The Western Horse: A Popular History of the Wild and Working Animal

Perhaps no one living ideal embodies the spirit of the American West more than that of the horse. Wild horses, trained horses, and every-stage-in-between horses evoke pride and passion while presenting an American image of freedom, strength, and swiftness. This book celebrates the history and culture of the western horse, its ability to capture the popular imagination, and the means by which it has come to symbolize the American West. Beginning in the 1500s, The Western Horse delves into the origins and variations of the western breeds, their role in the expansion and settlement of the West, and the lawless element they attracted. The 1800s is when the stereotypes of Western Americana flourish accompanied by the ever-present horse. The mounted Plains tribes, cavalry, Pony Express, pioneers, stock detectives, cowboys, horse thieves, and the iconic rodeos come into perspective. The book is also intended to dispel some of the falsehoods of the western horse and replace those inaccuracies with interesting fact. Case in point: many people grow up believing that the wild mustangs are the offspring the conquistador’s horses. While that belief is partially true, it is also partially incorrect. While the conquistadors returned with horses re-introducing them to the American landmass, the Spaniards only rode stallions. The progenitors of the mustangs likely occurred a bit later—lost stock of the Spanish settlers and the missions that returned into the wild. The book will use an illustrative B&W design to showcase nostalgic imagery, advertisements, and sidebars with trivia for die-hard horse fans!