Wild Horses: An American Romance

Welcome to the Romance of Renegades

 

Descended from the mounts of the Conquistadors, shaped by a vanishing frontier, wild horses have been renegades for centuries, becoming romantic symbols of freedom. Whether valiant, white steeds gallantly led by knights in shining armor or headstrong stallions commanded by Native American warriors, history and literature alike are rife with tales of uncommon bonds between heroes and the wild horses they tamed to ride into battle. Even the various mounts of Jedi Knights seem suspiciously equine.

Wild Horses: An American Romance takes viewers to spectacular locations in the American West where humans and horses share a fascinating history and partnership.

This website provides additional information, education, and entertainment for an audience of students, equine aficionados, horse hobbyists, environmentalists, policy makers, educators, and the general public regarding these remarkable animals and the role they have played in our lives. Wild Horses: An American Romance is a production of the Nebraska ETV Network in partnership with South Dakota Public Television.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ORIGINS
How the prehistoric horse originated on the North American plains, then migrated to other continents

MUSTANGS AND HUMANS
How the horse was introduced by Spanish Conquistadors to this continent, and related to humans

 MUSTANGS AND THE LAND
How mustangs survive today and adapt to the encroachment of human settlement

THE MUSTANG DILEMMA
How policy makers try to balance the needs of humans with the needs of wild horses

POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS
What has been tried and the resulting debates

RESOURCES