When the Spanish explorers brought horses to North America, the horses were, in a sense, returning home. Beginning with their origins fifty million years ago, the wild horse has been traced from North America through Asia to the plains of Spain’s Andalusia and then back across the Atlantic to the ranges of the American West. When given the chance, these horses simply took up residence in the landscape that their ancestors had roamed so long ago. In Wild Horses of the West, J. Edward de Steiguer provides an entertaining and well-researched look at one of the most controversial animal welfare issues of our time—the protection of free-roaming horses on the West’s public lands. This is the first book in decades to include the entire story of these magnificent animals, from their evolution and biology to their historical integration into conquistador, Native American, and cowboy cultures. And the story isn’t over. De Steiguer goes on to address the modern issues— ecology, conservation, and land management—surrounding wild horses in the West today. Featuring stunning color photographs of wild horses, this extremely thorough and engaging blend of history, science, and politics will appeal to students of the American West, conservation activists, and anyone interested in the beauty and power of these striking animals.

No wild animal captures the spirit of North America quite so powerfully as the wild horse -- nor does any face so many diverse and potent enemies. In this thoughtful, provocative study, Ryden combs the history of these proud and noble horses, from their origins among the Spanish mustangs of the conquistadors. Updating their story to the present day, when -- destroyed as varmints and buffeted by misguided federal programs -- the wild horse faces an ever more threatened future, Ryden champions their cause. Distinguished by sixty vivid photographs, "America's Last Wild Horses" is a compelling testament to the life of a uniquely American symbol of grace and wildness. Now with stunning new color photographs.

This epic story offers a sweeping tale of the wild horse in the culture, history, and popular imagination of the American West.

There is no creature that quite embodies the beauty and grandeur of the American West as does the wild horse. For thousands of years, the horse has roamed the plains and valleys of the American continent, free of the encumbrances of man or the saddle. In America’s Wild Horses, award-winning photographer and lifelong horse lover Steven Price celebrates the timeless magnificence of the American mustang. Meticulously researched, Price offers a cultural history of the American wild horse that is unparalleled in its exquisite detail and poignant prose. Beginning with chapters on prehistoric equines, Price sweeps through all the most important historical epochs in the history of the American mustang. Detailed accounts of horse-breeding in the Southwest, Native American horsemanship, and mustangs in the golden age of the iconic American cowboys each detail the profound impact that the wild horse has had in shaping American culture. Later chapters chronicle the legacy of the horse in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, specifically emphasizing the legal and scientific measures that are being taken by horse-lovers across the country to ensure that later generations will also be able to witness the majesty of the wild horse. Featuring dozens of stunning photographs by the author, and interspersed with firsthand interviews with some of the most renowned horse experts today, America’s Wild Horses is a required read for all equine lovers.

A Simon & Schuster eBook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader.