Wild Horses of the West

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.

This book 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. It features 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; the author goes on to address the modern issues--ecology, conservation, and land management--surrounding wild horses in the West today.