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Mustang: The Saga of the Wild Horse in the American West
“A fascinating narrative with all the grace and power embodied in the wild horses that once populated the Western range . . . [A] magnificently told saga.” —Albuquerque JournalA Los Angeles Times Best Nonfiction Book of the YearMustang is the sweeping story of the wild horse in the culture, history, and popular imagination of the American West. It follows the wild horse across time, from its evolutionary origins on this continent to its return with the conquistadors, its bloody battles on the old frontier, its iconic status in Buffalo Bill shows and early westerns, and its plight today as it makes its last stand on the vanishing range. With the Bureau of Land Management proposing to euthanize thousands of horses and ever-encroaching development threatening the land, the mustang’s position has never been more perilous. But as Stillman reveals, the horses are still running wild despite all the obstacles, with spirit unbroken.Hailed by critics nationwide, Mustang is “brisk, smart, thorough, and surprising” (Atlantic Monthly).“Like the best nonfiction writers of our time (Jon Krakauer and Bruce Chatwin come to mind), Stillman’s prose is inviting, her voice authoritative and her vision imaginative and impressively broad.” —Los Angeles Times“Powerful . . . Stillman’s talent as a writer makes this impossible [to stop reading], to the mustang’s benefit.” —Orion“A circumspect writer passionate about her purpose can produce a significant gift for readers. Stillman’s wonderful chronicle of America’s mustangs is an excellent example.” —The Seattle Times
371 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2008
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576 people want to read
About the author
Deanne Stillman
28 books36 followersDeanne Stillman is a widely published, critically acclaimed writer. Her books of narrative nonfiction are place-based stories of war and peace in the modern and historical West.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
September 27, 2014
To me the author not only did not prove her avowed premise of the government's approval of the wanton destruction of a valued American asset, but she actually proved the opposite.
A great deal of the book was taken up with how many "mustangs" (and she never clearly defined that term) were simply murdered - for sport or for financial gain or because they were nuisances. If I had added up all of her numbers, I would have come out to more than a million horses or ponies (and she used these terms interchangeably as
well) that were killed.
Where I'm very confused is that I've always considered a horse to be a very valued asset - transportation and or a beast of burden or financially advantageous to breed. From reading her book, it would seem that the Spaniards and the Indians as well as various
Americans and the US Government consider them useless and nuisances.
The current population started with the remains of horses brought to Mexico along with soldiers led by Cortez. Some of the horses escaped and were captured by Indians who rode them and who used them in chasing and killing buffalo. That was in the early 1500's.
She bounced back and forth in the history of the West so that it was difficult to have a clear picture of just how things developed chronologically. She talked about the cavalries in the War between the States, but I would assume most of those horses were bred and trained in the East. She said that we donated mustangs to the European nations
fighting WWI and that 200,000 of our horses perished in that war. In 1899 she says that we sent 230,000 "wild horses" to South Africa to aid in the Boer War.
In another place we learn that 45,000 horses were killed on the Crow reservation; that Custer ordered the killing of 875 horses and then 1400 ponies. According to her one mustanger killed over 20,000 horses, himself, in the 1920s. Following WWII over 100,000 horses were taken from Nevada, alone, and sold for pet food.
In 1925 Montana signed a death warrant for abandoned horses running at large and about 400,000 were "removed." And on and on and on about how many horses have been killed or murdered or given to other nations throughout the past 400 years.
She raised many more questions than she answered. How many times can a single mare foal? Horses, according to her numbers, have got to be the most prolific animal on earth! Another question I have is how were the wild horses captured and tamed and trained and then transported to Europe and Africa for use in the wars? How long does it
take to tame and train a wild horse for military use? She told how Buffalo Bill took his entire retinue to England to put on shows and half his horses died on the voyage. So how did the government ship 1/2 million?
The final count that she gave was that in Nevada at the time of the writing she said there were 30,000 mustangs in government corrals and long term pastures and another 25,000 on public lands. And that's in addition to horses that are still in the wild in other western states.
Well quite frankly, I just don't understand her premise that we're wantonly destroying a national heritage.
Otherwise, I thought the history of the West in the book was interesting although I felt that it often detracted from the subject of horses. And I thought way too much was included (ie. casual "conversations" among historical characters) and asides that had
nothing to do with anything.
A great deal of the book was taken up with how many "mustangs" (and she never clearly defined that term) were simply murdered - for sport or for financial gain or because they were nuisances. If I had added up all of her numbers, I would have come out to more than a million horses or ponies (and she used these terms interchangeably as
well) that were killed.
Where I'm very confused is that I've always considered a horse to be a very valued asset - transportation and or a beast of burden or financially advantageous to breed. From reading her book, it would seem that the Spaniards and the Indians as well as various
Americans and the US Government consider them useless and nuisances.
The current population started with the remains of horses brought to Mexico along with soldiers led by Cortez. Some of the horses escaped and were captured by Indians who rode them and who used them in chasing and killing buffalo. That was in the early 1500's.
She bounced back and forth in the history of the West so that it was difficult to have a clear picture of just how things developed chronologically. She talked about the cavalries in the War between the States, but I would assume most of those horses were bred and trained in the East. She said that we donated mustangs to the European nations
fighting WWI and that 200,000 of our horses perished in that war. In 1899 she says that we sent 230,000 "wild horses" to South Africa to aid in the Boer War.
In another place we learn that 45,000 horses were killed on the Crow reservation; that Custer ordered the killing of 875 horses and then 1400 ponies. According to her one mustanger killed over 20,000 horses, himself, in the 1920s. Following WWII over 100,000 horses were taken from Nevada, alone, and sold for pet food.
In 1925 Montana signed a death warrant for abandoned horses running at large and about 400,000 were "removed." And on and on and on about how many horses have been killed or murdered or given to other nations throughout the past 400 years.
She raised many more questions than she answered. How many times can a single mare foal? Horses, according to her numbers, have got to be the most prolific animal on earth! Another question I have is how were the wild horses captured and tamed and trained and then transported to Europe and Africa for use in the wars? How long does it
take to tame and train a wild horse for military use? She told how Buffalo Bill took his entire retinue to England to put on shows and half his horses died on the voyage. So how did the government ship 1/2 million?
The final count that she gave was that in Nevada at the time of the writing she said there were 30,000 mustangs in government corrals and long term pastures and another 25,000 on public lands. And that's in addition to horses that are still in the wild in other western states.
Well quite frankly, I just don't understand her premise that we're wantonly destroying a national heritage.
Otherwise, I thought the history of the West in the book was interesting although I felt that it often detracted from the subject of horses. And I thought way too much was included (ie. casual "conversations" among historical characters) and asides that had
nothing to do with anything.
November 22, 2016
Mustang: The saga of the Wild Horse in the American West is a book by Deanne Stillman which I felt described the history reasonably accurately.
I re-read this book prior to a trip to Alberta CN where I had a second opportunity to mingle with the herds. My first encounter was in Nevada. I am not certain of the accuracy of the author’s numbers, but it was considerate reflection of the issues these wonderful creatures are encountering. Her historical references through cattle drives and Native American interaction seemed accurate though.
If not mistreated or targeted by cattle ranchers, they are easy to work with and if the BLM doesn’t destroy them all as predicted, alternative solutions should be sought out.
This book was an uncomfortable but realistic read on the wild Mustangs.
I re-read this book prior to a trip to Alberta CN where I had a second opportunity to mingle with the herds. My first encounter was in Nevada. I am not certain of the accuracy of the author’s numbers, but it was considerate reflection of the issues these wonderful creatures are encountering. Her historical references through cattle drives and Native American interaction seemed accurate though.
If not mistreated or targeted by cattle ranchers, they are easy to work with and if the BLM doesn’t destroy them all as predicted, alternative solutions should be sought out.
This book was an uncomfortable but realistic read on the wild Mustangs.
December 2, 2009
Finally gave up on this one with only a few chapters to go. Not that it was bad, but it has been done before, and better. James Frank Dobie's "The Mustangs" was the original work and had a lot more fact and a lot less opinion in it.
Deanne Stillman seemed to copy his work about the mustangs, and add in a lot of history of the west. So much so that it should have just been called "The Saga Of The American West". Mustangs actually seemed fairly irrevelent in the book.
Deanne Stillman seemed to copy his work about the mustangs, and add in a lot of history of the west. So much so that it should have just been called "The Saga Of The American West". Mustangs actually seemed fairly irrevelent in the book.
July 13, 2011
Really quite bad. She exhibits absolutely no control of her language or her structure; whole chapters pass without any indication of when, where, or why the events happened, nor why they were included where they were in the book. She allows purple prose to pass for style, and worst of all in a nonfiction book, allows opinion, biased reference selection, and prejudicial language to substitute for research. And I'm a sucker for the subject matter. Sad.
July 17, 2019
An incredibly well researched book with a little bit of everything. This book covers the roles that wild mustangs have played in the west and in south america over the past several hundred years. There is so much to like about this book and although the author is biased towards saving wild mustangs (as most of us are) she presents all sides of the arguments. It reminds me of many books I've read on yellowstone wolf reintroduction. This book is very dense and does contain many stories of animal abuse so it isn't for everyone but for those of scientific or historical minds this book is fascinating. The horse version of Silent Spring.
February 15, 2022
As a lifelong lover of horses I can't recommend this book enough. It is equal parts awe inspiring and heartbreaking. The author really knows how to describe the unstoppable spirit of the Mustang without being too technical or wordy. She starts with the history of the horse on this continent and their reintroduction by the Spanish conquistadors. Horses have of course been the backbone of our country, present in every battle we've ever fought but never praised for it. Sections are also devoted to famous horses from army mounts to TV stars. Stories are told from the "taming" of the west to modern times when the last descendents of the old west horses are being rounded up and slaughtered. This book was a very profound read and it will piss you off. Just great writing overall.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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September 10, 2024DNF
She lost me when she went on and on about horses being drowned at sea.
No stars for this crap.
One day, there will a good book written about Mustangs in the modern era. So far, the best were from Hope Ryden. I haven't read any of the Cloud books yet, since the documentaries were hard enough to sit through.
As much as I love horses, I have to face facts. Mustangs are the ultimate lost cause. They're suffering out there. Unless herds can be managed like on Assateague Island, get them off. I don't agree that they should all be sold for slaughter, but at least stop them from reproducing.
She lost me when she went on and on about horses being drowned at sea.
No stars for this crap.
One day, there will a good book written about Mustangs in the modern era. So far, the best were from Hope Ryden. I haven't read any of the Cloud books yet, since the documentaries were hard enough to sit through.
As much as I love horses, I have to face facts. Mustangs are the ultimate lost cause. They're suffering out there. Unless herds can be managed like on Assateague Island, get them off. I don't agree that they should all be sold for slaughter, but at least stop them from reproducing.
May 18, 2024
Engaging story of the human history of the New World told through the perspective of horses. Particularly illuminating of the despicable role welfare queen ranchers have played through right wing politics driving the extirpation of the last wild mustangs and the adverse posession of public lands.
July 23, 2025
While I didn't care much for the rabbit chasing of talking about people instead of horses, I see where the information was important. The plight of these beautiful animals is heartbreaking. It really makes you wish people could suffer the fate they put these horses and burros through.
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January 28, 2023Interesting in parts but had to dnf. Not the books fault I just wasn't interested enough to pick it up before I needed to return it to the library.
April 2, 2014
I know a fair bit about mustangs and about equestrian history, and I went into this book hoping it would be a summary of mustangs in the American imagination as well as a thorough overview of the current mustang debate. I didn't really find either.
In general, this was a well-written and thoughtful book. It was an enjoyable read that moved right along, and the last few chapters did give a good snapshot of some of the challenges that mustangs face in the American west today (without going into too much depth, alas). Stillman was best when handling contemporary issues, and telling stories of people that she'd met or interacted with. Her background in journalism served her well.
However, the overall framing and narrative of the book had some major flaws. First and foremost was that Stillman made no attempt to define mustang. She did not give any boundaries to what she would be discussing, and did not attempt to parse out the nuances between range-bred cavalry horses, range-bred ranch horses, semi-managed herds, or truly feral herds. There is a world of difference between a horse that is part of a semi-managed group that belongs to the US Cavalry or a particular ranch and a horse that exists completely untouched within the larger ecosystem out west. Not every horse that lived in the American west was a mustang; not even every horse roaming loose in the west was a mustang, in a time when loose herd management was more typical. (Did they intermingle? Probably. I'm not aware of any good research that looks more closely at those boundaries, though.)
This problem leads into the second major flaw, which is that Stillman's book then becomes a history not of the mustang but of the horse in the American west. She considers US Cavalry remounts such as Comanche, Spanish conquistador's horses, cow ponies on cattle drives, Native American herds, Wild Bill Hickock's show horses, and others to be part and parcel of the mustang story. Some of them may be - but most of them are not. Many times, the story became more about the people involved than the horses. Granted, it's difficult to truly write the history of a horse - who after all don't communicate or write down their own history - but the overall book felt more like a chronicling of the things humans did in the American west, and oh by the way they usually involved horses.
The good news is that this was not a bad book, and does add to the literature about mustangs, so it's not a loss. It's simply a missed opportunity.
In general, this was a well-written and thoughtful book. It was an enjoyable read that moved right along, and the last few chapters did give a good snapshot of some of the challenges that mustangs face in the American west today (without going into too much depth, alas). Stillman was best when handling contemporary issues, and telling stories of people that she'd met or interacted with. Her background in journalism served her well.
However, the overall framing and narrative of the book had some major flaws. First and foremost was that Stillman made no attempt to define mustang. She did not give any boundaries to what she would be discussing, and did not attempt to parse out the nuances between range-bred cavalry horses, range-bred ranch horses, semi-managed herds, or truly feral herds. There is a world of difference between a horse that is part of a semi-managed group that belongs to the US Cavalry or a particular ranch and a horse that exists completely untouched within the larger ecosystem out west. Not every horse that lived in the American west was a mustang; not even every horse roaming loose in the west was a mustang, in a time when loose herd management was more typical. (Did they intermingle? Probably. I'm not aware of any good research that looks more closely at those boundaries, though.)
This problem leads into the second major flaw, which is that Stillman's book then becomes a history not of the mustang but of the horse in the American west. She considers US Cavalry remounts such as Comanche, Spanish conquistador's horses, cow ponies on cattle drives, Native American herds, Wild Bill Hickock's show horses, and others to be part and parcel of the mustang story. Some of them may be - but most of them are not. Many times, the story became more about the people involved than the horses. Granted, it's difficult to truly write the history of a horse - who after all don't communicate or write down their own history - but the overall book felt more like a chronicling of the things humans did in the American west, and oh by the way they usually involved horses.
The good news is that this was not a bad book, and does add to the literature about mustangs, so it's not a loss. It's simply a missed opportunity.
October 29, 2015
The title of this book could have been The History of the Horse Since the Beginning of Time. Impressive research makes this a comprehensive and compelling saga of the wild horse in the American West. The conquering Spanish in the 1500’s brought the horse with them and changed the west forever. Columbus casually threw horses overboard when he needed to lighten his load. Two hundred thousand mustangs were killed in WWI. The callousness throughout our history described in detail towards animals that have served mankind so well is appalling. It continues today. The Bureau of Land Management rounds what is left of the wild herds in America into holding pens. Groups like “Life Savers” attempt to rescue the horses from the slaughter house, but they can’t afford to save them all. The sterilization program in place now is more humane, but it ensures that there will be no more wild herds in the coming decades. This situation exists mainly because the horses compete with cattle for food. Cows are much harder on the public lands they are allowed to graze upon, but cows provides a profit for cattle ranchers who hire lobbyists to keep congress voting in their favor. I was not aware of this plight until I attended a fundraiser for the wild mustangs in America. Like the buffalo nearly killed to extinction, the wild horses will go the same way if people don’t become involved in rescuing them from harsh government policies. Ms. Stillman presents the wild mustang’s case eloquently.The Cowgirl Jumped Over the Moon
March 23, 2011
This is a wonderfully written and often incredibly moving elegaic tribute to the American mustang, the animal that more than anything other played a part in creating the myths and legends of the American West. It traces the horse's history on the continent, right from the ancient progenitors of the modern horse, through the Spanish horses of the conquistadors, right on through the highpoint of the West, with the Indian tribes, the cavalry, the cattle drives, up to the modern day, when the very existence of the mustang is threatened by government, big business and cattle ranchers. Stillman clearly has a very deep love for these horses and it really shows in this book. I found myself in tears near the end where she talks about the slow death of the mustang, of the round-ups and the meaningless murder of entire herds. For a creature that more than any other has truly represents the spirit of America, it seems a heartbreaking and senseless end.
December 19, 2009
I started this book with the first week before school, and I'm finishing it the week the semester ends. I read slowly because there was so much reading for school. All excuses aside, I dug it. When Deanne Stillman lets her love shine through and sway her prose, it gets beautiful and all I could dream about was riding a horse through canyon lands. Or just seeing a wild herd of mustangs. I don't know, but this book really made me want to ride. I haven't since I was a kid, but now I'm begging my dad to take a trip with me to Canyon de Chelley where we ride horses through.
March 19, 2016
Having grown up in Canada, there was a lot of early American history I never knew about - save what I learned in novels and movies. This non-fiction book gave a fantastic historical look at the part the horse played in American's culture. I learned many fascinating details! Really well written and researched, though I do agree with a review below that the numbers of mustangs in modern history were confusing. I'm betting that that's because no one really knows how many are left in the wild. The point is clear: they are disappearing and should be protected. I highly recommend this book!
September 10, 2010
This was an amazing book but also one that was hard for me to get through. It was extremely well written but some parts were so sad and literally made me cry....we haven't treated the mustang well at all, and sadly we still don't. It was just sad that such a beautiful symbol of freedom has been abused so badly. But it definitely opened my eyes that more needs to be done to protech these amazing beautiful creatures.
March 11, 2010
A thorough, interesting and compassionate book. Although I knew wild horses were hunted and treated badly through history, I had NO idea how badly. Shouldn't our first rule of animal treatment, if not coddling them, be don't torture them?
I could not finish this book, the descriptions of the treatment of these horses like so much garbage to be taken out and burned was too awful. And I will definitely get involved with a group that advocates for them.
Harrowing.
I could not finish this book, the descriptions of the treatment of these horses like so much garbage to be taken out and burned was too awful. And I will definitely get involved with a group that advocates for them.
Harrowing.
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June 15, 2008I haven't read a book about mustangs in a while . . . but given the state of things envirionmentally it should have been no surprise that for the mustang time has almost run out. And that is what I learned from this book. A very good read about a disturbing subject. (Well, disturbing to horse lovers.)
July 13, 2009
This book is so informative and readable that I decided to obtain my own copy. It's on my birthday wish list. The copy I was reading came from an interlibrary loan. The book's not mine, and that means I can't highlight or write notes on its pages!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Those who know me well know that I love to HIGHLIGHT!
February 22, 2010
A look a t the history of the mustangs that helped build the American west and now are threatened by government and commersce whicha re trying to eliminate wild mustangs.
The narrative was best when it concentrated on the horse's story; sometimes reading the descriptions of the people involved with the horses was a bit tedious.
All in all a good look at the plight of wild mustangs today.
The narrative was best when it concentrated on the horse's story; sometimes reading the descriptions of the people involved with the horses was a bit tedious.
All in all a good look at the plight of wild mustangs today.
February 5, 2012
Was looking for a horse book after seeing War Horse. Found this by accident. Not the greatest writing, but the history was very interesting, although brutal! So much violence was done to (and still is) to our horses in this country and abroad. I had a hard time getting through some parts. I haven't actually finished because it got to be a bit too much. But, glad to have it in my library!
November 23, 2015
Oof. This book is far from uplifting. The plight of wild horses in the West mirrors pretty much every other natural resource out here: It's been abused and vilified and people who defend horses are likewise abused and vilified. There's a terrific history of the Spanish conquest and northern Mexico, Texas, Nevada and Hollywood in here. A definite must-read for my fellow Silver Staters.
September 19, 2009
Fascinating story of the "native" horses of North America. A topical chapter on Hollywood cowboys and there horses in the history of LA. And a cautionary tale about the survival of these magnificent quadrupeds.
August 13, 2008
I didn't even make it through the first chapter, the authorial voice was so grating. Purple, even. In the intro, after a flurry of sentence fragments, she shamelessly plugs one of her earlier books. Give it a miss, unless you like that sort of thing.
September 14, 2008
Suprisingly...I couldn't get through it...I tried...her writing style wasn't what I expected, nor could I get into it....I skimmed the first 4 chapters, reading the first 3-4 pages of each chapter...not my thing, but it appears to be a true history of the mustang.
April 6, 2015
In MUSTANG, Deanne Stillman gives us factual non-fiction untainted by politics. Many of those who've taken up the cause of saving wild horses were influenced by this book & by Stillman's ability to write lively, absorbing non-fiction.
December 1, 2015
this is good book about the history of the Mustang horses. It is kind of a history from when the Spainiards brought over the mustangs. I know in the West there are still herds of mustangs running around.
February 7, 2009
I started, but did not finish. Full of amazing detail about the history of horses. Perhaps I will pick it up again . . .
January 2, 2009
Deanne has a great writing technique which made all the historical and factual information easier to digest. She helps the reader see why we need to save this precious icon.
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February 5, 2009"[T]he horse is our great silent witness.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews