Saving Mr Pinto

Alison Lester (b.1952) was born in Victoria, Australia. She both writes and illustrates, and is probably best known for her picture books for younger children. She was educated at St Margaret’s School, and then trained as an arts and crafts teacher. Not liking the everyday routine of school, she started illustrating other people’s books after she had her first baby. However, after 'getting picky' about other people’s texts, she started to write as well, using her childhood on the family cattle farm as an inspiration for many of her books. This background is reflected in her pony books: she first rode a horse as a baby in her father’s arms, and has a horse of her own, Woollyfoot.

Her books have been well received, and she has won awards including the Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year, Australian Multicultural Children's Literature, and Australian Book Publishers Association Design Awards.

Finding the books
Her pony books are obtainable via Amazon, and although the pony content of the only one I’ve read (Quicksand Pony), isn’t huge, it is an excellent read.  It and The Snow Pony are aimed at around age 11; the Bonnie and Sam books at a slightly younger age.  

Links and sources
Austlit
Alison Lester’s Website
An interview and masterclass with Alison Lester
Allen & Unwin’s page on Alison Lester
Bonnie and Sam’s Website