Harlan Thompson (1894-1987)
aka Stephen Holt

American author. Born in 1894 in Brewster and attended the University of California. Became a successful children's author and was president of P.E.N. in the 1950s. His books were mainly horse/ranching stories of the 'wild stallion helped by boy' type, some of which were award winning. As well as writing as Harlan Thompson he also wrote under the name of Stephen Holt.

Pony Books :

OUTCAST, STALLION OF HAWAII
(DOUBLEDAY [USA] 1957)
SUMMARY: Palomino stallion Pirate has become an outcast because of an injured hoof. Newcomer Bart is determined to rescue the horse by making a shoe for the injured foot.

SPOOK THE MUSTANG
(DOUBLEDAY [USA] 1956)
Reprinted in hardback by Grossett and Dumlap
SUMMARY: Dave and his parents arrive at a Californian ranch to find the owner and his stock missing. Can Dave solve the mystery with the help of a horse he has saved from a mountain lion?

STAR ROAN
(LONGMANS [USA] 1952)
ILLUSTRATED BY MILLARD SHEETS
Reprinted in hardback
SUMMARY: Historical American story. The beautiful mare El Ruano is brought into Ramon's life by a storm.

Collector's Info:
Most of these are rarely seen in the UK. They are fairly easy to find in the USA, although perhaps slightly less common than the titles under the Stephen Holt psuedonym.

As Stephen Holt:

WILD PALOMINO: STALLION OF THE PRAIRIES
(LONGMANS [USA] 1946)
ILLUSTRATED BY W. C. NIMS
Reprinted in hardback
Reprinted in paperback by Scholastic
SUMMARY: Des wants to capture the wild palomino Rocket so that he can become the ranch stallion and save the ranch's fortunes. But someone else wants Rocket for themselves...

PRAIRIE COLT
(LONGMANS [USA] 1947)
ILLUSTRATED BY WESLEY DENNIS
Reprinted in paperback by Scholastic
SUMMARY: Leif find his family fortunes are to rest upon two twin colts. Rainboy and Big Red. Whilst Leif is hopeful that Rainboy can win an upcoming race, Big Red however seems to be a failure….or is he?

PHANTOM ROAN
(LONGMANS [USA] 1949)
ILLUSTRATED BY PERS CROWELL
Reprinted in hardback
Reprinted in paperback a number of times by Scholastic
SUMMARY: Set in Canada and USA. After a tragedy, Glenn is heartbroken until an injured roan outlaw horse needs his help.

WHISTLING STALLION
(LONGMANS [USA] 1951)
ILLUSTRATED BY PERS CROWELL
SUMMARY: Roy attempts to save his family's ranch, but is hampered by a terrible blizzard.

STORMY
(LONGMANS [USA] 1955)
ILLUSTRATED BY PERS CROWELL

Collector's Info:
For some reason most of the author's titles written under the name of Stephen Holt had more printings than the Harlan Thompson titles. The Phantom Roan is the title most easy to find and is indeed the only one commonly seen in the UK. (mainly the paperback edition). The others are fairly easy to get hold of in the USA, Stormy being the only one which is sometimes elusive.