Nobody's Horses: The Dramatic Rescue of the Wild Herd of White Sands (Hardcover)

by Don Höglund (Author)
Key Phrases: mound springs, tumor horse, range road, White Sands, New Mexico, Little Midnight (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Horse expert and veterinarian Höglund delivers a compelling and swiftly paced account of his efforts in 1994 to manage the capture and safe movement of nearly two thousand wild horses from New Mexico's White Sands Missile Base to an Oklahoma wild horse sanctuary. As a former intermediary between the New Mexico Correctional System and the U.S. Army in a program that uses White Sands animals to help inmates become horse trainers, Höglund was in a unique position to work on the eleven-month-long relocation project. He provides a fascinating look at the history of White Sands-"one of the most desolate, unforgiving stretches of desert in the United States," and the site of the first atomic bomb test in 1945-as well as of the thousands of wild horses that have lived there since it was the dominion of Comanche and Apache horsemen. His chronicle effectively shows how his efforts, along with a team of herders possessing "steeled nerves and the hand-eye coordination of an explosives expert" resulted in a successful mission "to save lives and relieve the horses' pain and suffering, not re-create an Old West roundup for the excitement and the spectacle"-though excitement and spectacle is exactly what they find, as will readers. B&W photographs throughout.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
"America's wild horses are a historic legacy that dates back to the first days of Spanish exploration. Private landowners and public land managers alike will learn from the unique perspectives in Nobody's Horses."

-- Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico and author of Between Worlds: The Making of an American Life

"As fast and dramatic as a herd of wild horses, Höglund's book will sweep you up and carry you at a gallop to its bittersweet, compelling ending. Höglund is an American hero, and his knowledge and passion for horses shine off every page. If you love horses just a smidgeon as much as he does, once you start it you won't be able to put it down. What a joy."

-- Patricia B. McConnell, PhD, author of the national bestseller, The Other End of the Leash, co-host of public radio's "Calling All Pets," associate adjunct professor of zoology at University of Wisconsin-Madison

"Equine veterinarian, cowboy, and author Don Höglund recounts an exciting tale of horse rescue. This true story reads like a cross between The Dirty Dozen and The Horse Whisperer. Two hooves up."

-- Dr. Nicholas Dodman, director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and author of The Dog Who Loved Too Much

"This moving, first-hand account of Dr. Höglund's efforts to save the White Sands herd is a compelling must-read for anyone who loves wild horses or wild places."

-- Tom Groneberg, author of The Secret Life of Cowboy

"Nobody's Horses is a story born out of a veterinarian's passion for animals and speaks to all Americans. The wild horse has a prestigious place in our past, our present, and should be firmly protected for future generations."

-- Jay Brown, DVM, President, Vetgate USA

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Free Press (September 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743290887
• ISBN-13: 978-0743290883
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #389,448 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #85 in

  Books > Outdoors & Nature > Conservation > Endangered Species

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The heroic effort to save the wild horses of White Sands, February 17, 2007

By	Paul Tognetti "The real world is so much more... (Cranston, RI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Any number of adjectives come to mind when I begin to contemplate the rescue of these magnificent creatures. Heroic, compassionate, courageous and dedicated only begin to describe the efforts of the team assembled by Don Hoglund and others. "Nobody's Horses" tells the amazing and heartwarming story of the rescue of some 2000 wild horses from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico in 1995. It was a task wrought with danger from the get-go. And the fact of the matter is that the effort was none too popular with the animal rights crowd in this country either. But Don Hoglund knew better. He and his associates understood that these animals simply had to be relocated or they would not make it. The severe drought and lack of food at White Sands had made their long-term survival extremely problematic. "Nobody's Horses" is a fascinating piece of American history. The tale told by Don Hogland, DVM is simply riveting!
On a scorching July day in 1994, White Sands wildlife biologist Patrick Morrow made a gruesome discovery. Scores of wild horses were dead or dying near a watering hole on the range. When the dust had settled, a total of 122 horses had died. This was really the last straw. Those in positions of responsibility who really cared about these animals were convinced that most of them would perish if left to fend for themselves in such inhospitable conditions. An incredibly painful decision was made to move these horses off the land that they had occupied for centuries. The work would be difficult and extremely dangerous. It would require a team of intensely tough and dedicated individuals. That team would be led by Don Hoglund. Don was a respected veterinarian and a nationally recognized authority on the plight of wild horses. It is clear that he was the right man for this job.
"Nobody's Horses" recalls in exquisite detail the rescue of nearly 2000 wild horses from the deserts of New Mexico. In the course of this beautifully written book you will learn all about where these animals originally came from and how they had lived life on the range. You will meet several members of the team assembled by Don Hoglund including Les Gililland whose ancesters had owned several ranches in the area now occupied by the White Sands Missile Range. All of these folks were kicked off their land back in 1942 and given pennies on the dollar by the U.S. government for their land. These folks were told this was to be a temporary arrangement to help support the war effort. But these people never got to return to their homes nor did they get their livestock back and Les was still bitter. Some of the horses that were to moved were direct descendants of the animals his grandfather and great grandfather had owned. As someone who hails from the Northeast these issues were largely new to me and I found this entire story to be a real eye opener. In "Nobody's Horses" you will get a glimpse at the planning for this monumental effort and experience the trials and tribulations of the actual move. You will also discover just what happened to these horses once they were rescued. For the most part it was a very happy ending. As I mentioned earlier, "Nobody's Horses" is an extremely well written book that focuses on issues that I suspect most Americans know little or nothing about. A great read and a great way to expand your horizons! Highly recommended!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nobody's Horses, September 17, 2006

By	Philip G. Boysen "Thousand Welcomes Farm" (Chapel Hill, NC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The horse has been a part of the very fabric of our American tradition. There are many who would raise the consciousness of the sorry fate of some of our equine friends.

Dr. Hoglund's book, Nobody's Horses, had me riveted from the very beginning. Being a breeder of wild ponies from the barrier islands I was able to visualize every aspect of the herding, penning, tagging - and all the emotions that go with this incredibly difficult task. Also fascinating is the history of how the horses got into this predicament and to link the old wild west, e.g., Pat Garrett, Billie the Kid, etc. It just thrills me to think of these magnificent animals being ridden by these old west histoprical figures when most of us have only seen it in movies. Dr. Hoglund's dedication to this cause and his emotional attachment to "his" horses deserves accolades from everyone who lives in this country. He has truly saved one of our national symbols.

Burta Boysen
Thousand Welcomes Farm
Chapel Hill, NC

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Championing the Wild Ones - Great Story!, November 23, 2006

By	Carolyn S. Mason (Beaufort, NC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Anyone who has an affinity for animals, especially horses, will be fascinated and inspired while reading Nobody's Horses. Don Hoglund and his team execute a seemingly impossible task with intricate planning, lots of heart and an obvious love for the magnificent White Sands wild horses. The horses sometimes have plans of their own, however, and when a wily mare leads the horses up over an old lava flow, the reader is swept up into spine tingling high drama. I recommend Nobody's Horses as an excellent choice for anyone who loves a great adventure and a good book.
Carolyn Mason, President
Foundation for Shackleford Horses, Inc.