMMARY: Lolly has to cope with living in a new town and with a new step-father whom she dislikes. The worst of it all is that there is nowhere to keep Knocker in the new town where she lives, and she has to leave him at the stables five miles away and is hardly ever able to see him. Will Lolly ever find a solution to all her problems?
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

Collectors Info:
The first editions of these books are not common, especially the first in the series which is quite rare and can sometimes be expensive. Paperbacks however are fairly easy to pick up in the UK and are reasonably low cost. Much harder to find elsewhere, however.