Books and Movies (Inspiration Corner)

By Laura Leigh on November 3, 2022

Many of our readers utilize Wild Horse Education as a resource. A resource to find information to assist in crafting comments, engaging legislators, policy and process. (You can use the search bar, and type in a word or two, to access thousands of articles covering a vast range of subjects.)

Sometimes, our readers are simply looking to spend some time escaping the pressure of daily life with some “wild horse time.” So many are feeling the stain that the news, politics and social media has placed on family and community. This entry is for you.

formerly wild, now at Skydog sanctuary.

“The wind of heaven blows between the ears of the horse” ~ old Arabian proverb.

“Wild or domestic, free on the range, captive in holding or in sanctuary, the wind of truth can be found between a horses ears. Listen to the wind.” ~ WHE

Below: wild horses at the Ochoco national Forest in Oregon.

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Inspiration corner.

One of the most inspirational figures in advocacy is Velma Johnston, Wild Horse Annie. Overcoming the disfigurement of polio in childhood she became the driving force behind exposing the horrors faced by wild hoses and burros, organizing legislative change and pushing two monumental laws into fruition.

In her own lifetime she was often unwelcome, pushed against, by other advocates. Her org was nearly broke at the time of her death; she died a few years after the 1971 Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act was passed and official roundups were just beginning under federal jurisdiction. At a time her expertise was desperately needed, wild horses were left with a deeply divided advocacy.

If you have never taken the time to read about Velma, and the formative years wild hose advocacy, we highly recommend you do. This might be just the time to lean the historical context of what we face today.

Wild Horse Annie: Velma Johnston and her fight to save the mustang, by Alan Kania, is a “must read” biography for the adult wild horse lover. Kania was a volunteer of Velma’s and his account of her life is riveting, revealing and marks a moment in time that defined advocacy today. (HERE)

Spirit, Stallion of the Cimarron is an animated feature film from 2002. The story is about a stallion that is captured and never gives up his quest to be free and return home (trailer HERE)

Music is a great way to rejuvenate the soul. Cartoons are always appropriate for all ages. This movie has both!

Trailer:

On our WHE Kids site there is an activity book for young children. https://wildhorseeducation.org/2018/12/23/a-gift-from-whekids-wild-horse-activity-book/

This Land: How Cowboys, Capitalism and Corruption are Ruining the American West, by Christopher Ketcham (July 2019). This book has received national praise as a hard hitting look at public lands in the American West. Some of our work at WHE is included in the book and represents wild horses. This book is a must read for anyone that cares about our public lands and wants to understand and appreciated the massive corruption and cruelty at play. (HERE)

Or you can just flip through past editions of WHE Magazine. Just click the cover image to open. We are woking on the 2020 Year in Review issue of Wild Words that we will send out as this crazy year draws to a close.

Our wild ones need you to continue to speak for them. An educated and effective advocacy is only possible if people take the time to dig for answers, expose the falsehoods and continue to move forward.

Take a break from your newsfeeds and spend some time in the Inspiration Corner with our wild ones.

Help us stay in the fight.