About the Horses
About the horses…(adapted from Among Wild Horses: A Portrait of the Pryor Mountain Mustangs by Lynne Pomeranz)
In 2003, on Mt. Taylor in New Mexico, I caught my first glimpse of wild horses. There were three of them, all grays, and as soon as they caught sight or sounds of out vehicle they galloped away through the rugged landscape. Yet, in a matter of seconds their explosive freedom vibrated through me leaving an everlasting impression that would change my life. Since that day I have been on a quest to document and share their world with others through my photographs.
In contrast to the beauty of the horses and the dramatic landscapes that are their homes, there are many ugly political battles raging over these innocent souls. When Congress passed the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to protect wild horses and burros, they declared wild horses to be “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West”. The horses, previously often mistreated, rounded up, and killed for slaughter, were to be protected where they were found on public lands at the time the Act was passed. 303 public Herd Management Areas were established for wild horses and burros.
Unfortunately, ours are once again precarious times for America’s wild ones. As our country becomes more populated and open land diminishes, the battle between various factions over land use becomes more heated. Wild horses almost always end up at the bottom of the bureaucratic totem pole. Since the 1971 Act was passed, 124 HMAs (representing over 20 million acres) of the original 303 HMAs that were legally their home have been emptied of horses. Over 50,000 horses removed from the wild now live in both short and long-term government holding facilities where their natural family bands have been torn apart and the stallions castrated. In other words, never to be truly wild again.
“Shoshone” was considered a “three strikes” horse. That means he was unsuccessfully offered to the public for adoption three times. In addition to a government frieze brand on his neck, he has a number brand on his rump distinguishing him as one of the “unwanted” ones. Due to a 2004 amendment to the 1971 Act, he could be sold without any restrictions. It is not uncommon for horses like Shoshone to end up at slaughterhouses in Mexico or Canada. However, he is one of the fortunate ones. He was acquired by Cimarron Sky-Dog Reserve (a 501c3) wild horse sanctuary where he runs free, along with about 30 other horses removed from the wild, on 1100 acres in Watrous, New Mexico.
My hope is always that these images convey the soulful beauty and magnificent spirit of wild horses and make others aware of what we are losing as each individual horse is taken away. “Living free is the birthright of all of America’s wild horses.” Not only are they a symbol of the American West, but also the freedom that we, as Americans, value so dearly.
In 2003, on Mt. Taylor in New Mexico, I caught my first glimpse of wild horses. There were three of them, all grays, and as soon as they caught sight or sounds of out vehicle they galloped away through the rugged landscape. Yet, in a matter of seconds their explosive freedom vibrated through me leaving an everlasting impression that would change my life. Since that day I have been on a quest to document and share their world with others through my photographs.
In contrast to the beauty of the horses and the dramatic landscapes that are their homes, there are many ugly political battles raging over these innocent souls. When Congress passed the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to protect wild horses and burros, they declared wild horses to be “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West”. The horses, previously often mistreated, rounded up, and killed for slaughter, were to be protected where they were found on public lands at the time the Act was passed. 303 public Herd Management Areas were established for wild horses and burros.
Unfortunately, ours are once again precarious times for America’s wild ones. As our country becomes more populated and open land diminishes, the battle between various factions over land use becomes more heated. Wild horses almost always end up at the bottom of the bureaucratic totem pole. Since the 1971 Act was passed, 124 HMAs (representing over 20 million acres) of the original 303 HMAs that were legally their home have been emptied of horses. Over 50,000 horses removed from the wild now live in both short and long-term government holding facilities where their natural family bands have been torn apart and the stallions castrated. In other words, never to be truly wild again.
“Shoshone” was considered a “three strikes” horse. That means he was unsuccessfully offered to the public for adoption three times. In addition to a government frieze brand on his neck, he has a number brand on his rump distinguishing him as one of the “unwanted” ones. Due to a 2004 amendment to the 1971 Act, he could be sold without any restrictions. It is not uncommon for horses like Shoshone to end up at slaughterhouses in Mexico or Canada. However, he is one of the fortunate ones. He was acquired by Cimarron Sky-Dog Reserve (a 501c3) wild horse sanctuary where he runs free, along with about 30 other horses removed from the wild, on 1100 acres in Watrous, New Mexico.
My hope is always that these images convey the soulful beauty and magnificent spirit of wild horses and make others aware of what we are losing as each individual horse is taken away. “Living free is the birthright of all of America’s wild horses.” Not only are they a symbol of the American West, but also the freedom that we, as Americans, value so dearly.
