I have been involved with American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) since its inception well over a decade ago. It has been my honor to also be a Creative Ambassador, using my imagery not only to assist in AWHC’s advocacy efforts but also to raise funding to support its mission to protect these beautiful animals. Today I want to tell you about one of my favorite places to see wild horses and how AWHC is fighting to protect it.
The Red Desert is one of the most mystical, magical, and mysterious places to view the wildest of our American wild horses. This landscape is a wild and pure tonic for the soul. If you ever get the opportunity to travel here, I cannot recommend it enough.
The thing is, most people will not get the chance to do so, and it is my sincere hope that through images and stories, we can inspire you to care as deeply as we do about this unique and rugged place.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to eliminate wild horses entirely from vast areas of the Red Desert and drastically reduce their numbers elsewhere. Despite meeting the “thriving natural ecological balance” required by law, the agency rounded up 3,500 horses — nearly 75% of the population — in the 2020-2021 helicopter roundup, at the behest of the Rock Springs Grazing Association (RGSA).
To combat the RGSA’s influence over the BLM, AWHC, Western Watersheds Project, and Animal Welfare Institute took them to court, along with myself and two other Red Desert photographers, Carol Walker and Chad Hanson. In fact, just this July our lawyers argued on behalf of these wild horses in federal court. While the judge’s ruling was not in our favor, we’ve appealed the decision to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.
The future of our wild horses, not only in Wyoming but across the West, depends on our ability to fight back and win. At its core, the Wild Horse and Burro Program is strung together with a narrative that supports special interests and has very little to do with "protecting" America’s icons. That responsibility is up to us. Together, it is our job to protect wild horses and burros, and the lands they live on, by using our voices and supporting the organizations working so hard to ensure they have a future — one we will continue to enjoy for years to come.
It is my greatest hope that we win this case and restore wild horses to their rightful place in the Red Desert.
Their absence would leave an unhealable wound on the landscapes of Wyoming and eliminate a key part of the wildness we hold so dear in this area for future generations to come. While Wyoming can be a challenge, AWHC has won in the 10th Circuit before. Lawsuits are costly, and should you feel moved to assist us in some way, I thank you, but more importantly, our wild ones will — in all their majestic wild glory.
We must act now to ensure that future generations can witness the wild beauty of these horses, just as I have been fortunate enough to do. This fight is not just for the Wyoming mustangs, but for the soul of our public lands and all its inhabitants who thrive here.
Kimerlee has created a special collection of prints, the Stay Wild Collection and the Holiday Collection, to support this legal battle in Wyoming. Until December 31st these fine art prints are 20% off and 20% will be donated to our work here at AWHC.