Healing Power of Horses: Lessons from the Lakota Indians - Hardcover

Baker, Wendy Beth

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1889540897 ISBN 13: 9781889540894

Publisher: CompanionHouse Books, 2004

Synopsis

Wendy Beth Baker’s The Healing Power of Horses is devoted to the world’s greatest horsepeople, the Oglala Lakota Indians of Pine Ridge, South Dakota. She begins the book by sharing the philosophy of these great horse-loving people: There are those who feel the sun rises and sets on the back of a horse, and no matter what obstacles life sets in their way, they never dismount.” The spirit and fortitude of the Lakota Indians inform Baker’s words as she describes how this once-nomadic tribe came to view the horse as sacred and assigned it great significance in their culture, religion, and lifestyle. The Indians who live on the Pine Ridge Reservation have grown spiritually and as a community through their relationship with their horses, and it is through this connection to the natural world that the power of healing and ultimately, health, flows.

With photography by Hope Vinitsky, The Healing Power of Horses tells the individual stories of over a dozen Lakota Indians and how horses have affected each of their lives. Baker was able to interview each of these inspiring individuals for inclusion in this book. The empowering stories told come from Wayne Waters, Marlin Moon” Weston, Eugenio White Hawk, Wendell Yellow Bull, Aldeen Twiss, Phillip Jumping Eagle and Billy, Dale Vocu, Emma and Shelly Waters, Wilmer Mesteth, Vernell White Thunder, Pat Heathershaw, Lester Waters, and the Carlows. While the stories of each of these exceptional men and women are different, the common denominator in each is the horse’s transformative power to heal their minds, spirits, and bodies. These are stories of artists, athletes, and common noble folk, all of whom have struggled to overcome life’s many obstacles to thrive and become better people.

The author’s intention in this book, as she describes in the final section The Future of the Lakota Horsepeople,” is to have her readers gain a better understanding of horses in Lakota culture while at the same time affording some of the Lakota people an opportunity to reconnect with their cultural identity. In reading this book, it is clear that the Lakota people have preserved the emotional power of their ancient culture and strength as a people by maintaining their connection to horses, animals that they deeply love. Fiercely loyal to the United States, the Lakota horsepeople are a strong, proud, and brave community who have much to teach all people about life and the pursuit of healing.

About this title

From the Inside Flap:

After being badly injured in a horse riding accident, the author, Wendy Baker, was told time and again by doctors and friends to stop riding. As an avid horsewoman, Wendy would not accept this advice. She began studying the equine philosophy of the Lakota Indians as a way to return to horses. Healing Power of Horses: Lessons from the Lakota Indians intertwines Wendy's healing experience with the profiles of twelve Lakota Indians who have been strengthened individually and as a community from their relationship with horses. The reverence and passion that the Lakota have for their horses is sure to inspire both riders and nonriders alike. Full-color photographs capture the life of the Lakota people and their horses, illustrating the stores of spirit and life.

About the Author:

It has not yet been determined if Wendy's passion for horses and interest in the Lakota Indians is genetic or sociological. Her mother's side of the family has always loved horses, and her paternal grandmother lived on the Great Plains in the early 1900s.

Whatever the source of her attraction to the charismatic Lakota, the reader will share her excitement for their world and their horses.

Wendy will donate a share of her profits to Sunka Wakan na Wakanyeja Awicaglipi (To Bring Back the Horse and the Child).

Hope Vinitsky has been a photographer for over twenty years. She has photgraphed extensively in the Midwest, as well as in New York City where she was a sound engineer for the NBC television network. For the past thirteen years she has enjoyed photographing the West Coast where she lives and works as a sound engineer for CBS. Hope has also photographed extensively in Tanzania, Africa.

About this edition

• Publisher: CompanionHouse Books
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1889540897
• ISBN 13: 9781889540894
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 143