Customer Reviews

Hidalgo and Other Stories

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

From the start, any person who uses thinking ability must look at BOTH sides of a controversy, and if they want honesty, then they must look without prejudice or partiality. At first I was extremely disappointed to read that Frank T. Hopkins was a charlatan, but I wanted to have a basis for putting trust in the words of the Long Riders' Guild and others. Once I began to do my own research, the issue completely opened up for me and my questions vanished.

I started with finding simple facts, and when I saw for myself a wide variety of photos of Frank Hopkins on many different horses, I began to wonder at the credibility of the "experts." It turns out that they are the ones with all the 'proclamations' that are completely unfounded. Not only do they quote many vocations and accomplishments that Frank Hopkins never claimed in the first place, they completely blind themselves to the FACT that he was an outspoken activist for the mustang all his life, many of his speeches are written down as historical documents; also do they overlook the unique knowledge he had of indian horses, something which he could not possibly have possessed if he really was an "equestrian charlatan." I find it a little ironic that in some of the other closed-minded reviews, many actually admit that they know nothing about horses. Don't you want to find out a little bit more for yourself before you state your opinion as if it was already fact?

The most unforgivable thing that the Long Riders' Guild have done though, and perhaps the most important part of history of all that they have ignored, are the first-hand accounts of the Native Americans, their oral traditions, their TRUTH. And when I found out this, the underlying reason for the Guild's writings came to me. I thought, why would the Long Riders' Guild and others want to slander this man's reputation, to try to cover over his extraordinary accomplishments? It all comes down to the same-old, age-old issues of politics and prejudice.

There are those prejudiced men and women who will never want to acknowledge this man's accomplishments because he was part Native American and thus a true horseman from his roots. He spoke out for the mustang when these same men and women would have been content to let the breed become extinct out of greed. He was at one with horses and could accomplish incredible feats BECAUSE he had Native American blood in him, but there will always be those who are racist who either want to ignore this heritage or claim it has nothing to do with any accomplishments. Finally, those who are politically prejudiced will never want to admit the guilt of the U.S. in the massacre of the Native Americans. Perhaps they don't like that the movie Hidalgo exposes the hypocrisy involved, when after U.S. soldiers brutally massacred innocent men, women and children, they called it a "battle" in which they had been victorious.

Obviously I could never know the true motives from the hearts of all these people involved in this controversy; these are simply the conclusions I have reached, and it is true that it fills me with disgust to see the prejudice and racism that consumes people and causes them to deceive others. All I want to try and say to those who are reading this is not to blindly follow others along and put your trust in their every word, but to build a store of knowledge for yourself, so that you may always have a basis for finding truth, real justice and a faith of your own.

I have an "Original" copy of Frank T Hopkins' Autobiography. The book "Edited" by the O'Reillys is nothing but a "Forgery" to suit their own purpose, which is to "slander" a deceased Old West Heroe. I am an Endurance Rider, who breeds Spanish Mustangs. I have competed with my Mustangs on the endurance circuit for over 22 years. The truth is: Spanish Mustangs are, truly the greatest, "Ultra-Marathon" endurance horses! Although only 1% recorded, to compete in today's endurance circuit, they claimed Top National Awards! I was 2nd in the Nation, in 1990, with my Spanish Mustang, Montana, at the Multi-Day Ride Championship. (250 miles in 5 consecutive days, running against fresh Arabs each day!)Since the year 2000, a Spanish Mustang Stallion, by the name of Geronimo's Warrior, set an unprecedented record in the history of the AERC. (American Endurance Riders Conference). Geronimo received the following Awards for 4 consecutive years: National Mileage Champion, National Endurance Stallion, (Jim Jones Award), Mid-west heavyweight Champion, and Pioneer Award in Heavyweight division of the Multi-day ride championship! So in Lieu of all of the above, Mr. Hopkins is not the one who is lying! It is the O'Reillys. Frank Hopkins championed the legendary Endurance of the Spanish mustangs and his claim stands TRUE even today! Anybody who sinks so low, as to "Edit" a book to serve their own purpose, is to be condemned! I have found everything Mr. Hopkins advocated regarding the endurance of the Spanish Mustang to be TRUE, and verified by my personal experience during my 22 years of endurance riding. The O'Reilly, "version" of Hidalgo is a waste of money! AM.Pinter, Georgetown.Ca.

I loved the movie. Hated the book. Why would they write a book to trash Frank Hopkins? For the truth see frankhopkins.com for pictures, articles, interviews, facts, etc. Even if he stretched the truth a little, what great cowboy storyteller hasn't, he still fought to protect the mustang.

Frank T. Hopkins may have been charlatan, like so many others of his time and ours, who attempts to mold their personal history to their own advantage. However the question arises who are the debunkers? Why do they care? The legend of Hidalgo is inspirational. Hopkins' thoughts on conservation and horse care and training were ahead of their time. So what if he repeated what he heard. It's what he chose to repeat that is worth noting. It's the thought that an old man could create a false biography that still endures fifty years after his death that makes it great. Was he real man or legend? In another fifty years will it matter? I much prefer the west of legend over the west of fact. Enjoy the legend, savor it, don't fall prey, to whiny self styled western historians who obviously have a bone to pick. Enjoy Hopkins writings and skip the rest. What great western legend could survive a thorough investigation of their lives done 100 years after the fact?

I do wish the movie had explained this was a tall tale. I didn't realize it really was mostly fiction, but I did figure that most of the historically famous people and even the outcome of the race was put in for effect. Thought that was the Disney touch we've come to expect over the years. Knowing the extent of the fiction involved would have really hurt my strong feelings after seeing the movie Hidalgo. I am truly disappointed a Mustang didn't win such a fantastic race.

Don't be fooled by the book, horse-lovers, I think the movie very accurately presented a picture of how extremely harsh and devastating such a trip would be to a horse and its health. Having cleaned just a few hooves, I really thought that halfway through the trip, Hidalgo--in real life, would have been lame for quite a while and unable to finish the race. I think most people who have been around horses even a little bit would understand that.

The movie tells a love for a wonderful horse and presents the kind of trusting relationship we would all like to have. It demonstrates the power of persistence, not giving up, even when it seems like you're finished.

I think that's the real message worth taking home from this movie. I hope that's what one could take away from the book.

And I love mustangs more than ever. I truly love "Hidalgo" and if I were fortunate enough to be able to own a horse, I would choose a mustang.

This is a very good book. Hopkins stories are entertaining in a purple prosy, old fashioned way and the historical comments by the various historians and experts are very informative.

It is too bad that Disney has chosen to market their movie (which I liked, by the way) as a true story, rather than just a movie based on a story. And story it is, there doesn't seem to be a shred of truth in anything he says. Hopkins would have had to be about 300 years old and 3 different people to have met everyone he met and done all he claimed to have done.

His stories would be pretty amusing, if they weren't so filled with things that didn't happen and slanders against genuine American hero's and blatant untruths about historical events. Kind of reminds one of the book and movie LITTLE BIG MAN, which never claimed to be anything but entertainment.

The editors are to be commended on their research and their committment to the truth.

It is too bad the negative reviews tend to focus on some obscure argument about horse breeds rather than on the book and it's author and his supposed exploits.

Highly recommended.

The Spanish Mustangs are great endurance racers. They are a rare breed, and few compete on the endurance racing competition. However, those that have, have done an exceptional job. The current USA Jims Stallion Award winner 4 years in a row is a Spanish Mustang. This is not the first time a Spanish Mustang has won this award. One year, the nu. 1 & nu 2 JJ winners were both Spanish Mustangs. I am Spanish Mustang Breeder. This year alone I raised 5 Gilbert Jones / Brislawn foundation bloodline crosses; all are pure Spanish Mustangs. I do not understand why the arabian folks are so unhappy that a mustang can bet the arab, but the fact is Spanish Mustangs can and have placed in front of Arabs. The movie is a much better representation of facts than this book; which was backed by the arabian long riders guide a loose database of endurance racers using arabian horses.

So what if Frank Hopkins was streching it a bit. I'd really just like a book by him, not his reviewers. I have two of the Gilbert Jones Spanish Mustangs (G swinging J brand) and have been told that today these are more
pure than the remaining Spanish Barbs in and around Spain.
This according to dna testing. I also have foundation quarter horses and other breeds. The Spanish mustangs are unique in personality and abilities. If Frank Hopkins help preserve them, I say thank God.

I rode 12,000 miles alone from the Arctic Circle to the Equator between 1984 and 1986. Now, at nearly 70 years old, I am on a 20,000 mile non-stop ride to all 48 state capitals of the USA.

I have read this book in the evenings, after I have finished riding for the day. And what I have read has left me deeply disgusted. In fact, the writings of Frank Hopkins should alarm anyone who loves horses.

No horseman would brag about riding a horse to death like Hopkins did. And nobody who knows anything about horses would say that all horses are born blind. He may have been a successful liar but Hopkins certainly wasn't a horseman.

I believe that American history is important. Hopkins said he was Buffalo Bill's best friend, that he taught Billy the Kid how to survive in the wild, and that he was a half-Lakota who witnessed the Massacre at Wounded Knee. These are lies, as the experts in this book have proved. Our country's history should be honestly written and Hopkins' writings do not portray the truth in any way.

Finally, I was born in Texas, so it's fair to say I know a bit about cowboys and horses. It upsets me to learn that folks in Hollywood are now defending Hopkins by saying that all cowboys told tall tales. Some of the most honest people I have ever known are cowboys. So holding up Hopkins as a hero is slandering the image of the American cowboy.

This is a very important book and I think that anyone who wants to know the truth about Frank Hopkins should read it.

Gene Glasscock
Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society

I watched the Hidalgo movie and enjoyed it. It did not believe it was true but it was entertaining. I purchased this book because from the title "Hidalgo" I expected it to be about the movie. Instead I found a book that contained various writings of Frank Hopkins annotated by a group of people who were intent on trashing him. There was very little in the book about Hidalgo. Now Frank Hopkins led people to believe that his exploits were fact so I have no problem with anyone setting the record straight. However the manner in which this was done in this book was mean spirited, tasteless, rude, insensitive and showed a definite lack of character on the part of the authors. Both Frank Hopkins & his wife are dead and can't respond. So if you want a book about Hidalgo DON"T buy this one. If you want a book that trashes Frank Hopkins writings put together by some really mean spirited folks who seem to have an ax to grind this is the book for you.