Glenn Balch (1902–1989)

Horse-runner Tom Sample shows up at the Tack Ranch one day, with a smirk on his face and a stranger in tow, Andy Blair. Andy's thoroughbred colt was stolen several years back, and he's never given up hope that he'd be found one day. Tom suggests that the wild horse, King, is Andy's long-lost colt, and offers to catch the wild stallion...for a fee, of course.

Ben and Dixie try to come up with a plan to keep King free and wild. Barring that, they intend to do anything to protect the wild herds show more from injury or worse, as Tom and his gang strive to capture King, no matter what it takes...including killing wild horses... show less

Two young Native Americans from the Comanche tribe are out hunting when surprised by enemies from the Ute tribe. As one youth runs back to warn their tribe, the other decoys the enemy... When he finally evades the Utes and makes it back to camp, all his people are gone except for an elderly man they call Old Man Crazy, because he speaks of things no one believes- people with white skin who wear armor and travel on the backs of animals. At this time none of the Comanches had ever seen a white show more man and horses were unknown to them. So the youth and the crazy old man travel alone together, and they come across a small band of horses, (escaped from the Spanish Conquistadors). At first they find the strange animals frightening, then are eager to learn how to possess and ride the horses themselves, so they can take these new valuable animals back to the tribe. It isn't easy, particularly as the natives don't have any idea how to approach or control the horses, but they are smart in the ways of wild animals, and quickly learn by observing how different horses are from wild game. The younger Comanche is particular invested in the attempt to use horses because he has a lame foot which always slowed him down; this will give him an advantage among his people. But he has to face a lot of unexpected challenges, and looses the guidance of the old man too, ending up on his own to figure out how to ride the horse and then find his own people again. This was a really well-told story, with good descriptions, realistic animal behaviors, engaging writing style and an interesting plot that surprised me a few times.

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This is different from other horse stories I've read- so even though some parts felt predictable and the children's dialog a bit stilted (because English was their second language in the story) I found it likable enough. The main character is Jan, a boy whose family fled Latvia due to war. They settle uneasily in America, working on someone's farm. But this isn't lush green pastures with flowers and chickens running around like they were used to back home- it's dry sparse range country. show more Their main task is to tend a grain field, but the boy Jan longs to see and ride horses. He's jealous of the ranch owner's son, who can drive a truck, has a fancy rifle, a good horse, and roping skills. When Jan's mother wishes for warmer winter blankets, the boy makes traps to catch wild ducks and geese on a nearby body of water. He has no idea that in this new country there are laws protecting animals that don't belong to anyone, that he's trapping illegally out of season. When game wardens show up questioning the family, Jan basically panics. He remembers that his brother and grandfather back in Latvia were taken away by authorities for breaking some law, and never returned. He doesn't want to die at the hands of police or soldiers (so he imagines) so at night he grabs some supplies and runs away into the hills.

There he holes up for a while in an abandoned dugout shelter he finds by chance. Soon notices a band of wild horses that regularly grazes nearby, and realizes the golden-colored stallion must be the wild horse ranch kids talked about back home- everyone seemed to want to catch and own that stallion. Jan figures out how to survive in the wild (reminscent of Hatchet), and is planning to cross the mountain range where he hopes he can find work and nobody will have heard about his poaching mishap. But something holds him back- he sees a cougar stalking the horse herd, and comes across the bodies of colts it killed. He loves watching the young colts play and determines to protect them, by hunting down the cougar. (This part of the story reminded me so much of The White Puma by R.D. Lawrence). The big cat is secretive and intelligent, so this takes a long time. But when Jan finally deems the horses are safe from predation, he still can't leave- for now the horses have become used to his presence and he thinks maybe he has a chance to catch the golden stallion. His sister found out where he's living and brings him food supplies, she also brings him a rope when he tells her about seeing the wild stallion. However he hesitates to just throw the rope over the horse- instead determines to win its trust- by hanging out with the horses day after day they come to accept him until finally he can make his move to capture the stallion.

But when he finally has the wild horse under his control, he realizes it is unhappy to be separated from the band of mares. He feels guilty for taking the stallion away from the life it's always known, and also wonders how he will take care of it if he travels on across the mountains, or if it will attract too much attention- being such a fine horse for a boy (except it's actually rather dirty and scruffy now). The final chapter is Jan deliberating what to do- and because it's a kid's book I guessed what would be his final move. Would have liked to see a bit more closure on that, what the consequence or reactions were, but oh well.

I do have to say, a key component of Jan's plan to approach the wild horses and get them used to him, took me by complete surprise. In fact it's a little shocking and not for the squeamish. I wonder how well it might have worked in a real situation.

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It's the early 1800s in the United states, and John Daniels is sixteen. His elder brother went west to be a fur trapper three years before and has never communicated with his family. John joins a trading expedition led by a wily mountain man and does a lot of maturing in the following months as he tries to locate his brother.

I liked how the author avoided using stereotypes in his depiction of the native Americans, and I learned more about how people survived in the often hostile environment show more of the early American frontier.

While aimed at a youth audience, this story of a young man exploring the American wilderness is perfectly fine as an adult read. I found it entertaining, and kept me up past my bedtime. show less