It's not on the wild lands in a bait-and-trap phase. It's not while being chased for miles and miles by helicopter. It's not while fighting in or trying to escape chutes, trailers, or holding pens. It's not in live auctions or even awaiting online bids. The fight of the wild horses of America is not won or lost in any of these places. In fact, it begins so much earlier than that.
The fight of the wild horses is won or lost in the hearts and minds of the citizens of any country who are willing to stand up and say ENOUGH. Enough of removing these wild animals from their natural homes. Enough of sterilizing entire herds into oblivion. Enough of making our human politics and bottom lines adversely affect the lives of these iconic souls deserving of national respect. ENOUGH.
Sitting comfortably behind your computer, reading these words as you sip your coffee or afternoon tea, you might think, I hope they get the support they need. What you need to know is that it takes people precisely like you to make that happen. You must be a voice for the horses.
Here is what is going on in this particular case with the National Park Service (NPS):
Back in 1970, the National Park Service honored the wild horses of Theodore Roosevelt's National Park near Medora, ND. The NPS recognized them as part of the historical setting protected under President Roosevelt's Act for the Preservation of American Antiquities.
Somehow, in a world that is seemingly consumed by protecting our planet and all of her inhabitants other than these majestic horses, it has gone relatively unnoticed that the National Park Service is no longer recognizing them as such. They have gone so far as to put out a 'livestock plan' for the horses in the park, with three proposed alternatives, one of which entails their complete removal from the public lands...forever. They are now accepting public comments on their plan through the 31st of January, 2023.
So, as citizens of this country who have the right to share our voice about what occurs on public lands, we have to be the voice for the horses. Now is the time to win the fight. Now is the time to activate. Now is the time to get involved—Not later.
People, as a species, tend to wait until there is very little that can be done, especially concerning BLM roundups. But there is a better time to begin the opposition: Not during helicopter season, foaling season, or during the next auction. NOW IS THE TIME. Now is the time to share your thoughts and feelings with the National Park Service about their plans for this herd. And once we become comfortable with how we can help these horses, we can apply what we learn to future scenarios.
Remember:
If we always do what we have always done,
we will always get what we've always got.
Here is how you can help:
These are just a few of the horses in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park whose future you would be impacting. All images are borrowed from Sandy Sharkey Photography, the artist who brought this specific information to our attention.
When Is the Time? NOW Is the Time.
As they say, the best defense is a good offense.
Now is the time to dig in and go on a polite and diplomatic yet STRONG offense. While we love what we do at For the Love of Aria, and while our journey would not be possible without these amazing horses who were removed from their natural homes, we would love to be out of a job down the line because the American public decided to stand up and say ENOUGH.
We want to see those wild animals on the lands promised to them by a president who was largely ahead of his time in terms of appreciation of the American wild. He was captivated by these wild horses and all the other wild animals that call the parklands their home.
I will end with a quote from Roosevelt himself because no one else could put it better.
Both poignant and thought-provoking, he shared:
"We have fallen heirs to the most glorious heritage a people ever received, and each one must do his part if we wish to show that the nation is worthy of its good fortune."
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