Every single moment of this journey is etched sight, smell and heartbeat as if it happened just a moment ago. Baby Chance, born days after his mom was run by helicopter in a hard winter. He died just minutes after I took this photo in 2011. I carry this, and all the other memories, into 2019. I never forget. 

As 2018 winds down to an end and we reflect on our personal and professional journey as advocates at the core of it all is the wild horse. Each step is reflected back through the eyes of the wild ones we encounter; each sorrow and each joy.

As both a writer and visual journalist I toggle between images and words to bring those that have supported this journey at the frontline, in it’s eleventh year now, along this often bumpy road.

2018 has been a year where we are not simply trying to survive an attack on our wild places and wild things, we are fighting back.

WHE has taken our work into ground breaking territory as a wild horse organization, again. Breaking ground seems to have become the forte of this tiny organization.

The work I have done includes the first cases in history where inhumane treatment at roundups was taken into a courtroom. We did it again and again and we are still the only org to take it to the courts. This work also set the First Amendment framework for not only daily access to roundups but for cases that came after it, like getting BLM to back down on spaying.

This year we have legal actions directly against mining, livestock and are poised to take on oil and gas. We are only able to do this on the framework of a decade of field work; we have the data to fight with.

I want to explain it all to you; figuring out these puzzles is not rocket science, but it takes persistence. In the coming weeks we have more legal work to do and I will try, with my words and pictures, to bring you down those roads with us.

But at the core of it all is a deep love for our wild. The wild places of the American west given my soul a freedom I had never known. As I see that freedom threatened, abused and destroyed it causes great pain as deep as the fury it ignites.

I want to share the beauty of your land, our land, public land and our amazing wild horses with you. Yet I must also share the threats, abuse and destruction.

At the end of May I made this magazine for our donors; some of the digital captures taken from January through May. As I sat to send our year in review magazine yesterday I wanted to give all of our supporters more… so I am working on a “Hoofprints” edition of my favorite photos from June through the end of the year to send with it. I will finish later today and get those out to you.

WHE does not have paid staff. At this time of year our volunteers are with family and friends, some dealing with health issues of their own. So please bear with me as I juggle hats; comments on EISs, legal briefs, website, field work and social media.

This time of year fundraising is critical to all nonprofits. It is critical for WHE as well. We have a modest matching donor, through 10K. If we make the 10K received by today, they will raise the match. We have less than $2,000 to go.

We know it is not a big match like many other orgs have. But we will fight. We will continue to break ground. We will continue to lead with our hearts, minds and souls. That is our promise to you.

You can see the “official” WHE look back at 2018 HERE.

You can see the personal reflections of volunteers HERE and my own HERE.

Through January 1, 2019, all contributions to our work will be matched up to $10K. If you can help “keep us in the fight” we promise to fight back with all we have.

We don’t just take pictures, we take action! But in order to take action, we need your help. Without your support none of our work is possible!

Year in review video, 2018