Most of us are very familiar with Wild Horse Annie, the animal rights activist whose work resulted in a Nevada law to ban air and land vehicles from hunting and capturing wild horses on state land (Public Law 86-234, aka the Wild Horse Annie Act) and ultimately passage of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, which was later amended by Public Law 94-579, the  Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Public Rangelands Improvement Act. The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 allowed for the BLM to “use or contract for the use of helicopters or, for the purpose of transporting cap­tured animals, motor vehicles,” thus overriding the Wild Horse Annie Act.

Although some of Wild Horse Annie’s efforts have been erased, she proved that one person can change the world for the better at a time when women were expected to stay home and “be seen and not heard.” Her legacy continues to inspire all wild horse and burro advocates.

If you’re eager to learn more about Wild Horse Annie, be sure to check out the new book Wild Horse Annie and the Last of the Mustangs by David Cruise and Alison Griffiths. Below is a video trailer and more info about the book…

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpRvrliv3yc

Publisher’s Description: In 1950, Velma Johnston was a secretary at an insurance company in Reno, Nevada. Twenty years later, she had become a national hero, responsible for spurring Congress into passing legislation that protected wild horses, a feat that cemented her renown as “Wild Horse Annie.” This stirring biography is the first to tell the story of Johnston’s life and her extraordinary dedication to the mustangs that represent the spirit of the West.

Veteran writers David Cruise and Alison Griffiths paint a vivid portrait of this intrepid woman, who survived a cruelly disfiguring bout with polio as a child and channeled her energy and intellect into her career and marriage — until she encountered a truck of injured, half-dead horses on her way to work in 1950. Those horses, destined for a pet food rendering plant, launched Johnston into a decades-long campaign against ranchers and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to stop the roundup and slaughter of mustangs. At a time when animal rights was barely a cause and women were still expected to stay at home, Johnston embarked on dangerous vigilante missions to free captured horses and document roundups, and began a highly organized one-woman campaign to raise public awareness of their plight, all while continuing to work and maintain a household.

Johnston’s courage, determination, and innovative tactics — she initiated a children’s letter-writing campaign that flooded Congress with more mail than it had received on any issue except the Vietnam War — pitted her against ranchers and powerful politicians, but eventually won her support and admiration around the world, including the friendship of celebrated children’s author Marguerite Henry, who fictionalized her story in a children’s novel.

In this absorbing and carefully researched biography, Cruise and Griffiths depict the ups and downs of a remarkable woman’s life and mission, reveal her lasting legacy, and capture the romance and magic of the wild horses that inspired her.

More to read...

• Wild Horses: Fate on the Line
• Free the Wild Horses of Nevada
• Wild Mustangs: The Words in Their Eyes

As I watched snow storm after snow storm my heart sank in sorrow. Snow was piling up and I fell into the snow drifts up to my knees when I took my puppy outside. The whole town was shut down and there was no art class, no teen group, nothing that gave me joy each week.

But as I sat thinking, I began to think about mustangs. What were THEY doing in weather like this? I pictured a stallion, his mane heavy with snow, blinking calmly as he looked at his mares, sheltered under a few trees, digging through the snow to find food. The foals, energetic and curious at this new thing called ’snow’, galloping and kicking up their heels in glee. The peaceful sight made me sigh in joy and I realized the simple pleasures in life were enough.

I continued to picture this herd of horses with each day that passed, bringing with it another snow storm. The stallion moved his herd as far away from the deepest snow as he dared, out of his territory and comfort zone, finding a few clumps of grass here and there. The foals, ever joyful, continued to play and the mares, ever optamistic, kept digging through snow. I was sure I would have given up if I were them. It seemed like so much work just to get food. But the proud stallion wouldn’t let them give up the fight.

Mustangs can fight a blizzard. They know how to survive that. But they can’t fight being rounded up. They are afraid, so their instinct is to run. They fight the bitter cold and harsh winds, but they do not know how to fight the spiteful helicopters and the cruel BLM.

The simplest thing, just picturing a band of mustangs in the snow, or just glimpsing them from afar, can bring so MUCH joy to someone’s heart. But in a few years, there might be no mustangs left to glimpse. They will exist only in our thoughts. How horrid would that be? Will we forget that the simple things in life are what keep us going? I pray that this will never happen, for the mustangs are the spirit of freedom and joy. As they gallop across the land our hearts soar with them, as if we ourselves were free to roam. They are more majestic than an eagle, and their freedom is greater than a river’s. A river must flow on a set path, but a mustang goes where it pleases.

STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING! Save our mustangs! Don’t let us loose sight of the simple joys in life! Protect these creatures that can’t protect themselves!

More to read...

• I Am a Mustang!
• The Wild Mustang – Chapter 10
• Rejoice in Freedom

by Madelaina, age 14

With the battle for the freedom of America’s wild mustangs, I’ve read, gathered and dwelled on the many facts I came across, and the thoughts that evolved from them. So here I’ve composed a small but provoking collection of them to hopefully inform and inspire…

• BLM has claimed that the western lands which the mustangs live on can only healthily support 24, 000 horses, yet currently there are an estimated 20, 000 horses currently running wild.
• Separate, individual reviews have shown BLM estimations of the wild horse population is inaccurate to the point where they are 20, 000 over the actual number. However, BLM still plans to remove thousands of wild horses from their homes.
• Summarising from Save Our Wild Horses, “BLM is warning that the 29,000 horses left on the range could cause an ‘ecological disaster.’ ” But 30 years ago, there were many more mustangs and a federal protection was established because they were thought to be “‘fast disappearing from the range’. ”
• Taxpayers are spending money on assisting in the gather of mustangs to crowded holding facilities. Would it not be more logical to dedicate that money to building large preserves for horses where they can roam as they had before (suggested by Madeleine Pickens)?
• The mustangs, people say, are not native to America. However, the horses we know today are said to have first originated from North America 55 million years ago. After 45 million years they moved off to other continents until there were none left in America until 1519 when the Spanish brought them back as domesticated horses.
• Building off of that, there is an ongoing feud between ranchers and the mustangs whose home had been America for over 400 years since their reintroduction. People have taken the wild horses’ land, while many claim mustangs destroy their property and steal their mares. But who was here first, who has more right to this land, and who should have more reason to feel like their home is being intruded?
• Quoting from the BLM website, “the direct mortality rate resulting from helicopter-driven gathers is usually less than one percent”, yet they still classify their round-up methods as “humane”. But how is it fair to disregard those lost lives just because it is, supposedly, a small number? Considering how many horses ARE gathered, I’d say it far exceeds being a small number of deaths. No horses should be killed in the first place, especially when they are forced against their will from their homes. Would it still be humane if less than one percent of people died as they were removed from their homes? Why are people automatically thinking lowly of them just because they are horses?
• It was initially people who brought their workhorses to America, later on releasing them into the wild to mix in with the existing mustangs when machines replaced them. It is certainly not right that these undoubtedly magnificent creatures should be the ones suffering as a result of people’s past actions when they are clearly not at wrong. Farmers sent them to rough it out in the wild, and after all these years of fighting for their lives, they’ll all end up being killed anyway?
• What would happen if there were no more mustangs? No more living fragments of America’s history? No more symbols for the prospect of freedom? No more horses who are capable of inspiring millions worldwide? How can we feel we’re able to be special and different if the very animals who inspired us to do so were trapped and killed?

Although only a small collection, these facts and, later on, my thoughts were certainly enough to make me realise the unnecessary loss of freedom for these wild mustangs. Some say it’s strange and unreasonable that I’m feeling this passion for horses I’ve never seen, fighting best I can for their freedom while I’m on the other side of the world. But if that’s so, I’d gladly be a weirdo for life.

Let’s March for Wild Horses and take this opportunity to act like many horse girls, but fight as one herd.

More to read...

• When Wild Horses Roamed Free
• Mustangs on the Range
• Through the Eyes of a Horse

With so many issues hanging over our heads dealing with our beloved equines being hurt, it’s easy to feel as if there is nothing you can do. With the unwanted horses, horse slaughter, neglect of horses, and much more, it seems like no matter what we do, nothing is going to make a difference. But think about it; if you don’t do it, then who will? Sure, there are so many kind-hearted people out there helping horses, but for all the horses that need us, it’s still not enough. Some of us would love to help, but aren’t sure how. If that is the case for you, then read on.

Volunteer
If you are lucky enough to have a rescue center near where you live, then why don’t you give some of your time to help out the rescue? You’ll get to be around horses, and you’ll be helping them too! There are a lot of things to be done at rescue centers. From mucking out stalls to getting horses ready for adoption, there is something for anyone of any experience level to do. See if you have a rescue center in your area and if you do, give them a call and offer your service.

Fundraise
If there is a rescue center or charity that you know of, then you could raise money for them. You could do this by hosting lemonade stands, selling candy bars, or anything else you can think of. Be creative! Also, be sure to tell what you are raising money for, because people will be more likely to contribute if they know their money is going to a good cause.

I know that not all of us have the time or resources to volunteer or fundraise, so I also have some ideas that don’t require much other than yourself.

Educate Yourself
Learn as much as you can about what is really happening to your horses. Get the facts. The more you know about what is really going on, the better. You never know when the information you collect will come in handy.

Educate Others
If there is an issue, like horse slaughter, that really upsets you, then try to get others to support your opinion. Write them a letter or email, or just tell them in person. Give them the facts, and why you think something should be done about the issue. The more people who are aware about what is happening to horses, the more likely it is that these problems will put to an end.

These horses can’t speak for themselves, so we have to do it for them. Now is the time for horses to be treated the way they deserve. Now is the time for change. But in order for change to happen, we have to stand up for what we believe in. So get out there, and start making a difference in our beloved horses’ lives.

More to read...

• Helping Hands and Hooves
• It Will All Work Out
• Beauty and Difference

I have seen many people talk about horse slaughter on this site, and most of us believe it’s wrong. We have been tackling the entire problem of horse slaughter, and while it is important to know and understand the problem, to solve it, we will need to break it down.

Why did horse slaughter become a problem? There were too many horses. Why were there too many horses? Many reasons.

One reason is excessive breeding. While breeding your horse can produce foals that can be very successful, sometimes the foals just don’t work out for your riding discipline. When that happens, the owners sell the foal and try again. This process causes too many horses to be born. When these horses get old, the owners don’t want them anymore — they are “useless”. Then, they breed more horse to make up for the older ones they can’t use. The system is crazy. Sometimes, instead of having a horse bred, the horse that is perfect for you may be the horse for sale next door.

I learned about another reason for the overpopulation of horses and I have to say it was really shocking. I could not believe what I was reading. You can make a kind of medicine called Premarin from the urine of pregnant horses. Unfortunately in this case, pregnant mares have babies. When mares are kept pregnant all the time for their urine, that is a lot of foals. Where do you think these foals go? You guessed it- the slaughterhouse! These foals don’t even get to weaned their full six months; they only get three. After that, it’s off to unsheltered feed lots until they are killed.

You see, many people say slaughterhouses are necessary because of the overpopulation of horses. But, if you dig deeper, you will realize that the real source is our irresponsibility. When we end our selfish programs and discover better alternatives, horse slaughter will stop or at least they will have no way to defend the murder.

More to read...

• Horse Slaughter
• Your Truth About Horse Slaughter
• The Truth About Slaughter: Part I

Recently, a new point of view about horse slaughter was brought to my attention. It did not change my opinion (I still believe ALL horse slaughter should end), but it did cause me to think.

A well respected woman at my stables is in belief that we should end a horse’s life if it is in pain, or is not going to sell at an auction. She says that if we do not do it right in the US, the horses will go across the border and be slaughtered in Mexico, or Canada. I agree with the part of her statement that we should HUMANELY (key word here) kill horses that are in pain and can not live a healthy life. The rest of it I am not so sure about. She is proposing that we kill horses that are destined for death anyway, even if they have a chance of life.

As I was mulling all of this over, I thought, I wonder what my horse sisters think? So I am inviting you all to join me, and either in the comments or in a blog of your own, to write your opinion on the truth about horse slaughter. Research your answer well.

Sincerely,
Rebecca Shyly
(Horsecrazzz)

RELATED BLOGS: The Truth About Horse Slaughter: Part 1, The Truth About Horse Slaughter: Part 2

More to read...

• The Truth About Slaughter: Part I
• The Truth About Slaughter: Part II
• Horse Slaughter

The government was originally planning to send all of the wild mustangs in Nevada to livestock sales, which is the same as sending them to slaughter because families are outbid by meat dealers that sell the horses to slaughter houses. From there the meat is exported to countries that eat horse meat. That was bad, but at least families that would give these horses loving homes had a slim chance of helping. Now it has gotten worse. The government plans on simply slaughtering them all. I do not know all the details, but click here to read author and horse lover Terri Farley’s blog where she talks about what is happening. Please help! The wild horses are screaming for your help. They don’t have voices, but you do!

Below is a video I created to try and stop horse slaughter.

A NOTE FROM TERRI FARLEY: Dear GHC Angels, It’s happening and I hope you can help me get the word out. The wild horses are being betrayed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). I went to a demonstration yesterday, handed out fliers, am doing interviews, etc., to try to stop the BLM. How ironic is it that during the week of Independence Day, the BLM announces they’ve robbed the horses of their freedom, made them captives, only so they can kill them? We need to FLOOD the switchboards on Monday.

Click here for flyer with more info and the phone number. If you want to educate people about what their tax dollars are going to, feel free to print out this flyer and hand it to people, post it where it will do some good, and so on.

More to read...

• When Wild Horses Roamed Free
• REVIEW: Wild Horse Island by Terri Farley
• Important Horse Slaughter Information — You Can Help!

Most people feel proud of their pets. Saying “he’s mine” or “she belongs to me” gives you a feeling that is a wild mix I can’t describe, sort of like saying you’re the boss. But many forget who they are talking about. Dogs, cats, birds, rabbits and definitely horses have a free spirit people often underestimate. This free spirit cannot be owned.

When you ride or own a horse, basically you are accepting each other or regarding each other as family members. To ride a horse you must understand that the horse isn’t a bike but a creature with a mind, feelings and fire. At times when they misbehave you can’t blame them, but tell them to hold it back. They can’t be perfect for and obey you as would something like a bicycle, and we should all feel glad about that.

Horses are never born to be ridden or driven. They are born to either fly or live freely and be whoever they want to be. But riding and driving takes that away from them. Riding or driving a horse displays friendship, partnership and understanding, not ownership. They have a strong spirit and personalities. Being able to accept the fact that they must share their spirit and sacrifice their freedom for a person on their back is something courageous all on its own. Willing to be held down and tolerating it shows they are something more special than a ride. Because of that alone we should thank and stay true to them. Regard them as much more than a horse. Instead of saying “Rocket is my horse” try rewording that into “Rocket is a horse and he is a part of the family.”

I find it hard to look at my dogs and think “You are dogs” because from the start I’ve seen them as brothers and sisters. I’ve always seen them as a part of the family and I tell everyone that. They aren’t my dogs, they are my family. See how changing the words make a difference that actually shows the one which is more true?

Of course people might think “Yeah right, a horse for a brother! Give me a break.”But this shouldn’t be a joking matter. If you think about it, the words “my” or “mine” don’t associate with pets and animals at all. Each individual is only different in appearance and communication. Like us they don’t want to be locked up or scolded for being who they are if they are a rebel. A person can’t be owned, and they are just the same.

More to read...

• When Wild Horses Roamed Free
• Our Horseshoe Luck
• The Magic of a Mini

by Syd, age 12

We’ve all seen, heard, or read about them. The racers who never lift a hoof, jumpers who never leave the ground and ropers who never come close to catching a calf. So what becomes of them? Most go to auctions where they’re probably sold to killer buyers who take them to slaughter. A few lucky ones may wind up in loving homes but that is a one in a million chance for these poor horses. There is nothing wrong with them; they just didn’t excel at what they were bred for. But you can help!

First of all, if your lesson barn is looking for a few new horses tell them about a local auction. There are probably plenty of ex-racers or ex-show horses that would make WONDERFUL lesson horses. But be aware sometimes there is something wrong with a horse so make sure the trainers or barn owners check the horse(s) out before buying them.

Now if you don’t believe me let me name a few lesson horses at my barn that have come from the track, show ring or auctions.

Rhett – This ex-racer gelding was actually not a bad racer, but something ended his career and the Bagby’s (my barn’s owners) bought him for their daughter to event. Now he is a school horse for the more advanced jumping student.

Louie – Another ex-racer who was a total dud! Very clumsy sometimes, but good for the novice adult.

Bear – A hunter whose owners lost interest when he grew older. Now a great littler kid and western horse!

Coco – One of my personal favorites who was an excellent jumper, but then her owners sold her to someone who greatly abused her. She’s still quite skittish in bad weather, dark places or around other skittish horses, but usually a sweetheart!

Santana – A trail horse that turned bored and sour. My barn adopted him and now he’s a great beginner horse!

I could go on and on but I think you get the point! Just because a horse wasn’t a great racer or hunter or barrel horse doesn’t mean it can’t be a great lesson horse.

Another way you can help horses who don’t turn out ‘right’ is if you are looking for your own horse or know somebody who is! Don’t immediately go check out expensive breeders or high-class show stables. Try the humane society adoption center or local auctions. Sure some of these horses may be too skinny, sad faced, older, or not great looking, but with a little TLC, a few vet visits, a decent home and better food they could make a great horse for you!

And last but not least, you could foster a horse! There are plenty of adoption centers and organizations that are over populated that need some horses to go to good homes. Even if you can’t adopt one right now you or your barn could foster a horse. Now this means the horse will live at your barn until someone wants to adopt him/her. This is good for the horse because it will be in a safe stable home, getting good food, and maybe some training on things that will make it more adoptable. This is also good for another horse that the rescue center didn’t have room for until your foster horse came to live with you.

Now that you’ve learned all about horses that don’t turn out ‘right’, you know that there is no such thing. There is no perfect horse out there. Maybe a horse’s owner decided that her horse wasn’t right for HER. That definitely does not mean that horse is a bad one. It could work out for another rider.

So what are you waiting for? Go help these horses! Tell your barn about a rescue center who might have a good lesson horse. Ask your parents about fostering or adopting. DO SOMETHING PLEASE! Or the growing population of horses who don’t turn out ‘right’ will continue to grow.

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More to read...

• Horse Love and Falls

I just found out about something very important! Here is the message I received through email:

Terri Farley, author of the Phantom Stallion books, has officially joined with the Humane Society of the United States to support the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (S 311/HR 503).

On March 4 Terri will join the Humane Society in Washington DC to distribute letters to our legislators.

Please write! Letters should express how you feel about horse slaughter. Be logical, historical, persuasive or emotional. Just remember, respectful letters will get the best results! Children are encouraged to decorate their envelopes with drawings, stickers, or anything else that would make them colorful.

Educators are encouraged to share this project with their classes and parents. Need ideas? CLICK HERE!

Please mail no later than MARCH 1 to:

HEARTS FOR HORSES
316 California Avenue #1265
Reno, Nevada 89509

Questions? email FarleyTerri@aol.com or visit PhantomStallion.com

I hope you all do this! I know I will. In fact as soon as I finish writing this, I’m going to write my letter. Sorry to all who live out of the U.S. — I think this is only for people in the United States. Darn!

More to read...

• The Truth About Slaughter: Part I
• Horse Slaughter
• The Truth About Slaughter: Part II