Freedom for Wild Horses

What can the story of Wild Horse Annie teach us about standing up for wild horses today? In this episode, I speak with award-winning author Terri Farley about her new book, "Horse Girl: How Velma Bronn Johnston Became Wild Horse Annie and Outsmarted the Mustang Killers of the West." We talk about how Velma became an advocate for wild horses and the experiences that shaped her work. Terri shares what she discovered while researching Velma's personal papers, including stories that reveal the woman behind the name Wild Horse Annie. From her childhood and struggles with public speaking to the first time she witnessed horses being taken to slaughter, Velma persisted in speaking out even when it was difficult. In this episode, you'll hear why Terri believes Velma's story is especially relevant today, what advocates can learn from her approach, and why facts, education, and the willingness to speak up remain so important. We also talk about wild horse family bonds, what people misunderstand about wild horses, and why Terri wants readers to rethink what they know about these animals. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/72 Learn more about Terri Farley and her books: https://terrifarley.com/ If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

What does it take for a wild horse to survive when everything around him changes? In this episode, I share the story of Looking Glass, a leopard Appaloosa stallion I first encountered in the Lost Creek Herd Management Area and have followed for years through changing families, harsh weather, injuries, and loss. Looking Glass survived the devastating winter of 2022 to 2023, when I believe roughly half of the wild horses remaining in the Red Desert Complex did not survive. I followed his journey as he lost his family, found new companions, recovered from a serious wound, and eventually established a family of his own. The Red Desert Complex is now at risk of another major roundup. The BLM's environmental assessment calls for removing 1,800 or more wild horses from the area, and Looking Glass and the other horses have no way of knowing which animals will remain free. Their ability to adapt and continue living in these wild lands is a powerful reminder of why they belong here. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/71 If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

What makes wild horses worth fighting for? In this episode, I reflect on why I continue to advocate for wild horses. They are valuable not for what they symbolize but for who they are as sentient beings living on public lands. I share stories from recent trips to the Salt Wells Creek and Red Desert Complex herds in Wyoming, observing their families, foals, and the challenges they face. I describe the experiences that have had the greatest impact on me, including witnessing foals being comforted by mares other than their own and tracking stallions recovering from harsh winters. These encounters highlight both the resilience of the horses and the uncertainty they face when environmental pressures and planned roundups can change everything in a moment. This episode also addresses the ongoing threat of BLM management decisions. With environmental assessments out for public comment and roundups scheduled in the Red Desert Complex, no horses in these herds are fully safe. I explain why these wild horses deserve to remain in their homes, living freely with their families, and why it is so important to continue advocating for their protection. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/70 If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

Why does the BLM's Wild Horse sale authority program need an audit? In this episode, I speak with Manda Kalimian, founder of Rewilding America Now, about the urgent need to bring transparency and accountability to the way wild horses are sold from holding facilities. Together, we explore how the current system is failing the horses and what actions you can take to help ensure their welfare. Manda shares her firsthand experience rescuing horses from auctions and feedlots, the challenges of working within the current system, and how the volume of horses being funneled from holding into private sales is creating serious risks. We discuss why a government accountability audit is a crucial first step and how it can put pressure on the BLM to follow proper procedures before more horses are removed from public lands. You'll also learn how advocacy, education, and partnerships with organizations like Rewilding America Now can make a difference. Manda explains how signing the petition to audit the BLM's sale program gives the public a voice, and why even small actions such as sharing information, supporting campaigns, and contacting members of Congress can help protect wild horses from mismanagement and slaughter. Petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/count-every-horse-stop-bureau-of-land-management-wild-horse-sales-to-slaughter ? Letter to Congress: https://116a2349-892a-41a5-94ab-9a6f9a7a78b7.filesusr.com/ugd/e899a9_99d8d25ce65040c2839f9c71c91078b8.pdf Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/69 If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

What happens when the people shaping public lands policy are closely tied to the very industries competing with wild horses for those lands? In this episode, I look at the growing influence of grazing and extractive interests on public land policy, and why these changes could have serious consequences for America's wild horses. I explain how proposed grazing changes could reduce public oversight, weaken protections for land health, and prioritize livestock grazing above wildlife conservation. I also discuss the expanding sale authority program for wild horses, the increase in online sales and transport to states with nearby slaughter auctions, and why many advocates are deeply concerned about where these policies are heading. You'll hear why these developments matter right now, how Project 2025 connects to current policy changes, and what actions you can take to speak up for wild horses. I also outline why contacting senators and representatives is so important as Congress considers the fiscal year 2027 budget and ongoing public lands policies. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/68 If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

Have you heard about the new herd management plan for the Red Desert Complex? If not, now is the time to pay attention. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released a plan that will impact the wild horses in this area, and the comment period is open. In this episode, I explain why submitting your comments is crucial and how they can influence the future of these horses. The BLM is planning how to manage the wild horses across 753,000 acres of the Red Desert Complex. This is your chance to speak up. I outline the main concerns with the current management plan, including water availability, drought conditions, sterilization, genetic diversity, and the continued reliance on non-scientific approaches in managing the horses. I also explain how these factors could affect the horses' ability to thrive in the Red Desert Complex. You'll learn what specific issues you should address when submitting your comments and why it's so important to ensure that the BLM considers long-term sustainability for these wild horses. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/67 Submit your comments here by May 4, 2026: https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=6c9a6ab7-c027-f111-8341-001dd804183b& If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

What is it like to visit the wild horses of Salt Wells Creek during a winter with almost no snow? In this episode, I share what I saw during my recent trip to this Wyoming range, where unusually dry conditions made travel easier but also raised concerns about the lack of moisture across the region. You'll hear about several of the families and bachelor stallions I observed during my time in the range, including familiar horses I have followed for years and new foals born outside the official foaling window defined by the Bureau of Land Management. This visit also highlights how wild horses organize themselves during winter, when survival takes priority and conflicts between stallions are often subdued. I reflect on the families I observed, the young horses growing within those bands, and why understanding the realities of wild horse life on the range matters when decisions are made about how they are managed. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/66 If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

What could this year mean for wild horses? As we enter the Year of the Fire Horse, a symbol of movement, passion, and freedom, I reflect on what lies ahead for the horses who embody those qualities more than any other. Wild horses represent vitality and resilience, yet their future remains uncertain as policies and priorities continue to shift. More than 64,000 wild horses are currently confined in holding facilities, and over 22 million acres have been removed from herd management areas. Oversight remains limited, roundups continue to loom, and transparency has steadily declined, leaving the public with fewer tools to ensure these horses are protected. In this episode, I share what I believe must change, from ending roundups and restoring habitat to creating independent oversight and returning horses to public lands. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/65 If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

What happens to wild horses once they are removed from public lands and placed in holding facilities? In this episode, I examine a new Bureau of Land Management policy that expands the use of sales as a way to reduce the number of wild horses in government care, raising serious concerns about oversight and protection. I'm joined by longtime wild horse advocate and Freedom of Information Act expert Debbie Coffey to explain what this policy change allows and why it matters. We discuss how increased reliance on sales, especially group sales, creates risks when transparency is limited and public access to information continues to decline. We also outline why advocates view this shift as a direct threat to wild horses belonging to the American public and what listeners can do in response. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/64 If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

Have you ever wondered what makes a wild curly horse so distinctive? In this episode, I revisit my first experiences with the curly horses of Salt Wells Creek and share how discovering this rare lineage changed the way I understood the diversity within America's wild horse herds. These horses carry traits that set them apart from others on the range, and encountering them for the first time revealed just how unique this population truly is. As I revisit this story, I also share why these horses are now at risk. Salt Wells Creek is one of the herds slated for full removal under the new land use plan, and curlies were notably absent from public adoptions after the most recent roundup. I hope this episode encourages you to learn more about what is happening to these unique horses and to take action to help protect the wild curly herds that remain. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/63 If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

Have you wondered what is happening with America's wild horses as 2025 comes to a close? In this episode, I share a clear look at where things stand today. After more than twenty years of observing these herds, the gap between what the law intended and how wild horses are managed has never felt more evident. I also break down the political forces shaping the future of these herds, including how appropriate management levels are set, what the most recent government funding does and does not protect, and why Project 2025 continues to cast uncertainty over the years ahead. In this moment of reflection, I return to why these horses matter and share an excerpt from my first book, Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses . This episode offers both an honest look at the challenges ahead and a reminder of what we are fighting to protect. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/62 If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

What can you do to help stop our horses in this country from going to slaughter? Horses from every discipline, age, and background are being shipped for slaughter every year. In 2024 alone, 20,000 horses were killed. Many people do not realize how easily a Thoroughbred, a child's lesson pony, a show horse, or even a mustang can be sold at auction and bought by kill buyers. In this episode, I talk with filmmaker and advocate Ashley Avis, creator of Black Beauty and Wild Beauty , about her newest project: The Lost Horses, a national campaign designed to help finally pass the SAFE Act. Ashley shares how her work documenting wild horse roundups led her into the undercover world of Texas auctions, where she witnessed the brutality of the slaughter pipeline firsthand. Her team is now using cinematic storytelling, celebrity-voiced PSAs, and coordinated outreach to bring widespread attention to this issue. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/61

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to connect with wild horses? In this episode, I take you with me on my September journey through Salt Wells Creek and the Red Desert Complex in Wyoming. With the roundup postponed for another season, I was able to spend time among wild horse families who remain free, witnessing their strength, their relationships, and the quiet power that defines life in the high desert. Throughout this trip, I spent mornings watching families gather near water, stallions keeping watch over their bands, and bachelor groups moving together across the landscape. Their movements, their social bonds, and their ability to endure challenges are powerful reminders of what's at stake in keeping these herds wild. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/60

What happens to wild horses after a roundup, and how has it changed over the years? In this episode, I revisit the topic of wild horse holding facilities to examine how horses are cared for after being removed from public lands. From my earliest observations to the present, the situation has worsened, and the challenges facing these horses are more urgent than ever. I share what I've learned about holding facilities across Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho, highlighting high-level issues such as overcrowding, disease outbreaks, and the risks to mares and foals. This episode also explores solutions. I outline steps to stop helicopter roundups, increase accountability, and return wild horses to public lands where they belong. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/59

Have you ever wondered where the fight to save wild horses is headed? In this episode, I take you on a journey that began 21 years ago, when I first discovered that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was planning to remove most of the wild horses from Adobe Town, a herd I had grown to love. Through 22 roundups across five states, I've photographed and shared the painful reality of the BLM's actions. The recent 10th Circuit Court victory gave us hope, ruling that the BLM's plan to eliminate three Wyoming herds was illegal. But the fight is far from over. This week, our group filed a lawsuit that resulted in a victory: the BLM has delayed its scheduled roundup, temporarily protecting nearly 3,000 wild horses. Tune in to hear the actions that need to be taken to protect these wild horses and ensure their long-term survival on our public lands. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/58

What does it really take to zero out a wild horse herd? In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of the Adobe Town roundup, where the BLM captured far more wild horses than they should have, pushing this herd dangerously close to being wiped out. Though their target was met, the process that led to this moment was far from transparent or humane. I spent five days observing the roundup, witnessing heartbreaking moments. While the roundup is now over, the real damage is done. The BLM has not confirmed whether they will conduct a post-roundup count, and with horses being sent to facilities where public access is restricted, the fate of these horses remains uncertain. The future of these wild horses hangs in the balance, and we have to keep fighting to make sure they are protected. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/57

What does it mean to win in court while wild horse roundups continue on the ground? In this episode, I share the emotional highs and lows of a pivotal week in the fight to protect Adobe Town's wild horses. Just as the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in our favor—finding the BLM acted arbitrarily in its plan to zero out nearly 2 million acres of wild horse habitat—the helicopters were already in the air, continuing their work. I take you behind the scenes at the Adobe Town roundup. You'll hear what I witnessed on the range: stallions trying desperately to stay with their families, foals calling for their mothers, and the heartbreaking reality of horses who will likely never return to the wild. This episode is a reminder that while we've made progress in the courtroom, the struggle to protect these wild horses continues. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/56

Have you ever felt your heart breaking in slow motion? That's what it's been like spending time with the Salt Wells Creek wild horses this year, knowing what's coming. In this episode, I share stories from my final trip to see these incredible horses before the Bureau of Land Management plans to begin a massive roundup that may zero out the herd completely. Salt Wells Creek is home to one of the last remaining populations of wild Curlies in Wyoming. I take you with me to high meadows and quiet waterholes, where stallions protect their families, foals play in the sun, and a surprise encounter with an abandoned filly sparks an attempt to intervene. This episode is a tribute to their spirit and a reminder of what we stand to lose—and why we must keep showing up. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/55

What will the future hold for our wild horses with the prospect of Project 2025 looming over our country? The 2026 White House budget request represents an unprecedented threat, removing protections that have safeguarded wild horses from slaughter since 2017. Meanwhile, the BLM plans to eliminate entire herds in Wyoming, despite legal appeals still pending. Project 2025 calls for the "humane disposal" of these animals, and this budget appears to follow that path. With over 10,000 additional horses scheduled for removal before 2026, holding facilities will be overwhelmed, setting the stage for mass euthanasia behind closed doors. Now is the time to call your representatives and tell them wild horses must remain protected. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/54

Have you wondered what it's like to be in the field, on the land, spending time with wild horses? I spend countless hours in Wyoming's wild horse territory, watching, photographing, and connecting with these magnificent creatures. My recent trip to Salt Wells Creek Herd Management Area reminded me of the profound impact these wild horses have on those who take the time to observe them in their natural habitat. We have done everything we can to save these herds in Wyoming from being zeroed out, and now we wait. We have no control over what the judges will decide or whether the BLM moves forward with a roundup. We do not know what is going to happen this year, but I am thankful for having witnessed such a stirring and beautiful sight. Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/53