MUSTANG STORIES
OPEN LETTER TO THE HORSE COMMUNITY
“I was drawn to horses as if they were magnets. It was in my blood. I must have inherited from my grandfather a genetic proclivity toward the equine species. Perhaps there's a quirk in the DNA that makes horse people different from everyone else, that instantly divides humanity into those who love horses and the others, who simply don't know.”
― Allan J. Hamilton, Zen Mind, Zen Horse: The Science and Spirituality of Working with Horse
A friend introduced this quote to me a few years ago, and I have never forgotten it. The term “horse person” is a funny thought to people who aren’t horse types. But to us, it’s the most natural thing in the world. Even though there are plenty of things that divide the horse community, we can’t deny our conditional love for the animal that means so much to us.
I want you to do me a favor and close your eyes and think back to when you were 4 years old. At that age, a horse was just that, a horse. A beautiful, whimsical, creature that made your eyes light up and your heart pitter patter in excitement. Their smell was exhilarating and gave you big dreams. You didn’t care if the horse was a hunter prospect, or had a killer roll back. All you wanted was to reach out and touch their soft muzzle, while you imagined what it was like to fly away while riding on their back.
To me, once you are a horse lover, you’re always a horse lover. You can’t just give it up. You can try, but it will always be nestled deep down in your soul, the affection trying to escape and make itself known at the least expected moment. When you are driving down a road and see a horse grazing in the field, you can’t help but lean forward and look, that love comes back out and grabs you. Why? Who knows! But we are connected to them, like the quote above says...we are drawn to them like magnets.
Where am I going with all this? Now that I have hopefully reeled you in with nostalgia and all the feels, I want to encourage you, the horse community, to give back. Even just a little. If not for me, do it for your horse, do it for their species, do it for the animal that carried history on their back and gave us our freedom, dreams and happiness.
There are many issues that need to be addressed in the horse world, but today I’m going to concentrate on one: Wild Horses.
Tomorrow the senate subcommittee will vote on the Fiscal Year 2019 Interior Spending Bill with a recently added Stewart Amendment, allowing sterilization procedures on our wild horses & burros. The Full Committee will vote on Thursday.
The Stewart Amendment states: The secretary of the Interior may hereafter manage any group of wild horses or burros as a non-reproducing or single-sex herd, in whole or in part, including through chemical or surgical sterilization.
"The Cloud Foundation states: The BLM is advocating the use of a procedure called “ovariectomy via colpotomy," which rips the ovaries out of mares and jennies, and has shown to be extremely dangerous even in sterile conditions. The procedure has a high complication rate and causes behavioral changes and loss in bone density, according to expert equine veterinarians.
And Dr. Don Moore, Equine Veterinarian says “In private practice, colopotomy is considered an inferior procedure with likelihood of post-surgical infections and complications (i.e., colic) especially in unsterile conditions. Post-operative care usually lasts several days to often weeks and mares are monitored and in most cases are monitored in box stalls or cross ties, which cannot be accomplished with wild mares.”
If we allow these permanent types of procedures to happen it would threaten their well-being, disturb wild herd behaviors & dynamics and ruin any chance at preservation.
So what what am I asking you to do? I want the horse community to come together as the voice of the wild horse. I want you as a “horse person” to become aware of the situation. I want you to research, find the truth, and help in YOUR own way. Something you can do right now, literally right now, is contact your senators and representatives in regards to tomorrow’s voting.
Click to enlarge (from the Cloud Foundation)
Follow this link for guidance on what to say and who to contact:
How to find your Senators:
Tuesday June 12 - 9:30 a.m. EST
Subcommittee Hearing
Watch Live
Thursday June 14 - 10:30 a.m EST
Full Committee Hearing
Watch Live
I’m reaching out to my fellow horse community because you are brave, passionate and compassionate people. You are willing to get on a 1100 pound animal and say “I trust you” and that takes a special person, a person who is willing to go above and beyond to cherish that bond between horse and human. So why not harness that energy to help the underdog of horses: The wild horse.
I understand we all have our own issues, horses, and families to look after. I’m not denying that, but if you can take a moment to educate yourself on this subject it would mean the world to us. And just think, if the millions of horse people could come together for our wild horses & burros, they can have a voice bigger than any other and hopefully be a force to be reckoned with.
If you’re reading all the way down here, I want to commend you for making it all the way through this post :) On behalf of the wild horses, thank you!
References:
Fiscal Year 2019 Interior Spending Bill
Report to Congress: Management Options for a Sustainable Wild Horse and Burro Program
A WEEK IN UTAH
My recent trip to Utah was filled with emotions. There were so many highs and lows, twists and turns, my head was spinning. But, in the end, I wasn't there for me. I was there for the wild horses in hopes to bring their issues to light and help promote adoption, and with that comes the good and the bad.
Utah - a trip filled with high and lows, twists and turns, one which kept my head spinning and my heart bursting with emotions. I had to separate my personal feelings, from what I was truly there for - the wild horses. The aim, bring their plight to light and help in whatever way I can to promote their adoption. A task intertwined with good and bad moments.
My trip to Utah had a distinct purpose, to film a fundraising video for my upcoming docu-series, “Taking Back the West.” With the goal of exposing the remaining untamed, unfettered Wild West through the eyes of an American icon, the wild horse. We explore the elements of what makes the wild horse so unique and majestic, a real national treasure. TBTW also looks to raise awareness for the forty-five thousand wild horses currently in federal holding pens, desperately in need of homes. Their struggles unveiled to not only captivate the viewer, but to promote change in a situation in critical need of attention. You can find out more about TBTW here.
From left to right: Bobby, Brie & Deb
I was not alone in my journey, joined by fellow wild horse photographer and advocate, Deb Lee Carson. With an insight that seems to emanate naturally from her bones and a vast knowledge of all things wild, she was my perfect partner in this journey. Past all the flattery is her innate ability to spot wild horses far better than I. Crazy to believe, but I was not the only Baldanza on the plains; joined by my cousin Bobby and his girlfriend Brie, cinematographers who made the trip from sunny LA. It was not just my, but our voyage together over the next five days.
Rob, Deb, and I in the Cedar Mountains trying to figure out if the horses we just saw were wild or domestic. The answer? Domestic. Did anyone every hear of grazing permits for domestic horses in HMA's? This was a first for me.
Day One had us meeting up with Utah local and expert in the surrounding herds, Robert Hammer of Wildhorsetourist.com.
Accompanied by our gracious pathfinder, Robert escorted us through the Cedar Mountains & Onaqui HMA. The incredible benefit of going out with locals - a colorful backstory for the herds we encountered coupled with an immense knowledge base of the area. I can think of no higher suggestion than finding a local that is knowledgeable about the herd you are visiting, it would paint a better canvas than doing it alone.
Unlike the magnificent weather, the first day was not all rainbows and sunshine, far different than I was hoping. After a last minute conversation with the BLM, they decided a permit was necessary for filming. Why? Because TBTW was considered "within a gray area" as they have recently been in the middle of changing policies. I was completely in shock, especially since I was told by many people who film frequently in HMAs that permits were never required. Even the several conversations I had with the BLM in preparation for filming a permit was never mentioned. In the end, we live and we learn from our mistakes (I should of triple checked). Heartbroken and angry, I applied for the permits - this project had too much at stake to let anything get in the way. Thankfully, the Salt Lake City BLM Office knew of my situation and rushed me a permit.
The landscape was surreal!
Soon after the permit issue the anxiety started to fade away, and I was able to enjoy what I truly love - the horses. Absorbing their peacefulness and beauty, I started becoming intoxicated with their presence. They have that effect on you, you know? And even though we couldn't film that day, it ended up being a good "prep" day for Bobby and Brie, allowing them to get a feel for the wild horse’s habitat and and filming challenges.
This beautiful and curious dun is waiting to be adopted! If interested her/his number is 6726.
A bright new day rose above the horizon and we made our way down to the Delta Holding Facility Adoption Event, hoping to see some adoptions take place. As much as I hate the thought of these once wild horses crammed into small and crowded pens, the blow was softened *a bit* when I got to know the Delta staff taking care of the animals. I can say from the bottom of my heart, that the employees at Delta genuinely care for the horses & burros in their facility, they go above and beyond to get those horses adopted. I know I will get shit for saying that, but it's true. I hope Delta can be the facility that others aspire too and if they implemented low-stress herding (a girl can dream), then they would receive 100% of my support.
Unfortunately, my practical nature leads me to acknowledge that the government is slow and other offices/facilities have a long way to go to be up to par.
I still tear up thinking about this little guy. But now his story has been told, no matter how short it was.
While at the facility we discovered a sick foal recently rejected by his mother. The sight tugged at my heart, pushing me to the brink of crying. A couple days prior, a Delta employee noticed the distressed foal and in an effort to get another mare to feed the little guy, moved him to another pen. Even in the new pen, it was obvious the foal was not doing well, being continually rejected by the other mares who had milk to spare. Deb & I kept an eye on him, and when it became apparent that the relocation did not help his situation informed the Delta team in hopes that something could be done. About two days later they moved him to a foster home to receive the veterinary care and fluids he so desperately needed. When I heard the good news I was immediately filled with joy and hope. Unfortunately, my hope was short-lived when I got an email informing me the little fellow did not make it. Rest in peace little guy, you were a true fighter, and such a beauty.
After the facility and witnessing a handful of successful adoptions intertwined with not so happy moments, we decided to go back to the Onaqui Range. We finally saw some action. It was the first time Bobby and Brie really experienced the horses firsthand and captured their beauty on camera. Watching them experience what I am so passionate about, made me really happy. And THAT is a huge part of why I'm doing taking TBTW. I want to bring people who would never find themselves on the range and immerse them in the thick of the action, stallions fighting, mares whinnying, and foals galavanting. Chances are most people may never have the opportunity to experience wild horses firsthand, but will have the chance to experience the beauty from the comfort of their couch.
The following day, it poured with no horses in sight, just *ahem* cows. Wamp, Wamp.
A Bachelor Stallion & Band Stallion face off.
The fourth day, we experienced lots of action with the Onaqui herd! There is nothing more exciting than seeing two stallions posturing and sizing each other up, in this elegant dance.
The anticipation hits you and they go up on their back legs and start fighting, rearing and kicking! That is when you start to really see the untamed intensity of these wild horses.
Sunrises and sunsets are my favorite time on the range. Although we didn't get to watch any sunrises with the horses, we caught some exciting moments while the sun was going down on the fourth day. Prior to the sun’s descent we had scouted the perfect location to set ourselves up for a beauty shot during the onset of dusk. A little bit below our prime location was about 60 horses, endlessly creating commotion and excitement! Stallions fighting, babies frolicking, and mares, in heat, fighting off outside stallions. It was a magical moment! I never personally witnessed these many bands so closely together creating a scene of complete and utter chaos!
Chaos by the watering hole during sunset.
The final day was the first time I was completely relaxed. The crew had gone home to LA and Deb departed for a photography gig in Florida. It was time to experience the Cedar Mountains Herd with Robert Hammer
What was really cool about the CM herd was that they were much more “wilder” than other herds I have experienced, and what I mean by wilder is that they are still conditioned to fear humans. Previous wild horse herds I have encountered typically let you drive close and hike to a respectable distance without bolting for the horizon. All it took for the CM horses to run for the hills was the sight of our car! Instead of getting frustrated that I could not get close enough to photograph, I was glad; their first instinct was to run and stay wild.
One of the few shots I was able to get of some wild horses in the Cedar Mountains. To give you an idea of how far away I was, this is fully zoomed in at 400 mm and cropped in over 50 percent of the original picture. Any closer than that, and they were gone!
Well, I hope you enjoyed some tidbits (there is so much more to share) of the trip because it was one I will truly remember!
A Mustang On The Jersey Shore
Three big, bay, geldings, and a butternut squash of a mustang mare walk onto a beach…
I actually don’t have a joke for this, but for anyone who knows what Flax looks like, it was a hilarious sight to see her chumming around with such big horses.
Now Flax is from the west, The Pryor Mountains in Montana to be exact and now she lives with me on our little farm in New Jersey. Being from the shore, I wanted her to see the beach, and feel the power of the ocean. I wanted her to experience the sand under her hooves, breathe in the salt of the ocean air, and feel the wind through her mane as she gallops on soft white sand. Romantic right? Derrr.
Three big, bay, geldings, and a butternut squash of a mustang mare walk onto a beach…
I actually don’t have a joke for this, but for anyone who knows what Flax looks like, it was a hilarious sight to see her chumming around with such big horses.
Now Flax is from the west, The Pryor Mountains in Montana to be exact and now she lives with me on our little farm in New Jersey. Being from the shore, I wanted her to see the beach, and feel the power of the ocean. I wanted her to experience the sand under her hooves, breathe in the salt of the ocean air, and feel the wind through her mane as she gallops on soft white sand. Romantic right? Derrr.
Coincidentally I flew over Island State Park the day before!
Now my farm is 7 miles to the closest beach, however the only place we can legally ride horses is approximately 30 miles south on Island State Beach Park in NJ. So we had to haul everyone there.
The day started out sunny and beautiful with 57 degree weather. Flax took a bit to load onto the trailer but when she was ready and loaded, she rode the whole way down like a champ. We then went to Kelly’s and Stephanie’s farm to pick up Amore so Chelsea could ride him.
When we got to the beach and tacked up, Flax got her first sniff of the salty air that I love and grew up with. She was perky and excited and had lots of energy! We mounted up and walked through the dunes where it opened up to 8 miles of beach. Her eyes bulged for a bit, but then she was unfazed and brave with the new territory. Even curious enough to go to the shore line. However, her curiosity was soon trumped with “HOLY CRAP! IT'S ALIVE!” when the waves would break near her hooves. She was so adorably cute and would run away when the waves broke towards her. I love her.
There was one point we all stopped for a group picture and she started pawing. She then got to her knees, and that’s when I had my “HOLY CRAP SHE'S GOING TO ROLL” moment. I got her back up and we all took a deep breath! Crisis averted :)
All four humans and horses had a great time. Galloping and strolling on the shore line made for such an amazing day. After about three hours of riding we finally called it quits and went back to the trailers. Of course the 3 big bay geldings loaded like pros and well it took about a half hour to get Flax on. Thank god I had three awesome ladies to help and support me! Flax was finally on and we ended the day as the sun was going down.
It was a perfect day.
DAY 1THE HEARTBEATOF THE LAND
4 women from all over the country, 1 hotel room, 5 days of constant interaction, well isn’t that a terrifying thought? Hah! It was anything but. Why? Respect. Love. Passion. Strength. Individuality. Humor. These traits are all a common thread among us. A thread that will bind us in a friendship that few people will ever understand. And why were we thrown together? We were on a mission, to find all 163 horses in the park. Did we succeed? Nope. But we were damn close! Between laughter, stories, sadness, and 4 AM wake up calls we found and felt the heartbeat of the land, the land that the wild horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park call home.
4 women from all over the country, 1 hotel room, 5 days of constant interaction, well isn’t that a terrifying thought? Hah! It was anything but. Why? Respect. Love. Passion. Strength. Individuality. Humor. These traits are all a common thread among us. A thread that will bind us in a friendship that few people will ever understand. And why were we thrown together? We were on a mission, to find all 163 horses in the park. Did we succeed? Nope. But we were damn close! Between laughter, stories, sadness, and 4 AM wake up calls we found and felt the heartbeat of the land, the land that the wild horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park call home.
From Left to Right: Danielle, Neali, Jamie & Amber
3 of us (Neali, Amber, and Me) have been to the park before, so it was a really cool experiencing it with someone (Danielle) who has never been. We enjoyed showing Danielle the ways of terrain and see her eyes light up when we took in a new sight. It reminded me of my first time there, taking it all in, the landscape, animals and people. TRNP drew us all in, and made us fall in love.
This trip I finally got to see some horses I have never seen in person before, and got to see some of my favorites. But to us, something was off in the park. Could it be the death of Blaze that threw all the horses into a tailspin? Bands that we typically see right away, were far out and on edge. Bands that we typically don’t see were close to the road. Some of us believe that the death of Blaze had more of an impact on this herd, more than anyone could have anticipated. But only the horses have the answer to that question. All in all, it’s always a good time seeing the horses.
The start of my journey began on Wednesday, May 10th, at EWR in NJ. I had a 6 AM flight to Minneapolis, MN where I met up with Danielle and Amber. We would then continue to Bismarck, ND together. I had already met Amber, but this was the first time I have ever met Danielle in person, she was OK. Just kidding I ended up loving her to pieces :) As I was getting off the plane from EWR it felt like a million miles away to my next gate where Danielle and Amber were waiting for me. I finally saw them and threw down my gigantic camera case and book bag and gave them a huge, sweaty, hug. A smile came across my face as I felt a pang of happiness in seeing these two. It's amazing how a simple thing such as the TRNP Wild Horses can bring such a connection to people. We were ready for our adventure to begin.
After a pretty smooth flight into ND we landed in Bismarck and we were off to pick up our rental car. Neali was flying in about 2 hours later so we had some time to kill.
The 2 hours went something like this. Panera, find low fee ATM, which ended up being a high fee ATM, and ice cream, lots of ice cream. As we were eating our ice cream we got a text from Neali saying her flight came in early. CRAPPPPPP. I basically ate the rest of my ice cream in one bite and high tailed it back to the car. Now, some would say my driving is a little... ahem scary... but I didn't care we needed to go get the fourth member of our group!!! As we drove super fast across town we finally got back to the airport and low and behold Neali was there, all smiles. She hopped in and we were on our way to the park.
By this point it was 1 or 2PM, I really don't remember, but it felt like the 2 hour drive to the park went by really quickly. We got to our hotel, threw everything in our room, and all looked at each other? "Well, should we drive the loop road?"
"HELL YES."
Danielle acting as my monopod :)
It was around 5PM or 6PM when we got into the park. The first band we saw was Georgia’s Boy. I’ve only seen Georgia’s Boy from afar, but seeing him and his band down by the river was a very peaceful experience. We watched quietly on a sandbar in the middle of the Little Missouri (Thanks to Danielle for going first to make sure we could cross it) and simply watched. We also got to meet Jeanne Tessier one of the many photographers of TRNP. Boy is she a force! Jeanne is very connected to the horses and is a huge advocate for them. Jeanne also lent me her monopod because well, I had a very big lens and couldn't fit anything else. I was also using poor Danielle's shoulder to help keep the camera steady :) Thanks Danielle and Jeanne!
Next we saw bachelors Granite’s Boy and Yoakam (yippy!). They are seriously like two peas in a pod. At first we only saw GB but we patiently waited a couple minutes and there came Yoakum over the hill. This was the first time I saw Yoakum so I was secretly jumping up and down for joy.
Yoakum
And this is where I believe in the power of attraction. We were simply talking about GB and Yoakam and boom there they were. THEN, we were talking about Flax and his band and how we would love to see the newest mare of the band, Kat. And what do you know? There they were standing in the street as if we summoned them there. Magical. However, we didn't spend to much time with them because there were cars blocking the way. But we did end up seeing them again on another day.
We then went up to the Jones Creek trail and spotted Copper, Democracy and their newest addition Cody. Cody, one of the two foals sired by Copper this year is absolutely beautiful. We saw them later on in our trip, so you will get more pictures of them.
Now the sun was coming down and we all felt like we ended on a pretty high note with Copper and and his band. We decided to head back into town and get some dinner. But as we were driving we saw more horses! Who oh who could it be?! Well it's the new bachelor group Marty and Trooper. However, Urban was no where to be seen. Marty is turning into a beautiful stallion.
Marty and Trooper
Ok now we were really on a high note so we attempted to leave again and go eat, because we were STARVING. Just as we were about to exit the park we got a quick glimpse of Cloud, Chubby and Bert. They were all the way back in some shrubs, so we told them we would be back the next day to get some good pictures :)
We got to Little Mo's 5 minutes before the kitchen closed. And as fast as we could we yelled out to the waiter.
"Cheeseburger."
"Cheeseburger."
"Cheeseburger."
"Nachos."
Then we went back to our hotel room and passed out.
And I'll leave you with that for our first day in the park.
A MOMENT WITH NEALI AUSTIN
“GUYS! Do you hear thunder?!” We stopped talking and listened. We heard hooves. Pounding hooves moving at a fast pace from behind us, but couldn’t see below the hill.
*Photo above by Neali Austin - Hidden Freedom Photography
Our second guest blog post is from wild horse photographer, Neali Austin. Last week Neali, Amber, Danielle and I all traveled to Theodore Roosevelt National Park together, and had some pretty awesome wild horse encounters. Neali talks about one unforgettable moment, that had our hearts racing. Enjoy! - Jamie
"Last Saturday, I was hiking out on the Upper Talkington Trail in Theodore Roosevelt National Park with Jamie, Amber, Danielle, and Deb. We had gone out at sunrise so we could find Arrowhead’s little band in order to photograph stallion Blaze’s newest filly (and possibly his last as he passed away in March). We had hiked probably a mile or so out to them from the loop road. Once we got our photos and had sat and observed them for a while, we started meandering our way back to the car stopping to observe the bands we had bypassed on the way out.
Red Face’s band was the last one for us to stop at on our way out. Amber was most excited for this group as she adopted his 2014 filly out of Sundance. We saw them just below a hill, so we moved northwest of them to stay on the opposite nearby hilltop in order to observe from a distance. I started doing roll call in my head and sometimes aloud. Everyone was accounted for, even the 2 new foals. Everyone that is, except for Red Face himself. This was odd. He’s never far from his band. We started talking amongst ourselves where he might be. The band gradually moved up onto the opposite hill from us, and we waited for Red Face to show up there with them. Still nothing. At that moment, Satellite had moved his mares closer to Red Face’s band and made a move towards Red Face’s 3-year-old filly Opal. Her dam Molly did not appreciate his posturing and attention towards her filly, and moved in to push him away, ears back and squealing. Deb said, “Oh, he’ll show up now. He won’t tolerate this.” Again, no Red Face.
Deb decided to hike down from our hilltop and circle around the opposite hill that the bands were on to see if Red Face might possibly be grazing on the other side. The rest of us stood where we were, waiting to see if she saw anything. Deb got to where she could see around the other side of the hill, but just shook her head. He wasn’t over there either! Now it was just weird. We debated where he might be, “Did he see Singlefoot and go with him?”, “Did Flax run over and Red Face was chasing him off?” Danielle interrupted, “GUYS! Do you hear thunder?!” We stopped talking and listened. We heard hooves. Pounding hooves moving at a fast pace from behind us, but couldn’t see below the hill. We started scrambling trying to find the best place to stand and be ready for what was going to come up onto the small hill top on even ground with us. Bison? Horses? Red Face?? Sure enough, Red Face crested that ridge, pausing for just a brief second as he saw us. His muscles bulged as he tensed up, and then he was moving again, circling around us to get to his band on the opposite hill (see photo with post). Once there, he relaxed and all the horses went back to grazing. Deb came back from her position below the hill, and we all laughed at how nervous we had been. She told us he must have been down in the gorge for water and his band had moved on without him.
Tracking, finding, and photographing wild horses is exciting! It’s easy to get caught up in the moment when you’re with them, but it’s important to always remain aware of what is going on around you. We were thankful Red Face was aware as he crested that ridge so he didn’t plow us over, we were also thankful that Danielle heard his hooves first so we could at least be ready and facing whatever was coming up that ridge behind us. No matter how peaceful the situation is it can change in an instant. Learn the cues and signals of the body language of the wild ones, and always give yourself distance between you and them so there is time to react if the situation changes. Be a responsible observer, and have fun!"
I really want to thank Neali for sharing her Red Face encounter with us! It's little moments like those that make Wild Horse Photography so exciting, but also dangerous! To see more of Neali's work please visit her Facebook and Instagram. You will love it!
Hidden Freedom Photography Facebook
Hidden Freedom Photography Instagram
10 QUESTIONS WITH Deb Lee Carson
This Mustang’s Life is kicking off a brand new series “10 Questions With ______” with the one and only Deb Lee Carson! Deb, an accomplished wild horse photographer sure has a way with words and the camera. She lures you in with her stories and takes your breath away with her images.
Deb was kind enough to answer my questions, and I was blown away with her answers. Enjoy this post, because I surely did :)
*Photo above by Deb Lee Carson
This Mustang’s Life is kicking off a brand new series “10 Questions With ______” with the one and only Deb Lee Carson! Deb, an accomplished wild horse photographer sure has a way with words and the camera. She lures you in with her stories and takes your breath away with her images.
Deb was kind enough to answer my questions, and I was blown away with her answers. Enjoy this post, because I surely did :)
1. For those who don’t know you, what do you want people to get out of your wild horse photography when they see it?
I want my viewer to come away with a sense of awe and respect for America’s wild horses. I want them to have an emotional reaction to each piece, something that tugs at a memory or leaves them longing to know more, or in some cases an emotion that provokes discussion which may lead to solutions for America’s wild horses. Those emotions may even be of anger, depending on the role the viewer has in relation to the wild horses, such as a rancher or politician or sensitive taxpayer. Each image is a way to bring the wild ones to life by placing them in their distinctive landscape so the viewer immediately understands they are wild versus a horse standing in someone’s backyard.
2. Do you have a favorite photo? If so can you share it with us?! And tell us a little bit it about it.
Well, isn’t this a tough one? I have several and it depends on the model. Our own quarter horses, our recently adopted daughter of Blaze, Ms. Pinnacles, my granddaughter’s with a former wild one, or Blaze himself, or possibly an image captured with my awesome friend, Jamie, last July at McCullough Peaks near Cody, Wyoming. Out of all of those possible scenarios, I would pick this one of Blaze.
It was captured on a late May afternoon in 2015 along the North Ridge in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It was the eastern most part of Blaze’s range and it is approximately a thirty minute hike in from the loop road. Between two small buttes is a narrow saddle and the band had gone ahead of Blaze who was lingering behind. I had moved to this narrow area to photograph him not realizing I had totally messed with his plan and was preventing him from peacefully trailing his harem. He lowered his head, did a dance, and then he chose to sail around and behind me to lower ground to reach his girls.
Afterwards, I felt bad, because I had been disrespectful of his space. So I use this image as a reminder I am in their home, but it is also an image I will always cherish because of him shaking that great mane and lowering that amazing blue eye and asserting his wildness to get where he wanted to be. I have never been able to create this image exactly like I want it, so consequently I have never offered it is a print. It will become a part of the 2018 Stallions exhibit and I anticipate between now and then I can have it right. That spirit horse will forever be missed.
3. Beyond photography do you have any plans to get into the politics of wild horses?
No, I believe that as a private citizen I can have more influence than as a politician who is limited to how the media perceives and reports the political issues. Unless someone knows something I do not about politics, I will continue to use my art as a driving force in solving the adoption gap with our wild horses in America.
4. What is the best part of being on the CSU team for TRNP?
Working as a research tech for CSU allows me to use my equine reproductive experience, my awe for the landscape in TRNP, and my love of the wild ones, and the best part of being on the team is that we are working on something that could be for the greater good of the wild ones! I strongly feel that I am a part of a bigger picture and if the contraceptive research is a positive outcome it has the potential to have positive far reaching affects for the wild horses of America, and the best part of being here is the opportunity to witness the heartbreaking and heartwarming stories. We have laughed, stood in awe, cussed, and cried on many occasions.
5. Do you have any tips for aspiring wild horse photographers?
Be respectful of their space—you are in their home, where they sleep, eat, go to the bathroom, raise a family, have sex. Don’t be a part of the habituation problem; leave them wilder than you found them. Be patient. Listen to who they are. Shoot from your heart. Invest in a long lens so you can be respectful, 400mm minimum or better yet, just put them in the landscape! That is the ethical responsibility as a wild horse photographer.
The technical side of photographing wild horses uses the same simple rules for any type of photography: know how to use Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO to obtain the ultimate exposure of your image. Understand how to use depth of field, Aperture, so you can create emotion in your image, use a high shutter speed to freeze movement and ensure sharpness, and control those settings with ISO. First and foremost know how to use those three settings rapidly. You do not need high end, expensive equipment, but you do need to know HOW to use your camera out of the program mode. It’s not the gear that captures a compelling image, it’s the heart.
6. Do you prefer to shoot by yourself or with friends?
Both. I do my best work alone when I can get lost in what I am doing and completely listen to the moment, no distractions, quietly sit and wait, follow my instincts. On the other hand, I LOVE to share with other likeminded individuals, because reminiscing is a part of friendship and growing older. Sharing moments with the wild ones and friends is a bond that is priceless and forever.
7. Do you ever watch the horses without a lens?
Yes. Watching and listening and ‘feeling’ what is happening with the subject matter allows me to understand the wild ones even better. By understanding their individual personalities and quirks, their habits, and their movement allows me to anticipate what they may do at any given moment. It is a two-fold endeavor; I get to immerse myself in who the wild ones are to be able to anticipate that heart stopping moment to share with my viewer. It is a win/win!
I prefer to be able to just watch and listen, but with a hectic schedule and the demands of time, it is a rare occasion and I cherish those moments when I can do that, and I have been able to do that more this year as a full-time CSU tech because my focus is not on photography but on the research work itself. Once I am done here in TRNP this June, I will put the photography hat back on and head west to begin capturing images for Stallions.
8. Are you a Nikon or Canon gal? Spill your secrets woman!
I’m a Nikon girl. After giving up my Pentax K1000, my very first camera back in 1999, I purchased a Nikon F5. When finally switching to digital in 2012 and to prevent investing in lenses I stayed with Nikon and purchased a used D3. My primary body now is a D5 and two back up D3’s along with my primary lens for wild horse photography a Nikon 80-400mm 5.6, my ultimate favorite lens a Nikon 70-200mm 2.8, and two other Nikon lenses a 24-70mm 2.8 and a 13-35mm lens that I finally fell in love with at a commercial shoot recently in the almond groves near Modesto, California. Of course I have filters for landscape photography, two tripods, and a monopod that is always on my 80-400 mm lens and other miscellaneous gear.
9. If you had the stage to talk wild horses to the American people -(who do not know anything about wild horses) what would you say to them? You only have 1 minute, so it has to be quick!
History. Where would America be without the horse? The horse was an integral partner in establishing America. The horse carried us into battle. The horse carried us to hunt for food. The horse plowed our fields. The horse carried our mail. The horse carried furs out of the western mountains. The horse pulled the buggies to town. The horse moved us across America, from east to west. We drive horsepower cars. The horse is the spirit of America, written into the fabric of this country not only by their contribution but by Congress back in 1971, when the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act was passed.
Historical speaking, the 67,000 plus wild horses roaming free today and the 45,000 plus horses in off-range facilities are descendants of those very horses who made America and are a burden on us, the taxpayer. The largest portion of the BLM budget is used to maintain those 45,000 horses available for adoption.
It is our job to ensure that fragment of our American fabric is not swept away, the final thread unraveled so they will no longer be available for future generations to find their own spirit; their own connection to the past, one that built this country. It is our job—as horse advocate, city dweller, politician, rancher, taxpayer, to work together to fulfill the biggest gap in managing our future and past at the same time, the adoption gap!
Regardless if you think they are ‘junk’ because they do not have a five generation pedigree and you didn’t spend thousands of dollars on them, their story is bigger and wilder than anything you have ever experienced, and there is no denying what they did for this country, for you, of for one of your ancestors. We need to work together so that there is a lifetime waiting list for the next opportunity to own a piece of American history—a wild mustang! That is what horse and non-horse American’s are tasked to do. If each of us told the next person, who told the next person, who told the next person about how amazing these horses are how long would it take to have them all adopted?
A wild one need not be anything more than a pasture ornament or a wild one can become the greatest jumping horse of our time or a wild one can save a human soul. You decide.
10. Is there a funny story you can share about an encounter you have had with wild horses?
Picture yourself walking in the city, minding your own business and coming around a corner and bumping into someone and being startled, saying you’re sorry and then smiling about it later. Well retired band stallion, Singlefoot, and I had that brief encounter in 2016. Brief and powerful! He was on one side of a guard rail on the loop road and I was on the other and he popped up from below right next to me. I had no idea he was there and he had no idea I was there.
We were both startled, he slammed on his brakes and I jumped back and we both quickly went in opposite directions, Singlefoot to a place where his bubble was intact and I to where I wasn't invading his space, respectfully giving him his domain back.
As he glanced back over at me, with his piercing blue eye, I felt honored and privileged to have had that very, very brief electrical connection with the great patriarch of the wild ones of TRNP.He is magnificent and it was the first time I felt his keen sense of nobility and strength! I felt like he was saying, "Here I am, I have lived my life, I am proud, filled with the spirit of the wild, do not feel sorry for me, my life is as it should be.”
I want to personally thank Deb for humoring me by answering these questions! Now go check out her awesome art!
How Bout A Little Flax History
Everyone please welcome my first guest blogger, Jonathan! Jonathan is a mustang advocate who knows the subject in and out. Whenever I forget the name of a horse in the Pryors he’s the man to go to! Which is perfect for me because I wanted to learn about Flax’s past, and I only had to ask him. Enjoy a very in depth look into my little Flax’s life on the mountain when she was wild. Let’s see if you can read all this info in 30 seconds and in one breath!
Flax was born in 2005 to Looking Glass and Tonopah's 1996 golden dun son Baja and Sitka and Shaman's 1994 golden dun daughter Washakie. Flax is their first offspring. She left her parents in early 2007 as a two year old and found herself with the dark bay stallion Morning Star and his band where she spent the entire summer...
Everyone please welcome my first guest blogger, Jonathan! Jonathan is a mustang advocate who knows the subject in and out. Whenever I forget the name of a horse in the Pryors he’s the man to go to! Which is perfect for me because I wanted to learn about Flax’s past, and I only had to ask him. Enjoy a very in depth look into my little Flax’s life on the mountain when she was wild. Let’s see if you can read all this info in 30 seconds and in one breath!
Flax was born in 2005 to Looking Glass and Tonopah's 1996 golden dun son Baja and Sitka and Shaman's 1994 golden dun daughter Washakie. Flax is their first offspring. She left her parents in early 2007 as a two year old and found herself with the dark bay stallion Morning Star and his band where she spent the entire summer.
In late August of 2007, she was taken by Flint, staying with him for a few days and then she was taken by Velvet and Cocomo's 1998 black son Stiles. She stayed with Stiles for a bit, but they didn’t really bond. So one afternoon, Stiles was trying to get back Diamond's current band (stolen back in 2006 during the bait trapping which left Diamond severely injured) and while he was fighting with Diamond, the one and only Cloud swooped in and snaked her to his band. As soon as the pretty dun filly arrived in Cloud's band, Velvet and Aztec chased her all over the place. The only mare that protected her was Velvet's black daughter Flicka. Once the situation settled in the band, she had found her place in the family.
In the spring of 2008 while with Cloud, Flax gave birth to a sickly bay colt who was sired by Morning Star, but he died a few days after his birth.
In the spring of 2009, Flax gave birth again, to a beautiful dunskin filly sired by Cloud and was named "Windflower". Shortly after the birth of the Windflower, Flax was taken or went with Jackson (a coyote dun). While in her new band, a few weeks later, Windflower was sadly killed by a mountain lion. However, Flax stayed with Jackson and his family for the the rest of the summer until September that year.
In September 2009, when the roundup began, Flax was removed along with 56 other adults and 3 foals with their mothers. She was unknowingly pregnant with a Jackson foal at her capture.
In 2010, she gave birth to her beautiful and very Spanish looking dun son in the BLM holding pens, who has found a great adoptive home. Unfortunately the same could not be said of Flax. The people who adopted her did not know how to care for a mustang and they tried to use her as a broodmare. This didn't work out so they left her in a filthy roundpen. She never had her hooves trimmed and was overweight and unhappy. One day, Effie Orser saw her on Craigslist and The Cloud Foundation rescued her.
She spent most of 2014 with Lisa Jacobson in Colorado and on 1/24/2015, I told my new best friend Jamie and her husband about Flax. Now after 6 years of captivity, Flax found her family in Jamie and Michael Claps and has the forever home she's always wanted"
*Photos below by Tony Wengert
MAKE THE RIGHT FRIENDS
I’m not an expert in horsemanship, but I’m learning to speak the language. I’m 33 years old, and for 32 years I thought I “knew” horses. But the truth is, I only knew what the textbooks told me. For years I drove to a barn, got on a horse, rode around for a bit, jumped off and went on my merry way.
I’m not an expert in horsemanship, but I’m learning to speak the language. I’m 33 years old, and for 32 years I thought I “knew” horses. But the truth is, I only knew what the textbooks told me. For years I drove to a barn, got on a horse, rode around for a bit, jumped off and went on my merry way. I didn’t get real horse owner experience until I was 30, when a big, beautiful, redheaded quarterhorse named Matilda came trotting into my life. I boarded her at a stable in town, met tons of horse people, and thought everything was grand. But soon after the new horse high, I realized I was falling flat in communicating with her. Hell, I had no idea what I was doing. She had a hard mouth from a previous owner and bad ground manners. Instead of trying to work through the obvious, I was taught to use stronger tack and have stronger hands to pull back. This went against every bone in my body, but I did it anyway. I wanted to be accepted, I wanted to be the city girl who could ride, I needed to fit in. When the harsher bit stopped working and my arms got tired, I deflated, I was lost. I didn’t want to go to an even harsher bit, but what was I to do? At the same time, my husband Mike and I made the decision to adopt two mustangs. One straight out of the wild and the other who had a bucking problem. Reality set in and something had to change.
I didn’t realize “the” change happened for me until I met the right people. Who are “the right people” you ask? Oh, you know, the random people fate throws your way because for some reason the universe knows better than you. The people who become your life, inspiration and shoulder to lean on. The right friends that let you be you, and support you along the way.
My wild horse journey started with a group of people coming together for a common cause. That common cause? The advocacy for the Wild Horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Being from NJ I thought it would be hard for people to accept me wanting to help, but it was exactly the opposite. They welcomed me in as one of their own and taught me that passion can be used to do great things.That kindness, by how you treat a wild horse, can help build a better relationship with their future adopter. Through them, I learned to love educating unknowing humans about wild horses and seeing their disbelief in how the government treats them. I felt accomplished in knowing at least one more person knows and I can actually help make change, no matter how small. The wild horse world gets highly political and missions constantlty get derailed, but if this group has taught me one thing, it is to keep trying and to always fight for what you believe in. I’m honored to be fighting the good fight with them, and I would say some of these people have become my dearest friends. AND all of these people in some shape or form, have influenced in how I act with my horses. I call these guys My Soldiers.
Through my soldiers, I met a man in MN who would go on to teach me the art of horsemanship. My extremely supportive husband supported my mission to fly out once a month to train with him and my horses. He trains with the ways of Tom and Bill Dorance, and Buck Brannaman (a personal idol to me). He taught me to start on the ground to accomplish what I want in the saddle, rather than just jumping on and kicking my feet. He showed me how to use my body language and energy to move my horses and to teach them. He introduced me to a flag to act as extension of myself to help further my training. My tack changed to a soft snaffle bit and a mecate rein. The reins I used to pull and pray my horse stopped, are now an extension of my mind & heart asking my horse to yield to the lightest pressure possible to move their 1200 lb body. I used to focus on as harsh as necessary and now it’s as light as possible. I’ve become a smarter and more understanding human being when it comes to horses. There is still so much to learn and I know he has so much more to teach. I consider myself very lucky to have him in my life. He’s My Mentor.
The day I met the one and only spirit horse woman, my life was different. She is everything I was striving for. Creative, inspiring, knowledgeable and in tune with wild horses. But watch out! When inspiration strikes, she hits the ground running with a burst of positive energy trailing behind her. And you can’t help but smile and say “Wait for Me! I’m coming too!” Her photography and stories have inspired me to share my own and dig deep within me to find the artist inside. But the really cool thing is, even though she’s a photographer, she taught me to see beyond the lens, to see a wild horse’s soul. To read their body language and study herd dynamics. To put the camera down and enjoy the moment, perhaps crack open a beer, and watch them graze in the sunset :) I call her My Like-Minded Passionate.
Through all my wild horse endeavors out west, there was someone back home in NJ that became essential to my life. However, our story didn’t really begin until we realized we wanted the same thing: to become selfless with our horses and to understand how to have a better relationship with them. She yearned for the same knowledge I did, and with that our bond grew strong and we began our journey of horsemanship together. Through our journey she has kept me on track, and without her I wouldn’t be where I am today with my horses. When I have bad sessions and I’m feeling down, she hops in her car and helps me work through it, and NEVER lets me give up. She’s the friend everyone wish they had. But lucky for me she’s my friend, My more than Horse Friend, but Life Friend.
So as I look back, I see the moments clearer that brought me to where I am today. Letting positive influences into my life was the best thing I could've ever done. Because of them I will never stop learning (and I never want to stop), because I have this incredible support system in my life. For me it was crucial to get out of a negative mind frame and make it a positive one.
So, I’m asking you the reader, to take a step back and think about your "horse" friends. Do they build you up? Are you always learning from them? Do they listen without judging? Each and every person I mentioned above does all of this, and I only hope I return the favor to them. I can continue on my wild horse journey because I know I have the right people to support me.
I'M THEIR HUMAN
For my first post I want to tell you the story of how I came about adopting Flax and Valor.
You see, I was only suppose to adopt one horse and one horse only. But according to fate, it had a different plan for me. Flax and Valor ended up in my life at the same exact time, and I wouldn't have it any other way. This is how my herd of 3 (Matilda, Mike and I) became a herd of 5.
FLAX: 11 years old, was rounded up in 2009 and adopted into a less ideal situation. Three years later she was re-homed to the amazing Cloud Foundation where she was given a new chance to find a forever home. 2015, she found her way to me and we started our journey.
Valor: Soon to be 4 years old, was rounded up in late summer 2015 with the NDBH low stress technique. He has only known kindness from humans. His training is going extremely well!
For my first post I want to tell you the story of how I came about adopting Flax and Valor.
You see, I was only suppose to adopt one horse and one horse only. But according to fate, it had a different plan for me. Flax and Valor ended up in my life at the same exact time, and I wouldn't have it any other way. This is how my herd of 3 (Matilda, Mike and I) became a herd of 5.
Let's roll back to 1/24/15 when my friend Jonathan first showed me a picture of Flax and told me she needed a home. As I studied her picture I knew I was a goner, she wouldn't need help finding a home, she found one at that moment. I had a deep drive to be her human. I was drawn in by her kind eye with a spark of fire, (after all she is an offspring of Washakie and Baja of the Pryor Mountains). Unfortunately, It wasn't the right time for me to adopt. However, inspired by her picture, I decided to get the conversations rolling to adopt her within a years time if she hadn't already found a home. It took about 7 months of conversation before the Cloud Foundation realized I was serious in giving her a home (I live across the country). So, to put the final stamp on that I was serious and this was going to happen, I flew out to meet her on 8/3/2015 in Colorado. I fell in love, my husband fell in love, it was a done deal. The papers were signed on 8/7 and on 8/31 she would be making her journey towards me.
Now, while the adoption process for Flax was happening, some other fate stepped in. 5/15/2015 I had gotten the Wild Horse Guide Book through North Dakota Badlands Horse. I saw Valor's picture and instantly felt my heart pitter patter. I showed my husband, and said if for some reason Valor ever gets rounded up, I want to adopt him (thinking it would never happen).
Fast forward to July 2015 when I heard the heart wrenching news that Valor was rounded up and would be available for adoption. I was in disbelief, I had just booked a trip to North Dakota to specifically photograph him in the wild (this was the same trip I was going to meet Flax). My first reaction was tears and sadness. And even though I vowed to myself I would adopt him if he was ever rounded up, I never thought it would be so soon, or ever. Now my brain was on overload. How can I adopt two wild horses? I had just agreed to move forward with Flax. Keeping my thoughts to myself, that I can't possibly adopt two wild horses within a week of each other, I felt a certain sadness come over me. I expressed to my husband what had happened to Valor and how badly I wanted to adopt him, but it just wasn't option at the moment. A week later my husband with a big smile on his face surprised me by saying "let's go for it. Let's adopt a second mustang." On 7/23/2015 I sent in an application to get qualified to adopt. He wouldn't be mine yet, I would have to bid on him.
The plan was to meet Valor in the holding pens in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. That day was 7/29. From there I would drive to Colorado to meet Flax as well. On 8/11/15 the auction happened and we had outbid everyone! I burst into tears of joy at how incredibly lucky I was.
So now I have two mustangs in my life, and it all became officiall that second week in August 2015. And this is how the site became "This Mustang Life"
I have so many more stories to tell! So Stay tuned!
Here is the Flax and Valor timeline:
1/24/15 - When I learned about Flax and continued conversations to adopt
5/15/15 - Saw a picture of Valor in the NDBH Guide
7/2015 - I heard Valor was rounded up.
7/23/2015 - I send in the application for Valor
7/29/2015 - I met Valor in North Dakota
8/3/2015 - I met Flax in Colorado.
8/7/2015 - I signed the papers for Flax and she was officially adopted!
8/11/2015 - I bid on Valor and I get to adopt him!
8/31/2015 - Flax leaves Colorado for MN to begin training with Michael Sparling.
10/7/2015 - Valor leaves North Dakota for MN to begin gentling with Michael Sparling.