“You must learn to let go. Release the stress. You were never in control anyway.”
~ Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

Hello and Happy Monday to everyone!

I have said before that I wished as we moved along the last few years in our fight to save the historic herd of horses that call Theodore Roosevelt National Park home, that I wished I had shared more of the moments when things didn’t go exactly the way I had planned.

Today I want to share what happened yesterday.

My plan was to continue to get information together to send to the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on National Parks.  I knew we would not get a lot of notice when the next hearing was, but given the date, I was hoping we were looking into the new year for the next committee hearing on S1377.

As I went about my day, I received a notification that there was now a committee hearing set for THIS WEDNESDAY (12/17/2025) AND S1377 – The Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wild Horse Protection Act is one of the bills listed for the committee to discuss.

UGH!!!

I was NOT ready for this! 

I panicked. 

I stressed.

I reached out to my wild horse advocate friends who helped talk me off the ledge. 

We brainstormed.

So, we cannot do what we planned to do, but what CAN we do?

The good news is that Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates has been constantly working on this, so we were prepared.  There are currently 22 other groups and organizations who are standing with us and our amendment requests!  It was heartwarming that we continued to add names to the list as the day went on!   Many organizational leaders sent emails of support.  We are thankful to each and every one of them!

I also want to point out some misinformation that is floating around out there.

This committee meeting is the first one where “mark-ups” will be allowed.  What does that mean?

Here is a GREAT definition from Fiveable.me (https://fiveable.me/key-terms/hs-honors-us-government/mark-up)

“Mark-up refers to the process during which a committee or subcommittee of Congress reviews and amends a proposed piece of legislation. This crucial step allows lawmakers to debate, modify, and enhance the bill before it moves to the full chamber for consideration. Mark-up sessions are essential for shaping the final content of legislation, ensuring that various viewpoints are considered and that the bill is refined to meet the needs of different stakeholders.”

We are NOW in this CRUCIAL step! This is not a time to remain silent!

Yesterday, we created a NEW Call to Action that lists all of the amendments Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates is requesting at this time.  We NEED to get as many emails as possible to the committee before their hearing on Wednesday at 9:30 am Eastern time.  You can take this one click Call to Action here: https://secure.everyaction.com/1v1WhnNkvkqn-R5HCbWv_w2

You can take this action as many times as you like. 

For those also saying that the legislation does not need to be amended, I wonder which 50 horses from the park they think should be removed after this legislation is signed into law?  The legislation only requires the park to keep “not less than 150 horses” in the park. 

I also wonder if they are ok with 150 of ANY type of horse being allowed to remain in the park, because the legislation, as it is written, does not clarify that THESE horses – you know, the sons and daughters of Red Face, Ghost, Copper, Thunder, Sidekick, Gray Ghost, Gary, Sweetheart, Flame, Silver, Blaze, Trouble’s Girl and so many others – are THE genetics that the park MUST maintain. 

Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates wants amendments that clarify this.  It’s important to us and we believe it is important to anyone who truly loves what makes this herd unique! To us, a horse is a horse is a horse is a horse is NOT what we are fighting so hard for.   

My week shifted, again.  I will continue to personally work non-stop on getting our amendments added to the legislation until I can sit back and nervously watch the hearing on Wednesday. 

Your week has shifted too because it is going to take ALL of us to get the committee’s attention to add our amendments!

Please share this link with others – ask anyone and everyone you know to take a moment to take this simple action!  We had over 3,000 people send emails for the last hearing.  Now, we have even less time AND please remember, the committee will also vote on passing this to the full committee. 

THIS is where, at EVERY step, if we don’t move forward, the bill dies. 

I feel like this is for all the marbles!  We have worked sooo hard to get here!  It hasn’t been easy – but here we are!

Please take the time to take action!  We also listed all the committee members and their DC office numbers if you want to take the time and call and request that they amend S1377 with the amendments submitted by Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates.  You can read yesterday’s blog here: https://chwha.org/2025/12/14/urgent-its-go-time/

One last reminder, in the midst of all this, a Secret Santa has agreed to match any donations we receive through this FRIDAY 12/19/2025 – UP TO $1,000!  This means that ANY donation you make is AUTOMATICALLY DOUBLED!!!  Thank you to our Secret Santa and to all of you who have made a donation of any size!

You can make your tax-deductible donations here: https://secure.everyaction.com/wnK6YjHlTkCC2Aq57_7srQ2

Donations can also be made via PayPal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=XNYNCNVLTULGC

Thank you for your support and have a great day!

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