#11 Wild Horses and Rewriting Stories

Wild horses spark inspiration in our hearts and minds, but that isn’t all that they fuel. They are also source of hundreds of years of controversy and debate, that continues to this day in the not-so-wild west.

This episode is about my journey coming to know wild horses, from an activists perspective, then a trainer’s perspective, a guardian’s perspective and then finally from the perspective of a researcher. In this episode I’ll be sharing all about the history of the wild horse in North America, as well as their present day plight, and why it’s even of consequence.

The main reason I’m devoting this episode to wild horses, though, is because over the last decade I have essentially voluntarily and figuratively been dragged away by wild horses. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their influence in my life.

And that said, I have some big announcements to share - all of which, were inspired by wild horses.

I’m self publishing a book, What We Tame, a collection of stories on gentling wild mustangs! Pre-sale options will be coming soon. The book will be available in print and as an e-book (soon, I promise)!!!

I’m also breathing new life into an old project, geared towards better understanding American mustangs, and all stories and perspectives that weave their narrative. I've launched The Wild Side - which is part Archive, part Community, designed to bring the wild horse community closer together and educate people about why wild horses matter. So if you are voluntarily dragged away by wild horses too, I hope to see you over at The Wild Side.

In this episode I talk about:

The history of the wild horse in North America, as well as their present day plight
What exactly an American mustang is, and why they matter
The graphic details concerning the violence committed against them that led to the grassroots activism campaign and the passing of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act
The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program and the complex pros and cons of the current management practices
How my interactions with wild horses as a trainer led me to question the management practices of on-range populations
Why my research on American mustangs in my postgraduate program in Anthrozoology drove me to gallop headlong into the wild horse controversy
The importance of reflecting on our beliefs, unpacking our perspectives, and truly listening to others who think differently
The difference between wild horse activists and wild horse advocates (and why I call myself an advocate)
Why I believe that wild horses are the main character in my story
How essential it is to think outside of ourselves - to think what the horse would want, instead of just what we want, and why there is often a difference between the two

Each episode is accompanied by a blog post exploring the topics that are talked about in the show. Check out the written version ‘Wild Horses and Rewriting Stories’ by clicking the button below.

Resources

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Check out the post that expands on this episode, ‘Wild Horses and Rewriting Stories’ on the blog.

Links from this episode: