Wild Horses: A Spirit Unbroken

By: Elwyn Hartley Edwards

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Synopsis: Horses are widely regarded as a favorite among domesticated animals. However, the twentieth century still harbors pockets of untamed horses and ponies whose evolution can be traced back over 60 million years. Wild horses exist in as diverse and hostile locations as the arid deserts of India and the remote sandbanks of Sable Island off the coast of Nova Scotia. Combine adaptability and an aggressive instinct for survival with exceptional stamina and sturdiness, and the resulting profile illustrates the divide between wild horses and domestic stock. Wild Horses traces the origins of today's feral equine species and explains how geographic history and crossbreeding have influenced their development and provided the variety of breeds which now exist worldwide. The wild horse inspires a range of differing responses. The rapid growth of the Australian wild horse population, the Brumby, led to thousands being killed for sport during the 1960s. This contrasts starkly with the treatment of the Kiang herds of the Himalayas, which are heralded as sacred by Tibetans. However, conservation efforts are now enabling many wild horses to survive and even flourish, encouraging a growing admiration and respect for their place in the natural world.