Sally Farrell Odgers

Australian author, also known as Sally Farrell and Sally Odgers. Born in Tasmania in 1957. A highly prolific author who began writing at an early age and had her first book published when only 20 years old. She has since written many children's books in a wide range of genres, along with a number of writing guides for aspiring authors. She also runs writing workshops and a manuscript assessing service.

She and her family are keen animal lovers and many of her books feature animals, with horses appearing in a quite a few of them. I have included those which seem to contain the most equine content, but horses and ponies (and even camels!) also feature to a lesser extent in a lot of the author's non-pony stories. The author has compiled a list of horsy characters which appear in her books and I have included this in the links section.

Writing is something of a family affair. Sally has co-athored many children's novels with her husband Darrel Odgers, including the very popular Jack Russell Dog Detective series. Her daughter Tegan Odgers is also a writer, and her sister Anne Farrell  is a fellow pony book author who wrote the well-known Guara series.

Sally Farrell has her own website where you can find out lots more about her and her books.

Rosina Series:
Some pony content in this series, although as I haven't read all of the books I don't know to what extent in them all.

1) ROSINA AND HER CALF
(HODDER & STOUGHTON  [AUSTRALIA] 1984)
ILLUSTRATED BY WALTER STACKPOOL

2) ROSINA AND THE SHOW
(HODDER & STOUGHTON  [AUSTRALIA] 1985)
ILLUSTRATED BY WALTER STACKPOOL
SUMMARY: Rosina has been looking forward to the annual Springfield Show, but on the day disaster strikes!

3) ROSINA AND KATE
(HODDER & STOUGHTON  [AUSTRALIA] 1988)
ILLUSTRATED BY WALTER STACKPOOL
SUMMARY: When her best friend Kate has an accident, Rosina is left at camp all alone.

Collector's Info:
Although they were not published elsewhere, the books can be found outside of Australia, mainly in the USA and UK - though they may be a little on the pricey side. Can be harder to track down elsewhere.

Other Pony Books

As Sally Farrell:

HER KINGDOM FOR A PONY
(HODDER & STOUGHTON  [AUSTRALIA] 1977)
ILLUSTRATED BY NOELA YOUNG
SUMMARY: Short pony and animal stories linked by the story of Susan and her pony Jason. Set in Tasmania.

As Sally Farrell Odgers:

SILLY ASS
(ANGUS & ROBERTSON PB [AUSTRALIA] 1993)
ILLUSTRATED BY PAUL STANISH
Paperback original.
SUMMARY: Younger readers' story. Uproar ensues when a family get a donkey instead of the desired horse!

As Sally Odgers:

TRANSLATIONS IN CELADON
(HARPER COLLINS PB [AUSTRALIA] 1998)
SUMMARY: Young adult fantasy story. In an effort to impress a fellow student, the popular and beautiful Sari, shy and lonely Rosanna is plunged into an  alternative world where she is a dun mare and her other friends are also changed into alternative incarnations from a witch to a werewolf. She realises they are all in danger as Sari plays out her power fantasies in her new world….

MILLIE AND THE HORSES
(SCHOLASTIC PB [AUSTRALIA] 1999)
ILLUSTRATED BY JAMES REECE
Rare
SUMMARY: Part of a younger children's series based on the official mascots of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Millie the echidna (spiny anteater), Syd the platypus and Ollie the Kookaburra. Not sure what this story is about but I assume it features horses!

THE MARE'S TALE
(With Darrel Odgers)
(SCHOLASTIC PB [AUSTRALIA] 2008)
ILLUSTRATED BY JANINE DAWSON
Published in the USA by Kane Miller IN 2009.
SUMMARY: Part of the Pet Vet general animal series, this is the only one to feature an equine as far as I know. The series is different to the usual slew of vet type stories in that it is narrated by a dog who lives at a veterinary clinic.
For more info on the full series click here

Collector's Info:
Most of these are quite hard to find in Australia and extremely so elsewhere. Can be fairly expensive. However The Mare's Tale and Her Kingdom for a Horse are fairly easy to find in Australia and the USA and can also be found to a slightly lesser extent in the UK.