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Rita Nicholson - Native Treasure

Why Native Treasure?

The appaloosa horse is indeed an American native horse. As a matter of fact, the appaloosa’s rich history lends itself to a variety of countries, and historical legends and claims throughout the ancient world. Thought to be introduced to the Americas as early as the 1500s by Spanish explorers, the appaloosa soon became a favorite mount of Native American people. The Nez Perce tribe is most credited for its successful and purposeful breeding program of appaloosa horses documented from the 1700s. Lewis and Clark acknowledged the appaloosa as a superior and swift mount in the 1800s during their legendary expedition. The appaloosa was indeed the horse, the horse desired by tribal Chiefs, Cavalry, Soldiers, and men of wealth and reason. So much so, that when the Cavalry warred upon he Native American Nez Perce tribe, it tried to destroy not only the culture of people, but too, this wonderful breed of horse altogether. During the 1877 Nez Perce war they almost succeeded. The appaloosa horse was annihilated to only a surviving handful. Generations of breeding were lost, and only a couple hundred appaloosa horses existed even at the turn of the 20th century. In 1938 the Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC) was founded and through the efforts of many dedicated individuals, the breed has been saved.

Native Treasure is a dedication to the appaloosa horse, a horse that survived under the worst of circumstances, a horse that has often been misunderstood, misrepresented, and abused throughout American history. The appaloosa horse is indeed a noble creature. It is a horse full of wisdom and beauty, heart, and a gentle kind cherishable spirit. Those who have let appaloosa horses into their lives universally agree “they are a gift from above.” Native Treasure is a glimpse into the lives of these wonderful horses. It is simply “appaloosas being appaloosas.” We hope our messages inspire you to invite an appaloosa horse into your life. For more information on appaloosa horses, please contact the Appaloosa Horse Club, or the Appaloosa Museum, Moscow ID.

“Inspired by the Horses You Love”

The horse, the noblest animal in all creation, has long been the cornerstone of human civilization. It has provided transportation; it has done our work; it has carried our burdens. Join Rita K. Nicholson and Vaughn Wilson in a beautiful pictorial tribute to the appaloosa horse. This combination of photographic artistry and quotes from sources as diverse as the Bible, the Koran, the Lewis and Clark Journals, and Rita’s own writings and others will envelop you in an equine mystique. In fact, this perfect coffee-table compilation will have you looking at this magnificent creature as not only the helper of the human race, but as almost human itself. The horse has chosen to befriend us. We should be flattered.

Quote from Robert Vavra

In a life of loving horses – seemingly beyond memory – the Appaloosa has special meaning to me. “Appaloosie” was her name and to my eight-year-old twin brother and I, she was indeed a spotted equine goddess galloping into our arms from one of the illustrious and noble horse cultures the earth has ever known – that of the Native American. Thus, this book by Rita Nicholson is a special treat because of the recollections its protagonists evoke of these horses of patterns with their glorious past and intriguing present. – Robert Vavra

Robert Vavra is an internationally acclaimed author and photographer. Some of his titles include: Horses of the Sun, Equus, On Horses, and All Those Girls in Love with Horses, and others available at www.robertvavra.com.

(2006, hardbound, 110 pages)

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