Press

Read more about Equus Rising

Equus Rising: How the Horse Shaped U.S. History (Hill Press)

Interviews & press

Book Award Interview: Read Julia’s interview following the book’s Feathered Quill Book Award.

Book Review By FQ: Read this fantastic review of Equus Rising.

Equestrian Author Spotlight Podcast: Watch or listen to Julia’s interview with host Carly Kade, author of the In the Reins series.

Feathered Quill: Read Julia’s interview on her impetus for writing Equus Rising, the writing and research process, and what makes the book unique.

The Luminous Mind Podcast (website, Libsyn/iTunes/Stitcher, YouTube): Listen to Julia’s podcast interview on the book’s origins, the importance of broadening our narrow perspectives on history, how her approach to homeschooling has evolved over the years, and how she tries to model lifelong learning for her kids.

Virtual book launch party

Watch the abridged virtual book launch party featuring author Julia Soplop and illustrator Robert Spannring

What people are saying about Equus Rising

“I’ve loved and owned horses most of my life, but had never considered the important role they played in American History. This has changed now that I have read Equus Rising, a rich retelling of the history of the horse from the foundations of the earth, to the early days of America, until our current day…I had a hard time putting the book down, as I couldn’t wait to read the next chapter to find out what would happen next! Equus Rising is a compelling, concisely written, beautifully illustrated, important read for any horse or history enthusiast. If you are a horse lover and would like to have a more intimate knowledge of the role the horse has played in U.S. history, I highly recommend Equus Rising.”
-Shelley Paulson, author of Horses: Portraits & Stories

"Thoroughly engrossing and compelling…In this ambitious book about the powerful influence of the horse on US history, Soplop delivers a gripping account...Soplop’s writing is assured and her prose full of cohesion and clarity of purpose. Robert Spannring’s pen and ink illustrations are striking, and Soplop’s arresting photography adds further depth…Soplop delivers a unique and enlightening portrait of the horse’s role in the development of the country. A fun and fascinating read, the book will make for a great resource book for classroom and library shelves."
-The Prairies Book Review

“From the Dawn Pony of the Eocene, to the Thoroughbreds of Kentucky, Equus Rising takes the reader on a tour. Through a rare blend of social and biological history, Soplop tells the story of horses, as wild animals, and also as partners to human beings. Well-written and well-researched, this volume fills a key niche in the science, politics, and literature of the horse.”
-Chad Hanson, PhD, president of the Wyoming Mustang Institute and author of Trout Streams of the Heart

“Julia Soplop is an engaging, colorful, and incredibly informative writer. As someone who typically struggles through historical writing, I found Equus Rising to read as seamlessly and colorfully as a novel…As someone who is a HUGE stickler for scientific and historical accuracy, Soplop totally blew me away. It's easy to tell from the first paragraph the amount of time, effort, and thoroughness went in to researching this topic. In a time when scientific communication and understanding our history is of the utmost importance, Soplop hits this one completely out of the park. Trust me, even if you aren't interested in horses or history, you will be after reading this!!!! It's a must buy!!!”
-LHW

"Equus Rising examines US history in a unique way: as it was influenced by the horse. It is meticulously researched and skillfully written and the conversational tone really captured my attention. I quickly found myself deep into this mind-opening and fascinating work. The accessible style is engaging and carries the reader along the journey from prehistoric to modern times, all the while providing detailed and insightful historical information and deeply insightful perspective...The incorporated photographs by Soplop and illustrations by Robert Spannring are beautiful works of art that live among the pages of the book. I have no particular ties to horses and was excited to find how much I enjoyed Equus Rising and how much I learned from it!"
-Megan S.

"This book is such a wonderful way to understand and connect to the history of our country. As a student of history, I find it takes particular detail and accessible prose to not only bring our past to life, but to embed it in working memory. Equus Rising does just that, using the horse to (re)connect the reader with our own past. Complimenting this wonderful read are gorgeous illustrations, bringing the thoughtful writing even further to life. I can't wait to continue recommending this book!"
-Katie Williams

"I loved this book! It opened my eyes to a completely different perspective on U.S. history: the tremendous influence of the horse on the development of our country and its cultures. There was hardly a page of the book where I did not think to myself, "I never knew that!" The author has woven her considerable research into an appealing and approachable writing style and has supplemented it with beautiful photos and original illustrations, making it an engaging read for anyone of about high-school age on up who is interested in history, horses, a new perspective, or just a good book. Highly recommend!"
-CBC

"I enjoyed this book for its expansive variety and accessible style. The range of topics makes this book both compelling and eminently readable for a wide range of interests and reading levels."
-Erin

Hill Press
Wholesale paperback: July 1, 2020
ISBN: 9781735111308
Amazon paperback: May 14, 2020
ISBN: 9781724985866
$15.99 (paperback)
$ 9.99 (ebook)
Page Count: 330
HISTORY/United States/General
NATURE/Animals/Horses
SCIENCE/Natural History