History On Horseback The Early Years: 1493 to 1866 (Vicki Watson)

History On Horseback

The Early Years: 1493 to 1866

Learn history the fun way – on horseback!

The work of a gold prospector involved scooping up a panful of dirt, then swirling it around to separate the valuable from the ordinary. Just as a prospector’s adrenaline must have flowed when he caught sight of a few flecks of gold, I grew more excited with each horse story from history I discovered. I didn’t get my hands dirty working with pans of dirt, but I certainly sifted through tons of information in search of “gold nuggets.”

What’s a History on Horseback “gold nugget?”

Prunes is one example. Of all the thousands of burros used by gold prospectors, Prunes is one of the few whose story remains. He was the partner and constant companion of Rupert M. Sherwood, a Colorado gold prospector.

The trusty burro cheerfully carried Rupert’s gold pan, shovel, frying pan, coffee pot, pick, rope, blankets, flour, bacon, sugar, and oats. When Sherwood was too busy to make the trip into town, the miner pinned a shopping list to Prunes’ pack, and the burro headed off on his own. When he arrived in town, the shopkeeper filled the order and sent Prunes back up the trail to Sherwood’s mining camp.

Read History on Horseback to discover more gold nuggets!

From the Author

“I like to say, “If horses could type—what a history book they would write!”

Since they can’t (type), I decided to write the book for them. Horses were such an integral part of the history of our country. Although I’ve been a lifelong horse-lover, as I researched, even I was surprised at the variety of ways horses have been used over the years.

Through their bond with humans, horses shaped our history in ways no machine ever could. You’d think such a significant contribution would be highlighted in history textbooks, however in most, horses are strangely absent. History on Horseback is a unique combination of history and horses, sure to appeal to readers who love horses and/or history.

From the days of the Spanish explorers to modern times, History on Horseback brings history to life from a unique perspective: the back of a horse—or perhaps a horse-drawn vehicle.

The series will consist of three volumes, eventually reaching the present day. Volume 1 covers the time frame from 1493 to 1866. The focus is primarily on American history with a few side trips as interesting horse trails are explored.

May be used as a history curriculum for homeschool students, but adults will enjoy the book as well. Recommended for ages twelve and up.” – Vicki Watson