Equus Rising

How the Horse Shaped U.S. History

By: Robert Spannring (Illustrator), Julia Soplop

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Paperback | 1 July 2020

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Paperback
330 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
20.32 x 13.34 x 1.75

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WINNER OF AN INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER (IPPY) BOOK AWARD (GOLD MEDAL)

WINNER OF A FEATHERED QUILL BOOK AWARD (GOLD MEDAL)

Weapon. Legend. Energy source. Shaper of cultures. Center of controversy. Throughout U.S. history, the horse has served as one of the most powerful influences on the country's development. Beginning fifty-five million years ago with the evolution of the horse across the Great Plains, this story charts its extinction in North America, followed by its reintroduction to the continent by the Spanish. The eventual acquisition of Spanish horses by the native peoples of the plains had profound consequences for the continent's future: it resulted in the explosion of wild horses across the West and unleashed some of the most talented and brutal mounted warriors in the world, the Comanche, who staved off European-American development of much of the plains for nearly two centuries. From there, the story tracks the horse's incredible contributions-through warring and racing and hauling, through companionship and servitude and strength-across the broad arc of the country's next three hundred years. Soplop employs the horse as a narrative thread not only to bind seemingly disparate events, but also to allow for the inclusion of figures often written out of traditional histories: women and minorities. Through a modern, unconventional lens, she skillfully weaves together science, policy, literature, and history to trace the fascinating story of how one animal shaped the nation. Captivating pen and ink illustrations by Montana artist Robert Spannring, interspersed with Soplop's stunning photography, add further depth and visual interest.

Industry Reviews

"Thoroughly engrossing and compelling...In this ambitious book about the powerful influence of the horse on US history, Soplop delivers a gripping account...Soplop's writing is assured and her prose full of cohesion and clarity of purpose. Robert Spannring's pen and ink illustrations are striking, and Soplop's arresting photography adds further depth...Soplop delivers a unique and enlightening portrait of the horse's role in the development of the country. A fun and fascinating read, the book will make for a great resource book for classroom and library shelves."

-The Prairies Book Review

"I've loved and owned horses most of my life, but had never considered the important role they played in American History. This has changed now that I have read Equus Rising, a rich retelling of the history of the horse from the foundations of the earth, to the early days of America, until our current day...I had a hard time putting the book down, as I couldn't wait to read the next chapter to find out what would happen next! Equus Rising is a compelling, concisely written, beautifully illustrated, important read for any horse or history enthusiast. If you are a horse lover and would like to have a more intimate knowledge of the role the horse has played in U.S. history, I highly recommend Equus Rising."

-Shelley Paulson, author of Horses: Portraits & Stories

"From the Dawn Pony of the Eocene, to the Thoroughbreds of Kentucky, Equus Rising takes the reader on a tour. Through a rare blend of social and biological history, Soplop tells the story of horses, as wild animals, and also as partners to human beings. Well-written and well-researched, this volume fills a key niche in the science, politics, and literature of the horse."

-Chad Hanson, PhD, president of the Wyoming Mustang Institute and author of Trout Streams of the Heart

Author's Note
Introduction
Horse Terms to Know Before Digging In
 
Part I-Equus Rising (55 MYA to 1500 CE)
Evolution of the Horse
Domestication and Coloration
 
Part II-The West (1500s-1700s)
Return of the Horse
Rise of the Horse Nations
Rise of America's Modern Wild Horses
The Comanche
The Nez Perce and Their Appaloosas
 
Part III-The East (1500s-1700s)
The Rocky Arrival of Horses in the East
Spanish Missions and the Chickasaw Horse
Early Horses of the Colonies
Wild Horses of the Barrier Islands: Legend and History
Early Horse Racing and Breeding in Virginia
Up North: The Narragansett Pacer and Conestoga Horse
Significant but Not-So-Famous Rides of the Revolutionary War
The Revolutionary War and Aftermath
 
Part IV-The West (Early to Mid-1800s)
Explorers, Trappers, and Pioneers
Ranches of Spanish California
Mining
Early Texas Cowboys and Cow Ponies
Texas Rangers and the Comanche
The Pony Express
 
Part V-The East (Early to Mid-1800s)
Reshaping the Landscape of a Nation
Emerging American Breeds
The Trail of Tears
The Civil War
 
Part VI-The West (Mid- to Late 1800s)
Westward Transformation: The Railroad
The Cowboy's Heyday Followed by a Swift End to the Open Range
Mustangers
Fall of the Horse Nations: The Comanche
Fall of the Horse Nations: The Nez Perce
 
Fall of the Horse Nations: The Battle of Little Bighorn
 
Part VII-The East (Mid- to Late 1800s)
Aftermath of the Civil War in the South
Horses in the City
Horse Racing and the Rebranding of Kentucky
 
Part VIII- A Unified Nation (1900s-2000s) 
The Automobile
The Decline of the Domestic and Wild Horse
World War II and the Lipizzaner Rescue
Wild Horse Annie and Mustang Protections
Struggles with Wild Horse Population Control
The Origins of PZP
Modern Thoroughbred Racing
The Horse Industry Today
Conclusion
 
Timeline
Notes
Acknowledgments
About the Illustrator
About the Author
Note to the Reader

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