Equus Rising: How the Horse Shaped U.S. History

by Julia Soplop, Robert Spannring (Illustrator)

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 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 to the account.

328 pages, Paperback

Published May 14, 2020

About the author

Julia Soplop is a science writer and the author of "Information Crisis: How a Better Understanding of Science Can Help Us Face the Greatest Problems of Our Time" and "Equus Rising: How the Horse Shaped U.S. History," winner of an Independent Book Publisher (IPPY) Award and a Feathered Quill Book Award. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, including National Geographic, Summit Daily News, and Skiing. She also develops thought leadership for organizations that address issues of scientific or social concern. She holds a bachelor’s from Duke University and a master’s from the medical journalism program at UNC-Chapel Hill. She lives with her husband and three daughters in North Carolina.

Reviews

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, let me say that I am I am NOT a horse person. I had a bad experience in third grade and not only haven't been on one since, but also have little interest in horses in general. Or had. This book is well researched, well written, and engrossing even for those of us who are not horse freaks. It offers such a unique take on the incredible influence that horses have had in US history--as well as highlighting the role of women and indigenous communities played that are often ignored in your typical historical accounts. The illustrations and photos breathe additional life to the text.

[BooksCoffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this ambitious book about the powerful influence of horse on US history, Soplop delivers a gripping account of North American history, charting horse’s progression across the Great Plains.

Registering the evolution of the horse, which started fifty-five million years ago, Soplop maps its extinction in North America, its reintroduction to the continent by the Spanish, the explosions of wild horses across the West, the emergence of the Comanche, the fearless indigenous warriors of North America, the arrival of Pony Express, and many more compelling facts and histories.

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 to the account. Soplop delivers a unique and enlightening portrait of horse’s role in development of the country.

A fun and fascinating read, the book will make for a great resource book for classroom and library shelves.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

History buffs and horse lovers alike will appreciate the way the author artfully highlights historical events we’ve all learned about in school—but through the lens of the role horses have played in shaping history.

While the history is compelling, as interesting is the author’s ability to move between factual recounting and insightful commentary on the political forces at play in a way I had never considered. For example, for years, I’ve loved visiting the horses living on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, without understanding how they came to be there or how we are engaging with that horse population today, in terms of both animal and environmental conservation. The perspective on wild horse management was another realm new to me, and the author is able to bring alive that conversation.

The highlight of the book is its nontraditional lens... what a gift to be able to revisit history from the perspective of a supporting character—and to learn how pivotal a role it played.

As a complement the text, the illustrations are beautiful and convey the spirit of the horses whose stories are being told.

Finally, it is clear that the author conducted a tremendous amount of research as the book is methodical and thorough—it is easy to see Equus Rising becoming a reference in its own right for future work on this topic. Overall, an enjoyable and valuable lesson in history and history-making!

[Megan Swan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equus Rising examines US history in a unique way: as it was influenced by the horse. It is meticulously researched and skillfully written and the conversational tone really captured my attention. I quickly found myself deep into this mind-opening and fascinating work. The accessible style is engaging and carries the reader along the journey from prehistoric to modern times, all the while providing detailed and insightful historical information and deeply insightful perspective. In particular, I really enjoyed and was moved by the sections about Native Americans (the Horse Nations specifically) and learned more than I had about their history after the arrival of Europeans than I had in any other context.
The incorporated photographs by Soplop and illustrations by Robert Spannring are beautiful works of art that live among the pages of the book.
I am an avid reader but largely of fiction and have no particular ties to horses and was excited to find how much I enjoyed Equus Rising and how much I learned from it! I can’t wait to see what Soplop comes up with next.

[Bridget Bean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether your interests run with horses, history, or the people whose lives and livelihoods (including our own) were shaped by horses, there is something tantalizing for you in EQUUS RISING: How The Horse Shaped U.S. History. In using an angle from which we have never before seen U.S. history told - the story of the horse, its evolution, and its working, warring, and loving relationships with people - Soplop has given us a fresh and lively perspective on the development of the United States. In addition, Robert Spannring’s stunning illustrations capture the not only the history being told, but also animate the stories of the people and events portrayed. EQUUS RISING will forever change our understanding of, and appreciation for, how this country came to be, from the barrier islands of North Carolina to the Spanish missions of California, the Civil War, the mighty Native American nations, the cowgirls of the Wild West, and our land and wildlife conservation efforts of today.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It opened my eyes to a completely different perspective on U.S. history: the tremendous influence of the horse on the development of our country and its cultures. There was hardly a page of the book where I did not think to myself, "I never knew that!" The author has woven her considerable research into an appealing and approachable writing style and has supplemented it with beautiful photos and original illustrations, making it an engaging read for anyone of about high-school age on up who is interested in history, horses, a new perspective, or just a good book. Highly recommend!

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll admit I’m not a “horse person,” but I picked up Equus Rising for a fresh perspective, and it really delivered. The book is written for anyone interested in a unique take on U.S. history, not just for horse lovers and historians. It’s approachable and packed with interesting facts I’ve never read before. I came away from the book with so much respect for horses and how they’ve contributed to our country's development, too. Definitely a worthwhile read. And the illustrations add so much to the story!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a wonderful way to understand and connect to the history of our country. As a student of history, I find it takes particular detail and accessible prose to not only bring our past to life, but to embed it in working memory. Equus Rising does just that, using the horse to (re)connect the reader with our own past. Complimenting this wonderful read are gorgeous illustrations, bringing the thoughtful writing even further to life. I can't wait to continue recommending this book!

[Jason Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equus Rising is an exciting journey into the role of the horse in U.S. history. There are so many interesting parts of this story that most people just don't know about, such as how the horse evolved in North America, was killed off, and then reintroduced, or how horses were used so extensively by different native peoples in ways that drastically shaped the nation's history. A great choice for anyone who interested in horses or a fresh perspective on history.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was wonderfully written and beautifully illustrated. Learning more about horses and their place in history was fascinating and insightful. The author’s passion for horses, history and photography is evident in this thoughtful book. Highly recommend for both horse and history lovers!

[Brianna Navarro · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly researched account of the horse’s tremendous influence on the development of the US, this book delivers a history of horses from Eohippus all the way to today’s modern breeds, while also packing insightful and thought provoking commentary about the way history is taught to us and from whose perspective. I loved this book, 5 stars, highly recommend!

[Lynn B · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptionally well researched and interesting account of the horse and its integration into U.S. history. As a former educator I believe this would be a valuable resource for an AP U.S. history course and would be well received by the students and would result in many interesting discussions.

[Carly Kade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating and fun read. Horses have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, yet I learned so many new things about them while reading this book. They really shaped U.S. history. This is an important book. It's not just for horse and history buffs. Highly recommend!

[Erin Connors · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book for its expansive variety and accessible style. The range of topics makes this book both compelling and eminently readable for a wide range of interests and reading levels.

[Lacey Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia Soplop is an engaging, colorful, and incredibly informative writer. As someone who typically struggles through historical writing, I found Equus Rising to read as seamlessly and colorfully as a novel. Not only did she give me chills while reading about how dramatically horses shifted the ecological, historical, and cultural history of North America, but she also took the time to define her terms and remind the readers of the significance of each transition throughout history. As someone who is a HUGE stickler for scientific and historical accuracy, Soplop totally blew me away. It's easy to tell from the first paragraph the amount of time, effort, and thoroughness went in to researching this topic. In a time when scientific communication and understanding our history is of the utmost importance, Soplop hits this one completely out of the park. Trust me, even if you aren't interested in horses or history, you will be after reading this!!!! It's a must buy!!!

[Dana Cassell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delight to read Equus Rising and discover how much of our country's history I never truly understood! I'm not a "horse person" and don't typically read a ton of history, but this book was completely gripping and very easy to read. Julia has done a masterful job of crafting the book to move along quickly, and keeping chapter content focused enough that the reader can truly understand the point she's making. Equus Rising is both thorough and thoughtful, AND lightweight and easy to read. I look forward to sharing chapters of this book with my children as a way to expose them to an alternative view of American History.