This seems to be part of a collection of books about WWII. I like that you can get a small, less expensive, volume on a subject of your choice. Mine was Saving Horses in WWII: the Untold Story of Operation Cowboy in World War II by Ryan Jenkins. Until now, much of what I knew about saving the Lipizzans I learned in the Disney movie Miracle of the White Stallions. I was saddened (although not surprised) to discover much of it was wrong! Here is a detailed accounting of what really happened and who was involved.

This took me back, way back, to something I read so long ago it was almost like reading it for the first time again! Airs Above the Ground, by Mary Stewart proved to be a wonderful read all over again. I loved the setting (Austria!), the characters, the story (a traveling circus with more than one mystery), and, of course, the old Piebald stallion! (Also found in the April 20, 2015 post).

When I offered to share Saving Horses with Tall Reader, she brought me the most amazing book! The Spanish Riding School: It's Traditions and Development from the Sixteenth Century Until Today, by Mathilde Windisch-Graetz is a simply wonderful book that I read in one sitting. It's all about the history (back to the time of Xenophon) of the horses and the school and is full of pictures as well. If you can locate a copy (it's long out of print), read it!

For a wonderfully detailed, thoroughly researched and well written history of one unique mission in WWII, read The Perfect Horse: the Daring U.S. Mission to Rescue the Priceless Stallions Kidnapped By the Nazis, by Elizabeth Letts. Hitler had hopes of creating the perfect war horse and to that end 'appropriated' the best horses he could find. This included the Lipizzans and some amazing Polish Arabians. As the war was ending they were at risk of being destroyed. Fortunately there was a group of determined soldiers and citizens who were not going to let this happen.

For more books on Lipizzans see the April 20, 2015 post.

Reading Hermit With Dog