Name: Wild Hoofbeats
Brand: Painted Hills Publishing (US)
SKU: 9780981793641
Price: 30.99 GBP
Availability: InStock

Wild Hoofbeats

America's Vanishing Wild Horses

By (author): Carol Walker, Foreword by: Ginger Kathrens

Published by Painted Hills Publishing (US)

In Stock

£30.99

Format: Paperback
Pages: 160
Illustrations: 185 colour photos & 2 illus
ISBN: 9780981793641
Publication Date: 01-Dec-2008

Subjects:
Horses & ponies
USA

Quantity

Wild horses: bold, elusive, independent. Above all, free. Or are they? Most of us consider wild horses honoured emblems of our Western spirit, but some see them as a resource to exploit or even a pest to eliminate. Which are they? For Carol Walker, the photographer and author of "Wild Hoofbeats", the answer begins not in abstract argument over symbols and statistics, but with the horses themselves. In images that move fleetly from the pages straight into our hearts, Walker brings to brilliant life the horses of the Adobe Town herd in Wyoming's Red Desert, and we gain a priceless perspective on these graceful, courageous animals. Walker gathered these dynamic images over years spent observing (sometimes at a distance, often within a mere stride or two) the bands of the Adobe Town herd. She emerged from her experience with a sense of personal acquaintance with the horses, a deep respect for their social allegiances and intelligence and a heart fully engaged by their plight. As art, the photographs are elegant. As documentary, they are evocative. In every respect, they are indelibly memorable. But Walker doesn't offer just photographs. In quiet, spare prose Walker invites us to journey with her as she meets the horses in the initial blur of mass impression, then band by band, and eventually, individual by individual. We come to recognise each stallion and note as the seasons pass the new battle scars, the special attention each gives to a favourite mare. We understand which mare is tender, which is a disciplinarian with her baby. And of course, we grow attached to the youngsters, first as curious foals, finally as adults venturing into perilous independence. In the final chapters, Walker takes us on the roundup done by the Bureau of Land Management to control herd population, and we hold our breath. Which ones return home to their family bands, and which are separated forever? Ultimately, we are as invested in these horses as if they are our own. So travel with Carol Walker through "Wild Hoofbeats", savour every painterly image and every poignant story, but beware: you cannot venture through this book and emerge unchanged.

Carol Walker's passion for photography started at an early age, with animals as her favourite subjects. She studied literature and photography at Smith College, and continued after graduation to study portraiture and nature photography. For the past 28 years, she has photographed wildlife the world over; since becoming aware of the precarious situation of the wild horses, she has dedicated herself to educating people about them through her photographs and her stories. In her business, Living Images by Carol Walker, Walker specialises in horse photography, illuminating the relationship between horses and their people, as well showcasing horses' ineffable beauty in stunning images of them at liberty. Her commercial work includes on-site horse portraiture, catalogue covers, and calendars; her fine art prints are available at her Living Images by Carol Walker website as well as in several galleries on the Front Range of Colorado.

Recipient of the 2008 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for Best Photography; Honorable mention, Eric Hoffer Award, Art category; Recipient of the 2009 Independent Publisher Book Awards regional award, West-Mountain: Best Regional Non-Fiction; National Indie Excellence Awards: Finalist in the Art category; Finalist, 2009 Benjamin Franklin Awards, Animals/Pets category.

"Carol Walker's love of wild horses is evident. The collection of masterful photographs in Wild Hoofbeats, along with the insightful and personal account of her experiences, gives us a poignant glimpse into the secret and oftentimes tragic world of America's wild horses. Through her sincere commitment and dedication, Carol is helping to bridge a very important gap between two worlds." -- Tony Stromberg, author of Spirit Horses

"This lovely coffee table book illustrates the plight of wild horse herds throughout Western America and focusing on the Southwestern corner of Wyoming. There is excellent material for everyone interested in the subject. The combination of beautiful pictures and cogent writing makes this coffee table book a fascinating read." -- Heartland Reviews

"With an attachment to her subjects that is reminiscent of Jane Goodall's famous studies, Carol invites us to meet and care for the "families" she became a part of. Carol Walker, through this elegant "documentary," reminds us why wild horses are the symbol of America's free spirit. She also reminds us that these horses and the lands they roam are part of the public domain. They belong to us and Carol urges us to take better care of what is ours." -- Reins Magazine

"Walker has a passion for the future of these wild horses that are decreasing in numbers in the US. She uses amazing photographs and her own experiences to tell their story. Walker talks about the land mismanagement and suggestions for future protection from large wild horse removals, which continue to threaten an already declining population. We are encouraged, as US citizens, to stand up and make a difference for these true symbols of the American west heritage and for the sake of the animals themselves." -- Apogee Photo Magazine