Bullets, Badges, and Bridles: Horse Thieves and the Societies That Pursued Them

Since the introduction of the horse to early American society, horse theft has been a lucrative crime. This fascinating exposition details the history of organized horse-thief gangs and several of the most notorious criminals from the colonial era through World War II. Equally riveting is the development of groups dedicated to preventing horse theft, the most famous of which was the Anti-Horse Thief Association.

Tricks of the horse-theft trade are explored. Stolen horses were disguised with ...