“Hope Springs Eternal,” run during the winter Calico roundup of 2009/2010 until his feet literally began to fall off. The circumstances surrounding this colt are what began the daily journey and led to the formation of this organization. Our first goal was to gain what e were told was impossible, a humane handling policy. Years of a grueling marathon from range to courtroom was successful. We now have the beginning of a humane handling policy.

Over the years we have amassed millions of photographs, tens of thousands of hours of audio and video recordings. The library in this “million mile journey” not only represents the largest body of roundup documentation in the world, it represents memories. Memories of our wild ones living free on the range, memories of capture, holding and court cases. Memories of battles won and lost. Memories  of the faces that disappeared into holding, never forgotten. Memories of a few of the lucky ones that found adoption or sanctuary.

Our founder is gathering photos to share for the writers creating her memoir, “Run!”  “People seem to be very interested in the story of a stubborn woman that had nothing left but her voice, and used it. But the story really is the story of our wild horses”. (The book has not been forgotten it just keeps taking a backseat to the work at hand. It is still on the way).

A few photos from the “The Family Photo Albums.” A few that we still know that mark pivotal moments of the trail.

General and Commander were dual band stallions, keeping one harem on the range, near Soldier Meadows in the Calico Complex . General bred the mares, but Commander helped defend the herd. In 2010 Leigh facilitated their purchase, along with Generals then two year old, True Boy.They went to sanctuary in California. Commander has died of old age.

A picture was posted of this stallion during the roundup with the caption “Silver King” because that was the name of the Herd Management Area (HMA). As his story was documented the public began to call him Silver King and the name stuck. At this roundup many of the white horses were claimed to be “blind” and euthanized. At the moment of his capture Leigh said she would take him.

This was the area of the second First Amendment case Leigh filed (the first being against land closure at “Tuscarora” or Owyhee). The attempt to follow this stallion saw vehicle searches, a camera and medication confiscated and “Dear God, are you serious? My jeans are so tight if I was carrying a weapon you’d see it!” as a “pat down” was imminent.

As the adoption of this horse moved forward Leigh was told she had to give the BLM at least several days notice before her arrival so they could notify SWAT. All of this was part of the legal action that was victorious in the Ninth Circuit against First Amendment violations.

On 9/11 these descendants of the most well documented US Cavalry horses, the Sheldon, were captured during the two year removal to erase the herds from the wild. The horse in the center gave birth right after this run.

Gaining a safe landing for this mare and her foal was complicated with even attempts to blackmail into silence.

Named “Rosie the Riveter,” she and her daughter are in the care of WHE.

Sarge from Fish Creek may well be one of the most controversial horses to ever lay hoof to the wild in the state of Nevada. Sarge has been the target of exploitation since he was a baby.

There are a million more memories and a million more stories… and there will be a million more.

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