Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

Those words are as true today as they were in 1965 when they were originally spoken. 

As I have been learning about the grant writing process and getting reports together, I came across a few statistics that I wanted to share with you today:

In 2022, our website traffic was 15,930.  In 2023 that number rose to 72,027!  In 2022, 76,000 people followed us on social media (Facebook and Instagram).  One year later, in 2023, that number rose to 729,000 people.

Why am I sharing that?

It took ALL of those people to help create the change we realized for this herd.

Yesterday, I was talking to a new volunteer about this herd.  She said something to the effect of “At least their fate has been determined and they can stay.”  After talking to her for a while and trying to explain why that was not correct, I came up with this answer.

In April of this year, the park stopped their Environmental Assessment process. 

THAT is all that happened in April. The horses are not safe.  They have no protection whatsoever.  Their fate is in the hands of park management.

How are the horses being managed?

We have no idea!  We are all waiting for the park to start collaborating with the public in the ways that Senator Hoeven has stated they will. 

It appears that they will continue to use GonaCon which we know causes permanent sterilization.  Foaling rates should be 15-20% yearly.  There are 125 mares currently in TRNP.  We have 8 foals so far this year.   I would not expect much more; last year only 15 of the 17 foals that were born survived. 

Last week the park captured 2019 Bachelor Stallion Alluvium.  He is a “nuisance” and they plan to give him away to the tribes or sell him on GSA Auctions. 

Why?  He was exhibiting normal wild horse behavior that upset people who brought horses to the park to camp.

I have asked the Superintendent for copies of the complaints.

Today, when we went by the pens to check on Alluvium, he wasn’t there.  It is possible that he was in the building by the pens.  It is also possible that they sent him to one of the tribes. 

I emailed the Superintendent and asked what happened to him as well.

I know you will be as shocked as I am that she has not answered either of my requests. 

A local reporter sent her a list of questions last week and only received a vague response to the inquiry.

Why do I bring all of this up?

I have said repeatedly, we have a lot of work left to do to protect these horses.

My question today is where are those 72,000 and 729,000 of you I mentioned at the beginning of this post?

On top of that, where are the MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of followers these horses have?

I can say that only a small handful of you answered the Calls to Action we have given over the last couple of weeks. 

One was contacting the Medora City Council and asking for change in park management on key issues.

The second was demanding that Alluvium be released back into the park.

I will be completely honest.   I am exhausted.  The last two years took a lot out of me.  My personal advocacy for these horses has not stopped.  Every single day I spend at least half my day advocating in some way for these horses.

All of you said we needed to continue fighting.

My question again is Where are you?

If I am the only one complaining, no change will come.

If only a handful of people are doing these Calls to Acton, then no change will come.

I have not had any further responses from any of the wild horse organizations I reached out to asking for help to truly save the herd they all claim to have worked so hard to save over the last two years.

And that is fine.

Why?

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for!

We can’t keep thinking that someone else will answer these Calls to Action and help create the changes we need.

IF the Medora City Council does not hear from enough of you, my voice alone at the next meeting will not be enough to change things.

IF more of you do not speak up about how OUTRAGED you are that Alluvium was captured and will NOT be returned to the park, then how long will it be before the next horse is removed for being a “nuisance”?  This is setting a dangerous precedent.

How long will you remain silent?

I am asking again, for the true FATE of these horses, please do these two Calls to Action TODAY.  Then after you do them, have your spouse, friends, family, co-workers take action as well! 

The Call to Action for the Medora City Council is here: https://secure.everyaction.com/3FOOSSFKrEilcvlpBhxzhg2

The Call to Action to free Alluvium is here: https://secure.everyaction.com/4bIr7BLQ60SHxHhJLAI_-Q2

The true FATE of the wild horses of Theodore Roosevelt National Park still remains to be seen.  Are you going to help make sure they continue to survive and thrive or did our fight truly end in April?

Actions speak louder than words and I will let your actions direct us on how CHWHA moves forward.

To those of you who have taken action already – THANK YOU!

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