Wild horse running

by Sam Savitt

Traces the development of a mustang stallion and the dilemma of a fifteen-year-old boy who, finding him injured, is torn by his desire to keep him and his conviction that Montana's wild horses should be protected in their natural state.

Genres: Horses, Animals, Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade

126 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Wayne Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the story opens, Cloud is a newborn wild mustang foal in the Pryor Mountains of Montana. He is a deep gray. His mother is a bay mare, and his father, leader of the herd, is a steely gray stallion. When the young horse is a yearling, some mustangers try to capture the herd. Cloud escapes and lives in the wild alone for a time, but is later captured and turned into a bucking bronco known as Blue Cyclone for the rodeo circuit. However, during a thunderstorm he escapes again and finds his way back to the herd, where he becomes the leader. Meanwhile, fifteen year old Lon Whiteside and his mother Jane are moving from New York following the death of Lon’s father to the Montana ranch of Jane’s father Tom Richardson which is near the Pryor Mountains.

Lon has become depressed and unhappy following the death of his father. However, when the Montana Bureau of Land Management tries to round up all the wild horses, most of which will be sent to pet food factories, Lon finds Cloud injured, brings him home, and tries to nurse him back to health. Will Cloud survive? If he does, will he become a cow horse or will he ever return to his herd? And when Lon has to make the choice, what will it be? This action-filled story is based on fact, following the development of a mustang stallion’s life from his birth, through his capture and rodeo experiences, to the conclusion of his tale. There are a few common euphemisms (heck, darn, gosh), and Mr. Richardson once said that he went “through [‘h’] and high water” to catch a mustang, but no actual cursing or profanity occurs.

Several important messages are embedded in the plot, including how to deal with grief, the importance of freedom, kindness to animals, and the need for conservation with the conviction that Montana’s wild horses should be protected in their natural state. Horse lovers will especially appreciate it. Author Sam Savitt (1917–2000) was a wonderful writer and illustrator of horse-stories, beginning with Step-A-Bit: The Story of a Foal (1956), and including Midnight and Vicki and the Black Horse. He was not only an equine author and artist but also an illustrator of over 100 other books. Also, he was the official illustrator of the United States Equestrian Team, and a founding member of the American Academy of Equine Artists. In fact, he created several horse charts that are considered authoritative works and have been used by the Smithsonian Institution.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. The descriptions are wonderful, the illustrations are beautiful, and the story is poignant. The first half, the part that's more from the horse's point of view, is definitely the stronger half, but the story as a whole works very well.

[Abby Burrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled across this book on Goodreads and was curious about it. It looked like one of those old-fashioned type books, and I like those.
Sure enough, it was one of those types of books.
It is akin to Henry's 'Mustang, Wild Spirit of the West,' as one reviewer mentioned. And it is a very unique story. I don't recall ever reading something like this before.
It was quite a page turner, and I finished it quickly. The writing style was good, although the one problem I have with it was that it kept using the word 'hazing' instead of 'herding.' A little irritating to me, but nothing major.
The illustrations were also pretty neat to see :)

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, and Marguerite Henry's Mustang: Wild Spirit of the West spoiled me for all books about wild horses. I first read these when I was about eight years old and of the two, it has been this book that I chose to replace (mainly because it was a lot less expensive.)

We get to see life as a mustang from the mustang's point of view, although briefly we do see a boy's point of view. That's what I liked the best. The book focused on what it was like to be a mustang and not on the people trying to capture the mustangs or kill them or whatever. In a horse book, I think the focus should always be on the horses. Is that too much to ask?

The main character here is a mustang colt named Cloud, not to be confused with a real mustang stallion showcased on several PBS Nature documentaries. Speaking of nature documentaries, there is violence in this book of a nature documentary type. It didn't bother me as a kid but it did bother me a little in my middle age.

If you love horses, especially mustangs (the bastard child of the horse world) then go to eBay or hit your local used book store for Sam Savitt's wonderful book. The paperback is just as good as the hardback.

[hoofbts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite older horse books.
Full of the typical brutality suffered by mustangs in the earlier 20th century, but with a satisfying and happy ending unlike many other “tame the wild horse” stories

[Shawnee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kleenex please

[Twyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite part was when cloud survived. The worst part was when cloud was being used as a bucking hose at the rodeo. My favorite character was cloud. The worst character was the owner of cloud. Auryn 10 years old, 2014

[Sharon Buxton · Rating 3 out of 5]

B. children's, grade 4, fiction, horses, mustangs, Mom's stash, keep.

[Shazza Maddog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually don't think I had this book as a kid but I do remember reading it. When I saw it on the shelf at the resale shop, I gleefully snatched it up.

Savitt's art makes the book as far as I'm concerned. The story is enjoyable; told from the POV of a young horse, Cloud, who grows up wild as a Mustang but is captured and turned into a bucking bronco for rodeos. He manages to escape and return back to the Pryor Mountains and, due to an aerial roundup, he is found battered, bruised, and helpless by a young teen.

It probably says something I don't remember the boy's name but I do remember his mother's - Jane - and his horse - Bucky. The story dovetails with Cloud's rescue by the boy and the rest of the story is told from his POV until the very end.

The only thing I would want to change in this story is the use of the "be" verbs; they detracted from the story. I very much was thrilled to find this book again and enjoyed my re-read. It definitely provides another view of what's happening with our Mustangs even to this day.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty alright. Trite, kinda cheesy, but pretty alright.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always loved Sam Savitt's illustrations. Found this book from my childhood and re-read. Poignant story especially thinking about what is happening to the mustangs once again.

[Madz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, simple story with pretty illustrations and cute characters (hint, they're horses!)

[Paula Newbanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet blast from my childhood!!