The Horsecatcher

The novel is set in the 1830s. Elk, a Southern Cheyenne adolescent, dresses plainly, does not care for ceremonials, has no interest in warfare and coup-counting and little more in hunting. He has undergone his fast, but nobody is quite able to figure out what his dream meant. He knows he is a disappointment to his father, Elk River, to his uncle Owl Friend, who founded a warrior society, and to his older brother Two Wolves. But he cannot help what is in his heart. He wants to be a tamer of wild horses.

Elk has slipped away from his village on a lone horse-hunt, hoping to catch Bear Colt. After almost getting accidentally killed by some of his own tribesmen, he succeeds. Over the next two years Elk learns his chosen profession. He bravely warns his village of approaching Kiowa raiders and kills one with his rabbit bow. After his brother is killed, along with his entire war party, he helps to save the tribe's great talismans. He then penetrates deep into Kiowa country alone to recover and bury the remains.

This book was originally published in 1957 by The Westminster Press,^[4] and was republished in 1986 by The University of Nebraska Press.^[5] The book was also republished in German.^[6]

• Elk – Protagonist.
• Elk River – Elk's Father, headman of his band.
• Owl Friend – Elk's uncle.
• Two Wolves – Young Elk's older brother.
• Bear Colt – A black mustang with a white splotch on his side in the form of a bear.

As of 2016^[update], the film adaptation of The Horsecatcher is in development.^[7]