Grateful ~ Thankful ~ Blessed!

“What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life – to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories.” – George Eliot

I cannot tell you how many silent unspeakable memories the wild horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park have given me! On a day when we celebrate our families and our blessings, for me personally, that includes these amazing wild horses. I believe this is true for many of you too! This can be true if you have spent countless hours in the Park with them, or if you know them through the many social media outlets that share photos and stories about these amazing wild horses.

These horses live in a national park that was set aside to preserve nature and pay tribute to Theodore Roosevelt and his time in the Badlands of North Dakota. Without a doubt, the ancestors of the horses we have come to know and love were a part of that history.

The photo attached to this post is part of Stallion Nicols’ family. They are a young group of horses mainly made up of 2–4-year-olds who are learning to navigate life with each other and a first-time band stallion who is 9 years old. These lucky girls are not only sisters, but they were blessed to have the opportunity to learn how to be the great mares they are becoming by watching their incredible mothers: Mares Teepee, Goblin, and Indian Paint Brush.

The dynamics have been amazing to watch. Even better, now these young ladies that we have had the opportunity to watch grow, are having their own babies. Now they get to be the teachers and we get to watch their babies learn and grow.

And hopefully, our children and grandchildren get to come to Theodore Roosevelt National Park and see Nicols and his family or their offspring and be reminded of the rich equine history that runs through the Badlands of Southwestern North Dakota.

Today, your human family may be counting on you to cook the turkey, or bring desert, maybe they simply want you to show up and spend the day with them. Your family at Theodore Roosevelt National Park is also counting on you to show up for them too!

Can you take a few minutes before the hustle and bustle of the day to send a comment into Theodore Roosevelt National Park?

Or….

Maybe later when everyone is in a food coma, you might have a moment for a quick comment asking the Park to allow the wild horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park to remain in the only home they have ever known.

If you have already sent in your comment letter to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, we are thankful for you! More than that, 200 wild horses that call the Park home are grateful that you took the time to speak up on their behalf.

If you have NOT sent your comment letter in yet, please take a moment to comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment that Theodore Roosevelt National Park released in September.

Even better – ask your family and friends to make a simple comment on behalf of the 200 horses that call the Park home.

The freedom of 200 wild horses is what is at stake. They don’t have a voice that can be heard or understood by the humans trying to eliminate them from the only home they have ever known. They need you to speak up for them.

We all have our “favorite” family members that we look forward to seeing on the holidays. Who is your favorite family member in Theodore Roosevelt National Park?

Flax? Gunner? Trooper? Boomer? Pale Lady? Nicols? Teepee? Daisy? Betty Blue? Coal? Belle? Teton? Yoakum? Pixie? Ollie Jr.? Mischief? Arrowhead? Diamond? Blue Angel? Amantes? Alluvium? Frontier? Patience? Tawney? Creed? Piper? Phoenix? Dreamer? Archer? Anthem?

Or maybe your favorite, like mine, crossed the rainbow bridge.

Can you take a moment to fight for the legacy that Mystery, Red Face, Copper, Strawberry, Cocoa, Singlefoot, Satellite, Silver, Chubby, Blaze, Sweetheart, Wind Canyon, Cheyenne, Thunder, and so many others have left behind either through personal memories and/or their offspring that still call the Park home?

Your comment letter can be as simple or as long as you want it to be! Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates created a form letter for you to use to submit your comments. We also have over 3800 people who have signed this comment letter. You can find our template and sign onto our letter here: https://secure.everyaction.com/9pae2T4Ud0SItoaoX10DmA2

Remember, comments ONLY count when you submit them through the Park’s planning website: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=167&projectID=105110&documentID=132035

Have your letter postmarked BY November 24, 2023, and mailed to: Superintendent, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, P.O. Box 7, Medora, ND 58645.

CHWHA will be mailing the comment letter that everyone has signed onto FRIDAY so it is postmarked ON November 24, 2023!

Saturday will be TOO LATE for you to weigh in on the future management of this historical herd of wild horses!

Please, take one moment today to speak up for our family of wild horses that call Thedore Roosevelt National Park home.

Also please note: Friday marks the end of this part of our fight. This is just the beginning of what we expect to be a very long battle for the freedom of these iconic wild horses.

Once you get your comments in, please be sure to check back here after you rest up this weekend! We have some things brewing and will no doubt have some new Calls to Action for you in the coming weeks!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! Have a wonderful and safe holiday!

Thank you for your support!

P.S. We uploaded our Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates comment letter to our website yesterday. You can view it and other supporting documents to help you create your comment letter here: https://chwha.org/save-the-trnp-wild-horses/