In the chaotic last days of World War II, a small troop of American soldiers captures a German spy and learns that on a secret farm behind enemy lines, Hitler has stockpiled the world's finest purebred horses in order to breed the perfect military machine -- an equine master race. But with the starving Russian army closing in, the animals are in imminent danger of being slaughtered for food. With only hours to spare, one of the U.S. Army's last great cavalrymen, Colonel Hank Reed, makes a bold decision, with General George Patton's blessing, to mount a covert rescue operation.

When a small troop of American soldiers capture a German spy, they uncover an unexpected secret- Hitler has kidnapped the world's finest purebred horses and hidden them in a secret Czechoslovakian breeding farm. But starving Russian troops are drawing closer, and the horses face the danger of being slaughtered for food. With little time to spare, Colonel Hank Reed and his soldiers cross enemy lines to heroically save some of the world's most treasured animals. In this thrilling young readers' edition of her New York Times bestselling book, Elizabeth Letts details the terrifying truth of Hitler's eugenics program during World War II and shares the story of the courageous American troop dedicated to stopping it. Highlighting bravery in the face of incredible odds, this tale will shed light on a little-known piece of our past and speak to history fans and animal lovers of every age.

After several visits to study Icelandic sagas, Nancy Brown returns to Iceland to search for the perfect Icelandic horse, one she can bring back to her Pennsylvania farm and make her own. To do so, she must become part of the country's tightly knit horse-breeding community, which can be wary of outsiders and extremely protective of the world-famous breed. In this clear-eyed, evocative account set against Iceland's austere and majestic landscape, she describes what makes Icelandic horses and their owners so distinctive. She also discovers her limitations as a horsewoman and learns much about what she is looking for-in a horse and in her life.

' "When you touch a Lipizzaner, you're touching history," Westerman was once told. His elegant book offers fascinating proof' Financial Times Frank Westerman explores the history of Lipizzaners, an extraordinary troop of pedigree horses bred as personal mounts for the Emperor of Austria-Hungary. Following the bloodlines of the stud book, he reconstructs the story of four generations of imperial steed as they survive the fall of the Habsburg Empire, two world wars and the insane breeding experiments conducted under Hitler, Stalin and Ceausescu. But what begins as a fairytale becomes a chronicle of the quest for racial purity. Carrying the reader across Europe, from imperial stables and stud farms to the controversial gene labs of today, Westerman asks, if animal breeders are so good at genetic engineering, why do attempts to perfect the human strain always end in tragedy?

American soldiers, aided by an Austrian colonel who was both an Olympian and a trainer of Lipizzaners, attempt to kidnap horses that had been taken by Nazis "for the glorification of the Third Reich" and smuggle them to safety.

Traces the story of a champion equine jumper and the Dutch farmer who rescued him from the slaughterhouse, recounting how the farmer discovered Snowman's jumping talents and trained him to compete against the world's thoroughbreds.

Europe's twentieth-century history told through the incredible story of a horse: the Lippizaner. 'When you touch a Lippizaner,' Frank Westerman was told as a child, 'you are touching history.' In Brother Mendel's Perfect Horse he explores the history of these unique creatures, an extraordinary troop of pedigree horses first bred as personal mounts for the Emperor of Austria-Hungary. Following the bloodlines of the studbook, he reconstructs the story of four generations of imperial steeds as they survive the fall of the Habsburg Empire, two world wars and the insane breeding experiments conducted under Hitler, Stalin and Ceausescu. But what begins as a fairytale becomes a chronicle of the quest for racial purity. Carrying the reader across Europe, from imperial stables and stud farms to the controversial gene labs of today, Westerman asks, if animal breeders are so good at genetic engineering, why do attempts to perfect the human strain always end in tragedy? Brother Mendel's Perfect Horse, a unique and engrossing fusion of history and travel writing, is a modern fable in which the pureblood horse ends up revealing man's own shortcomings.

Hardworking, swift, loyal and capable of great heroism, horses have been our constant companions for thousands of years. Using stunning illustrations, The Horse Book pairs famous historical figures with their faithful mounts including: Alexander the Great's beloved steed at whose death he dedicated the city of Alexandria Bucephala; the cruel Roman emperor Caligula who made his horse a consul; the brave horses in the First World War; and horses of famous figures from El Cid to Napoleon. This is the perfect gift for the horse lover - a guide to the role of horses in history and the people who rode them.

Kelly Marks achieves spectacular results with an enormous variety of different horses. She knows that if you want a horse to have 'perfect manners', it's your responsibility to make it clear what you want - it's not up to the horse to guess. The secret of success is to communicate with horses in their own language, establishing a relationship of empthay and trust. This book shows how to reach that perfect mutual understanding with your horse - and how to behave yourself in a way that means your horse will too.

An honest and encouraging guide for everyone who wishes their horse could be the perfect riding horse Essential tools and clear step-by-step photography for training the horse and rider help you create your perfect riding horse for any discipline or level of ability Inspirational advice and ingenious tips take you through choosing the right horse, mastering the basics of groundwork, schooling and introducing jumping Perry Wood's skill as a coach of both horses and people puts these effective methods within easy grasp of everyone, transforming any rider into a real trainer.