About the author
Eunice Young Smith lived in Indiana, and was a full time writer. She wrote a series of children’s books about Jennifer, whose parents moved from the city to an American Mid West Farm. The books are set during the early part of the 20th century, and were translated into many languages. Just the last is a horse book, in which Jennifer helps her friend Camilla to train her filly, High Heels.
Eunice Young Smith wrote another horse book: Shoon, Wild Pony of the Moors. This is set on Exmoor, in the UK, and was inspired by a ramble across the moors Eunice Smith took when she was visiting England. She saw two wild ponies, a mare and foal, grazing alone at the edge of the moor, and so she researched the breed for background material, and Shoon was born.
I have been able to find very little biographical information about Eunice Young Smith, but her daughter, Sharon Kane, is a well known illustrator.
Finding the books
High Heels for Jennifer is difficult to find in its original Bobbs-Merrill printing, and tends to be expensive. In its British incarnation, it is also hard to find, but is generally cheaper than its American counterpart. Shoon is much easier to find.
Links and sources
Sharon Kane’s website (no longer appears extant)
Series
The Jennifer Series
The Jennifer Wish
The Jennifer Gift
The Jennifer Prize
Jennifer is Eleven
Jennifer Dances
High Heels for Jennifer
Bibliography (horse books only)
High Heels for Jennifer
Bobbs-Merrill Company, Indianapolis, 1964, illus the author
Edmund Ward (Publishers) Ltd, London, 1966, illus the author
Jennifer is 13, and the despair of her mother. Jennifer is not interested in learning to be a lady. She would rather ride and draw the ponies, until she finds herself day-dreaming about a friend of her brother. Jennifer helps to train her friend Camilla’s filly, High Heels, for the county horse show.
Shoon, Wild Pony of the Moors
Bobbs-Merrill Company, Indianapolis, 1965, 177p.
A young boy finds an Exmoor pony running in the wild. He has unusual markings: a white mane and tail. When Loren finds the colt hurt, he bandages him and builds a bond with him. Because of the colt’s unusual markings, Loren is worried he will be got rid of by the Exmoor Pony Society and sohe manages to hide him on the moor until the pony is sent to Bampton Fair to be sold. Loren has worked and worked to try and buy the pony, but it is not an easy road.