Howdy Folks,
Laura Leigh founder Wild Horse Education, was also one of the contributors to my upcoming feature article in TrailBlazer, "The Last Wild Horse In America Died Today." Its an honor to feature here today ~ I first featured Laura in November 2012, with this story and it is appropriate to revisit it today ~
Laura Leigh - Wild Horse Education -“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, 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.
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 for 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 video. It has been used to
fight in Federal Court for the welfare and well-being of wild horses and
burros.
Laura Leigh on the job working for the horses |
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
2010/2011. 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.
Two years ago 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.
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
These cases, investigations and documentation, are supported
solely through donations to Wild Horse Education. This group is really doing
the work in the field and getting the results in the courtroom protecting the voiceless who
need our voice.
Please visit the Wild Horse Education site http://wildhorseeducation.org/ … Spend some time viewing the videos, looking
at the pictures … You may not 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 Gitty Up, Dutch Henry
Laura Leigh, an un-sung hero in the battle for our Wild Ones!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Dutch Henry for sharing these thoughts about Laura Leigh and her very, very important work. God bless you sir!
ReplyDelete