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Buck, Wild
Traces the first four years in the life of a wild mustang stallion with an unconquerable urge to be free.
136 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1976
1 person is currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Glenn Balch
38 books15 followersBorn December 11, 1902 in Venus, TX, Glenn Balch was a talented essayist who published many articles in Field & Stream and other outdoor magazines. He was also known for his many juvenile novels. His love for dogs, horses, and the great outdoors marked his life from very early on.
His earliest life memories involved being put on the back of a horse, and first dog, Trix. Early on, his love of reading was fostered and encouraged by his family. After going to college at the age of 16, he wrote for the collegiate newspaper and was involved in athletics. After graduation, he wanted a career outdoors, so he applied to the Forest Service as a fire guard. One reason was that a career as a forest ranger seemed like steadier work than the life of a cowboy. Eventually he received an offer to be a fire guard in Garden Valley, Idaho and in 1925 he moved to the Gem State, together with his new bride.
After that first fire season, he rode horseback from Garden Valley to Boise to apply for a newspaper job and was hired by the Idaho Statesman. He spent the next five years as a roving reporter, traveling about the state, combining hunting and fishing expeditions with his newspaper work. He wanted to spend more time doing his own writing, so resigned from the Statesman after his divorce and relocated to Boise. The Statesman did not want Balch to resign, so they offered him a position as a night telegraph editor, leaving his days free. Balch found it still prevented him from doing his own writing and also interfered with a newly found passion for polo, which was popular in Boise in the 1920s and 30s. With his love of horses, horseback riding, and athletic competition, Glenn Balch wanted to be part of the polo scene. In the Spring of 1931 he enlisted in the Idaho National Guard and became a member of its Boise polo squad. In 1932, he began to get his articles published in both Field & Stream and The American Boy. In 1937 he enrolled in a writing class as Columbia University in New York, where he met Elise Kendall, a fellow student from Florida. She became his second wife. On their return to Boise in 1938, they bought a house, settled down, and began raising a family. Balch had one daughter, Betty, from his first marriage to Faula Mashburn, and three more children-daughters Mary and Nikki and son Olin-with his wife Elise. His first novel was published in 1937.
When the United States entered World War II, he entered active duty as a captain in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was commanding officer of the 10th Combat Camera Unit in the China-Burma-India campaign and was awarded the Bronze Star.
After the war was over, he resumed his career as a writer of juveniles, writing many. Several of his books were translated into foreign languages, and two were illustrated by acclaimed illustrator Ezra Jack Keats. In 1965 his novel Indian Paint was made into a motion picture starring Johnny Crawford and Jay Silverheels.
His 34th and last book was published in 1976. He died in September of 1989 from injuries after an automobile accident on August 29. The following year, two of his novels were republished as part of Idaho's statehood centennial commemoration.
His earliest life memories involved being put on the back of a horse, and first dog, Trix. Early on, his love of reading was fostered and encouraged by his family. After going to college at the age of 16, he wrote for the collegiate newspaper and was involved in athletics. After graduation, he wanted a career outdoors, so he applied to the Forest Service as a fire guard. One reason was that a career as a forest ranger seemed like steadier work than the life of a cowboy. Eventually he received an offer to be a fire guard in Garden Valley, Idaho and in 1925 he moved to the Gem State, together with his new bride.
After that first fire season, he rode horseback from Garden Valley to Boise to apply for a newspaper job and was hired by the Idaho Statesman. He spent the next five years as a roving reporter, traveling about the state, combining hunting and fishing expeditions with his newspaper work. He wanted to spend more time doing his own writing, so resigned from the Statesman after his divorce and relocated to Boise. The Statesman did not want Balch to resign, so they offered him a position as a night telegraph editor, leaving his days free. Balch found it still prevented him from doing his own writing and also interfered with a newly found passion for polo, which was popular in Boise in the 1920s and 30s. With his love of horses, horseback riding, and athletic competition, Glenn Balch wanted to be part of the polo scene. In the Spring of 1931 he enlisted in the Idaho National Guard and became a member of its Boise polo squad. In 1932, he began to get his articles published in both Field & Stream and The American Boy. In 1937 he enrolled in a writing class as Columbia University in New York, where he met Elise Kendall, a fellow student from Florida. She became his second wife. On their return to Boise in 1938, they bought a house, settled down, and began raising a family. Balch had one daughter, Betty, from his first marriage to Faula Mashburn, and three more children-daughters Mary and Nikki and son Olin-with his wife Elise. His first novel was published in 1937.
When the United States entered World War II, he entered active duty as a captain in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was commanding officer of the 10th Combat Camera Unit in the China-Burma-India campaign and was awarded the Bronze Star.
After the war was over, he resumed his career as a writer of juveniles, writing many. Several of his books were translated into foreign languages, and two were illustrated by acclaimed illustrator Ezra Jack Keats. In 1965 his novel Indian Paint was made into a motion picture starring Johnny Crawford and Jay Silverheels.
His 34th and last book was published in 1976. He died in September of 1989 from injuries after an automobile accident on August 29. The following year, two of his novels were republished as part of Idaho's statehood centennial commemoration.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 8, 2016
I Collect Glenn Balch books. He was an Idaho author and I was born and raised in Idaho.
As a child, my Grandmother gave me one of his books every Christmas. Great author about dogs and horses. This is the last book he wrote. Very good. Probably better for pre-teen year readers.
As a child, my Grandmother gave me one of his books every Christmas. Great author about dogs and horses. This is the last book he wrote. Very good. Probably better for pre-teen year readers.
January 20, 2025
When I bought a used copy of this I assumed I had never read it before. Then, around Chapter Three, I wound up having a vivid flashback.
I was suddenly sitting at my desk in a really uncomfortable chair back in Primos Elementary School. I must have been about seven years old. And the book in my hands was this one. (Well -- not the exact same copy, but anyway). Interesting experience.
Buck, Wild is your standard wild horse yearning to be free book. This is set just in the 1940s (I think) before the Bureau of Land Management wound up owning all of the mustangs and stopping all impromptu wild horse captures. There is some violence, some cute scenes and a really enigmatic donkey. Ruth Sanderson's illustrations are a constant delight.
But more importantly, just what the heck is Buck's color? When I was seven, I just assumed he was a regular buckskin because I thought all buckskins named Buck looked alike. Buck is constantly referred to as a "yellow horse" and your garden variety buckskin can be pretty yellow.
However, this time around I notice that Glenn Balch describes Buck as a "yellow dun." That's not really yellow -- more of a sandy tan. Also, I'm not sure "yellow dun" is considered a proper color anymore, except with Fjord and Icelandic horses. Now I think "yellow dun" is called something else -- but I'll be damned if I can remember what.
However, It may be that Buck is a regular buckskin with a dark mane and tail (as opposed to a buckskin with a light mane and tail) since Balch describes bays as "red". Red is usually considered to be sorrel (or chestnut.) Bay is -- well, BAY. Even blood bays are still obviously bays. That black mane and tail is hard to miss.
Now I wish I was seven again and didn't know anything about genetics for horse colors just so I could get lost in the story again without wondering what the heck color Buck could be registered as.
I was suddenly sitting at my desk in a really uncomfortable chair back in Primos Elementary School. I must have been about seven years old. And the book in my hands was this one. (Well -- not the exact same copy, but anyway). Interesting experience.
Buck, Wild is your standard wild horse yearning to be free book. This is set just in the 1940s (I think) before the Bureau of Land Management wound up owning all of the mustangs and stopping all impromptu wild horse captures. There is some violence, some cute scenes and a really enigmatic donkey. Ruth Sanderson's illustrations are a constant delight.
But more importantly, just what the heck is Buck's color? When I was seven, I just assumed he was a regular buckskin because I thought all buckskins named Buck looked alike. Buck is constantly referred to as a "yellow horse" and your garden variety buckskin can be pretty yellow.
However, this time around I notice that Glenn Balch describes Buck as a "yellow dun." That's not really yellow -- more of a sandy tan. Also, I'm not sure "yellow dun" is considered a proper color anymore, except with Fjord and Icelandic horses. Now I think "yellow dun" is called something else -- but I'll be damned if I can remember what.
However, It may be that Buck is a regular buckskin with a dark mane and tail (as opposed to a buckskin with a light mane and tail) since Balch describes bays as "red". Red is usually considered to be sorrel (or chestnut.) Bay is -- well, BAY. Even blood bays are still obviously bays. That black mane and tail is hard to miss.
Now I wish I was seven again and didn't know anything about genetics for horse colors just so I could get lost in the story again without wondering what the heck color Buck could be registered as.
September 22, 2016
Buck is born into a mustang band in the wild of the Owyhee Mountains. From the start his life is a trial. Days after being born the wild bunch is chased steadily by horsemen hoping to capture some young strong mustangs. On one pursuit his mother is roped and tragically breaks her neck leaving young Buck to fend for himself. Eventually with some luck he hooks up with an older mare and her young colt and manages to force an arrangement where he can nurse from her. The story follows Buck as he grows up through tough winters and gets kicked out of the band by the stud and gangs up with a couple other rejects, one who happens to be a donkey. Then with more luck he gains his own band, before he's on the run again from more horsemen determined to capture him. The horsemen succeed in capturing him in a planned ambush, and then he's on his way to a fancy ranch where the owner hopes to breed him with some Thoroughbred mares. But alas, he escapes after enjoying a winter with good food, and takes a high class mare with him. He manages to find another bunch of good ranch mares and beats up a fancy stallion to have them. Then off to the wilds again with his newly gained bunch. But he's pursued and nearly makes an escape before he's creased by a shot from one of the angry ranch men. Then the story diverts from Bucks point of view after he gains consciousness and finds himself n a hopeless position. A young man who had been on the chase that had killed Buck's mother recognized him and came to help and that's where I'll leave you. Does the young man save Buck for a future of captivity or set him free again? Read and find out. I read this to my 7 year old and he enjoyed enough to wish there was a sequel, I personally thought it was a bit boring and impersonal, and preferred the author's other book Indian Paint much more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2007
I thought it was a very good story, It is told from the horses point of view. It reminded me of the Spirit movie. So if you liked the movie I would read this book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews