Sam Savitt (1917-2000)

American author and illustrator born in Pennsylvania in 1917.Very well known for his illustrations of equine books. He illustrated over 100, as well as horse charts, posters and numerous other artwork. He was the official artist of the US Equestrian team.

His artistic career actually began by illustrating comics, in particular Westerns, in which his brilliant depictions of the horsy characters such as Trigger, Silver and Champion, were influential in making them such popular icons. He then went on to illustrate books when an author was unable to get his first choice of artist, Paul Brown, to illustrate his book. Brown, another notable artist and hero and friend of Savitt, recommended him to the author. Savitt was soon to go on from here to a prolific book illustrating career and become as sought after as his idol Paul Brown.

He was not only an illustrator but a author too, writing and illustrating his own books, both non-fiction and fiction, which were mainly horse or dog related. He has also written a very popular book about how to draw horses.

His deep love and knowledge of horses comes through in his work. According to his website, when asked as a child what he wanted to be when he grew up, he said "a horse!"

There is a detailed biography of him and loads of pictures of his work, including many from his comic/western days on the Horse Art Collection website

Vicki Series:

1) VICKI AND THE BLACK HORSE
(DOUBLEDAY 1964)
ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR
Reprinted a number of times in paperback by Scholastic throughout the 1960s and 70s and most recently in 1989.
SUMMARY: Vicki looks after her father's beautiful black horse Pat, but is forbidden to ride him. She is saving up her money for a pony of her own. Her plans are turned on their head when she spends the money to rescue a neglected Shetland pony called Jess. Will she ever have a horse to ride?

2) VICKI AND THE BROWN MARE
(DODD MEAD 1976)
ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR
Reprinted in paperback by Xerox.
SUMMARY: In exchange for doing chores for a year, Vicki will become the proud owner of Skylark, the brown mare. But she needs a lot of training: can Vicki manage it?

Collectors info:
There were a number of reprints, especially of the first in the series. Common in the USA and not expensive, however rarely seen outside of the states.

Other Pony Books:

STEP-A-BIT: THE STORY OF A FOAL
(DUTTON 1956)
Rare
SUMMARY: The first book Savitt wrote as well as illustrated.The story of a foal's first steps. This was influenced by a series of foal sketches which Savitt sent to a publisher, who then subsequently asked him to write some words to pull the drawings together into a story. Despite never having written before, he gave it a try!

MIDNIGHT, CHAMPION BUCKING HORSE
(DUTTON 1957)
Reprinted by Dutton and by Parent's Magazine Press in 1974. There were also a number of papeback editions published by Scholastic
SUMMARY: Fictionalised account of the true life story of one of the greatest ever rodeo horses.

THERE WAS A HORSE
aka A HORSE TO REMEMBER (see below)
(DIAL PRESS 1961)
Revised, updated and reprinted under the name of A HORSE TO REMEMBER
SUMMARY: Story set in the world of horse racing where Bill buys a horse to train and re-sell. Despite Bill being a good ride, the horse resists all attempts to train him. But then Bill meets Drake who recognises the horse as an ex-racer and the pair attempt to train him to race once more.
Read an excellent review on this pony book review blog

A HORSE TO REMEMBER  (see above)
(VIKING 1984)
Reprinted in paperback by Puffin
This is essentially the same book as THERE WAS A HORSE, although it has been updated and revised and the names of the characters changed.
SUMMARY: Can Mike train his horse to win the prestigious and gruelling race The Maryland Hunt Cup?

WILD HORSE RUNNING
(DODD MEAD 1973)
Reprinted in paperback by Scholastic
SUMMARY: Story of a wild mustang who is captured for the rodeo circuit.

Collectors info:
Most of these are reasoanbly easy to find in America, although a lot harder else where. Step-a-Bit is rare even in the US and may be quite expensvie to buy.