Ginny Elliot

British pony book author, better known as the accomplished event rider Virginia Leng.

Born in 1955 in Malta. Won at Burghley, Badminton and at the Olympics. Her most famous horse was probably Murphy Himself, a headstrong grey gelding.

After competing at the top level, Ginny Elliott tried her hand at writing. This included some non-fiction, including autobiographical and training works, and also a reasonably good children's pony series about a girl called Becky, based not in the world of eventing as may be expected, but in the racing world. (She does also have experience in the sphere of racehorse training.)

Becky series:

1) WINNING
(COLLINS PB)
SUMMARY: Becky wants to be a top trainer when she leaves school. She is sure the chestnut Red Rag has potential to be a great chaser and is overjoyed when his racing career gets off to a great start, especially as a hunky jockey Jamie is riding him! But someone is out to nobble Red Rag…
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

2) RACE AGAINST TIME
(COLLINS PB)
SUMMARY: Someone is spreading a deadly virus at the stables. Can Becky find the culprit before her beloved Red Rag and new horse Paddy, owned by Becky's Grandpa's lady friend Claudia, fall victim? And does she really want to know the truth if her adored Jamie may be involved?
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

3) HIGH HURDLE
(COLLINS PB 1997)
SUMMARY: When Becky's grandpa and guardian Ned goes to America to marry his girlfriend Claudia, Becky is invited across to work in the stables where Paddy is to stay and be trained for the Maryland Cup. She is also to help with a troublesome horse also entered for the cup. Becky immediately becomes friendly with assistant trainer Charlie, but someone is out to sabotage both Becky and Charlie's careers. Could it be Rick, the jealous son of the stable's owner and is there a connection to the mysterious death of Charlie's father? Becky must find an answer to these questions as well as having to choose between Charlie and old boyfriend Jamie.
PONYMAD RATING: 3 HORSESHOES

Collectors Info:
Paperback originals. Perhaps not as easy to come across as books by better known authors but still can be picked up reasonably cheaply. The first one is the most common. Outside of the UK they are quite hard to find but still usually cheap.