Virginia Vail

American author of children's books. I cannot find any biographical information on the author so it is possible this name is a pseudonym. Like her British counterpart, Lucy Daniels, she has written both pony books and long-running general animal themed series (Animal Inn) similar to Lucy's Animal Ark books. (One of the Animal Inn series is also a pony book and is featured below) She has additionally been credited as one of the ghost-writers of the Pony Pals series. Only one of her books was published in the UK.

Horse Crazy Series:
Series about Emily and her friends who are spending a fun Summer holiday at Webster's Country Horse Camp.

1) HORSEBACK SUMMER
(TROLL [USA] 1990)
ILLUSTRATED BY DANIEL BODE
SUMMARY: While spending the summer at the camp, Emily must fight to keep the spoiled Caro from taking the horse Emily loves

2) HAPPY TRAILS
(TROLL [USA] 1990)
ILLUSTRATED BY DANIEL BODE
SUMMARY: Emily's joy at spending the summer at a horse camp is clouded by the depressed behavior of a misfit in her cabin, who resists attempts to make her feel better about herself and eventually disappears with no explanation...

3) GOOD SPORTS
(TROLL [USA] 1990)
ILLUSTRATED BY DANIEL BODE
SUMMARY: The girls at the Horse Camp despair of winning the upcoming sports and riding competition with a rival boys' camp, until Libby's unconventional grandmother shows up to coach them in softball.

4) SURPRISE SURPRISE
(TROLL [USA] 1990)
ILLUSTRATED BY DANIEL BODE
SUMMARY: When Emily's best friend Judy comes to visit the riding camp, she is a big hit with the other campers and Emily suddenly feels left out and jealous.

5) HORSE PLAY
(TROLL [USA] 1990)
ILLUSTRATED BY DANIEL BODE
SUMMARY: Emily and her fellow campers fear that the owner plans to sell his land to a real estate developer, so they stretch the truth a bit in trying to convince the developer of imaginary hazards on the property

6) RIDING HOME
(TROLL [USA] 1990)
ILLUSTRATED BY DANIEL BODE
SUMMARY: Emily's wonderful summer at camp comes to an exciting end, as her cabin acquires a friendly but exhausting eight-year-old mascot and relatives begin to gather for Parents' Night.

Collectors info:
All are fairly easy to find in internet bookshops in both America and the UK, although one or two of the titles are occaisionally elusive.

Other Pony Books:

GIFT HORSE
(SCHOLASTIC PB [USA] 1990)
SUMMARY: The last book in the author's general animal-themed Animal Inn series. Val saves her money so that her horse may have an operation to save his eyes, but she is troubled by the fact that if the operation fails, he may lose his sight completely.
For a full list of the Animal Inn Series please click here

THE PALOMINO
(HARPER COLLINS PB [USA]1992)
(1st UK edition HODDER & STOUGHTON 1994)
Reprinted in hardback by Stabenfeldt (including a German language edition)
Published in the UK in paperback by Hodder as part of the Rosettes Series (book 6)
EDITIONS PICTURED: UK Rosettes edition, Stabenfeldt hardback
SUMMARY: When a beautiful palomino mare arrives at the horse farm owned by Tess' Uncle Matt, she is amazed that it bears such a close resemblance to a model horse she received as a special present many years ago. She feels a close bond with the mare, but unlike the model, this horse does not belong to her...
Read review (off website)

IF WISHES WERE HORSES
(HARPER COLLINS [USA] 1994)
Reprinted in hardback by Stabenfeldt
EDITION PICTURED: Stabenfeldt hardback
SUMMARY: More than anything, Cam Porter wants to join the local riding club, but first she needs a horse, any horse. Cam thinks she's found a way to make her dream come true when she comes across a shaggy, neglected gelding that nobody else wants. He could be the magnificent horse she's always wanted! But Galahad has different ideas. He hates the saddle, fights the bit, and bucks every time Cam gets on his back. Can Cam ever grow to love such an unloveable beast?
PONYMAD RATING: 5 HORSESHOES

Collectors info:
The Palomino was published in the UK as part of the Rosettes series, the other two were nor published here at all. All, as far as I know, were paperback originals. All are fairly easy to find in internet bookshops in both America and the UK.