3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exquisite photographic portrayal of America's Mustang., October 24, 2004
This review is from: Mustang (American Wildlife in American Spaces) (Hardcover)
The primary reason someone purchases a book like this is, of course, for the photography. And for that alone "Mustang" is well worth buying. The book is nearly 200 pages in length and filled with the truly breathtaking work of photographers John Eastcott and Yva Momatuk. All are full-color, and there are many full-page and two-page spread images. Each is crisp, clear, and beautiful. Mustangs are represented here in every aspect of their being - foalhood, young adulthood, with shaggy winter coats and with sleek summer coats, eating, sleeping, playing, fighting, etc. It's all here. As a conversation piece for equine enthusiasts, this book is unbeatable. As an aspiring equine artist, I have found the book doubly useful as a source of reference photos for my art. There is no shortage of inspirational material. The photos are particularly useful for color reference, as Mustangs of every imaginable color and pattern are included.
After one has spent some time enjoying the photography, however, it is also interesting to read the text which accompanies it. Author Sharon Curtin paints a verbal portrait of the Mustang that is nearly as beautiful as the pictures themselves. The text is divided into sections: I. "Our Horses, Our Land" (an introduction), II. "Genesis" (the origins and evolution of the horse), III. "Family" (divided into sections on harem bands, stallions, bachelor bands, grazing, colors, shape / conformation, and language), IV. "The Pretty Little Paint Filly" (a personal vignette from the author), V. "Partnership" (the relationship between man and horse), VI. "Gathering" (the history of Mustang roundups), and VII. "In the Wilderness of the Preservation of the World" (a conclusion calling the reader to action in helping to preserve the mustang). At the very end is a glossary of horse-related terms used within the book.
Curtin's writing is very colorful and lively. Her descriptions are so detailed that, even without the photographs, you could easily picture the world of the Mustang in your mind. The information is presented in such a way that it seems more like you're reading a story than a textbook. And I particularly liked the fact that Curtin punctuates informational passages with short personal accounts of her own, describing things she has seen first-hand in her observation of wild horses. These personal touches are heartwarming and give the text added life.
My only disappointment is that the author does not display much actual scientific equine knowledge, and indeed the blurb about her at the back gives no indication that Curtin has any actual education in the area. All she says here is based on personal observation. That's fine to a point, but has its drawbacks. For instance, I would warn a reader to disregard most of what is said here about equine color genetics - it is not accurate. It also seems that Curtin draws some strange conclusions from the facts: "Mustang digestive systems are not efficient; nature equipped the animal with strong teeth and the ability to move and eat at the same time safely, in order to encourage a varied diet and adequate nutrition. Since they digest forage incompletely, the seeds of the rangeland are redistributed in their droppings" (pg. 100). It seems, however, that for Mustangs this system is perfectly efficient. If it weren't, they would not survive. By redistributing the seeds of what they have eaten, they help replenish the lands on which they live, and this makes the relationship between horse and environment well-balanced. Just because a system would not be efficient for humans or for domestic horses does not mean it doesn't work well elsewhere.
Those small quibbles aside, however, I still recommend this book most highly. After all, as I mentioned first, the primary attraction of coffee-table books like this is for the pictures. And the pictures here are exquisite. The majority of the text, too, though fundamental, is accurate, interesting, and very well-written. The combination of text and images cannot help but inspire a deep and abiding admiration for these hardy equine survivors of the American range. "Mustang" would make a great addition to your own equine library, or a delightful gift for any horse-loving friend.
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