The Wild Beauty Foundation welcomes you to the twentieth edition of our weekly newsletter!
Read the newest wild horse and burro focused headlines for the week of October 1st, 2022
From left; Kimerlee Curyl, Erik Molvar, Josselyn Wolf, Marty Irby, Edward Winters, and Ashley Avis following the Boston screening of Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West
Wild Beauty Wins Best Documentary at Boston Film Festival
The Wild Beauty Foundation is incredibly proud to announce that Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West has been awarded Best Documentary at the Boston Film Festival this past week!
WBF founders and filmmakers Ashley Avis and Edward Winters were joined by Josselyn Wolf, Marty Irby, Erik Molvar, and Kimerlee Curyl at the East coast premiere of Wild Beauty. Following the screening, they participated in an insightful question and answer session with attendants of the event.
We at WBF were delighted to bring the beauty of the western U.S. to Boston, and are honored to have come home with the award for Best Documentary at the event. We hope that the audience was touched by the story of our wild horses and now know the importance of their presence on western rangeland. This is only the beginning of an incredible journey for Wild Beauty, and we cannot be more excited to share this important documentary in more cities very soon. Be sure to keep up with www.wbf.tempurl.host regularly to find screenings near you; new locations are added often!
Please support WBF’s efforts to get Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West to as many viewers as possible. We hope to screen our documentary in as many cities as we can to share the beauty of wild horses with everyone!
We thank you, wild horses thank you.
The Wild Beauty Foundation Submits Comments to the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board
This week, WBF submitted comments to the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board for discussion in their upcoming meeting. The board is set to meet October 4-6 at the Bureau of Land Management’s National Training Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
We believe that it is important to comment and share our thoughts with the Board on improving the BLM’s wild horse and Burro program. Without collaboration between the BLM, advocacy groups, and the public, changes cannot be made to how we oversee our nation’s wild horses.
This meeting will be open to the public both in person and virtually via zoom. Join us to hear firsthand how the BLM plans to manage the future of wild horses.
Another Adoption Event at Wheatland Off-Range Facility Canceled
Yet another adoption event at the Wheatland, WY private off-range holding facility has been canceled this month. The event, scheduled for October 7th, would open Wheatland Off-Range Corral to the public and allow them access to adopting select horses at the facility. This week, though, the Bureau of Land Management marked the event as canceled on their calendar, without issuing a public statement. We call on the BLM to release pertinent information regarding the condition of horses at this facility and the reasons for the unannounced adoption event cancellations.
Horses being held in this facility are from several popular HMAs for tourists and photographers alike; Salt Wells Creek, Great Divide Basin, and Adobe Town to name a few. Horses in the Great Divide Basin HMA are a beautiful array of black and bay while Salt Wells Creek horses can be found in stunning dilutes and pinto patterns. The Adobe Town HMA sees an even more diverse collection of horses, with roans and dapple grays dotting the Wyoming landscape.
In April, this facility faced a deadly strangles outbreak, causing cancellations in scheduled adoption events. However, when events were canceled again in early August, this was even more cause for concern for wild horse advocates and supporters. At first the BLM blamed staffing shortages for April cancellations, but later it revealed the true cause was an outbreak of strangles, a highly infectious and contagious upper respiratory infection. When a similar staffing shortage excuse was given in August, the public rightly began to wonder if this was the truth.
During an inspection in June by the BLM’s Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program team, the Wheatland holding facility was found to suffer from staffing shortages, an insufficient number of pens (including inadequate “sick” pens used for caring for sick/injured animals), and a lack of proper shelter and quality hay in several pens. Ironically, the BLM gave itself a “B” grade for the conditions in its holding facilities despite these serious and fatal conditions. The findings of the CAWP team, as well as the high marks the BLM gave itself, sparked outrage among those advocating for proper care and management of our wild horses that have had their freedom taken away from them and who now languish by the thousands in crowded, filthy conditions.
Wild horse photographer and friend of WBF, Carol Walker, sent an email to the BLM in August asking for further details on this facility. In return, she was told that the horses being kept in the facility were still exhibiting signs of the infection, approximately three months after the initial outbreak.
Now, we see a third cancellation in October, once again announced without reason from the BLM. Upon hearing of the cancellations, Walker emailed the BLM. only to receive an automated response directing her to the Wheatland Off-Range Corral website. After public outcry and insistence that the BLM speak out on this matter by Walker, she received an email detailing that horses were still experiencing symptoms of strangles and they could not open the facility to the public.
Strangles, a bacterial upper respiratory infection in equines, has an incubation period of four to five days, but can be implemented as long as two weeks to ensure there is no exposure. The infection spreads in crowded conditions, inadequate housing, poor sanitation, and stress from transportation, among several other factors that are all seen in government wild horse holding facilities. This is why ending the roundups and focusing on on-range management of our wild horses is so necessary. Keeping horses out of these unsanitary and unsafe conditions is vital to their wellbeing, and would save tax dollars spent on these facilities each year.
We at WBF believe the Bureau of Land Management should be responsible for releasing a detailed public statement concerning cancellations, when they occur. In addition to this, updates should be released regularly when a facility is undergoing an outbreak of infectious disease or other illness or conditions that pose a threat to the health and safety of the horses. The public deserves to know what is happening to the wild animals that belong to each and every one of us as Americans. By holding them accountable, we can ensure that our government is following the mandates of the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act and taking the appropriate measures to ensure the health and safety of these creatures.
Contact the BLM and Urge them to Release Information on the Wheatland, WY Off-Range Holding Facility
Without input from the taxpaying public, the BLM will continue to believe it can get away with keeping the conditions in the private off-range facilities a secret. We must use our voices to stand with the wild horses, now trapped in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions. At the very least, the Bureau of Land Management must be required to release a public statement updating the American people not only on the condition of wild horses kept at a facility currently dealing with an outbreak of an infectious disease, but also on details regarding changes or cancellations of adoption events.
Every email and every phone call from a concerned citizen matters. We encourage you to contact the following BLM officials and demand that true and accurate information about the conditions of this facility and the horses be provided to the public on a regular and sustained basis. Transparency has never been the BLM’s strong suit, but the situation is clearly dire and the American people have a right to know what is happening.
You can fill out our online advocacy form by clicking the “Take Action” button below. The form has a pre-written message that can be sent as-is, though we do encourage you to customize the message to make it personal to you. Your comment will then be sent directly to the following officials.
June Wendlandt; Wild Horse and Burro Lead
jwendlan@blm.gov
307-775-6097
Andrew Archuleta; Wyoming State Director
blm_wy_state_office_wymail@blm.gov
307-775-6001
Brad Purdy; Deputy Director Communications
bpurdy@blm.gov
307-775-6328
The Cloud Foundation to Host “Born to be Wild” Western Gala
Our friends at The Cloud Foundation are hosting their annual fundraising event Saturday, October 22nd, 2022! Aiming to protect and preserve wild horses and conservation of wildlife and western rangelands, the “Born to be Wild” event will feature a night of fun, food, and music to support America’s wildness. The gala will be held at Meadow Event Park in Doswell, Virginia; tickets are on sale now until October 10th so be sure to make arrangements soon, you won’t want to miss it!
The Alpine Wild Horses from Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West
Alpine Wild Horses in Desperate Need of Adopters
The breathtaking wild horses that once roamed the Apache Sitgreaves Forest of Arizona will be up for auction this weekend, and are in critical need of secure homes. The U.S. Forest Service, which manages these horses, targeted them for removal earlier this year. Officials deemed these horses “unauthorized livestock”, despite history of horses residing in the forest for over 100 years.
Unfortunately, with many equine auctions, the possibility of suspicious buyers is quite high. This is why the Alpine horses need your help more than ever. In order to keep these beautiful symbols of freedom out of the slaughter pipeline, we need to spread the word to our equine loving friends who might be interested in giving an Alpine wild horse a safe home.
Salt River Wild Horse Management Group reached out to WBF about the Alpine horses;
“As a wild horse protection group it is the stuff our nightmares are made of. They were the picture of horse happiness in their home of abundance, where they were not hurting anyone and not costing anyone a dime. They are cherished there by the public as an amazing recreational resource. This forest is part of our public lands, set aside for all of the public of America.”
SRWHMG has worked tirelessly to document 300 of the 400 wild horses in the forest so far and has formed a local Alpine management group to maintain protection of these horses. They offer humane, cost effective solutions at no cost to the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest, and work to keep as many Alpine wild horses out of the slaughter pipeline as possible.
If you are interested in giving an Alpine wild horse refuge and loving care, you can follow this link to the auction website where you can place a virtual bid. You must pre-register for the opportunity to bid on a wild horse. Horses will be listed online Friday, September 30th and the auction will be held October 1st and 2nd, with bidding ending Monday morning. Pickup is at the Navajo County Fairgrounds in Holbrook, but delivery will likely be available for an additional cost.
We also ask anyone who stands with these wild horses to speak out on their management and request that the Alpine wild horses be managed as wild horses, not unauthorized livestock. This would allow the horses to be protected under the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, and would hold the U.S. Forest Service accountable for proper management and adoption practices. Call or email the officials below and urge them to stand with the Alpine wild horses of the Apache Sitgreaves Forest.
Apache Sitgreaves Forest Service:
Jeffrey Todd PIO
(928)235-5764
General office (928) 333-4301
(928) 333 6200
(928) 333 6280
Region3 Forest Service. (They are over the Apache Sitgreaves Forest Service.)
505-842-3292
Michiko.Martin@usda.gov
Senator Mark Kelly: 602-671-7901 / 202 224 2235 Tucson Office: 520-475-5177
Senator Kyrsten Sinema: 602-598-7327 /202-224-4521
(202) 224-3121 Capitol switchboard, you can reach any representative this way by naming your state and town.
New Report Shows More than 1,000 Wild Horses were Sent to Slaughter in the Past Two Years
In a recent investigation report by the American Wild Horse Campaign, it was revealed that at least 1,ooo wild horses had been sent to kill pens in the past 22 months alone.
It is shown that through the Adoption Incentive Program, a program constructed by the BLM that pays adopters $1,000 to take on up to four untouched wild horses, “adopters” are collecting this payment and selling the horses to middleman buyers who drop the animals in pens destined for slaughter.
Advocates urge that the Adoption Incentive Program is only incentivising those looking to make quick money off of the sale of these animals rather than finding them safe, quality homes. We at WBF support the removal of the AIP and urge the BLM to implement new adoption measures to confirm the safety and wellbeing of wild horses adopted from their care.
WBF’s 2nd Annual Short Story Contest’s Equine-Loving Celebrity Reader: Michael Gladis
Joining us this year for our Second Annual Short Story Contest as an Equine-Loving Celebrity Reader is actor Michael Gladis!
Beginning his career in New York theater, Michael later brought his passion for acting to the screen. He has starred in numerous film and television productions, though he is best known for his role as Paul Kinsey on MadMen.
Michael is an avid equestrian, and has even adopted a sweet percheron mare named Rosie. In addition to riding and spending time with Rosie, Michael volunteers with a therapeutic equine program assisting veterans and children with disabilities.
We are extremely proud to have Micael Gladis join our Short Story Contest this year, and look forward to hearing his reading of one of the selected finalists’ stories! WBF thanks him for using his voice to stand with our wild ones.
Continue writing; the deadline to enter is only a month away!
The entry deadline is October 31st, 2022 so be sure to get your stories in now so they can be considered by our wonderful panel of judges. To learn more about the short story contest or submit your story, visit our website!
Show Your Support for WBF and Wild Horses Everywhere by Shopping the Wild Beauty Boutique!
As wild horse activists, we look for any excuse to share our devotion to keeping wild horses free with those around us.
By purchasing apparel from The Wild Boutique you can not only display your love for wild horses for all to see, but benefit our work in educating others on our country’s wild beauty too!
All proceeds benefit The Wild Beauty Foundation, and our work on behalf of wild horses and our upcoming educational programs for children.
An Interview with Tara Coyote: How Comanche the Mustang Lead a Journey of Healing and Education
The Wild Beauty Foundation recently sat down with author and founder of Wind Horse Sanctuary, Tara Coyote to talk about her new children’s book, Comanche the Wild Mustang, and the healing benefits she has seen from connecting with a wild horse.
Tara is a passionate advocate for wild horses and through Wind Horse Sanctuary, teaches others the transformational healing work of equine therapy.
There is little comparable to the beauty of a glowing sunset on the range. Moments like this, captured by Tori Gange, showcase the sacredness of our untouched, wild world.
A Still from Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West
A Quote to Graze On
“This brilliant film by Ashley and Ed Winters is a game changer for the future of our iconic American wild horses whose very backs this country was built upon,”
– Marty Irby
We thank Marty for sharing his thoughtful words on Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West at Boston Film Festival this past weekend, and for continuing to be an outspoken advocate for our nation’s wild horses.
Thank you for being a supporter of wild horses, and protecting the wild beauty of our world. – The WBF Team
Are you a wild horse photographer who would like your work featured in our newsletter or social media pages?
Email a ZIP or link to your photos, along with a short written approval to hello@wbf.tempurl.host!
Join Us On Our Journey. We’d love to stand beside you.
How Comanche the wild mustang lead a journey of healing and education.
Tara Coyote with her mustang, Comanche
The Wild Beauty Foundation recently sat down with author and founder of Wind Horse Sanctuary, Tara Coyote to talk about her new children’s book, Comanche the Wild Mustang, and the healing benefits she has seen from connecting with a wild horse.
Tara is a passionate advocate for wild horses and through Wind Horse Sanctuary, teaches others the transformational healing work of equine therapy. Read our interview to learn more about Tara’s road to becoming an Equine Facilitated Learning Instructor and adopting her heart horse, Comanche, who even helped save her life during her journey with stage four breast cancer.
When did you first hear about the plight of America’s wild horses?
I had my first magical encounter with a mustang about 10 years ago. I immediately recognized that this particular horse I met was a special one. Meeting the mustang piqued my curiosity about the wild horses in general.
What about a mustang in particular makes them a great therapy horse?
Mustangs are such amazing beings. There is something about the fact that they were birthed and raised in the wild that has kept their spirit innately pure, compared to domesticated horses. It’s hard to explain the difference between a domesticated horse and one taken out of the wild, but the mustangs have a characteristic that many people can relate to during challenging times. I believe that all horses are special, but mustangs are particularly authentic to the undomesticated world of nature.
This way of being makes mustang horses able to tap into the human psyche, which is free from the patterning that a domesticated horse might have. A mustang horse is like a clear mirror for a human who is yearning for healing.
What made you want to bring Comanche’s story to the pages of a children’s book?
Comanche has an inspirational story about being taken out of the wild at one year of age from the Reno, Nevada area, being gentled by a wonderful woman, working as a therapy horse at my horse retreat center in Northern California called Wind Horse Sanctuary, then traveling 2,500 miles across the ocean to Kaua’i, Hawaii. Throughout the time I have been fortunate to be with him, he has consistently been a force of strength and healing for me, as well as a beloved horse for hundreds of people at my horse retreat center.
It was through my love of him that I realized how special wild horses are. Sadly, due to the mismanagement of wild horses in North America, future generations of children might not know what a wild mustang is. This caused me to want to speak up and inspire others to know how valuable these creatures are. It seemed like Comanche’s story would help educate people around the world that wild horses exist and that their future is in danger.
What do you hope kids (and adults!) take away from “Comanche the Wild Mustang”?
I hope both kids and adults gain an understanding that wild horses are a vitally important asset for the ecological balance of nature, a curiosity to know more about them and the motivation to take action to insure the future preservation of the mustangs!
Tara Coyote, her dog Xaria, and her horses Comanche and Blue
Tell us a little bit about Wind Horse Sanctuary.
I was trained with Linda Kohanov as an Equine Facilitated Learning teacher. Linda is the best-selling author of ‘The Tao of Equus’ and owner of Eponaquest. After my training with her, I got my first horse, Comanche and started Wind Horse Sanctuary.
WHS used to be a large retreat center in Nevada City, California where groups of up to individuals and up to ten people would come to attend private sessions, workshops, ‘Grief Rituals with Horses’ and stay on the beautiful property. When my health started going downhill, I realized I needed to move back to Kaua’i, Hawaii to heal.
Now that my health has thankfully stabilized, I still offer the Equine Facilitated Learning work, but on a much smaller scale than I did when I lived in California. Here on Kaua’i, I offer private and small group sessions for people interested in doing transformational healing work with horses.
How have horses played a part in your life during your cancer journey?
Horses have been an important part of my healing cancer journey. From the moment of my diagnosis six years ago, all of my horses have shown up in a strong healing and consistent capacity for me.
Throughout my healing journey, except when I was so ill that I was not strong enough to walk out to see them, I have taken care of two to four horses on a daily basis. This simple act of caring and tending for them is remarkably grounding, centering and profound for me.
They are mirrors of clarity to help me discern what is needed to truly take excellent care of myself. Their unconditional love, humorous antics, consistent presence and friendship has been a balm of healing for me in the hardest moments.
In a few words, how would you describe the healing powers of being in the presence of a horse?
Spending time with horses is like having a loving mirror of your soul reflected back at you. It is a peaceful, empowering and sense of returning back home to one’s true authentic self.
Do you have a personal favorite page / part of “Comanche the Wild Mustang”?
Yes! My favorite part of ‘Comanche the Wild Mustang’ kid’s book is when both horses are approaching the Hawaiian Islands for the first time, after being in a Matson shipping container for days, without any exposure to the sun or the earth. It is a colorful scene of seeing the vast tropical glory of the ancient Hawaiian volcanos, smelling the fragrance of the flowers and being thrilled to see land again!
Tara Coyote with her mustang, Comanche
How did you get connected with Comanche?
As I mentioned before, I met my first mustang horse and then realized what remarkable creatures they were. I was determined to find a similar mustang and found him through an online horse listing in the area where I lived. As soon as I went to see him, I knew he was the perfect horse for me. It was love at first sight!
Getting to know Comanche helped me realize what unique beings they are. When I started researching his background of being taken out of the wild as a yearling from Reno, Nevada, I learned about the dire reality of wild horses in North America.
What do you believe is the biggest issue facing wild horses right now?
Due to the over-grazing of the cattle and sheep industry and mining of our natural lands, wild horses are aggressively rounded up by helicopters, placed in holding pens and sold as horse meat or tragically, left to live in horrible living conditions. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was given the responsibility to care and protect them, but unfortunately are choosing profit over proper management of the wild horses.
It greatly saddens me to see family herd members split up, horses dying and living in horse prison camps. These majestic creatures deserve to be honored for the sacred beings that they are.
As wild horses are a symbol of wild and free America, you would think there would be more regard for this iconic image of our country. After all our country was founded on the back of a horse!
How educated are those living in Hawaii about the wild horse cause?
As there really are no wild horses in Hawaii, there is not that much knowledge about the issue that is happening on the mainland of North America. I also find that many people on the mainland do not know about the wild horse issue. This is one of the big reasons why I was driven to write the book about Comanche. There must be awareness about an issue for change to be made!
How can we purchase “Comanche the Wild Mustang?
‘Comanche the Wild Mustang’ is available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Wild Beauty Foundation.
Please help me spread the valuable message about the wild horses and my book by visiting your community bookstore and/or library and request for them to order a copy to have in their bookstore and/or library!
Also, be sure to check out the lovely, official Comanche the Wild Mustang apparel line!
Portions of the sale of each shirt goes to Love Wild Horses, to help support the wild mustangs. All items are made by the environmentally conscious, sustainable fashionable and comfortable clothing company Bella+Canvas and are screen-printed by a local family business right here in Kaua’i, Hawaii!
We thank Tara Coyote for being a wonderful creative force in the wild horse community and for sharing Comanche’s story with the world. Her work at Wind Horse Sanctuary is truly inspiring, and we appreciate Tara for sharing her journey with us and being a cherished friend of WBF.
‘WILD BEAUTY: MUSTANG SPIRIT OF THE WEST’ AWARDED BEST DOCUMENTARY AT THE 38TH BOSTON FILM FESTIVAL
Documentary by Director of Disney’s Black Beauty Displays Sweeping Cinematography Alongside Government Corruption Decimating Iconic Wild Horse Populations in the West
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – The 38th Boston Film Festival has announced the awards for the live event program held last week.The Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport sponsored the 2022 film festival including the closing night party at the Lifted Pool Bar.An array of topics highlighted this year’s program including comedy, suspense, drama, historical, environmental, nature and connection.
Several theaters throughout Boston hosted screenings that included three World Premiere Films and three U.S. Premieres including The Wind & the Reckoning written by John Fusco (Hidalgo) which took home 8 awards including Best Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Ensemble Cast; and Bromates from executive producer Snoop Dog which won Audience Favorite.The Opening Night Feature was Don’t Worry Darling from Producer-Director-Star Olivia Wilde.
Participants in the Question-and-Answer session that followed the film in Boston included Avis, Edward Winters, fourteen-year-old Josselyn Wolf, Marty Irby, Erik Molvar, and Kimerlee Curyl.
Taking Best Documentary award is Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West from Director-Producer-Editor Ashley Avis (Black Beauty). The film displays breathtaking cinematography of wild horses living free across vast stretches of public lands, immersing audiences into the intimate world of their closely-bonded equine families; while exposing the terrible injustices they face by the federal Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Dept. of Interior.
Avis and crew attended mass roundups, documenting terrible acts of animal cruelty, violations of the federal Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, misuse of federal tax dollars, and violations of Constitutional Rights as well as Freedom of the Press.
A still from Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West
“After four years of creating this film, I am incredibly proud to have our East Coast debut at Boston Film Festival” said Ashley Avis, founder of the Wild Beauty Foundation who directed, produced, and edited both Wild Beauty and Disney’s 2020 Black Beauty.“It is beyond time for the public to know about the astounding beauty we have in the backyard of our own country; and that wild horses and other native wildlife are being eradicated in favor of special interests.My sincere hope is that we can use our voice as storytellers to raise awareness, and correct this injustice before wild horses disappear completely.It would be a travesty for the next generation to never get to see them, the true icons of our American West.”
“The United States Government is supporting a system that is economically and ecologically unsustainable, which scapegoats wild horses and burros, leaving a number of other species and our public lands as collateral damage,” said Edward Winters, producer of Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West and president of Winterstone Pictures.“I am proud of the work our team has done and the passion with which this film was made.We all hope it raises the awareness necessary to create change.”
Ashley Avis and Edward Winters attend the Boston Film Festival screening of Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West
“Wild Beauty exposes a national scandal,” said Erik Molvar, a wildlife biologist and Executive Director of the conservation group Western Watersheds Project. “This film catches the Bureau of Land Management red-handed, removing wild horses from public lands under ’emergency’ roundups while simultaneously authorizing an ecologically unsustainable amount of cattle and sheep to be trucked into the same areas. Wild Beauty is a clarion call for fundamental land-use reforms, so public lands can start being managed for ecological sustainability and the public interest, instead of private profits.”
“This is a film that is both beautiful and alarming, as it enlightens the story of what is going on with wild mustangs in the U.S.,” said Robin Dawson, Executive Director of the Boston Film Festival.“The cinematography is spectacular and the story is told by prominent filmmaker Ashley Avis who informs her audience about a hidden program that will eliminate the existence of wild horses. We can stop this if we take action.”
“This brilliant film by Ashley and Ed Winters is a game changer for the future of our iconic American wild horses whose very backs this country was built upon,” said Marty Irby, executive director at Animal Wellness Action featured in the film who was honored in 2020 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for his work to protect horses. “For far too long the federal Bureau of Land Management’s radical assault on these magnificent creatures has gone unnoticed and unpunished but the BLM’s going to be in serious trouble when the world sees what they’ve done. Many thanks to the Boston Film Festival for their tremendous award and honors.”
From left; Erik Molvar, Marty Irby, Kimerlee Curyl, Ashley Avis, and Edward Winters on the red carpet at Boston Film Fest
“Wild Beauty weaves together the intoxicating beauty of our wild world and the horrifying realities that exist due to special interests,” said Kimerlee Curyl a wild horse photographer who was featured in the film. “May this film reach many, exposing the insanity of this issue, however still, inspiring us to care about these wild creatures and these wild places. Their existence, on the lands they call home enrich our lives and future generations, simply, by being wildly free. Protecting wildlife will forever be up to us.”
“Combining dazzling beauty, hard-nosed journalism, and passionate advocacy, Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West reveals the beauty of wild horses in their habitat as well as the corruption and cruelty they endure at the hands of our federal government to benefit the livestock industry,” said Scott Beckstead, director of campaigns at Animal Wellness Action and program director at the Wild Beauty Foundation, who was featured in the film and joined the Q&A at the Breckenridge Film Festival. “We are thrilled to see Wild Beauty honored by the Boston Film Festival and recommend the film to anyone who cares about wild animals, public lands, and responsible government.”
“This documentary is illumination,” said Josselyn Wolf, a fourteen-year-old advocate who is featured in the film, delivering a speech to Congressman Steve Cohen in Washington D.C.“This documentary is a celebration of the unfathomable wonder that exists within our Earth.And this documentary is going to mobilize our nation to prioritize democracy over plutocracy.The tidal wave of change is swelling with every revelation.I am so proud of everything this film has and will continue to accomplish.”
Wild Beauty will next screen at the Newport Beach Film Festival on October 19th and DOC LA on October 21st, followed by the Academy Award qualifying St. Louis International Film Festival and Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival in November.The film had its world premiere at Breckenridge Film Festival in Colorado earlier this month, attended by Colorado Governor Jared Polis and First Gentleman Marlon Reis.
More information about festival screenings of Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West along with The Wild Beauty Foundation can be found at: www.wbf.tempurl.host.
GOVERNOR JARED POLIS, FIRST GENTLEMAN MARLON RIES, AND A RAPT AUDIENCE RESPOND WITH A STANDING OVATION AND EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN FOR AMERICA’S WILD HORSES
A still from Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West
BRECKENRIDGE, COLORADO – Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West, the long-awaited documentary project by filmmaker Ashley Avis, opened to its world premiere at the Breckenridge Film Festival on September 18 for a large audience that included Colorado Governor Jared Polis and his husband, First Gentleman Marlon Reis, and their family. At the conclusion of the film, the audience, many of whom were visibly moved, gave the film and its makers a sustained standing ovation.
Wild Beauty features stunning cinematography of wild horses living on vast stretches of federal lands in several western states, including Colorado. The film shows herds living peacefully on their habitat and engaging in the behaviors that make them so popular with the American people. Mares caring for their newborn foals and stallions dueling for supremacy are set against stunning landscapes, evoking the strong emotional bond we feel for horses and the love we feel for our wild places.
But the film also includes footage of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) helicopter roundup operations that documents the terror and violence experienced by the animals as they are stampeded into traps to be removed from our public lands, primarily to benefit wealthy ranchers and livestock companies.
Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West cast and crew at the Wild Beauty panel at Breck Film Fest
While some of the scenes are painful to watch, Avis believes it is important to understand what is happening to the wild horses in the Western United States.
“We wanted to show a distinct juxtaposition between the sweeping beauty of wild horses, their families, and the lands they live on; along with the shocking brutality and cruelty that has befallen them,” says Avis. “The film is very immersive.Audiences get to experience the peace and quietude of nature, the profound interiority of being amongst the wild; and then they are hopefully jolted right out of their seats when that peace is shattered by low flying helicopters, rattling livestock trucks, and utterly outrageous behavior by The Bureau of Land Management.”
Avis and her crew also went undercover at a Texas livestock auction where horses, burros, and even zebras are sold to the highest bidder, with many ending up in the slaughter pipeline to be shipped to Mexico, where they are slaughtered, and their meat is sold to foreign companies.
From left; Edward Winters, Ashley Avis, and Scott Beckstead during the Wild Beauty Premiere
“The auction was one of the most disturbing scenarios that we filmed, knowing the heartbreaking fate that so many of the wild horses and burros were headed toward,” says Avis.“We hoped that by showing the grim reality of what is occurring in our own country, that we can urge Congress to finally pass a federal law to shut down the horror of the slaughter pipeline and give horses and burros the protection they rightfully deserve.”
Best known for directing Disney’s 2020 feature film, Black Beauty – a modern retelling of Anna Sewell’s classic resting on the story’s titular character being captured in a U.S. government roundup – Avis said when she began learning the truth about what is happening to America’s wild herds, she couldn’t stop with that project. She launched The Wild Beauty Foundation in 2020 to use her platform in entertainment to try to help, and also connect with children.
Following the film in Breckenridge, a panel of experts that included Avis, her production crew, experts appearing in the film, and First Gentleman Marlon Reis, spoke to the audience about the message of the movie and more details on the need to reform the federal government’s wild horse and public lands policies.
From left; Richard Avis, Scott Beckstead, First Gentleman Marlon Reis, Ashley Avis, and Kimerlee Curyl at the Breck Film Fest
“I’m all in on this issue,” proclaimed Reis, who remarked on the contrast between the beauty of the horses and the brutality of the helicopter roundups. He told the audience he believed that art has a way of fostering conversations in a way that normal policy debates cannot. Both he and Governor Polis actively worked to convince the BLM from stop the roundup of the Sand Wash Basin horses last year and the Piceance Basin horses over the summer.
The BLM conducted those operations despite those efforts and widespread public opposition, but Reis said he believes Colorado can lead the way by fostering a new working relationship between state and federal partners that reflects Colorado’s core humane values and sets a new path for the wild equine herds.
Wild Beauty screening at Breck Film Festival
Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West was next shown at The Boston Film Festival, and will be screening at DOC LA, Newport Beach Film Festival, St. Louis International Film Festival, and Fort Lauderdale Film Festival later this year. More information can be found on the Wild Beauty website.
Avis and her crew are in talks with a number of streaming platforms to begin broad public distribution of the film.
The Wild Beauty Foundation welcomes you to the nineteenth edition of our weekly newsletter!
Read the newest wild horse and burro focused headlines for the week of September 24th, 2022
From left to right; Kimerlee Curyl, Richard Avis, First Gentleman Marlon Reis, Kai Krause, Erik Molvar, Edward Winters, Ashley Avis, and Scott Beckstead during the Wild Beauty Panel at Breck Film Festival
Highlights from the Breck Film Festival
Last weekend, The Wild Beauty Foundation celebrated the World Premiere of Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West at the Breck Film Festival. We were extremely excited to show the world what we have been passionately crafting for the past four years… showing you both the spectacular beauty, as well as the shocking truth of America’s wild horses.
Edward Winters and Ashley Avis introducing Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West
We at WBF are incredibly proud to have touched so many hearts during the premiere and were honored to receive a standing ovation from the audience as the credits rolled. This is only the start of an impactful journey for Wild Beauty, and we cannot wait for the rest of the world to see both the beauty and tribulations that we captured in the American West.
Edward Winters, Ashley Avis, and Scott Beckstead during the Wild Beauty Panel
WBF would like to give an enormous thank you to Governor Polis and First Gentleman Reis for attending our world premiere!
Governor Jared Polis and Ashley Avis at the Wild Beauty Premiere
First Gentleman Marlon Reis, Scott Beckstead, and Ashley Avis at the Wild Beauty Premiere
After the screening, Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West cast and crew held a Q and A panel for those in attendance. We at WBF were proud to have First Gentleman Marlon Reis speak during the panel and offer his support for protecting our wild world and standing with wild horses; both in the state of Colorado, and the country as a whole. We are so grateful to Polis and Reis for joining us last weekend as special guests and hope that their support brings lasting change to the state of Colorado’s wild horse management.
This weekend, we will be hosting our East coast premiere of Wild Beauty at the Boston Film Festival! We look forward to showing the northeast U.S. the elegance and freedom that our wild horses deserve.
Keep an eye on our blog this week for a full recap on Wild Beauty’s debut!
Please support WBF’s efforts to get Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West to as many viewers as possible. We hope to screen our documentary in as many cities as we can to share the beauty of wild horses with everyone!
We thank you, wild horses thank you.
Colorado Elementary School Writes Letters to Lawmakers on Behalf of Wild Horses
WBF founders and filmmakers behind Wild Beauty; Mustang Spirit of the West, Ashley Avis and Edward Winters visited Upper Blue Elementary in Breckenridge, Colorado to teach children about our nation’s wild horses.
After the premiere of Wild Beauty at Breck Film Festival, Ashley and Ed were invited to the Breckenridge elementary school by a local advocate, to guide students in a letter writing campaign on behalf of wild horses. Students chose a lawmaker to write directly to, asking them to stand with our wild horses and stop helicopter roundups.
We at WBF were extremely proud that 80 students used their voice to stand with the voiceless equines of our country and their own state. We hope that lawmakers see the impact that wild horses have on our school age children and the importance of keeping wild horses free so that the upcoming generations can experience their beauty and strength.
If you have been involved in the fight to protect horses, you know that the fight to end horse slaughter and put an end to the slaughter pipeline has long been the “holy grail” of equine advocacy. That’s why it pains us to report that the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, which enjoyed broad, bipartisan support from a majority of US House members, has been killed due primarily to opposition from two veterinary groups, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP).
These groups betray their allegiance to the most abusive elements in the equine industry, rather than the horses themselves or the 80 percent of Americans who strongly oppose the slaughter of American horses for human consumption in foreign countries. We urge all of you, especially those who own horses, to reach out to your veterinarians and veterinary medicine contacts to call or email the AVMA and AAEP to register their support for an end to horse slaughter and to urge these groups to start standing for horses, not the kill buyers who prey on our beloved equine companions.
On a more positive note, Congress has moved the Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act to finally bring an end to the horrendous practice of “soring” of Tennessee Walking Horses, where trainers and exhibitors intentionally cause intense pain to the front feet and legs of show horses to produce an exaggerated show ring gait known as the “Big Lick.”
Although a federal law passed decades ago is supposed to stop soring, the law has been plagued by an entrenched show horse industry that places blue ribbons above their concern for the horses. The PAST Act will stop counting on those who engage in soring to police themselves, and instead impose serious penalties on anyone who continues this abusive practice.
Please call your members of Congress at 202-224-3121 and urge them to support the PAST Act to put an end to the abusive practice of horse soring.
A Still from Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West
Scott Beckstead Educates on the Protection of Wild Horses
Wild Beauty Foundation team member Scott Beckstead voiced his opinions to the press this week on why wild horses deserve to remain free on western rangeland. Beckstead brings to bear his background as one who was raised with horses and livestock, and his special expertise in animal and wildlife law in arguing that our American wild horses are being used as scapegoats for public land damage caused by private livestock overgrazing and that it is cattle and sheep, not wild horses, that the American people want removed from our public lands.
“It’s time to reject the BLM’s false narrative that wild horses harm public lands and embrace an approach that truly protects them. Wild horses and burros belong right where they are.” Beckstead says.
Celebrate National Public Lands Day by Standing with Wild Horses
Saturday, September 24th is National Public Lands day, and to celebrate we want you to share a favorite memory that you’ve experienced on public lands!
Whether it was photographing a band of wild horses, camping under the stars, or experiencing a magical connection with nature, we want to hear how you enjoy public lands.
Wild horses call these public lands home, and without advocacy for the beauty and preservation of these lands, they are at risk of loosing it to livestock ranchers, oil miners, and large cooperations that aim to exploit our lands for profit.
Stand with our greater wild world by sharing your appreciation for public lands and join our #IStandWithWildHorses campaign!
WBF’s 2nd Annual Short Story Contest’s Equine-Loving Celebrity Reader: Beth Behrs
Returning as an Equine-Loving Celebrity Reader for our Second Annual Short Story Contest is actor Beth Behrs!
Best known for her roles as The Neighborhood’s, Gemma Johnson and Caroline on 2 Broke Girls, Beth has graced TV screens across the country since her breakout role in 2011. She currently hosts her own podcast, Harmonics, where she discusses creativity, healing, and wellness.
In addition to her work on popular sitcoms, Beth spends her time with her rescue horse, Belle. Since adopting Belle, Beth has become a passionate activist for equine welfare and protection. She has lended her voice to several equine organizations including WBF, and we are very appreciative to have her participate in our Short Story Contest for a second year.
Continue writing your stories!
The deadline to enter is October 31st, 2022 so be sure to get your stories in soon so they can be considered by our wonderful panel of judges. To learn more about the short story contest or submit your story, visit our website!
Updates on the Cedar Mountain and Calico Complex Roundups
Two significant roundups are ongoing in Utah and Nevada. As roundup season begins to die down, we mourn the loss of freedom that so many of our wild ones are facing.
The Cedar Mountain wild horses of Utah continue to be driven by low flying helicopters as the BLM attempts to suppress the HMA to a population of as few as 190 horses. The BLM has already captured 377 of the 700 wild horses they plan to roundup. So far, the BLM reported that there has been one euthanization of a 20+ year old stallion due to blindness. The beautiful horses within this HMA can be found in almost every color and pattern, making it a popular location for photographers and tourists. With the HMA being reduced to extremely low numbers, the genetics of the herd are at risk of becoming unsustainable, and the future of the herd’s unique horses are in danger.
In the Nevada Calico Complex, wild horses enter the second week of the BLM’s helicopter descent. As of September 22nd, the BLM reports that 639 wild horses have already been rounded up. This is only a little more than half of the approximate 1,000 wild horses the BLM plans to remove. At this time, 17 horses have already lost their lives for reasons such as blindness or preexisting injuries that they would have continued to prosper with if living free on the range. There are several wild horse advocacy groups on the ground in this HMA, capturing first hand accounts on the treatment of wild horses during the roundup efforts. Captured horses are set to be sent to Indian Lakes Off Range holding facility, which has come under fire in past years for mass deaths of wild horses in their care.
We at WBF call for a halt in helicopter roundups, an inhumane management method that causes immense stress and injury risk to wild horses that the BLM claims to protect. By implementing safe and effective management solutions backed by scientific research, we can aim to preserve the beauty of our wild horses for generations to come.
Sandy Sharkey’s intimate photo of a Utah mare and foal pair spotlights the deep family bonds that wild horses create, further proving horses and humans are more alike than they seem.
A Still from Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West
A Quote to Graze On
“He found himself wondering at times, especially in the autumn,
about the wild lands, and strange visions of mountains
that he had never seen came into his dreams.”
– J. R. R. Tolkien
As we venture into the cooling autumn air, take in the wildness around you and use its artistry as inspiration for your next creative journey.
Thank you for being a supporter of wild horses, and protecting the wild beauty of our world. – The WBF Team
Are you a wild horse photographer who would like your work featured in our newsletter or social media pages?
Email a ZIP or link to your photos, along with a short written approval to hello@wbf.tempurl.host!
Join Us On Our Journey. We’d love to stand beside you.
The Wild Beauty Foundation welcomes you to the eighteenth edition of our weekly newsletter!
Read the newest wild horse and burro focused headlines for the week of September 17th, 2022
Happening Now: Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West World Premiere
We are extremely excited to be in Breckenridge, Colorado at the World Premiere of our documentary, Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West! Our film is premiering officially at Breck Film Festival on Sunday, September 18th at 2:30 pm at the Riverwalk Center.
Join us afterward for a panel featuring filmmakers Ashley Avis and Edward Winters as well as cast members Kimerlee Curyl and Erik Molvar. The panel will be moderated by cast member and program director, Scott Beckstead. Additionally, children (and adults!) are encouraged to write a letter for our letter-writing campaign showing your support for wild horses.
There are so many exciting surprises in store for this weekend, and we can’t wait to share them with you as we bring Wild Beauty to the world stage for the very first time!
Wild Beauty’s next stops on the festival circuit are Boston Film Festival on September 23rd, followed by Newport Beach Film festival and Fort Lauderdale International Film Festivals in October and November. Be sure to follow our social media and the documentary film page to see if our documentary will be screening in a city near you! We would love for you to experience this incredibly special film on the silver screen!
In a last-minute decision by the BLM, the Cedar Mountain HMA was scheduled for a major roundup of approximately 700 wild horses. Cedar Mountain wild horses can be found in a variety of colors with dominance on black and bays. There are also several flashy pintos within this herd that are a favorite for photographers and wild horse watchers alike.
The roundup is set to begin this Saturday, September 17th, and be conducted by helicopter drive methods. According to the BLM’s roundup page, the HMA’s population will be reduced to the “low- to mid-Appropriate Management Level.” This means that there will be as few as 190 wild horses left on these lands after this week’s roundup.
Utah’s Cedar Mountain HMA contains more than 211,000 acres with a little more than 197,000 acres being BLM-managed land. This is more than enough land for a modest 390 wild horses, at most, to roam free.
Unusually, the BLM will not be allowing public viewing on the first two days of the roundup. We at WBF believe this is problematic and the BLM should not be authorized to deny visitation on public lands. Without public witnesses, the BLM cannot be held accountable for any failures to policy or inhumane treatment of the public’s wild horses.
In addition to administering Population Growth Suppression vaccines and IUDs, some horses will be equipped with GPS tracking devices via collars or tags. This is something that has not been seen often in BLM management and little is known as to why they are implementing this technology on the range.
Reward Increases for Information in Wild Horse Shooting Investigation
Late last year, five wild horses were found fatally shot in Eastern Nevada. The BLM is looking for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for these awful actions. The horses were found within 600 yards of each other within a few miles of U.S. Highway 50.
Now, the American Wild Horse Campaign has matched the BLM’s initial reward of $5,000 for information, with the total reward becoming $10,000. We hope that the individual(s) responsible for these terrible actions are found and no additional horses will become victims of their crimes.
A still from Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West
This Week’s Calls To Action
Show Your Support by Joining the “I Stand with Wild Horses” Campaign
The Wild Beauty Foundation’s “I Stand with Wild Horses” campaign aims to unite wild horse advocates to be a voice for our greater wild world. By joining this creative campaign, you can share your support for wild horses with your friends who might not know they are fighting for freedom in our country.
Step 1.
Write the words “I Stand With Wild Horses” on a piece of paper, or on another creative surface like cardboard, asphalt, or glass.
Step 2.
Take a photo with the words, and your face, in the shot!
Step 3.
Post your photo to social media with the hashtags below!
We can’t wait to see your creative activism and thank you for standing with our wild horses.
WBF’s 2nd Annual Short Story Contest’s Equine-Loving Celebrity Reader: Graham Wardle
Joining us this year for our Second Annual Short Story Contest as an Equine-Loving Celebrity Reader is actor, Graham Wardle!
Raised in West Minster, British Columbia, Wardle began his acting journey at the age of 6. Landing his first acting role at 12, he continued to appear in TV shows such as The Outer Limits, Life as we Know it, and Supernatural throughout his career. Wardle graduated from the Motion Picture and Production Program at Capilano University in Vancouver in 2007. The same year, he booked a leading role as Ty Borden on CBC’s family drama, Heartland, where he has played the equine-loving character for 14 years. Now, Wardle produces his own podcast, “Time Has Come”.
We are delighted to have Graham read one of our winners’ amazing short stories this year and thank him for lending his voice to the wild horse cause!
Keep writing your stories!
The deadline to enter is October 31st, 2022 so be sure to get your stories in soon so they can be considered by our wonderful panel of judges. To learn more about the short story contest or submit your story, visit our website!
Check Out The Wild Beauty Boutique!
Take home a memento from the Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West documentary journey with this selection from our “Treasures from the Journey” collection.
“Handcrafted by a local artist on our journey, this piece of wall art seamlessly captures the color, power, and spirit of the wild. Three rust-textured metal horses gallop in the foreground, with the silhouettes of their brothers, sisters, and family running behind them in the distance. A wonderful addition to any room, it’s almost as if this piece was captured from a moment directly from the wild planes where the horses roam free.” (Wild Horse Wall Art Runner)
All proceeds benefit The Wild Beauty Foundation and our work on behalf of wild horses and our upcoming educational programs for children.
Are you a wild horse photographer who would like your work featured in our newsletter or social media pages?
Email a ZIP or link to your photos, along with a short written approval to hello@wbf.tempurl.host!
Join Us On Our Journey. We’d love to stand beside you.
Mark your calendars; next Sunday, September 18th, the world premiere of our documentary Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West kicks off at the Breckenridge Film Festival in Colorado!
Join us at 2:30 PM in the Eclipse Theatre to be one of the first to view our film on the big screen. Be swept into an immersive experience of beauty and wildness as we follow the story of America’s wild horses; you won’t want to miss it.
Wild Beauty’s next stops on the festival circuit are Boston Film Festival on September 23rd, followed by Newport Beach Film festival and Fort Lauderdale International Film Festivals in October and November. Be sure to follow our social media and the documentary film page to see if our documentary will be screening in a city near you!
BLM Targets Iconic and Beloved South Steens Horses with Mass Removal
The Bureau of Land Management will begin the helicopter roundup of one of the nation’s most colorful and robust herds, the South Steens horses of eastern Oregon. Famous for their splashy colors and outstanding physical conformation, the South Steens horses are a favorite of advocates, tourists, and photographers around the world.
According to the BLM, the operation, which begins on September 10, will remove approximately 500 horses, returning approximately 50 to the range, including up to 25 mares treated with Zonastat-H fertility control. This will leave approximately 780 horses on the range. The agency claims the operation is necessary to prevent “undue or unnecessary degradation of the public lands,” yet there is no mention of the impacts of livestock grazing on the HMA. The management plan for the South Steens horses was written back in 2015 and has not been updated to allow for changes in herd and range conditions, and it specifically excludes the removal of livestock as an HMA management option.
We appreciateSave Our Wild Horses for sharing the below graphics with us. These detailed fact sheets can tell you more about what is happening in the South Steens HMA.
Three Re-Appointments to the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Announced
This week, the BLM announced three reappointments to the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board. This comes just less than a month before the advisory board is set to hold a meeting presenting recommendations on how to manage our nation’s wild horses and burros. These members will serve another three-year term on the board and work alongside the BLM to develop management techniques for the animals.
The first member reappointed to her second term is Ms. Celeste Carlisle. Carlisle’s position on the board is in the category of Wild Horse and Burro Advocacy. According to the BLM’s press release, Carlisle has “more than 10 years of field biology and equine management experience, and currently serves as the Biologist and Science Program Manager for the wild horse sanctuary and advocacy organization Return to Freedom.” In addition to this, Carlisle has a B.S. in equine animal science from Oregon State University and a B.A. in biology from the University of California.
While we at WBF are encouraged to see the wild horse and burro advocacy position filled by a group with a focus on wild horse advocacy, we hope the BLM will eventually appoint a representative from a wild horse advocacy group that didn’t play a part in the creation of the “Path Forward,” the policy document that supports the agency’s current campaign of mass removals and incarceration. WBF feels that the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board needs to include advocates who support the humane management of wild equines on the range that doesn’t include removing them to accommodate commercial livestock. We encourage advocates with expertise in wild horses and public lands, and who are committed to on-range solutions, to continue seeking appointments to the Advisory Board.
The second reappointment, also serving his second term, is Dr. Thomas Lenz. The press release states that Dr. Lenz has worked for over 40 years as an equine practitioner and is a leading expert in the field of equine sciences. He is also the founding chair of the Unwanted Horse Coalition. Lenz will be serving in the category of equine medicine. We are concerned with Dr. Lenz’s many years of supporting the slaughter of horses and his continued opposition to the SAFE Act, which would protect American equines from being sold for slaughter in foreign meat plants for human consumption abroad.
The final reappointment is Dr. Barry Perryman, a member also serving his second term in the category of public interest. The BLM release describes Perryman as “an accomplished writer and passionate advocate for responsible management of public lands. He teaches Rangeland Ecology and Management at the University of Nevada-Reno where he serves as the Department Chair for Agriculture, Veterinary and Rangeland Sciences, College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources. Perryman has earned a Ph.D. and a M.S. in Rangeland Ecology and Management from the University of Wyoming, and a B.S. in Agronomy from Abilene Christian University.” Dr. Perryman is a vocal proponent of the mindset that labels wild horses and burros as “feral” and “invasive,” and for mass roundups to accommodate cattle and sheep.
Submit Your Public Comments to the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board
The BLM will open public comments in person and virtually via Zoom during next month’s meeting of the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board. The live comment schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, October 4, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. PT
Wednesday, October 5, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. PT
Thursday, October 6, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. PT
WBF’s 2nd Annual Short Story Contest’s Equine-Loving Celebrity Reader: Alisha Newton
WBF is proud to announce that actor, Alisha Newton, will be joining us for the first time as a Celebrity Reader for our Second Annual Short Story Contest!
Alisha Newton is best known for her role as Georgie on CBC’s hit equine drama, Heartland. Newton appeared in film and television in her youth before booking a lead in the well-established series at the age of 10. Since then, she has starred in “The Tree that Saved Christmas”, “When Calls the Heart”, and “The Hollow”, among several more upcoming projects.
Alisha grew up around horses, and her time on the film set only amplified her horse girl bug. She has become an avid equestrian since joining Heartland and currently competes in show jumping events in Canada and the United States during her time off. She trains throughout the year with her two horses, Aflame and Diva, who she has formed amazing bonds with.
We are so happy to have Newton read one of the brilliantly written stories by our winners this year!
Keep writing your stories!
The deadline to enter is October 31st, 2022 so be sure to get your stories in by then so they can be considered by our wonderful panel of judges. To learn more about the short story contest or submit your story, visit our website!
In Humboldt County, Nevada another large-scale helicopter roundup is set to begin this weekend. The Calico Complex, made up of the Black Rock Range, Calico Mountains, Granite Range McGee Mountain, and Warm Springs Canyon Herd Management Areas, accounts for over 580,000 acres of public land allocated for wild horses.
According to the BLM’s “Appropriate Management Levels” the total number of horses in the complex should be no more than 952. With four HMAs included in this complex, that leaves each one with an extremely low population number of approximately 230 wild horses. Due to these low, and scientifically unproven AMLs, the BLM plans to round up a whopping 1,076 wild horses and release only 40 mares back into the wild after fertility control treatment.
While reciting the same, repeated script to justify each roundup the BLM announced that they will begin the helicopter drive on or about Saturday, September 10th, 2022.
This is yet another failure of our government officials to grant wild horses the protection they deserve. We support transparency for the management processes that the BLM implements and urge the community to stand with wild horses and condemn the use of low-flying helicopters in wild horse and burro management.
BLM to Round Up Wild Horses from Oregon Private Property
This week, the Bureau of Land Management announced plans to conduct a bait and trap gathering of wild horses off private property adjacent to the Pokegama HMA.
According to the press release, a private landowner requested their removal after they had ventured off of public HMA land. At this time, there is no estimate to how many horses are set to be removed. The BLM claims that the Appropriate Management Level for the HMA is 30-50 horses, despite an already low population of 230 horses currently living on the land.
The Pokegama herd are forest-dwelling horses with distinct and unique physical adaptations that make them unlike any other herd in the country. In the past, Pokegama horses removed by the government were highly sought-after by mustang enthusiasts in Germany. The danger of ongoing removals is that the Pokegama herd will be so severely reduced in number that their genetic viability will be jeopardized.
While they do not plan to use helicopter methods to round up these horses, any complete removal of wild horses from these lands could be potentially damaging to the population of the herd in the neighboring HMA. If possible, we believe these animals should be relocated back into the HMA to prevent overcrowding in holding facilities and give the horses another chance at freedom.
The Wild Beauty Foundation is delighted to announce the launch of our very own online shop, the Wild Beauty Boutique! All proceeds benefit The Wild Beauty Foundation, and our work on behalf of wild horses and our upcoming educational programs for children.
Browse our new selection of wild horse-themed apparel, home goods, and accessories while protecting, preserving, and supporting wild horses in the process.
Show your support of our foundation by proudly wearing our official WBF shirts. You’ll be able to represent WBF every day of the week!
Ready to go out onto the range? Pour a cup of coffee in our “Out Search for Wild Horses” camping mug and experience the beauty of our wild world for yourself! The Wild Beauty Boutique also has a variety of exciting home goods and accessories. From doormats, cutting boards, phone cases and more.
Take home a little piece of our WILD BEAUTY: Mustang Spirit of the West documentary by shopping our “Treasures from the Journey” collection. These unique, one-of-a-kind pieces were collected from small roadside shops and antique stores as we traveled around the country during filming.
By shopping at the Wild Beauty Boutique, you are helping to save a wild horse from a life in a holding facility, help a wild mustang to stay wild, and push an overall campaign to end the helicopter roundups once and for all. We at WBF thank you for your continued strength in standing with wild horses.
Keep an eye out for special discounts and offers included in upcoming newsletters!
This stunning image of a Wyoming wild horse by Kimerlee Curyl empowers us to rise against injustice and stand by our equine friends to create significant change.
henrydallalphotography/PA Wire/Shutterstock
A Quote to Graze On
“When life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat;
instead, they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future.”
– Queen Elizabeth II
Wise words from Queen Elizabeth II as we at WBF mourn the loss of a passionate horse lover and advocate for equine welfare.
Thank you for being a supporter of wild horses, and protecting the wild beauty of our world. – The WBF Team
Are you a wild horse photographer who would like your work featured in our newsletter or social media pages?
Email a ZIP or link to your photos, along with a short written approval to hello@wbf.tempurl.host!
Join Us On Our Journey. We’d love to stand beside you.
Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West – Official Teaser
The Wild Beauty Foundation is proud to announce that the teaser for the upcoming documentary by filmmaker and WBF founder, Ashley Avis, has officially debuted!
After four years in the making, WILD BEAUTY will have its world premiere on the festival circuit this fall.
Get swept up into the world of the wild ones. Through this cinematically stunning, immersive experience, viewers are led through the experience of being out on the range, and quite literally amongst a herd of galloping horses. Our innovative footage of mustangs— eliciting their joys, families, hardships and plight— will take your breath away.
Through WILD BEAUTY, we are hoping to raise a new, unprecedented awareness for the wild horses of today. Bringing these animals to the world stage will allow their voices to be heard, and encourage changes to be made in maintaining their protection.
We cannot wait to show you a glimpse of the breathtaking story of wildness that we have been inspired to tell.
Join us for the World Premiere of Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West at Breckenridge Film Festival on September 18th, 2022 and Boston Film Festival on September 23rd.
More festival dates are to be announced soon, so keep your eyes on our WBF social media pages to see if our documentary is screening at a festival near you!
Scott Beckstead Educates on the BLM’s Inhumane Roundup Plan
We announced in last week’s newsletter that Scott Beckstead, a lifelong horseman, equine expert, and animal advocate had joined the WBF team as Program Director for some very exciting future projects.
Beckstead has been outspoken about the inhumane practices that the BLM implements during wild horse roundups in the past. Recently, he published an article in the Colorado Sun about the violence these horses are subjected to during government helicopter roundups in an effort to educate Colorado locals to stand with their state’s wild beauties.
“Sadly, as has become brutally clear with each roundup, the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program is little more than window dressing meant to convince the taxpayers that our wild equines are treated with kindness and respect,” Beckstead says.
We at WBF thank Scott for educating the public on the plight of the wild ones and advocating for change within the management system.
Triple B Complex Mares Treated with Fertility Control to be Released
After the Triple B roundup outside of Ely, Nevada concluded last week, 50 mares were taken to a holding facility to be treated with equine contraceptive, GonaCon. According to a press release by the BLM, these mares will be treated with the vaccine this week and remain in holding until their second dose approximately 30 days later.
The BLM estimates that these mares will be released back into the Triple B Complex around October 20, 2022. They encourage the public to view the release.
While it is comforting to know that these mares will be able to reclaim their freedom on the lands of the Triple B Complex, their bonded families were likely broken apart during the extensive helicopter roundups of last month. Now, these mares will heartbreakingly search for their lost family members and face the challenges of bringing social structure to the broken herds.
In addition to this, the contraceptive of choice by the BLM is GonaCon. Studies have shown that this hormone blocking GnRH impacts natural wild horse social behavioral structures and data has been found that proves GonaCon breaks down ovaries, leaving mares chemically sterilized after only 2 injections.
We at WBF believe that natural predation is the most effective population management solution. This is why we cannot eradicate predatory species in our country, for any shift in the food web can lead to an imbalance. Until this is achieved, this is why we feel that the BLM should only implement fertility control that is scientifically proven to be reversible.
This Week’s Calls To Action
Share the Wild Beauty Teaser
We at WBF aim to spread as much awareness as we can about the wild horse cause. By sharing theWild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West teaser with your friends on social media, we can reach new audiences and inspire them to stand with wild horses too. You can share this teaser directly from our WBF social media pages, or by forwarding this newsletter to your equine-loving friends. We thank you for advocating on behalf of the beauty of these magnificent animals.
Submit a Public Comment to the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Meeting
The BLM released a statement this week announcing an upcoming meeting of the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board. The board will meet October 4-6 at the Bureau of Land Management’s National Training Center in Phoenix, Arizona to discuss management responsibilities under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. Although many view the Advisory Board as a livestock industry mouthpiece (only one of the nine Board positions is allocated to horse advocates), we believe it is nevertheless important for advocates to comment and share their thoughts with the Board on improving the BLM’s wild horse and burro program.
During the meeting of the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board, the BLM will open public comments in person and virtually via Zoom. The comment schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, October 4, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. PT
Wednesday, October 5, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. PT
Thursday, October 6, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. PT
Iain Glen as John Manly in Black Beauty for Disney+
WBF’s 2nd Annual Short Story Contest’s Equine-Loving Celebrity Reader: Iain Glen
WBF is proud to announce that actor, Iain Glen, will be joining us again as a Celebrity Reader for our Second Annual Short Story Contest!
Leaving the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1985, having won the prestigious Bancroft Gold Medal, Iain immediately rose to prominence with his acclaimed performance as a charismatic gang leader in The Fear for Euston Films. Followed by his multi-award-winning tour de force as imprisoned Scottish poet Larry Winters in Silent Scream he was set for a rich and varied career. Few actors have managed to maintain a balance between stage and screen and achieved such success in both.
Iain has been described as “The greatest Scottish theater actor of his generation.” His many award-winning performances include Henry V and The Crucible at the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Blue Room in the West End and on Broadway, and more recently Uncle Vanya.
Iain stars as the horse whisperer, John Manly, in Black Beauty for Disney+.
Some of his many acting credits include Game of Thrones, Resident Evil, Downton Abbey, and Jack Taylor.
We are so happy to have Glen read another brilliantly written story by one of our winners again this year!
Start writing your stories now!
The deadline to enter is October 31st, 2022 so be sure to get your stories in by then so they can be considered by our wonderful panel of judges. To learn more about the short story contest or submit your story, visit our website!
Chad Hanson Asks Wyoming to Evaluate the BLM’s Wild Horse Management
Author, professor, and photographer, Chad Hanson wrote to the WyoFile this week, advocating on behalf of wild horses to denounce the systematic removal of wild horses. Hanson is co-founder of the Wyoming Mustang Institute which works to maintain a stable population of wild horses on public lands.
“Here we are in the third decade of the 21st century, and the federal agency charged with protecting wild horses is still working to eliminate them from their habitat. We still find our public lands perennially damaged by livestock and the effects of overgrazing. In some ways, very little has changed since the 1970s” says Hanson.
Chad’s full article can be found here. We thank him for prompting the officials of Wyoming to look into BLM’s management within their state and for educating locals on how they can stand with these beautiful creatures.
Additionally, Chad Hanson has recently published an inspiring book titled “In a Land of Awe: Finding Reverence in the Search for Wild Horses” which is set to be released on September 13th, 2022.
WBF had the pleasure of reading Hanson’s book before the official release and we encourage everyone who is passionate about the wild horse fight to pick up their own copy.
“Hanson’s elegantly crafted tales of his own discovery of wild horses will strike the hearts of those who have been lucky to experience the force of a wild horse as well as those who dream to do so. With a background in Sociology, Hanson dives deep into the purpose of wild horses, both in their ecosystem and the realm of human imagination. We cannot bear to lose these magnificent symbols of wildness.
There is something for everyone in this book; lessons learned from the ways of wild horses, stunning imagery of hoofbeats pounding the arid landscape, and a journey through the life of a symbol of America’s freedom.
Hanson’s delicate, yet informative approach to the plight of our nation’s mustangs will never be forgotten. His words resonate with you long after you set down the book. Hanson proves that we can learn much about ourselves and how to break the cycle of inhumanity by simply watching the ways of a wild horse.”
– The Wild Beauty Foundation
***
“Free-roaming bands of mustangs remind us that this country of ours is still wild, and thus, we are at least a little wild too. A band of wild horses on a stretch of our grasslands act like a stained-glass window, bending and giving color to the light of creation’. ~ Chad Hanson, ‘In a Land of Awe: Finding Reverence in the Search for Wild Horses’.
Why does the sight of wild horses resonate so deeply into our souls? What is it about these free spirits that give us pause to reflect on our own lives, and re-ignite the free spirit that exists in all of us? In his beautifully written book ‘In a Land of Awe’, sociologist Chad Hanson details his life-changing encounter with wild horses and delves into the importance of their purpose not only on the landscape, but as rugged symbols of what we stand to lose if we abandon our connection to wild spaces.
I loved this book. Running across desert flats and mountain ridges, wild horses belong to no one and to everyone. Despite mankind’s efforts, they fit no category. Hanson bridges the complicated history of the wild horses’ rightful place on public lands, and the commercial industries that want them eradicated.
In his search for wild horses, Hanson found his sense of awe. His book not only examines our feelings towards wild animals, it examines the way we feel about ourselves when we are immersed in their world. ‘In a Land of Awe’ is a compelling, important read that will not only reinforce our need to protect America’s last wild mustangs, it will remind us that in doing so, we will restore our faith in decency, compassion, humanity, and the intrinsic value of wild spaces and wild animals for future generations.”
-Sandy Sharkey
Chad Hanson’s “In a Land of Awe: Finding Reverence in the Search for Wild Horses” officially releases Sept 13th,but you can pre-order now on Amazon.
Are you a wild horse photographer who would like your work featured in our newsletter or social media pages?
Email a ZIP or link to your photos, along with a short written approval to hello@wbf.tempurl.host!
Join Us On Our Journey. We’d love to stand beside you.
The Blawn Wash and Bible Springs roundup concluded on August 20th after a two-week helicopter drive. According to an official report, the BLM was cut short of their targeted removal number of 410 wild horses, instead rounding up 305 animals. WBF is encouraged to hear that more than 100 wild horses, who were destined to be stripped of their freedom, were able to avoid the helicopters for now. Thankfully, no horses were injured during this roundup and there was only one euthanasia due to supposed blindness.
The removed horses have been shipped to the Axtell Off-Range Holding Facility in Utah where they will remain in crowded, unsanitary pens until, WBF hopes, they are adopted by reliable buyers. Unfortunately, not all wild horses who are rounded up are lucky enough to be given a safe and caring home. Many end up in neglectful hands or are cruelly abandoned at kill pens; destined for the slaughter pipeline. Some horses in holding may never see outside of the facility grounds.
According to first-hand accounts of wild horse advocates on the scene, the foaling season was not yet over in this HMA and there were several newborn foals and heavily pregnant mares involved in this roundup. We at WBF believe that these types of roundups should not occur during foaling season or when there are very young foals on the ground. The high temperatures of the summer months paired with exhaustion from being run for miles across the range can cause extreme injuries, potentially leading to fatality.
Fortunately, the contractors responsible for this roundup seemed to follow most animal welfare policies according to witnesses, resulting in a safer roundup for all involved. However, this is not usually the case for most helicopter roundups that HMAs across the country face. We at WBF hope that helicopter use will become an antiquated operation and that developments of new, humane management practices will take their place.
In the Triple B HMA outside of Ely, Nevada, one of the largest and deadliest roundups so far this year wraps up. While the helicopter roundup, removal, and shipping is now over after passing the 40-day mark, the BLM will begin implementing fertility control to 50 mares who will be released back into the wild.
There are currently an estimated 3,475 wild horses living free in this HMA. The BLM claims that the Appropriate Management Level for this herd is 482-821, meaning that their removal goal is nearly 2,000 wild horses. This incredible population of horses will now be subject to overcrowded holding facilities while the remaining horses on the range will struggle to keep up with population stability on over 1,230,000 acres of land.
Not only is this extravagant number of captured horses likely to suffer unhealthy conditions in holding, but the mares released will also be treated with a potentially irreversible contraceptive. Studies show that GonaCon, the fertility control vaccine the BLM has announced they will be using in this HMA, is reported in some instances to cause ovaries to shrivel in mares and potential sterilization.
According to an official BLM report, 1,897 horses have been rounded up in this HMA as of August 25th. Only 25 stallions have been released, with the remaining 1,849 horses being shipped to Indian Lakes Off-Range Holding Facility and Sutherland Holding Facility. Unfortunately, 23 horses have lost their lives due to this unnecessarily dangerous roundup.
We at WBF urge the BLM to ground their helicopters and reconsider their wild horse and burro management practices. We will not stop until no wild horse has to fear the descending whirl of helicopter blades as they flee away from their lifelong home.
WBF’s Short Story Contest on EquiMed
We would like to thank EQUIMED for sharing our 2nd Annual Short Story Competition in their online publication this week!
WBF is delighted to be able to reach more equine-loving children and teens through the horse health and wellness based news source.
Submit a Public Comment on the Roberts Mountain Complex Environmental Assessment
This week, the BLM announced the Preliminary Environmental Assessment for the Roberts Mountain, Fish Creek, and Whistler Mountain HMAs located in Eureka County, Nevada.
Outlined in this 10-year assessment was a plan to maintain an AML of 110-184 wild horses by the methods of roundup, removal, and fertility control.
We want to present the BLM with informed alternatives to helicopter roundups and urge them to use only safe, reversible fertility control methods. The management of each HMA individually is essential in advocating for wild horses as a whole.
The review will be available for public comment until September 20th, 2022.
Comments may be submitted using three different methods:
Beginning Monday, August 29th, the BLM will round up approximately 100 wild horses from the Frisco HMA in southwestern Utah. The helicopter gather is scheduled to last five days over the course of next week.
The current population of this herd is 137 wild horses, an already extremely low number for a wild horse herd. According to the BLM, the Appropriate Management Level is a shocking 30-60 animals on nearly 50,000 acres of public land. This is completely genetically unsustainable for a wild horse herd and will potentially lead to the complete eradication of the wild horses in this herd management area.
We at WBF believe the Bureau of Land Management’s AMLs are not scientifically proven and favor the commercial livestock grazers that benefit from public land usage. These low AMLs will only damage the wild horse population, and in turn, cost taxpayers thousands of dollars while being imprisoned in holding facilities.
WBF’s 2nd Annual Short Story Contest’s Equine-Loving Celebrity Reader: Mackenzie Foy
Joining our wonderful troop of equine-loving celebrity judges for the second year is actress and WBF ambassador, Mackenzie Foy!
One of Hollywood’s most exciting young actresses, Mackenzie stars as Jo in the Disney+ feature film “Black Beauty ”, written, directed, and edited by WBF founder and filmmaker, Ashley Avis. Her time filming “Black Beauty ” sparked a passion for horses. She gained a deep admiration for the animals and learned about the challenges they face. During the creation of Black Beauty, Mackenzie adopted her first horse named Don who she has created a wonderful connection with over the years.
This summer Mackenzie welcomed the newest horse into her life, WBF rescue “Whisper of the Wild”. Upon hearing Whisper’s touching rescue story, Mackenzie felt an instant connection.You can read Whisper’s full story here! She adopted Whisper in June and has been working alongside her during rehabilitation after her stressful experiences in the kill pen.
Some of Mackenzie’s other notable film roles include Disney’s “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms”, Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar”, the animated film “The Little Prince”, and “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn” where she garnered worldwide recognition as Renesmee.
We are so proud to have Mackenzie as a Legacy Ambassador for The Wild Beauty Foundation and thank her for lending her voice to our Short Story Contest again this year!
Start writing your stories now!
The deadline to enter is October 31st, 2022 so be sure to get your stories in by then so they can be considered by our wonderful panel of judges. To learn more about the short story contest or submit your story, visit our website!
Welcome Scott Beckstead to the WBF Team
The Wild Beauty Foundation is pleased to welcome Scott Beckstead to the WBF team as Program Director, overseeing WBF’s Wild Horse Week Educational Program.
Beckstead has always been passionate about animal welfare, leading animal protection to play a significant role in his professional career. He gained experience in Animal Law while owning his own law firm from 1994-2008 and now teaches the subject at the University of Oregon College of Law and Willamette University College of Law.
Beckstead has assumed positions with the Humane Society, and more recently Animal Wellness Action and Center for A Humane Economy, where he serves as their director of campaigns.
“A top priority for me is and always will be saving horses both wild and domestic from cruelty, abuse, and slaughter,” Beckstead affirms.
We are glad to have Scott on our team, and look forward to his contributions as we bring Wild Horse Week to schools around the country this spring!
Are you a wild horse photographer who would like your work featured in our newsletter or social media pages?
Email a ZIP or link to your photos, along with a short written approval to hello@wbf.tempurl.host!
Join Us On Our Journey. We’d love to stand beside you.
After what advocates say was a rushed process, the Bureau of Land Management was served with a lawsuit by Friends of Animals (FOA) to halt the construction of what would be the largest wild horse holding facility in the country. Located on private land near Winnemucca, Nevada, the facility would accommodate 4,000 wild horses and burros in barren feedlot conditions. Filed on August 16th, 2022 in the Reno, Nevada U.S District Court, this lawsuit claims that the BLM “rushed through the approval process without considering the impacts of the facility on wild horses and burros or the local community.”
Facilities like the one being planned in Winnemucca have been condemned by horse advocates for the awful welfare conditions of the animals in holding. Many of these facilities do not have shade, or shelter from the elements and keep large numbers of animals confined in unhygienic conditions – the perfect environment for the kind of disease outbreak that occurred last spring in Cañon City, Colorado, where nearly 150 horses lost their lives to equine influenza. Despite these deplorable housing conditions, the BLM still has nearly 60,000 horses stockpiled in government and private holding facilities; and the number will only continue to swell as the agency clears thousands of horses and burros from their rangeland home to accommodate commercial livestock grazing and mineral/energy development. Soon we fear that there will be more wild horses incarcerated in holding facilities than living free in the wild.
We must take a stand to prevent these statistics from becoming a reality.
The FOA complaint alleges, “The BLM wrongly concluded a full-blown, year-long environmental impact review wasn’t necessary for JS Livestock Inc.’s holding pens on 100 acres of private land near Winnemucca”. Advocates believe this process was rushed in order to appease the livestock ranchers by speeding up the construction of the holding facility so more mass helicopter roundups and removals can take place.
The proposed facility would be capable of holding more than double the capacity of the largest operating facility at this time, Palomino Valley, near Reno. Currently, this off-range “management” plan costs taxpayers $50 million dollars annually. We at the Wild Beauty Foundation will continue to press the case that our wild equines should be restored to their rightful place on the range, that livestock, not wild equines, should be removed in the event of overgrazing, and that the animals should be humanely managed on the range. Helicopter roundups are plainly cruel and strongly opposed by most Americans. Wild horses and burros belong on our public lands, not languishing in misery in barren feedlots at taxpayer expense.
On August 15th, 2022 the BLM concluded the Twin Peaks wild horse and burro roundup along the California/Nevada border. The Twin Peaks HMA encompasses over 758,000 acres, yet the BLM claims that the “Appropriate Management Level” is a mere 448-758 wild horses and 72-116 wild burros. The roundup lasted over three weeks, and from it, the BLM rounded up 2,450 horses and 339 burros. Over 20 horses were killed by the BLM in the course of the operation.
According to the BLM’s press release for this roundup, the agency had planned to remove 1,868 wild horses and treat an additional 110 mares with fertility control and release them back into the wild. Unfortunately, the number of removed and shipped horses was much greater after the roundup concluded. The BLM reported that 2,415 horses were sent to off-range holding and only 27 horses were released. There were also no reports of any mares being treated with fertility control. In an update issued Wednesday, the BLM claims to have only captured 2,111 wild horses, though they have yet to update their official roundup website to reflect that.
We at WBF are discouraged to see helicopter roundups of this magnitude continue across our western states and the loss of life that is the inevitable consequence. In the past year alone, hundreds of wild horses and burros have been killed or lost their lives in the course of the helicopter roundups. Nearly half of these horses died from preventable, sudden injuries experienced while being chased by low-flying helicopters, while others were euthanized by the BLM despite being perfectly capable of surviving in the wild with conditions such as being older or being blind in one eye.
Perhaps most heartbreaking was the death of a four-month-old foal who collapsed in the holding pen. The BLM reports that the filly “died shortly after collapsing on arrival at the capture pen. Veterinarian performed a necropsy and determined the foal had severe pneumonia, with only 20 percent of lung capacity.” Considering how young this foal was, WBF suspects the foal collapsed from being run to exhaustion and likely being trampled within the holding pen. Deaths and injuries are the reality of roundups, yet despite the death toll and what public observers document and publish the BLM continues to tell the American people that helicopters are a humane way to roundup and remove wild horses. Forcing the BLM to tell the truth and stop misrepresenting itself to the American people is a critical part of our fight to fundamentally transform how our federal government treats these federally protected animals.
According to the BLM’s website, the Twin Peaks HMA has nine livestock grazing allotments. In other words, despite designating the HMA as wild horse habitat pursuant to the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, the BLM continues to prioritize livestock companies and their profits which are heavily subsidized by the American taxpayer, over the wild horses and wildlife. If we do not hold the BLM accountable for the misuse of this land, our protected species are likely to suffer. It will likely take action by Congress to impose accountability and transparency and pass fundamental reforms that reflect the will and values of the American people on the subject of wild horses and burros and the best use of our public lands.
WBF’s Second Annual Short Story Contest: Meet our Judges!
Last week we kicked off our second annual Short Story Competition for kids and teens and we cannot wait to read your submissions!
In this week’s newsletter, we would like to introduce you to our panel of judges!
ASHLEY AVIS
Ashley Avis is the Writer & Director of Disney’s Black Beauty and the upcoming documentary Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West as well as the Founder & President of WBF.
Ashley’s great hope is to illuminate important issues horses are going through today through the platform of her film projects while reaching a younger demographic through positive messaging and education.
RICK REKEDAL
Rick Rekedal was the Former Chief Creative of the Global Franchise Group at Dreamworks Animation (Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, How to Train Your Dragon).
Rick is passionate about storytelling and the creative process behind it and looks forward to reading your stories!
TERRI FARLEY
Terri Farley is the Best-selling author of Seven Tears into the Sea, The Phantom Stallion series for young readers about the contemporary and historic West, and several nonfiction articles for magazines.
The Phantom Stallion series has been adored by horse-loving children since its debut in 2002 and introduced many kids to the story of America’s wild horses.
JAMIE JENNINGS
Jamie Jennings is a Certified Monty Roberts Instructor and host of the podcast Horses in the Morning.
She is a longtime equestrian who finds joy in training horses and people to be the best that they can be.
GINI BARRETT
Gini Barrett is a Consultant for Animal Planet and Discovery Communications. She is an expert in public policy analysis, government affairs, and public relations.
Her lifelong love of animals has led her to become an advocate for animal welfare and lend her hand to numerous organizations working to support the humane treatment of animals.
EDWARD WINTERS
Edward Winters is the Executive Producer of Disney’s Black Beauty and Lead Producer of Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West. He is also the Co-Founder and Executive Director of WBF and President of Winterstone Pictures.
Passionate about casting light on underrepresented issues, Edward is proud to use his entertainment platform and background to further the mission of The Wild Beauty Foundation.
RICHARD AVIS
Richard Avis is a Los Angeles based producer who has worked on shows such as MasterChef (Fox), Temptation Island (USA), Making It (NBC), and many other TV/Film projects.
He has always had an affinity and love for wildlife and animals leading him to be an active WBF member and Producer of Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West.
ELIZABETH MCCALL
Elizabeth is an author, journalist, and publicist working for companies such as The Los Angeles Times, Horse Illustrated, Cowboys & Indians, and more.
Her book The Tao of Horses: Exploring How Horses Guide Us on Our Spiritual Path shows how horses transform the way we see the world, interact with our environment, and handle challenges.
WBF is thrilled to have another year of amazing and inspirational judges! We thank each judge for their participation in this competition.
Start thinking about your stories now!
The deadline to enter is October 31st, 2022 so be sure to get your stories in by then so they can be considered by our wonderful panel of judges. To learn more about the short story contest or submit your story, visit our website!
WBF Youth Ambassador, Josselyn W., presents her sign for the 2021 #istandwithwildhorses campaign.
This Week’s Call To Action
Participate in the 2022 #IStandWithWildHorses Campaign
We at WBF strive to bring wild horses to the public eye through film, writing, and community-driven events. Most importantly, we want to show those who may not know wild horses exist their beauty and urge them to support their fight to keep their freedom. This starts with standing with them yourself and sharing your support on your own social media accounts! Last year, we kicked off our 2021 #IStandWithWildHorses photo campaign, and this year we are bringing it back just in time for the world premiere of WILD BEAUTY in September!
Promoting this campaign is easy, simply make a sign using any creative method of your choice that says:
I Stand with Wild Horses
And snap a photo proudly holding the banner and post it to your social media accounts!
Make sure to tag The Wild Beauty Foundation and use the hashtags
This week, the BLM announced two new proposed roundups, one of which is planned within the coming month. In a press release, the BLM introduced plans for yet another helicopter roundup, this time in the South Steens HMA in Oregon. The South Steens horses are known and beloved for their striking colors and robust health, having adapted perfectly to their rugged habitat on the high desert of eastern Oregon. This HMA just saw a roundup of approximately 200 horses in 2020. Now, the BLM is claiming the population has surpassed their AML of 159-304 horses on 130,000 acres and they will be removing another estimated 450 horses. We at WBF feel that this number is genetically unsustainable and could lead to a decline in overall genetic health and diversity.
While the roundup is still being considered, the BLM issued a decision to move forward with population control in the Cedar Mountain HMA in Utah. Like almost all other roundups, the BLM recites their false narrative that “the decision underscores the need for the continued protection of rangeland conditions and the health of wild horse herds.” WBF believes this is patently false, and their removal is not based on science, but on the wishes of the livestock companies who graze their cattle and sheep on the HMA. Similarly to the South Steens HMA, this herd has also been accorded an extremely low AML of 190-390 horses. Recall that in 2013, the Academy of Science issued a report on the BLM’s wild horse and burro program that specifically called out the agency for its methodology in setting AMLs, saying the AML numbers are not based on science and the process was lacking transparency.
We must put an end to these unnecessary roundups by the BLM before our wild horse population creeps any closer to extinction. Join us in standing with wild horses and protecting their beauty for the generations to follow us.
Connecting Mind, Body, and Spirit with a Wild Horse
An Interview with Erin Cain of Grace Reins
WBF recently sat down with lifelong horse lover, Erin Cain – the founder of the equine-assisted therapy nonprofit, Grace Reins– for a conversation about protecting our wild horses and the therapeutic benefits of connecting with an equine partner. Cain joined us over Zoom from her beautiful ranch in Telluride, Colorado where she partners her clients with one of her eight horses and walks them through connecting their mind, body, and spirit with the horse. Her clients range from all ages– from children who are battling trauma, to veterans seeking to reconnect– and they all seem to experience an inexplicable catharsis from working with these noble animals.
Cain’s passion for wild horses is evident; in fact, seven out of her eight horses are mustangs rescued from the wild. The majority of Cain’s horses used to roam freely throughout the countless grassy acres of HMAs in Utah and Nevada, until one fateful day they would have their freedom stripped away by Bureau of Land Management roundups. After being terrified, traumatized, and imprisoned by the BLM, Cain became their saving grace. Now, these wonderful animals have a family once more, and a renewed purpose in life through Grace Reins.
Cain notes that she is extremely proud to be able to provide these horses with the safety and comfort that they deserve after experiencing the agonizing events of a helicopter roundup. To the clients of Grace Reins and beyond, these rescued horses are living proof that even after something so terrible– trust can be rebuilt, wounds can be healed, and even trauma can be mended.
Bridget as a foal in the wild (2015)
One particular horse rescued by Cain goes by the name of Bridget, and she has quite an unlikely story. Bridget was once a mare of the legendary Onaqui herd, with a family band, a stallion, and likely a few foals of her own. Yet, the BLM roundups were looming just over the horizon. Bridget would run as fast as her legs could carry her, but eventually she– like many others– was caught. Soon, Bridget would find herself in the hot, shadeless penitentiary known as the Delta Wild Horse & Burro Facility in Utah.
Being closed to the public, all one can observe from outside the featureless chain link fence of this facility are the sorrowful whinnies and neighs of the captured horses.
But Cain and her husband had made Bridget a vow long before the roundup had taken her, back when they would see her in the wild.
“We made a promise to Bridget,” Cain told us, “that if she was ever rounded up, we would find her.”And luckily, Cain and her husband were able to make true to their word. But Bridget had one more surprise in store– turns out, she was pregnant!
Bridget had her colt, who Cain fittingly named Saint, after settling in at Grace Reins, and Cain reports that he has been a joy to her ranch ever since.
Bridget and her newborn colt, Saint, at Grace Reins
When asked her thoughts on the treatment of wild horses, Cain replied, “We need to maintain the population of wild horses that roam free in our country, and we need to stop traumatizing at the very least. These horses should be left where they are. If there is some proven reason for them to be removed from where they are, which thus far we have not seen nor heard, there would have to be humane relocation and a foolproof adoption process put in place”
Cain advocates for more regulated adoptions; a process she has gone through many times to adopt the horses she finds partnerships in at Grace Reins. It is reported that the programs that are supposed to check up on adopted horses and make sure they are being cared for properly are not implemented efficiently by the BLM. The lack of inspection, we at WBF urge, can lead to neglected horses and in worse cases animals being sent to slaughter. Thankfully, Cain’s horses have nothing to worry about, but it begs the question– what about the horses who aren’t as lucky?
However they arrived at Grace Reins, the mustangs find a new purpose in the therapeutic work they do. “Horses live in the moment,” Cain says, explaining that this is why they are the perfect addition to therapeutic programs. She explains that even though they focus on the moment in front of them, what her wild horses have been through is evident. While they haven’t forgotten their past, they have found a way to live with their present. Children especially, she recounts, often hear the stories about the wild horses and connect to their experiences, seeing that if the horse can move forward, perhaps they can too.
“There is such a beautiful portal into children that the mustangs story helps to soften. A story of resilience and success in healing” says Cain.
Grace Reins not only works with young children through grief, behavioral, and confidence-building therapy but also partners with the Wounded Warrior Project and provides military service members and veterans a safe space to ground themselves by the connection they share with a horse. She talks about how veterans and mustangs seem to “just get each other.” Truly, they are both often presented as a symbol of freedom but are all too often discarded by the government agencies that are supposedly there to protect them. Grace Reins provides them with the opportunity to be needed, wanted, and appreciated. “Groups of veterans and a feeling of value, and are shown that they are needed here for both the people and horses,” says Cain.
Erin Cain and Liberty
Unlike other equine-assisted therapy programs, Grace Reins primarily uses groundwork to focus on the connection with an equine partner. Cain works one on one in a round pen or outdoor arena with most of her clients, creating an intimate, safe environment for both the client and the horse. By eliminating the riding aspect of horses, the pressure is taken away from both the horse and the human. This way, Cain says, the horse becomes the teacher.
Cain hopes that after completing a session at Grace Reins, her clients “Take a little piece of this reset and continue forward with that in mind.”
Cain’s main priority now is working to build the infrastructure of their organization so they can help more people and horses alike.
We are incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to learn more about Grace Reins from Erin Cain and are especially thankful for her support of, and commitment to our wild horses.
A wild image of the well-known Sand Wash Basin stallion, Picasso, frolicking through the brush was captured by Carol Walker.
A Quote to Graze On
“If I paint a wild horse, you might not see the horse…
But surely you will see the wildness!”
– Pablo Picasso
Comparable to the beauty of the range; you might not be able to see a horse, but you can feel the wildness. Harness this wildness in your own creativity, and in turn, you can use it to stand with our wild horses.
Thank you for being a supporter of wild horses, and protecting the wild beauty of our world. – The WBF Team
Are you a wild horse photographer who would like your work featured in our newsletter or social media pages?
Email a ZIP or link to your photos, along with a short written approval to hello@wbf.tempurl.host!
Join Us On Our Journey. We’d love to stand beside you.
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11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Cookie
Duration
Description
_ga
2 years
This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to calculate visitor, session, campaign data and keep track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookies store information anonymously and assign a randomly generated number to identify unique visitors.
vuid
2 years
This domain of this cookie is owned by Vimeo. This cookie is used by vimeo to collect tracking information. It sets a unique ID to embed videos to the website.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Cookie
Duration
Description
_fbp
3 months
This cookie is set by Facebook to deliver advertisement when they are on Facebook or a digital platform powered by Facebook advertising after visiting this website.
fr
3 months
The cookie is set by Facebook to show relevant advertisments to the users and measure and improve the advertisements. The cookie also tracks the behavior of the user across the web on sites that have Facebook pixel or Facebook social plugin.
