About the author
Harlan Thompson (1894–1987) also wrote as Stephen Holt, and under this name he produced several horse stories for Grosset and Dunlap’s Famous Horse Series. His books under both names are generally ranch stories.
Finding the books
None of the Stephen Holt titles were published in the UK either, but all are reasonably easy to find. The Famous Horse titles do occasionally turn up in the UK.
Links and sources
Terri Wear: Horse Stories: an Annotated Bibliography, Scarecrow Press, 1977
Many thanks to Lisa Catz, Susan Bourgeau, Alison MacCallum and Lynne Goundry for the photographs.
Series
Palomino
The Wild Palomino
The Whistling Stallion
Bibliography (horse books only)
Wild Palomino
Longmans, New York, 1946, 151 pp, illus W C Nims
Grosset & Dunlap, NY, Famous Horse Series
Scholastic, 1973, pb
Des wants to catch a palomino stallion to use as a new sire on his father’s ranch. However, El Gato has different plans for the horse.
Prairie Colt
Longmans, New York, 1947, 178 pp, illus Wesley Dennis
Grosset & Dunlap, NY, Famous Horse Series
Scholastic, pb, 1960
Leif’s has twin colts who have unfortunately been orphaned. However, he thinks they’ll help him win the stockman’s race and save his father’s business. His only problem is choosing which colt will do the job.
The Phantom Roan
Longmans, New York, 1949, 244 pp.
Grosset & Dunlap, NY, Famous Horse Series
Scholastic, 1968, 1974, 220pp
Teenage Book Club Edition
Glenn wants to become a vet, and a cast-off rodeo horse with an injured foot inspires him to carry on with his dream.
The Whistling Stallion
Longmans, New York, 1951, 211 pp, illus Pers Crowell
Oxford Book Co, New York, 1958 Edited for school use by Jerome Shostak, 263 pp.
Grosset & Dunlap, NY, Famous Horse Series
Roy’s father’s medical bills are so high they threaten the survival of their ranch. Inspired by the palomino stallion Whistler who refuses to give up, Roy plans to run the ranch until his father is well again.
Stormy
Longmans, New York, 1955, illus Pers Crowell
Grosset & Dunlap, NY, Famous Horse Series
Hugh Star returns to the family ranch. Whether he will get the ranch going or not depends on whether his pinto horse Stormy is a good roping horse.
The Ranch Beyond the Mountains
Longmans, New York, 1961, 194 pp, illus Pers Crowell
Larry and Bomber go to British Columbia to take over a run down cattle ranch.
short stories
The Big Book of Favorite Horse Stories
[Ed] P C Braun, Platt & Munk 1965, illus Sam Savitt
Night Star and Indian Fighter
