The Capture of West Wind

by Rutherford G. Montgomery

A smooth, even tale of the taming of wild horses by a tribe of Sioux Indians. The revelation that he would one day capture West Wind, the wild stallion of the Plains, comes to Gray Eagle in a dream. With a desire to realize the dream, the Indian brave secretly sets out for the mesa. He snares the stallion by roping him and winning an excruciating battle of endurance as West Wind struggles to get free. The fact that the horse frightens off a bear, even in captivity, is interpreted as a good omen. Triumphantly Gray Eagle rides back to camp to the mixed admiration and suspicion of the young and old tribesmen. For Gray Eagle has a plan; to improve the hunting techniques of the tribe. Previously buffalo and antelope had been hunted on foot; now Gray Eagle proves the efficiency of the hunter rider. Descriptive prose with a smattering of dialogue vividly portrays the vital aspects of the hunt and the taming of wild horses. The author depicts the Indian pattern authentically with his emphasis on rugged action instead of verbal communication. (Kirkus)
The story is filled with lore of the Sioux (Lakota), nature, and animals.

Genres: Horses

149 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

Rutherford George Montgomery
Also published as Everitt Proctor, Al Avery, Art Elder, A.A. Avery and E.P. Marshall.

Montgomery was born in Straubville, Sargent County, North Dakota, "a true ghost town" as of 2005. to George Y. and Matilda Proctor Montgomery. He studied at Colorado Agricultural College, Western State College of Colorado, and University of Nebraska; taught elementary school in Hot Springs, Wyoming; and from 1917 to 1919 served in the United States Air Corps. During the 1920s, he worked as a teacher and principal at junior and senior high schools in Montrose County, Colorado.

Montgomery married Eunice Opal Kirks in 1930; they had three children. He served Gunnison County, Colorado, as a judge from 1931 to 1936 and as county commissioner from 1932 to 1938, then became a freelance writer.

While still at school, Montgomery began writing stories about the wild animals that lived around his family's farm. He went on to write books about aviation and the people, landscapes and animals of the American West, particularly horses. In all, he wrote more than 100 books.

From 1941 to 1946, Montgomery was a writer for Dick Tracy. He worked as a creative writing teacher 1955–57 and as a scriptwriter for Walt Disney Studios 1958–1962.

From Wikipedia

Reviews

[Teresa Thompson Arcangel · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was in elementary school I loved Rutherford Montgomery's books. My favorite was "Yellow Eyes". I didn't have the opportunity to read "The Capture of West Wind" when I was young, but I know if it had been available to me I would have read it many times. It is the type of book that gave me a lifelong interest in Native Americans and their various cultures. Overall, this is a delightful book, but it doesn't gloss over the realities of the natural world as so many children's books and television shows do today. For example, the protagonist, Gray Eagle, watches as a cougar kills a foal and eats it. Gray Eagle's best friend dies from an injury. Rutherford Montgomery had spent some time living with Native people and doubtless knew more than I about their customs, so I am hesitant to criticize. However, in this story, children are given eagle feathers as gifts in exchange for taking care of a captive eagle. I'm pretty sure Lakota children would not have been allowed to wear eagle feathers so I did wonder about this part of the story. Maybe it was intended for the children to save the feathers for a time when it was appropriate for them to be worn.

[Autumn Maisy Raquet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another book I love reading and is a classic a good book for youmg children

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a family read aloud. My sons were not into it. They loved Brighty of the Grand Canyon much better.