“Voices For The Voiceless”
How do I write this? Friends who know me, and know my style,
know that I write about, "People & Horses Helping Horses & People,"
in an upbeat and happy way. Celebrating the good that people do. Championing
the horses who heal people, change lives and give their spirit so that those
who need healing can realize a new beginning. Every now and then, in order to celebrate
the good people do, I must write about things as tears stream from my eyes to
drip on the keyboard … This is one of those stories.
How do I write about horses chased by helicopters to the
point of total exhaustion, and death? How do I write about tiny foals running in
a desperate panic to keep sight of their mommas, running as fast as their tiny
legs can manage, sometimes running right out of their hoofs, and left to die.
How do I write about helicopter pilots ramming the slower horses repeatedly
with the skids of their helicopters? How do I write about horses being hosed with
water in the holding pens soaking them so completely the tiny foals freeze to death?
How can I write about the crowded, sun-baked, filthy holding pens? How do I write about
the truckloads of once noble and proud spiritual wild horses being trucked to
slaughter? I don't think I can.
Laura Leigh |
But Laura Leigh, a freelance photojournalist, founder of
Wild Horse Education (WHE) is documenting in photos and videos the excessive
and inhumane roundups that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is conducting
against wild horses and burros. Laura was the first to bring the public daily
reports of the conditions at the roundups, and continues to be the best source
for information on what is happening in the field to our wild horses and
burros. WHE has been essential in providing the public with documentation and
investigation of the BLM practices in the roundups and long term holding of
these captured wild animals, who in reality belong to the American people. The
body of work is more than a collection of photos and videos. It has been used to
fight in Federal Court for the welfare and well-being of wild horses and
burros.
Laura has been an advocate for the rights of horses for many
years. Yet her attention turned to wild horses in a daily marathon of
documentation and research after looking into the eyes of an eight month old
colt that was suffering from hoof slough (feet falling off) during the BLM Calico
roundup of 9/10. She named that little red colt "Hope Springs
Eternal." ... After being refused the opportunity to aid the colt, he
subsequently died. Laura has worked every single day since then to stop the
madness.
When her work began sparking public criticism, BLM sought to
restrict her access to their operations and facilities. Laura, fighting for the
very lives of our helpless wild horses, filed a lawsuit against BLM. The fight
to document wild horses, wherever they are in the system, has been a
"battlefield" in Federal Court. The case that has become known as the
"First Amendment" suit won a landmark decision in the Ninth Circuit
Court of Appeals in February of 2012 and is scheduled to head back to the
courtroom in February of 2013.
Her second suit against the BLM for "Humane Care,"
if it wins, could put an end to the cruel practices now ubiquitous in the BLM
wild horse and burro program. WHE was able to halt two BLM operations through
injunctions and restraining orders related to these suits. Just recently, WHE
joined on as part of the investigation team into the allegations that BLM
participated in the sale of mustangs from their feed lots to kill buyers. This
case too is pending.
Last year Laura gained the first Temporary Restraining Order
(TRO)
in the history of the BLM’s
"Wild Horse and Burro Program" to inhumane conduct. Since then her
documentation has gained a second TRO and an Injunction to conduct. The case against
inhumane care of wild horses is still active in Federal Court.
This September an investigation by Laura's organization was essential
in helping journalist Dave Philips, a Pulitzer Prize winning investigative reporter,
break the huge story that clearly illustrates the relationship with the BLM and
kill-buyers. Currently the IG's office is investigating on a Federal level and
the state of Colorado has turned over information to the DA's office for
prosecution.
This group is really doing
the work in the field and getting the results in the courtroom protecting the voiceless who
need our voice ... These cases, investigations and documentation, are supported
solely through donations to Wild Horse Education.
Please visit the Wild Horse Education site http://wildhorseeducation.org/ … Spend some time viewing the videos, looking
at the pictures … You may not want to believe your eyes … Also on the home page is a box that says "Educate
Yourself: Myths and Facts." Here is the link to that and it is one of the best
guides to what is wrong and what is going on that I have seen. … http://wildhorseeducation.org/2012/11/10/educate-yourself-myths-and-facts/
Please share this blog and their link with your friends, ask
them all to tell their friends, spread the truth, and give support. So
many lives depend on our voices and our help. What's being done by the BLM is
not only wrong, it's cruel. With enough public notice and outcry, we can stop
the BLM and save our wild horses and burros.
God Bless and thank you. ~ Dutch
Thank you for these writings! Pls correct Spelling of Laure to Laura in the title...thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, S Sarlis!! OOPS ... All fixed!
DeleteNo No, Thank You for the brilliant writing!
DeleteThank you Dutch for this excellent piece on Laura Leigh. I have been Laura's friend and supporter for many, many months now. I cannot imagine the heartbreak she has seen; enough to haunt her dreams for the rest of her life, yet she keeps going, despite the undeserved criticism from many wild horse advocates.
ReplyDeleteI hope you will continue to follow her very important work.
I will, Rhonda ... And thank you for supporting her!
ReplyDeletePlease keep in touch and if ever you know something I should write about, please contact me ...
Please join my blog, and feel free to share, everywhere ..
Through the tears is usually how I end up reading about our wild horses & burros. I do not understand treating these magnificent animals like pests. They evolved in North America, nowhere else, as The Horse, for over 1.8 million years. Then they began crossing the land bridge to Asia. Not because they weren't suited to the ecology here and dying out but probably to escape being hunted by humans. They've proved they can survive and thrive in varied remote harsh climates. Our wild horses are true wild animals, a returned native species yet our govt encourages viewing them as feral and invasive.
ReplyDeleteLaura has my full support because I trust that she always tries to do what is best to keep the wild ones where they belong. Thank you for sharing Laura's story from your heart and making others aware of her efforts to stop the madness.