Tyger: Wild Stallion of the Badlands

I ordered this book the instant I discovered it. Les Sellnow is obviously an accomplished horseman and a fine writer. The story of Tyger, Wild Stallion of the Badlands is an interesting one - a fictionalized version of a true event. Tiger Tu was Sellnow's Arabian stallion set loose in the Badlands to "up-grade" the existing wild horses. At the time domestic stallions like Tiger Tu were introduced into the Badlands, ranchers Leo and Frank Kuntz began a lifelong project to keep the preserve the original strains of the wild horses. These original horses are now named the Nokota, and are preserved under the auspices of the Nokota Horse Conservancy, Inc. The Nokota horse has been named the "Honorary Horse of North Dakota" in recognition of their unique and historic value. Research has shown that the Nokotas were originally descended from the war ponies of Chief Sitting Bull as well as important early ranch type horses in the late 1800's. Ironically, the wild horses in the Park today are no longer representative of the original Nokota type, because of the introduction of domestic studs like Tiger Tu. Regardless of whether it was a mistake or not to introduce domestic blood into this historic line of horses, the story of Tyger is heart-rending in describing the incredible hardships that all these horses must overcome to survive in the Badlands. It is a story well worth reading.