Wild, untamed and inspiring...
Horses are majestic creatures and deserving of our appreciation for their enduring legacy - a legacy that includes their service to our world and culture.
SOME HORSE 4-1-1
The horse's earliest known ancestor was the Dawn Horse - they were roughly the size of Labrador retrievers. They roamed North America and Europe an estimated 50 Million years ago (yes, million).
Mustang is a term that derives from the Spanish word: "Mesteno" which translates to a horse that has escaped; an ownerless and stray horse. The Mustangs (Wild Horses) that continue to run free in Nevada are believed to be descendants of the original horses brought here by Spanish explorers Coranado and DeSoto in the late 16th century.
By the early 17th century horses became crucial members of our civilization, Native American tribes and American settlers began to use horses for transportation, hauling, and as barter items.
The invention of the automobile changed our society forever - this man-made horse power greatly diminished our dependency on the mighty steed to run our daily lives and soon after they became pets and companions.
In 1897 Nevada passed a law allowing any citizen to shoot a wild horse on sight. This subject matter is the central story-line in Arthur Miller's film "The Misfits" starring Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable (his last film) and Montgomery Cliff.
VELMA BRONN JOHNSTON
Nicknamed "Wild Horse Annie" - Velma B. Johnston lobbied the government for 18 years against the cruelty towards the Mustangs. Finally in 1971 the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act passed.
A STALLION NAMED CLOUD
Numerous wild herds still roam the countryside to this day. This is a photo of a remarkable stallion named "CLOUD." Cloud is a wild stallion living in the Arrowhead mountains in Montana. His life has been documented since his birth in 1995 by Emmy award winning producer, cinematographer, writer and editor Ginger Katherns. In the PBS series called "Nature", Katherns documents the life of Cloud and other members of the wild herds in Montana.
Wanna learn more about Cloud?
Get the details here: CLOUD FOUNDATION
LEARNING FROM THE WILD
I have always felt a deep connection to horses. This is a photo of me on a horse I met when I was in Mexico. I was swimming in the ocean and he (and his owner) just swam right next to me - his name is Contento.
To this day I can not tell you why I felt I could get on this horse without a saddle, I had never ridden bareback before (or since) but I did that day and the experience changed my life. Riding Contento out of the ocean and onto the beach remains a huge defining moment for me.
When ever possible I try to spend time with horses...
when I do I always make sure to look deep into their eyes - to me its like looking into the heart of the ocean. I can't help but to marvel at their power, grace and dignity.
It struck me to my core when I heard about the fight to preserve the American treasures that are the Wild Mustangs. Unfortunately these wild herds are once again on the verge of becoming extinct and we humans are to blame.
At present there are more Mustangs in captivity than roam wild. The Bureau of Land Management - BLM - have been rounding up the remaining members of the wild herds and selling them - some end up in over-populated adoption facilities while others end up being sold to slaughterhouses in Mexico and Canada.
It is absolutely heartbreaking to watch a band of horses being broken apart but even more atrocious is the fact that most round-ups are achieved with low-flying helicopters with some herds being run to exhaustion in order to capture them.
Thankfully there are a number of Humane societies and Non-Profit Foundations working tirelessly to cease these round-ups, they are also working to protect and preserve the land for the remaining wild herds.
You can help them in their fight by becoming informed and spreading the word. For more information here are some links:
American Wild Horse Preservation
Wild Horse Education
International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros
Save The Mustang Foundation
There are some tips and links on this SITE to help you form your letter to insure you have correct, up to date information.
*** UPDATED INFO***
You can sign the following petition that my friend (and fellow animal activist) Leah Allers sent me - Thank you Leah...
http://www.petition2congress.com/3889/stop-cruel-blm-roundup-wild-horses/
And she also supplied me with the link to a young girls Facebook page - this young girl is making a huge difference. Visit her page and "LIKE" it Wild Mustang Robin's FB Page
*** UPDATE: November 7, 2013 ***
In her LA TIMES ARTICLE dated November 2, 2013 Cindy Carcamo writes:
"A federal judge gave the green light for horse slaughter to resume in the United States, perhaps as early as next week. On Friday U.S. District Judge Christina Armijo, [based in Albuquerque, New Mexico] dismissed a lawsuit by animal welfare groups that had sought to prevent [slaughtering of horses for human consumption]."
On Monday - November 4, 2013 a Denver Federal Appeals Court issued a temporary injunction halting the re-opening of a Slaughterhouse in New Mexico. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
SOME HORSE 4-1-1
The horse's earliest known ancestor was the Dawn Horse - they were roughly the size of Labrador retrievers. They roamed North America and Europe an estimated 50 Million years ago (yes, million).
Mustang is a term that derives from the Spanish word: "Mesteno" which translates to a horse that has escaped; an ownerless and stray horse. The Mustangs (Wild Horses) that continue to run free in Nevada are believed to be descendants of the original horses brought here by Spanish explorers Coranado and DeSoto in the late 16th century.
By the early 17th century horses became crucial members of our civilization, Native American tribes and American settlers began to use horses for transportation, hauling, and as barter items.
The invention of the automobile changed our society forever - this man-made horse power greatly diminished our dependency on the mighty steed to run our daily lives and soon after they became pets and companions.
In 1897 Nevada passed a law allowing any citizen to shoot a wild horse on sight. This subject matter is the central story-line in Arthur Miller's film "The Misfits" starring Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable (his last film) and Montgomery Cliff.
VELMA BRONN JOHNSTON
Nicknamed "Wild Horse Annie" - Velma B. Johnston lobbied the government for 18 years against the cruelty towards the Mustangs. Finally in 1971 the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act passed.
A STALLION NAMED CLOUD
 |
| CLOUD |
Watch Cloud: Challenge of the Stallions - Preview on PBS. See more from Nature.
Wanna learn more about Cloud?
Get the details here: CLOUD FOUNDATION
LEARNING FROM THE WILD
 |
| Velma B. Johnston with her horse and dog at her ranch. (1960 - photo credit ISPMB) |
Wild horses exude courage, honor and valor. The freedom they enjoy is inspiring. They live without limits, without borders but they do have structure - they work together as a family unit to survive and thrive.
Horses are family oriented animals and have an enormous capacity for compassion. They have very simple desires and needs: staying nourished and hydrated, to procreate, and they have a fierce determination to protect and keep their herd together.
Horses are family oriented animals and have an enormous capacity for compassion. They have very simple desires and needs: staying nourished and hydrated, to procreate, and they have a fierce determination to protect and keep their herd together.
MY CONNECTION
 |
| Me and Contento |
To this day I can not tell you why I felt I could get on this horse without a saddle, I had never ridden bareback before (or since) but I did that day and the experience changed my life. Riding Contento out of the ocean and onto the beach remains a huge defining moment for me.
A CALL FOR HELP
When ever possible I try to spend time with horses...
 |
| Me and a horse I made friends with - I was just driving by a ranch in Santa Ynez and had to stop! |
At present there are more Mustangs in captivity than roam wild. The Bureau of Land Management - BLM - have been rounding up the remaining members of the wild herds and selling them - some end up in over-populated adoption facilities while others end up being sold to slaughterhouses in Mexico and Canada.
It is absolutely heartbreaking to watch a band of horses being broken apart but even more atrocious is the fact that most round-ups are achieved with low-flying helicopters with some herds being run to exhaustion in order to capture them.
(Watch this video for more info)
You can help them in their fight by becoming informed and spreading the word. For more information here are some links:
American Wild Horse Preservation
Wild Horse Education
International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros
Save The Mustang Foundation
One way you can help...
Write your Congressional Representative and US Senators. If you do not know who your House of Representatives is you can go HERE to find out.There are some tips and links on this SITE to help you form your letter to insure you have correct, up to date information.
*** UPDATED INFO***
You can sign the following petition that my friend (and fellow animal activist) Leah Allers sent me - Thank you Leah...
http://www.petition2congress.com/3889/stop-cruel-blm-roundup-wild-horses/
And she also supplied me with the link to a young girls Facebook page - this young girl is making a huge difference. Visit her page and "LIKE" it Wild Mustang Robin's FB Page
*** UPDATE: November 7, 2013 ***
In her LA TIMES ARTICLE dated November 2, 2013 Cindy Carcamo writes:
"A federal judge gave the green light for horse slaughter to resume in the United States, perhaps as early as next week. On Friday U.S. District Judge Christina Armijo, [based in Albuquerque, New Mexico] dismissed a lawsuit by animal welfare groups that had sought to prevent [slaughtering of horses for human consumption]."
On Monday - November 4, 2013 a Denver Federal Appeals Court issued a temporary injunction halting the re-opening of a Slaughterhouse in New Mexico. READ THE FULL STORY HERE
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