WILD HORSES IN WINDS OF CHANGE, is a documentary series told by a cast of a colorful characters and knitting together strands of the history of wild, once free roaming horses and burros in North America with threads to what's happening in their world today. We will focus in particular upon the most recent chapter of that history⎯a nearly mythical tale of survival amidst disappearing natural resources and dwindling rangelands.
We will follow the journeys of several horses that have endured the worst side of humans and harshest conditions of nature. Giving voice to these stories will be the inspiring characters who struggle each day to save horses in the wild, or through rescue, sanctuary, adoption and training projects; people whose work with the horses has brought purpose and heart connections into their lives.
Cowboys will tell of their beloved old horses choosing their spot to die on vistas alive with wind and beauty and sometimes right on top of a loved one’s gravesite. You’ll meet veteran ranchers and horse trainers who began life in the saddle while still in diapers and whose path to excellence as horse trainers began with family legacy and guidance.
You will hear from people who’ve adopted once wild horses and burros or even the progeny of these horses and are ever amazed at the brilliance, robust health and loyal companionship these animals consistently demonstrate. You’ll see mustangs serving in the military and border patrol and performing dressage and competitive riding regimes, serving our human needs for devotion, discipline, love and our need to learn patience and participate in willing relationships. And since the horse and burro are not house pets, they have a way of taking urbanites back to nature and are even available in many places as “time shares”.
But most of all, our trailers will take you through the soulful eyes, and deep into the heart and spirit of the wild horse. Some, taken captive, become like ghosts; lost without the social structure of companions and family, or the feel of the wind and the whisp through their mane as they streak across the prairie. Others thrive as domesticated partners with humans in wonderful homes, nurtured with plentiful food, water and love.
WILD HORSES IN WINDS OF CHANGE will cross bridges of philosophies and beliefs about the wild horse's right to live free or in captivity; to live or be slaughtered. We will take a hard[, unbiased] look at both the predator and the protectors of the horse and burro, and will confront misconceptions and misrepresentations about the animals’ native roots and rangeland impact.
Our goal is to deepen your understanding of the implications and pitfalls of many sides of this multifaceted, human created tragedy, but within a framework of as many legitimate silver linings for the wild horses and burros that we hear about and can post. Our postings will present delightful adoption, rescue and therapy stories but will also take on issues, such as these listed below. We invite your comments.
How fencing, government land sales and permit dealings along with climate change all effect the wild horse’s sustainability on the range.
Pros and Cons of adoption programs and how in difficult economic times and without long term commitment adoptions can result in even more tragedy for these animals.
The current trend of cart before the horse round-ups of horses and long term “warehousing” in Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Forest Service corrals where thousands of them await their fate locked in captivity.
The how’s, where’s and whys of the Department of Interior’s plans to create non-reproductive herds of horses and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s plans to “head ‘em up herd ‘em out” to greener pastures of the Midwest and East.
The pros and cons of birth control: who is benefiting, is it working, what problems might it cause, who is experimenting with it and what’s at risk?
The impact of categorization, where the horse and burro are often one hoof print away from being re-categorized from a supposedly government protected mustang, into a feral, trespass, Indian pony or estray who are provided no protection from slaughter and whose only hope at a sale barn is to be auctioned off to a rescuer instead of a “kill” buyer.
We hope you learn and are inspired by this series. Our mission is to present ideas and pragmatic solutions to help thousands of wild horses in need.
Please share this blogspot with your network and send us your ideas, stories and experiences to include. Think, solutions, solutions, solutions.
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