The Wild Horses of the Chilcotin

The Wild Horses of the Chilcotin is a treasure trove of stories about the land, people and creatures in British Columbia’s Chilcotin region — particularly the wild horses west of the Fraser River in the Brittany Triangle.

Brought to the area by the Tŝilhqot’in in the 1600s, the horses are important to this Nation, says wildlife biologist Wayne McCrory. Introduced wild horses are seen by some as pests that damage the range, but to McCrory, they’re key to its ecosystem.

McCrory’s book, first published in 2023, and now in paperback, includes interviews with Knowledge Keepers from the Xeni Gwet’in First Nation, many of whom helped create the Elegesi Qiyus (Eagle Lake Henry) Wild Horse Preserve. It’s also packed with photos that transport readers into the world of these gorgeous animals. Wild horses couldn’t have dragged me away from finishing it.