Wild Horse Annie: Velma Johnston and Her Fight to Save the Mustang - Softcover

"As one of the few insiders from Velma Johnston's campaign to save America's mustangs, Alan J. Kania presents a thorough, deeply researched, and carefully crafted portrait of the woman without whom we would have no wild horses today. He also recounts the details of that hard-fought battle, making "Wild Horse Annie" an invaluable record of one of the great environmental wars of the twentieth century. " -- Deanne Stillman, author of "Mustang: The Saga of the Wild Horse in the American West" "Here is the real deal--a tale accurately and lovingly told by Alan Kania, who as a young man worked for Annie. Alan mirrored Annie's passion to save the American mustang. Together they created a path to protecting these iconic symbols of American freedom." --Ginger Kathrens, founder and director of the Cloud Foundation and creator of the popular "Cloud, the Wild Stallion" programs for PBS's Nature series "The story of Wild Horse Annie, well conveyed by Alan J. Kania, is an important one given her cause and the issues and challenges she faced." --Mark Harvey, author of "Wilderness Forever: Howard Zahniser and the Path to the Wilderness Act" ""Wild Horse Annie "is a strongly recommended pick for collections focusing on American conservation history, not to be overlooked." Midwest Book Review "Wild Horse Annie is a strongly recommended pick for collections focusing on American conservation history, not to be overlooked." Midwest Book Review " "The story of how Velma, snidely dubbed "Wild Horse Annie" by a government official, gathered supporters for the wild horses and got laws passed to provide for their humane treatment and protection, makes inspiring reading." Booklist" "The book is well written and will be a fascinating read for those whose lives are affected by wild horses and burros." Library Journal" "A straightforward and indispensable account of one woman's extraordinary success, 40 years ago, in helping to protect America's wild horses from the human predators surrounding them. . . . The value of Kania's work, apart from his tender view of his subject, is that it shows us, relentlessly, how law can be and is subverted by political forces." The Atlantic " The story of Wild Horse Annie, well conveyed by Alan J. Kania, is an important one given her cause and the issues and challenges she faced. Mark Harvey, author of Wilderness Forever: Howard Zahniser and the Path to the Wilderness Act" Here is the real deal--a tale accurately and lovingly told by Alan Kania, who as a young man worked for Annie. Alan mirrored Annie s passion to save the American mustang. Together they created a path to protecting these iconic symbols of American freedom. Ginger Kathrens, founder and director of the Cloud Foundation and creator of the popular Cloud, the Wild Stallion programs for PBS s Nature series" As one of the few insiders from Velma Johnston s campaign to save America s mustangs, Alan J. Kania presents a thorough, deeply researched, and carefully crafted portrait of the woman without whom we would have no wild horses today. He also recounts the details of that hard-fought battle, making Wild Horse Annie an invaluable record of one of the great environmental wars of the twentieth century. Deanne Stillman, author of Mustang: The Saga of the Wild Horse in the American West"

In 1950, Velma Johnston, a shy Nevada ranch wife, came upon a horse trailer leaking blood. When she discovered the destination of the trailer and its occupants--a trio of terrified and badly injured wild horses--she launched a crusade that eventually reached the halls of Congress and changed the way westerners regard and treat the bands of mustangs and burros that roam their region. Wild horses continue to be the subject of bitter controversy in the West. To some, they are symbols of the West's wild, free heritage; to others, they are rapacious grazers that destroy habitat and compete with domestic livestock and indigenous wildlife for scanty food and water. Alan J. Kania worked closely with Johnston for several years during her decades-long fight against the mistreatment of these horses. Her campaign led her from her rural Nevada county to state offices and finally to Washington, DC, where she successfully lobbied for legislation to protect them. Kania shares his firsthand knowledge of Velma Johnston's story, making it compelling and inspiring reading.