About the author
Her Scholastic biography is a master of conciseness: “Susan Saunders was born on a ranch in Texas” is it. That’s all we know. She’s a very prolific author; there are at least 60 titles that I’m aware of, and quite possibly many more. She’s contributed to a number of series, including Sleepover Friends. She’s written two short horse series: Double R, a young reader’s detective series, and Pony Camp, which looks at individual girl’s experiences.
Finding the books
Easy to find in America. Lucky Lady is still in print, and is easy to find both in America and the UK.
Links and sources
Susan Saunders at Scholastic
Series
Double R
The Case of the Dude Ranch Rustlers
The UFO Mystery
Pony Camp
Jessie Takes the Reins
Pam’s Trail Ride Adventure
Maxine’s Blue Ribbon
Bibliography (horse books only)
The Mystery of the Hard Luck Rodeo
Random House, New York, 1989, illus Melodye Rosales
Also published as The Mystery of the Hard Luck R
Tommy travels the rodeo circuit with his father, and is enlisted to help find out who keeps releasing the bucking stock.
The Case of the Dude Ranch Rustlers
HarperPaperbacks, New York, 1995, 73 pp.
Roxie and Ross have an amazing horse: Skyrocket. He’s going to help them protect their ranch from rustlers.
The UFO Mystery
HarperPaperbacks, New York, 1995, 73 pp.
Roxie and Ross hear about UFO sightings. Roxie thinks it really is aliens; Ross is sure it’s a con artist, but it’s their amazing horse Skyrocket who solves the case.
Jessie Takes the Reins
Harpercollins, New York,1994,
“Eagerly anticipating her time at Pony Camp, Jessie is disappointed when she is given a short, stubborn colt named Roger and is forced to take advice from Maxine, Jessie’s rival.”
Pam’s Trail Ride Adventure
Harpercollins, New York,1994
Pam is terrified because she has to ride the wildest horse in the stable on the trail ride, but when nasty Lisa Harris needs help on the trail, Pam is the only one who can save her.
Maxine’s Blue Ribbon
Harpercollins, New York,1994
“The best beginning rider at Horizon Hills Farm, Maxine is reluctant to join an intermediate class, now that she has made close friends among the members of her beginning group.”
Kate’s Secret Plan
Ertl Co, Iowa, 1996, 121 pp, illus Sandy Rabinowitz
Treasured Horses Collection, 2004 & 2004
The story of a young Quarter Horse and the persistent girl who will not let obstacles stand in their way. In 1926, 10 year old Kate lives on a ranch in Albert. She’s convinced that the Quarter Horse she gets for her birthday can win the cattle cutting contest at the annual fair and determines to participate even though the contest is open only to boys.
Riding School Rivals
Ertl Co, Iowa, 1996, 120 pp, illus Sandy Raninowitz, cover Christa Keiffer
Gareth Stevens Pub, Milwaukee, 1999, 120 pp, large print
Treasured Horses Collection, 2004 & 2004
The story of a majestic Lipizzaner and the girls who fight for the right to ride him: Cassie and Hillary vie with each other for the privilege of riding Birchwood Stable’s new
Lipizzaner in an important horse show.
Lucky Lady
Harper Collins, New York, 2000
HarperCollins, New York, 2002, 128 pp
The blurb:
“What looked to be a long, hot summer with her grandfather on his Texas ranch changes in an instant for Jamie. On impulse, she plunks down her entire summer’s allowance at a horse auction for a beautiful but wild pony no one else wants. Granddad is furious with Jamie for buying the outlaw filly and refuses to help tame Lucky Lady. Then an out-of-control brush fire shows Jamie that there is more to her grandfather — and Lucky Lady — than she ever imagined.”
