John and Jennifer’s Pony Club
Thomas Nelson and Sons, 1955, illus and designed Gee
Denes
Many thanks to Hannah for the photographs of this book
Molly the New Forest Pony
Nelson, 1940, reprinted 1954, illus W Neave Parker
Many thanks to Annette York for the picture
Montana Adventure
Faber & Faber, 1946, illus Marjorie Owens
Tessa and Some Ponies
Nelson, 1953, illus Leslie Atkinson
reprinted 1959
Lady Kitty Ritson was born Lady Kitty Edith Blanche Ogilvy on 5 February 1887. She was married twice, and had two children with her first husband, both of whom died very young in 1914. She died on 17 Cctober 1969.
She is better known by far in the dog world, having been a keen supporter of several breeds new to Britain in the 1920s and 30s, including the Norwegian Elkhound and the Finnish Spitz. As well as writing many books on dogs, she judged, and also helped set up Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Her Tessa books are an interesting series: many fathers in books of the period are
on the ferocious side, but Tessa’s is human and Tessa herself is delightful. The
books are sometimes tricky to find, but not monstrously expensive when they do turn
up.
There are photographs of her here.
The Tessa Series
Tessa and Some Ponies
Tessa and the Rannoch Dude Ranch
Tessa in South Africa
Tessa to the Rescue
