Synopses & Reviews
Descended from the greatest horses of the American West, the wild horses living on the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico were national treasures and living legends. But in 1994, after years of suffering through periodic droughts, food shortages, and all the dangers accompanying life on a military weapons-testing site, scores of horses suddenly died. And almost two thousand more were in such dire straits that they were unlikely to survive. Large-animal veterinarian Don Höglund was called in to organize and lead a team of dedicated cowboys, soldiers, and other professionals in removing the surviving horses and their offspring to safety. Nobodys Horses tells the dramatic story of these noble animals celebrated history, their defiant survival, and their incredible rescue. Amid the constant danger from unspent munitions on the ground and missile testing in the air, cowboys, Native Americans, and ranchers—all of whom cared deeply about the fate of the horses—clashed in a battle of wills. And, of course, there were the horses themselves—wild, extraordinarily powerful animals, not easily managed or moved, who would become known to their rescuers as fascinating, individual characters. Filled with history and heroism, adventure and rivalry, and, ultimately, the alliances between horses and people, Nobodys Horses will stir the emotions and imagination of horse lovers, humanitarians, and anyone who loves an uplifting tale of second chances.
Review
"As fast and dramatic as a herd of wild horses, Höglund's book will sweep you up and carry you at a gallop to its bittersweet, compelling ending. Höglund is an American hero, and his knowledge and passion for horses shine off every page. If you love horses just a smidgeon as much as he does, once you start it you won't be able to put it down. What a joy."—Patricia B. McConnell, PhD, author of the national bestseller The Other End of the Leash, cohost of public radio's Calling All Pets, associate adjunct professor of zoology at University of Wisconsin-Madison Ashley M. Biggers - New Mexico Magazine
Review
"This moving, first-hand account of Dr. Höglund's efforts to save the White Sands herd is a compelling must-read for anyone who loves wild horses or wild places."—Tom Groneberg, author of The Secret Life of Cowboys Patricia B. McConnell
Review
“Without a doubt, Nobodys Horses is the best read of the year. Wild horses are as natural to the West as the rivers that run through it. This is the true, chilling story of bureaucracy run amuck. The author, who also happens to be a veterinarian, takes matters into his own hands when wild horses are dying at White Sands in New Mexico. Dr. Höglund describes the uphill battle of rescue and survival of the wild horses with obvious passion and real insight. Somewhat bittersweet, yet very compelling.”—Linda Wommack, True West Linda Wommack
Review
"A worthwhile read for horse lovers and anyone who likes to root for the underdog—or, in this case, the underhorse." —Ashley M. Biggers, New Mexico Magazine American Quarter Horse Journal
Review
“Horse expert and veterinarian Höglund delivers a compelling and swiftly paced account of his efforts in 1994 to manage the capture and safe movement of nearly two thousand wild horses from New Mexico's White Sands Missile Base to an Oklahoma wild horse sanctuary. . . . . His chronicle effectively shows how his efforts, along with a team of herders possessing 'steeled nerves and the hand-eye coordination of an explosives expert' resulted in a successful mission 'to save lives and relieve the horses' pain and suffering, not re-create an Old West roundup for the excitement and the spectacle'—though excitement and spectacle is exactly what they find, as will readers.”—Publishers Weekly Publishers Weekly
Review
“This stunning book is one of the most remarkable rescue stories of all time. . . . This book is an absolute must. It chronicles the New West, where the symbols of the Old West have become a nuisance, the past forgotten until it is brought back to everyones attention. Fortunately there are still heroes to be found who care.”—
American Quarter Horse Journal True West
Review
"Day's poignant personal journey is one of both heartache and hope, a mirror of not just one man's desire to save a great American icon of freedom, the wild mustang, but a nation's."and#8212;Stuart Rosebrook, True West
Review
"An instant classic."and#8212;Nancy Bent, Booklist Starred Review
Review
andldquo;It is impossible to see a herd of wild horses running free without feeling a surge of excitement and enthusiasm for their vigor, power, and beauty. To watch them run with their manes and tails flying in the wind is to experience a sense of the ultimate freedom of motion.andrdquo;andmdash;From the foreword by Sandra Day Oandrsquo;Connor, former U.S. Supreme Court justice
Review
andldquo;A great American story, and an inspiring tale of vision, courage, and hard-won wisdom. Itandrsquo;s told with humor and grace and without pretension. And every reader is sure to find a horse to fall in love with in these pages.andrdquo;andmdash;Larry Watson, author of Montana 1948
Review
andldquo;A definite read for all those who love horses. Day and Sneydandrsquo;s book is sure to become an instant wild-horse classic in the spirit of J. Frank Dobie.andrdquo;andmdash;J. Edward de Steiguer, author of Wild Horses of the West
Review
andldquo;The Horse Lover is a very good illustration of the real western part of our nation. Day, a successful rancher and businessman, is honest and forthright in dealings with neighbors, employees, business associates, and especially the federal government. I recommend this reading.andrdquo;andmdash;Dennis DeConcini, former U.S. senator from Arizona
Synopsis
He already owned and managed two ranches and needed a third about as much as he needed a permanent migraine: thatand#8217;s what Alan Day said every time his friend pestered him about an old ranch in South Dakota. But in short order, he proudly owned 35,000 pristine grassy acres. The opportunity then dropped into his lap to establish a sanctuary for unadoptable wild horses previously warehoused by the Bureau of Land Management. After Day successfully lobbied Congress, those acres became Mustang Meadows Ranch, the first government-sponsored wild horse sanctuary established in the United States.
The Horse Lover is Dayand#8217;s personal history of the sanctuaryand#8217;s vast enterprise, with its surprises and pleasures and its plentiful dangers, frustrations, and heartbreak. Dayand#8217;s deep connection with the animals in his care is clear from the outset, as is his maverick philosophy of horse-whispering, with which he trained fifteen hundred wild horses. The Horse Lover weaves together Dayand#8217;s recollections of his cowboying adventures astride some of his best horses, all of which taught him indispensable lessons about loyalty, perseverance, and hope. This heartfelt memoir reveals the Herculean task of balancing the requirements of the government with the needs of wild horses.
and#160;
About the Author
Alan Day was the owner of Mustang Meadows Ranch near St. Francis, South Dakota; Rex Ranch near Whitman, Nebraska; and Lazy B Ranch in southern Arizona. With his sister, Sandra Day Oandrsquo;Connor, he coauthored Lazy B: Growing Up on a Cattle Ranch in the American Southwest. Lynn Wiese Sneyd is a published author and owner of LWS Literary Services. Sandra Day Oandrsquo;Connor served on the U. S.and#160;Supreme Court from 1981 to 2005.