A·lign·ment

/əˈlīnmənt/

noun

• 1.arrangement in a straight line, or in correct or appropriate relative positions: “the tiles had slipped out of alignment”
• 2.a position of agreement or alliance: “the uncertain nature of political alignments”

Hello and Happy Friday to everyone.  I want to start by saying I was going to make this post yesterday, BUT

I sprained my ankle instead! 

That led to a day of doctors and having to use the R-I-C-E method (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevate) to get the extreme swelling down and feel better. 

A reminder for me, as a quote that crossed my path today stated, “I can do anything, but I do not have to do EVERYTHING.”

So yesterday, I was forced to slow down and let other people take care of me.  Thank you again to my husband and mom who made sure I had what I needed when I asked for it. 

I am feeling better today and want to expand some thoughts on what seems to have struck a nerve with some people. 

I opened this with a quote on alignment meaning it as definition #2 states – being in a position of agreement. 

Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates (CHWHA), like other nonprofit organizations, chooses to work with individuals and organizations that are in alignment with the reasons why our organization was formed. 

When CHWHA was formed, people looked at the situation at Theodore Roosevelt National Park and said, there were already 2 nonprofit organizations that advocate for the wild horses in the park.  Why did we have to start another one?

Those organizations chose to focus on helping the park sell off the younger horses and help with the GonaCon experiment.  CHWHA believes that there are other management practices that were cause for concern that should be addressed.  There is a place in advocacy for helping to find homes for horses that are removed from their homes.  CHWHA has chosen NOT to make that part of our mission statement.  That doesn’t mean that we are right, and they are wrong.  It means that there are different ways that people can advocate for the same herd.  Maybe theirs aligns with yours.  Maybe ours does.  Maybe neither does and you have a better solution and will one day start your own nonprofit organization.  None of that is wrong. 

As nonprofit organizations, we align ourselves with other organizations that share similar goals.  We SUPPORT and ENDORSE those organizations that are in alignment with what we are working so hard to accomplish here at CHWHA.  We choose not to support other organizations – not to say they are bad or wrong but to say their mission is not in alignment with ours.

It’s that simple but our human nature ideas on right/wrong also makes it that complicated. 

Our mission does not align with other wild horse advocates.  I don’t take offense to that.  It is their choice to support whomever they choose. 

Part of what is wrong with our society today is that my opinion differs from yours and we look for a way to find out who is “RIGHT” and who is “WRONG”, instead of looking at the possibility that everyone has their own pieces of right and wrong when it comes to being in alignment for a cause. 

Integrity is also something that means something to us.  If an organization continuously flip flops on their stand, it becomes hard to align with them. 

It is a choice. 

Case in point: A few weeks ago, I was having a conversation with our legal team.  They were telling me about a case they were involved with where there were several organizations that joined forces for a lawsuit.  When it was time to resolve the issue, they had to get all of the differing opinions to agree on ONE outcome.  It was a task, but they were finally able to resolve the issue. 

There have been several organizations that have let us know that IF this case with the Theodore Roosevelt National Park wild horses goes to litigation, they would join forces with us.  As great as that sounds, the question of if they are in alignment with us on the outcome we want for these horses becomes increasingly important. 

Just because someone shares photos and stories about the wild horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park or even is part of a nonprofit organization that documents the horses, it does not mean that we ALIGN with their mission and long-term goals for this herd.

That also does not mean that CHWHA’s mission is in alignment with theirs.

And you know what?

At the end of the day, that’s ok. If we were all alike as humans, the world would be a very boring place. 

For those of you who have said that there is only one group out there creating a documentary about the TRNP wild horses, please let me correct you.  CHWHA has been contacted by at least 3-4 different groups that are working on one.  Some are in the initial stages of pitching the ideas to their producers/editors/owners, some have been out here already filming and others have footage and no funding. 

Time will tell which ones make it to the public.  Hopefully they all do!  The documentary process is a long one.  None of these will be completed before the final documents are released from the park.  For CHWHA what is important is continuing to fight for the freedom of these wild horses now and in the future.  These documentaries can help raise awareness, but CHWHA is working on raising that awareness NOW, when we believe it is needed the most and is putting all of our resources toward that. 

And yes, it also makes a difference to us who is doing the documentary.  Why?  Alignment. If an organization producing a documentary is not in alignment with our mission at CHWHA or has not been a supporter of CHWHA’s mission and work to fight for the wild horses of TRNP, then we do not support or endorse that work. 

Does that mean we don’t wish them the best and look forward to seeing their final product – of course we do.  We hope they realize every success possible and produce a great film that tells the story.  Once the documentary is completed, we may decide that we think that the story was told well, and it is something that everyone should see.  At this moment, some of these documentaries are being produced by people/organizations whose mission is not in alignment with CHWHA’s. 

The same is true for many organizations that have come forward claiming to be working to save the TRNP wild horses.  If we haven’t spoken with them over the last 2 years, then we reach out and see if their mission for saving these horses is in alignment with ours. 

Just because a group/organization or individual wants to see the horses saved doesn’t mean that their mission or the management plan they are advocating for is in alignment with ours. 

Why wouldn’t we support something that raises awareness about or tells the story of the TRNP wild horses?  Again, if their mission or the management plan that they are advocating for is not in alignment with ours, until the documentary is finished, we would have to assume that their movie is in alignment with their mission. 

Lastly, our federal and state legislators are busy people, just like the rest of us.  They will take time to support things asked of them by their constituents, again, because we hired them – we are the ones that vote for them and give them a job term after term.  CHWHA STILL needs the help of our legislators.  That is why one suggested letting the others know that we were not asking for their support for this specific project.  This is not something that CHWHA needs their help with.  This will hopefully allow them to be there when we really do need their help on a project, bill or other legislative procedure. 

We also need everyone to understand that every individual group, person or organization working to “save” the TRNP wild horses are not all working toward the same goal.  There are many out there who are not in alignment with what we are trying to accomplish. 

For Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates, this fight is NOT over when a final document is released by the park.  THAT does NOT seal the “fate” of the wild horses of TRNP.  Our legal team will let us know what options we have when the document is released. 

Even if the final document states that the horses are allowed to stay, CHWHA STILL is not done.  That would be a complete and total waste of all of our hard work over the last 2 years!

CHWHA is done Fighting for the Spirit of the Badlands when this herd has federal protection to prevent what we have spent the last 2 years fighting for from ever happening again.  CHWHA has always stated we are looking for federal protection that allows a genetically viable herd to be managed properly within the boundaries of TRNP. Members of our board have been fighting for this since 2017! That mission has not and never will change for us.  

Not everyone out there is in alignment with that mission or is doing the actual work it will take to get there. 

Alignment. 

That’s a big 9 letter word with a lot of meaning behind it. 

Thank you for your understanding and if you have questions, feel free to contact us at info@chwha.org. 

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