Where Horses Run Free: A Dream for the American Mustang

by Joy Cowley, Layne Johnson

She is the lead mare of a herd of wild horses that run the range. When people come to capture them, she leads the herd in a run for safety. But trucks and helicopters drive the horses into pens. Imprisoned behind barbed wire, the fire in the mare's heart is reduced to embers. Her spirit is almost broken--until a cowboy comes and promises to set the horses free. Joy Cowley's deeply felt story, with breathtaking illustrations by Layne Johnson, is based on the true story of Dayton O. Hyde, founder of the Institute of Range and the American Mustang, a nonprofit organization that owns the eleven-thousand-acre Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It is a special place, where the wild horse is allowed to be wild.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Horses, Childrens, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2003

About the author

Cassia Joy Cowley is a New Zealand author best known for her children's fiction, including the popular series of books Mrs. Wishy-Washy.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Zealand children's author Joy Cowley and American illustrator Layne Johnson team up in this lovely picture-book tribute to the wild horses of the American West in the late 20th century. Opening with a depiction of a fiery mare who attempts to lead her herd to safety, when government forces coral them with helicopters, the narrative follows the story of these beautiful equine creatures, who are captured and imprisoned. Considered 'useless' by many, they are slated for destruction until a retired cowboy steps in, creating a wild horse sanctuary in South Dakota's Black Hills. Here the horses find a home, including the mare, whose fire has all but gone out. Fortunately, the cowboy isn't ready to give up on her, and nurses her back to health...

I initially sought out Where Horses Run Free: A Dream for the American Mustang because it was illustrated by Layne Johnson, whose depiction of the beauty of the equine form in Race the Wild Wind: A Story of the Sable Island Horses so impressed me, that I wanted to see more of his work. While the illustrations here certainly lived up to my expectations - they were absolutely gorgeous! - I also enjoyed the story itself, and was interested to learn that it is based on the real-life tale of Dayton O. Hyde, a rancher, self-taught naturalist and author who opened the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary in 1988. After finishing this book, I was interested to learn more about Dayton, whose story is briefly summarized on this page of the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary's website. I think perhaps I will track down one of his memoirs or works of natural history. I do wish that Cowley had included a factual afterword about Dayton, or that someone would write a picture-book biography of him, but leaving that aside, I would recommend this one to young horse and nature lovers. It could pair nicely with other picture-books about wild horse herds, from Sandra Markle's Race the Wild Wind: A Story of the Sable Island Horses to Jim Arnosky's Wild Ponies .

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Review: I managed to pick this one up for Munchkin at a library sale back in Wyoming. The illustrations are beautiful in it and I wanted to remind him of our visit. This was a beautiful way to tell the story of the Mustangs and the constant struggle over ranch land and free space for the mustangs to roam. It sparked a lot of questions for Munchkin and was a great way to start him thinking of things outside of himself and even our own surrounding area.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the settlement of the American West expanded, the wild mustang herds, under government supervision, were rounded up and forced into overcrowded corrals. Many of the horses became traumatized and sick. These beautiful, majestic animals were deemed useless.

Joy Crowley’s wonderful children’s book details the true story of rancher Dayton O. Hyde’s rescue of the horses. He founded the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary in South Dakota where he brought all of the mustangs and allowed them to run free again. This unforgettable book is beautifully illustrated by Layne Johnson.

[CFAITC]

A story about a cowboy who discovers wild mustangs have been captured and wants to set them free.

[Mary Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting view into a real problem with the wild horse population.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

a beautiful picture story about american mustangs

[Courtney Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Animal habitats
Grades: 2 - 5

[Margo Berendsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried the first time I read this book. And the second. The pictures are poignant and beautiful and I could read this book to my little girls every night without complaining.

[Kazia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations are beautiful!