Pam Chandler has been a long time Wild Horse Education supporter and volunteer. Pam has helped out with social media and outreach almost since the very beginning of WHE. Pam lives far from our western landscapes ands feared she would never see our wild ones. This year, Pam attended the Saving Our Wild Horses and Wildlife conference in Reno. While she was there she attended all the field trips and the extra outing down into Tonopah to visit a few herds that life east and south of town.
Memories, Pam Chandler (WHE volunteer)
Several years ago I wrote a poem entitled “I MAY NEVER SEE” that began with the words: I may never see the beauty of American’s wild horses gazing back at me. After reading and watching the horror of roundups from WHE’s videos this grandmother dreamed of one day standing on a range to behold the beauty of our beloved wild horses and burros as they roamed free.
This finally became a reality with attending the third annual Saving Our Wild Horses And Wildlife Conference in Reno the week of April 16th. Before the conference and range trip we took a BLM tour of Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Center accompanied by armed rangers and a local news team from KOLO NEWS NOW. I fought back tears (and “bit”my tongue) witnessing 1360 of our Clan Alpine wild ones in captivity and realizing there are thousands more never to be seen again. This made me even more determined to continue the fight against abuse on and off the range and to stop roundups. The group left the heartbreak to visit wild horses in The Pinenut Range. A trip out to see horses in the wild was a perfect ending to day 1.
The two day Wild Horses And Wildlife Conference at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno was phenomenal! The variety of exceptional speakers and subjects with incredible knowledge were outstanding. We saw passion put in action and it was contagious! The presenters spoke, we asked questions and learned. I heard many comments such as “I didn’t know that” or “that makes sense” or “great suggestion” repeatedly from those that attended. After we listened to all of the speakers, the conference attendees began cvrafting Recommendations to the BLM and Congress. I was unaware that this was the first time a group of advocates, independent of lobbyist organizations, worked on a joint letter of recommendations. It felt amazing being a part of an historic action.
After the conference we drove several hours from Reno to Tonopah and once again this gal from North Carolina was in awe of the mountain ranges majesty.
Laura Leigh’s comments on the Tonopah area: “ The area really is steeped in history. History of the wild west and advocacy itself. Velma [Wild Horse Annie] loved the Stone Cabin grays.”
As a member of WHE, seeing one of the areas where we carry active litigation to protect the wild ones felt personal.
A second field trip took us South of Tonopah. A band of wild horses and burros came over the hill descending to water as if a conductor was leading a magnificent orchestra. Cameras were ready capturing their every move. They drank their fill and left as another band approached, drank and left then another. Each small “ensemble” composted of many colors filling their part in the family structure and the history of this range. Joy filled my heart. Run free wild ones we will never give up fighting for you and your home.
Each of us who attended the activities of the week owe a huge thank you to the Conference organizer extraordinaire Linda Greaves and each person who worked with her to make this such a success.
Even if I cannot visit each day, these areas hold a deep importance to me as an American. This is my land, your land and the land our wild ones call home. This was the trip of a lifetime for me. The memories will never fade and enforced my conviction to remain a lifelong advocate.
Our team is back on the road and back in the thick of working on active litigation.
We need your help to continue to document, expose, work toward reform with lawmakers and litigate. Our wild ones deserve to live free on the range and free from abuse.
Thank you for keeping WHE on the frontline in the fight to protect and preserve our treasured wild ones.
Categories: Wild Horse Education
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