One of our holiday traditions at Wild Horse Education is “the letter” written by our founder, Laura Leigh, “to Mom.” These letters began in 2010 with a video message. While fighting for access to roundups and holding, she was embroiled in three different court battles. As a journalist she had been offered “red carpet access” to document a roundup in northern Nevada. There was a catch: she had to go alone, leaving representatives from advocacy behind. She chose to fight for all, not for one. Writing from the road, edited on a broken old laptop, she wrote home to her mom and made a video. A personal message for the holiday.
This feature has become one of our post popular end-of-year traditions.
Hi Mom, it’s me.
As I sit at this keyboard I struggle to find a way to begin. It is not that I have nothing to say. I feel constrained by the sheer volume of events big and small. It has been a really busy year!
These long winter nights have always lent themselves to deep introspection and this year is no exception. So many memories it is like riding a roller-coaster! There were so many events that happened this year that to simply tell you would take pages and hours.
This year we finally brought the fight to gain fair on-range management practice into the light and to victories in the courts. Yes, we won more than one court case that affirms that BLM has illegally withheld actual management plans and has failed in evaluations of removal plans. These victories can bring a major turning point and I feel (cautiously) optimistic that we are rounding a corner.
We have cases active, right now, pushing back against a rancher that filed suit to force a removal and against mining eating up critical habitat and drawing down water tables drying up springs. We have cases against abuse and off-limits to the public holding facilities. We have cases against the sheer lack of disclosure of any actual “data” BLM claims to have to force mass removal. We are setting in motion additional cases to protect genetic viability, define actual foaling season, protect habitat and a core First Amendment case.
We will stretch as far as we can go and then stretch more. It is amazing how resourceful one can get when there is simply no choice. I am grateful for all of the team members of WHE. Within the team we are united in our love for our wild ones. More and more people are joining this movement as they become aware of what is happening to our wild ones and our public lands. The unity of purpose brings hope. Hope that we can gain enforceable welfare rules, real management to protect herds and habitat and stop the cruel slide into the slaughter pipeline.
But I have to admit, I’m tired. I know the fatigue will pass as focus shifts outward and the days get longer, it always does.
Today, however, I am going to take a moment and enjoy the living presence of our wild ones. I wish you could hear the herd speak today and feel the serenity a grazing family band instills. It is truly a priceless and precious gift.
I love you always.
End-of-year funding is critical. Please, help us continue the battle and expand our reach.
WHE has a 10K match through the end of the year to keep our team running and precedent setting litigation alive (every case we have brought to conclusion in 2024 has walked away with a desperately needed win). We must take litigation already active to conclusion and launch additional cases to protect and preserve our wild ones in 2025.
Your contributions will be doubled, dollar-for-dollar!
A SPECIAL 5K bonus match has been added just for the boots-on-the-ground reporting team! If you make your contribution a monthly contribution that lasts at least 3 months, your contribution will be TRIPLED!
Categories: Wild Horse Education
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