Kitty Barne (1883-1957)

Full name: Marion Catherine Barne. Born in 1883. Studied at the Royal College of Music. A prolific author who wrote children's books, adult novels, non-fiction and plays. She won the Carnegie Medal  in 1941 for her novel Visitors From London which was about evacuees.  As far as I know she only wrote the two pony books which were linked together but can be read as stand-alones.

Rosina Copper Series:
Short series based on a real life mare who was something of a celebrity of the time.

1) ROSINA COPPER: MYSTERY MARE
(EVANS 1954)
ILLUSTRATED BY ALFONS PURTSCHER
Reprinted in hardback by Evans.
Reprinted by the Childrens Book Club.
Reprinted in paperback by Evans.
Published in the USA by Dutton in 1956 with different illustrator Gerald McCann.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition, Book Club edition, Evans paperback edition, USA edition
SUMMARY: Rosina is in a sorry state when rescued by Meg and taken to her stables. With care and the help of her young friend Angela, Rosina soon blossoms into a beautiful pony who starts taking prizes at shows. But what is the secret of her past? Meg and Angela set out to piece together the mystery.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

2) ROSINA AND SON
(EVANS 1956)
ILLUSTRATED BY MARCIA LANE FOSTER
Reprinted in hardback by White Lion IN 1976.
No paperback edition as far as I know.
EDITIONS PICTURED: 1st edition
SUMMARY: Prequel. Fictional account of Rosina's life before the events of the first book. Rosina is working in a circus with Tex and has had a foal.
PONYMAD RATING: 2 HORSESHOES

Collectors Info:
The books aren't particularly hard to get hold of in the UK, USA or Australia, although the earliest printings from 1954 are quite a bit rarer than the later ones.