Thank you, a note from LLeigh, founder of WHE.

Two words that carry so much meaning. The gratitude and emotion behind those words can get lost in the avalanche of information coming at all of us each day in the world of today.

Our WHE team is busy right now. That is also a statement that carries so much meaning. Our team is carrying 3 active federal court cases that deal with everything from the failed on range program, the only case in the nation that highlights management of wild burros and the lack of any enforceability of welfare standards.

The fight against abuse is one close to our hearts. BLM cannot even be bothered to create an enforceable welfare policy. That statement clearly demonstrates the core problem with the entire program: wild horses and burros are not being protected in any way shape or form. If BLM can’t be bothered to create an enforceable standard that would define foaling season to stop newborn babies from dying, stops electric shock use for convenience, sets parameters for air and heat that align with current veterinary standards, etc., BLM demonstrates they really do not care about wild horses and burros from on range through adoption or sale.

At the Motorized Vehicle Hearing yesterday, our WHE team stepped up and our volunteers gave coordinated testimony. We pointed out the failure of these hearings to follow regulations outlining how hearings are run. We provided first person testimony of egregious actions we witnessed. In written testimony we went even further.

We are planning to take further action to address these hearings.

However, the most memorable part of the hearing was listening to YOU. We know many of you submitted written testimony. Some of you support our team as we work very hard to stop abuse. Those that took time to speak represent thousands of people that could not take off of work or were too nervous.

We want to take a moment out of our day and say “thank you.” We could hear your voices shake a bit as you addressed something that you find really upsetting. We could hear a few stumbled sentences as you looked for the “right words.”

I teared up. I really did. I called our volunteers that were listening and we talked about how much respect we have for all of YOU.

You need to know there were no “wrong words.” YOU spoke from your heart. YOU showed you did your homework before speaking, I could hear it. YOU were amazing.

For every wall BLM puts up, if the public walks away saying “it’s too hard” to bring it down? That wall will never come down. Yesterday, you were the “troops” that began to “storm that wall.” Precious few organizations spoke at that hearing that dealt with the abuses of motorized vehicles in the program, even though they publish so much online. YOU, the public, represented the vast majority of voices at that hearing.

To all of you that sent written comments, support our WHE team as we battle these issues out in court and to all of you that spoke… thank you.

Saying “thank you” seems so inadequate to express my gratitude and respect for all of you.

Onward.

Further reading:

Background and sample comments (Motorized Vehicle Hearing)

A Volunteer’s Perspective (Motorized Vehicle Hearing)

History of the Direct Fight Against Abuse

The Welfare Debate: Personal Perspective

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.