The Mustangs

by J. Frank Dobie, Dayton O. Hyde (Introduction)

J. Frank Dobie’s history of the “mustang”—from the Spanish mesteña , an animal belonging to (but strayed from) the Mesta, a medieval association of Spanish farmers—tells of its impact on the Spanish, English, and Native cultures of the West.

Genres: Horses, History, Nonfiction, Animals, American History, Westerns, Nature

376 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1953

About the author

Called the "Storyteller of the Southwest," James Frank Dobie was born in 1888 on his family's cattle ranch in Live Oak County. During his long life, J. Frank Dobie would live astride two worlds: a rugged life on a Texas cattle ranch and the state's modern centers of scholarly learning.

Dobie came to Austin in 1914 to teach at the University of Texas. In time he pioneered an influential course on the literature of the Southwest. By the late 1920s, Dobie discovered his mission: to record and publicize the disappearing folklore of Texas and the greater Southwest. Dobie became secretary of the Texas Folklore Society, a position he held for 21 years.

J. Frank Dobie Dobie was a new kind of folklorist—a progressive activist. He called for UT to admit African-American students in the 1940s—long before the administration favored integration. Dobie's vocal politics led to his leaving the University in 1947, but he continued writing until his death in 1964, publishing over twenty books and countless articles.

The inscription on Dobie's headstone in the Texas State Cemetery reads: "I have come to value liberated minds as the supreme good of life on earth." J. Frank Dobie was not content to simply preserve Southwestern heritage within libraries and museums. He gave life to that heritage and informed generations of Texans about their rich history.

Reviews

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A collection of short stories of the history and human relationships with the Mustang. I had a very hard time getting into this book which is a shame, it had so much potential. It lack depth in some stories and just did not draw me into others, it was just lacking something throughout the whole book. Some of the stories are hard to stomach and shows that animals abusers have been around for a long time and other stories do show the love and respect the Mustang deserves.

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting & informative history of Mustang horses in the Americas. Not for the faint of heart. All the atrocities committed upon these horses are documented here. However there are some very heart warming stories as well.

[Tami Gandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive work that catalogs the history of wild horses in North America that speaks to their deep instinct to survive, their longevity for the most part, the ease in which they were trained, their faithfulness to their rider and their unbreakable spirit.

[Rich · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a great deal about the introduction of horses to the American southwest and how wild horses were captured. The treatment of the wild horses saddened me.

J. Frank Dobie's books chronicle the culture of the southwest which has been forgotten or was never known by many. His books are an important window to our past. Unfortunately, I am not a fan of his writing style. Hence the three-star review. But that's OK since he probably wouldn't have liked my writing style either.

[Jackson McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine read, however, some of the animal behavior is outdated and should not be taken as truth. But I think that the stories and history is true and I am quite happy to have read this book

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent history of the horse in the Americas. To think this author lived during the end of such an era is truly amazing. Good book JFD.

[Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall loved the book, the history behind mustangs is easily forgotten. The old methods of catching mustangs was interesting and the old tales made the book memorable. Towards the end of the book it was hard to finish, if you don't know many terms that come with mustangs this book can make you stumble.

[Mark Luongo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe it was me but I found this a difficult read, it rambles at ties. But the stories he relates about the horses were good. The illustrations were excellent.

"The earth does not think and does not care what people think, but it takes with undeviating justice and it remembers. To that plot of earth in Live Oak County, Texas, known as the R.J. Dobie ranch, where I was born and reared and where I lived with horses, I dedicate this book -
And to Genardo del Bosque, who during the many years he worked on the ranch used to say, 'Yo tengo raices acqui' (I have roots here)."
- from the dedication

[Lydia Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This work is full of foot-notes but reads like a riveting story.
Just be prepared to cry at the end, once you have come to love these amazing creatures and then realise that they are no more and can never be recovered.

[Merry · Rating 3 out of 5]

read as a child!

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of stories by J. Frank Dobie centering around wild horses, especially in Texas. An easy read that is good for young people.

[Bren Blackburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stories of the mustangs and how they were used in the old west.