Hidalgo and Other Stories [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

From the start, any person who uses thinking ability must look at BOTH sides of a controversy, and if they want honesty, then they must look without prejudice or partiality. At first I was extremely disappointed to read that Frank T. Hopkins was a charlatan, but I wanted to have a basis for putting trust in the words of the Long Riders' Guild and others. Once I began to do my own research, the issue completely opened up for me and my questions vanished.

I started with finding simple facts, and when I saw for myself a wide variety of photos of Frank Hopkins on many different horses, I began to wonder at the credibility of the "experts." It turns out that they are the ones with all the 'proclamations' that are completely unfounded. Not only do they quote many vocations and accomplishments that Frank Hopkins never claimed in the first place, they completely blind themselves to the FACT that he was an outspoken activist for the mustang all his life, many of his speeches are written down as historical documents; also do they overlook the unique knowledge he had of indian horses, something which he could not possibly have possessed if he really was an "equestrian charlatan." I find it a little ironic that in some of the other closed-minded reviews, many actually admit that they know nothing about horses. Don't you want to find out a little bit more for yourself before you state your opinion as if it was already fact?

The most unforgivable thing that the Long Riders' Guild have done though, and perhaps the most important part of history of all that they have ignored, are the first-hand accounts of the Native Americans, their oral traditions, their TRUTH. And when I found out this, the underlying reason for the Guild's writings came to me. I thought, why would the Long Riders' Guild and others want to slander this man's reputation, to try to cover over his extraordinary accomplishments? It all comes down to the same-old, age-old issues of politics and prejudice.

There are those prejudiced men and women who will never want to acknowledge this man's accomplishments because he was part Native American and thus a true horseman from his roots. He spoke out for the mustang when these same men and women would have been content to let the breed become extinct out of greed. He was at one with horses and could accomplish incredible feats BECAUSE he had Native American blood in him, but there will always be those who are racist who either want to ignore this heritage or claim it has nothing to do with any accomplishments. Finally, those who are politically prejudiced will never want to admit the guilt of the U.S. in the massacre of the Native Americans. Perhaps they don't like that the movie Hidalgo exposes the hypocrisy involved, when after U.S. soldiers brutally massacred innocent men, women and children, they called it a "battle" in which they had been victorious.

Obviously I could never know the true motives from the hearts of all these people involved in this controversy; these are simply the conclusions I have reached, and it is true that it fills me with disgust to see the prejudice and racism that consumes people and causes them to deceive others. All I want to try and say to those who are reading this is not to blindly follow others along and put your trust in their every word, but to build a store of knowledge for yourself, so that you may always have a basis for finding truth, real justice and a faith of your own.

I have an "Original" copy of Frank T Hopkins' Autobiography. The book "Edited" by the O'Reillys is nothing but a "Forgery" to suit their own purpose, which is to "slander" a deceased Old West Heroe. I am an Endurance Rider, who breeds Spanish Mustangs. I have competed with my Mustangs on the endurance circuit for over 22 years. The truth is: Spanish Mustangs are, truly the greatest, "Ultra-Marathon" endurance horses! Although only 1% recorded, to compete in today's endurance circuit, they claimed Top National Awards! I was 2nd in the Nation, in 1990, with my Spanish Mustang, Montana, at the Multi-Day Ride Championship. (250 miles in 5 consecutive days, running against fresh Arabs each day!)Since the year 2000, a Spanish Mustang Stallion, by the name of Geronimo's Warrior, set an unprecedented record in the history of the AERC. (American Endurance Riders Conference). Geronimo received the following Awards for 4 consecutive years: National Mileage Champion, National Endurance Stallion, (Jim Jones Award), Mid-west heavyweight Champion, and Pioneer Award in Heavyweight division of the Multi-day ride championship! So in Lieu of all of the above, Mr. Hopkins is not the one who is lying! It is the O'Reillys. Frank Hopkins championed the legendary Endurance of the Spanish mustangs and his claim stands TRUE even today! Anybody who sinks so low, as to "Edit" a book to serve their own purpose, is to be condemned! I have found everything Mr. Hopkins advocated regarding the endurance of the Spanish Mustang to be TRUE, and verified by my personal experience during my 22 years of endurance riding. The O'Reilly, "version" of Hidalgo is a waste of money! AM.Pinter, Georgetown.Ca.

I loved the movie. Hated the book. Why would they write a book to trash Frank Hopkins? For the truth see frankhopkins.com for pictures, articles, interviews, facts, etc. Even if he stretched the truth a little, what great cowboy storyteller hasn't, he still fought to protect the mustang.