trueCOWBOYmagazine June_July 2015

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6/7 2015

Our Buckle Bunny

Kelle King "I hope to be as good of a person as my animals already think I am"

Angels of the Land Fred Petermann 20answers Chris Heyde

iVIEW Gina McKnight with D.B. Jackson

After the Finish Line Jonathan Miller

An Open Letter Monika Courtney

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HavE App, Will Travel

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www.americasmustangs.com

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Heard round the waterin’ trough

Publisher

The S.A.F.E. Act (HR:1942) has found political support thanks to so many, notably, AWI and Chris Heyde. Whom, we are happy to say, is

Equine Angle Marketing & PR

our “20Answers” candidate (page 16). These folks prove that if you bear down hard and long enough you can make a difference.

Advertising & Editorial

Passing the S.A.F.E. Act into law is of the utmost importance to protect our horses and effectively eliminate horse transportation across the Mexican and Canadian borders for slaughter and human consumption overseas.

Those proponents of horse slaughter who run afoul of compassion need to be silenced once and for all. Truth be known is that there are solutions and there is no shortage of financial aid, and especially from the private sector, to fund existing sanctuaries and support start up rescues. There are numerous ways to help a sanctuary stay viable and solvent including a large legacy donation upon death. Having been in the racing industry personally and seeing first hand the millions of dollars spent to purchase racehorses, or even a single racehorse, in the name of sport, although, some might argue “ego”, it seems only fitting that these same people do their part to ensure these magnificent horses, who served them well and earned some millions, pay it forward to the kind folks saving these horses lives after the finish line. What’s a few million when you are an oil barren, communications mogul, corporate raider or the Sheik or Prince of a country with a few billion in your back pocket? The answer is in the question, si-no? So, what is your legacy?

Gracias & besos, Calamity Cate Crismani

Editor Cate Crismani 818 642 4764 calamity@truecowboymagazine.com

Featured Fotographer Fred Petermann

Featured Buckle Bunny Fotographers Michael King Danya Morrison Shawn Getty-Lowe

Contributing Wriders Monika Courtney ~ Cate Crismani Lauren Hedstrom ~ Kelle King Gina McKnight ~ Jonathan Miller Fred Petermann ~ Allan Warren Stephen Wells

Contributing Fotographers Ian Elwood Sophia Domino ~ Frank Olaya

Saddle up, Subscribe at www.truecowboymagazine.com

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Features 8 Angels of the land

fred petermann 16 20Answers with Awi’s Chris Heyde 27 After the finish line Jonathan Miller 32 Our Buckle Bunny, Kelle King

42 Good things come in small packages Victoria Netanel & Debbie Garcia-Bengochea 46 Eliminating Equine Slaughter Allen Warren 54 An Open letter Monika Courtney 58 Horses & Stars...Bhalin 60 iVIEW with Gina mcknight & D.B. Jackson 68 Doing the right thing...TRF 72 great turnout @ La law symposium Stephen Wells

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Angels of the Land Fred Petermann

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http://wildhorses-mustangs.com/

Copyright 2015 Fred Petermann. All rights reserved.

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20 Ans Chris

Animal Welf

trueCOWBOYmagazine sits down with the Animal Welfare Institute’s Deputy Direc office, Chris turned out to be a very private person. So much so, that he did not ev companion, pit bull rescue, Boudica, would be the face of Chris Heyde. Chris has bee animal issues internationally. In his position at AWI, Chris is proposing and penning House and the Senate while, over the years, gathering up support in the political fo actively establishes animal welfare laws resulting in kinder, m trueCOWBOYmagazine: Who is Chris Heyde?

Chris Heyde: I am a very simple person. My political beliefs and belief in the system is what has molded me and ties into my love of animals. I am a compassionate person, needless to say, or I wouldn't be doing this. I am not ego driven. I am not personality driven, nor is my work, which is all about the animal issues. Having said that, I certainly don't shy away from opportunities to make something public but I want to work with intelligent people who approach horse and animal advocacy with intelligence. No bickering or competition within the ranks. Animal advocacy is about getting the job done, period. I focus on presenting the facts because I care about the facts. I have met people in this movement who will not get down with animals, literally. They will not sit on the floor with their dogs. I never understood that mentality.

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swers Heyde

fare Institute

ctor of Government & Legal Affairs, Chris Heyde. Although he holds a very public ven want to have us post pictures of him below. So, we decided that his beautiful en with AWI for almost two decades now possessing a wide knowledge and depth of g solutions to these problems and actively engaging with representatives in both the orum and the public arena. His work, and the work of the AWI staff, positively and more humane lives for all animals and, subsequently, humans. tCm: How and why are you politically motivated to established animal protection laws and change animal abuse penalties?

CH: I grew up in politics. My parents were very active in politics as was my Grand Dad who was an elected official. After high school I joined the army, then to college for political science and then to graduate school in political science and international relations.

Unfortunately, with that kind of useless degree, I came to Washington, DC. There I got a fellowship in the U.S. Senate for two years and gained an entry level staff position on The Hill. Then I became a legislative advisor to Chuck Hegle, the Secretary of Defense, now retired. All political stuff. Then I worked on animal and environmental issues for Senator Mack. Coming from Florida, the manatee was of prime interest to me. Shortly after that, I left The Hill and went to work for a lobbying firm as Vice President in D.C.

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tCm: How did you become involved with the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI)?

CH: Early on in my life, I realized lobbying and advocacy were skills I possessed. I've always felt passionate about animal issues and started branching out to groups in D.C. that had a proven track record of animal welfare. AWI wasn't flashy but it was policy driven and very effective. They had solid information and representation on Capital Hill. When I looked around at who was doing the job most efficiently, the AWI fit all of my criteria. tCm: How long have you been with AWI? CH: Its been sixteen years now. I realized early on that animal law was the path I had to take and convinced AWI to hire me full time. tCm: What is your position at AWI? CH: I am the Deputy Director of Government and Legal Affairs. Its been great. I started off under Christine Stevens, the founder of AWI. In 2001, AWI celebrated it's 50th Anniversary with a published book that encompassed the good work AWI effected for animal welfare in the government. When Christine was asked "How can you continue this?" Her simple response was, "Why wouldn't I?" She continued to work in animal welfare till she died in her 80's. Her hands were on every major law we have. She was quite a powerhouse. tCm: What federal legislation are you working on currently?

CH: The SAFE Act HR-1942. AWI had the S.A.F.E. Act ready to go just before 9/11. The severity of that incident forced us to hold off at that time. So it was introduced in 2002.

Over the years, the language has changed from time to time but its end goal is to get a ban on horse slaughter in the United States and, more importantly, to ban the transport of American horses across the borders for the sole purpose of slaughter. It is important to understand that our horses are not bred for eating but for companion animals. And the reality is that our domesticate horses are filled to the eye balls, not only with legal drugs, but with painkillers, de-wormers and vaccines that are harmful, and possibly carcinogenic, to people. There is not a single FDA drug approved for human consumption that companion horses are given. tCm. So you took the "human health� route to fight horse slaughter as opposed to the cruelty aspect to horses?

CH: We are still dealing with the cruelty aspect as well. We know the cruelty exists. But over the last few years the European Union's shift was leaning towards the safety of humans consuming horse meat. So we focused on that viewpoint. The mainstream horse industry, whether they care about horse slaughter or not, should care about this bill. If we loose the fight against horse slaughter for health reasons, than horses become edible, meat animals.

Drugs will be regulated. Horses will need a passport system like the EU has now for equines coming into the country. It will impact horse breeding, veterinarians, feed industries, all of these things...the multi-billion dollar horse industry will be taken over by a multi-million dollar export industry. Are these horse owners going to let this happen? The thoroughbred industry should be embracing anti-horse slaughter because if we don't win, their industry suffers the most. They should be very concerned about horse slaughter and realize that their silence is helping the horse slaughter industries.

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tCm: You took the bill to stop horse slaughter to Congress in 2002. Why is it taking so long to move this bill through the system to a finite end?

CH: The answer is in your question: The System. The difficulty in getting this bill passed is outside of animals. The cruelty is driven from the fact that those in Congress blocking this have strong financial and personal ties to the agricultural industry. My grandparents would be shocked at the AG industry now. Its a completely different game now then when my grandfather was a farmer. But Big AG is a major hurdle and Big AG controls congress. It's just the way it is but it doesn't mean it's insurmountable. It does mean we have to keep the pressure on our representatives. There is support and sponsors in the Senate from Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and in the House of Representatives from Representative Frank Guinta (R-NH), Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Representative Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) to get the S.A.F.E. Act passed.

But none of this happens over night. It takes a long time to get things done in the government, any government. We are fighting the same fight as was Velma Johnston, Wild Horse Annie. We could change the date from 1958 to today and it would be the same argument. Along the way, we have kept horses from slaughter by getting the USDA vet inspections defunded for years. We win battles. Now we have to win the war. tCm:. Do you feel the tides are changing positively for our animals?

CH: Yes I do. In consideration of the fact that there were only two animal protection laws in existence when AWI was founded. Now animal abuse is a felony in forty-eight states. I always remind people that if we weren't here the wild horses would be gone, the water would be polluted, the air unbreathable. Its comfortable to sit on the internet but you’ve got to put your pants on and get out and vote, protest. There are good republicans and bad democrats. A poll is easy to do and we know the numbers. Learn who your representatives are, contact them, be active, do something. If you vote for whatever party you like, ask if they like animals. If they do, they have a level of compassion and are probably a good party candidate. We will not have real change until animal attitudes change. You can't ignore them when you go to the ballot box. I always remind people, as hard as this is, imagine what it would be like if we weren't here. It would be even more gruesome. tCm: Have you personally witnessed horse slaughter?

CH: Unfortunately, yes. But intentionally. I went into a horse slaughter house in Illinois. I went to see the horrors purely for my own education; to speak from first-hand experience.

It was an unexpected visit, accompanied by a vet, back in 2001 and we witnessed the abusive handling of these animals and the live feed into the slaughter pens. Don't expect to be invited in and if you are things have been beautified just for your visit. It was horrible.

The workers were callous, horses were slinging around in the kill box while being whipped and shackled alive. The USDA vet wasn't there when we were. This visit set the foundation for everything we do now regarding the horse slaughter industry. I will never get those images out of my head.

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tCm: Some will argue what's the difference; slaughter a cow, slaughter a horse?

CH: My grandparents had a working farm in Ohio and had dairy and beef cows. Horse slaughter is not a big component of the livestock industry. It is done by the few greedy individuals to make a few extra bucks. Horses are not "food" animals. Don't get me wrong, I am not advocating slaughtering cows. All of it disgusts me. But horses are bred as companion animals. The Amish culture is probably the only one that uses horses for agricultural purposes. To them, horses are property. As property the owners have the right to do whatever they want with them. While it is still around, that idea is not largely acceptable by the public. tCm: There is a lot of animal cruelty out there. Why do you think that is?

CH: My opinion: ignorance, greed and money.

tCm: . What kind of personality, person, perpetrates cruelty on animals and horses?

CH: There are certainly different degrees of how animal cruelty is approached. It could be a societal influence or a familial one or simply that a person has a mean streak and instead of hitting the kids, they kick the dog. Unfortunately, animals are nothing but property to many people. tCm: Is animal cruelty a felony?

CH: Yes it is, in forty eight states. The majority of people who know of someone who is abusing and starving a horse turn them in to the authorities. I t is against the law. Any animal suffering under heinous conditions is a cruel felony. Turn them in to the authorities.

Don't turn a blind eye.

tCm: Is there a connection between domestic violence and animal cruelty that you have noticed?

CH: Absolutely! This is a big issue for us at AWI. We are also working on another bill: "Pets and Women Safety Act". A lot of domestic violence victims stay in these abusive relationships to protect their pets and children from victimization. It is an extremely serious problem. Along with kids abusing animals. These kids become even more violent as they grow into adults with some becoming serial killers like Ted Bundy, Jeff Dahmer and others.

We would like to see the FBI include in their crime statistics animal abuse. It is a trend that sometimes leads to serial killings or human abuse. tCm: I can't imagine slaughtering animals for a living. Do you think some people get a morbid pleasure out of doing this?

CH: I don’t know but I think a lot of it is how they are raised or the environment they grew up in. There is always that animal that is chained in the backyard or being kicked. As a child you see that and think it is normal behavior and in this way it is perpetuated by these kids and their offspring and so on. I was never raised that way. And since farming has become corporatized there is less exposure for children to see that abuse. tCm:. Congress, at the end of 2014, once again approved language effectively blocking the US Department of Agriculture from spending taxpayer dollars to inspect horse slaughter plants, thus effectively preventing these facilities from operating in the USA.

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Is this something that must be monitored year after year and blocked continually or is there some bill or act that is in the works to stop this once and for all?

CH: It is and there is. The SAFE Act (HR:1942) was just introduced to the House a few weeks ago. The Senate version was introduced, or reintroduced, shortly after that. I believe it will pass. I wouldn't do it if I didn't believe it. These things are always going to have a tough time. Every bill does, Congress doesn't pass things easily with equal support from both sides. It’s important to continue to build support because it sends a message. The slaughter house proponents must realized these bills, and the public, are sending them a message that they are not welcomed or wanted. We, AWI, will look for every opportunity to get this done and ban horse slaughter. We just want a fair chance to vote. Horse slaughter is wrong in both the USA and across the boarders. tCm: What can the American people do to help get the SAFE Act passed?

CH: There is so much misinformation from both sides. I encourage everyone to step back, take he emotion out of it. I am emotional about it as well, but get the facts and understand the issues. There is only a couple of groups working on this at a national level. The average person and activist can help by contacting their local representatives, go to town hall meetings, meet your Congressmen, talk to your politicians locally, right to your reps in Washington D.C, and be respectful and polite while standing up for what you believe is right. Know the aspects of horse slaughter and the S.A.F.E. Act. (HR 1942). That isn't happening because it takes effort, and yes, this does take effort and must become a priority issue for people everywhere. No matter what party you are in you can find good politicians in both parties. Senator Ted Stevens (R Alaska) has been good on animal issues.

Although I don’t agree with everything he is about, I do agree with him on those issues.

We have to start electing compassionate representatives. (www.compassionateindex.org) tCm: What do you think of PZP fertility injections to control what some consider wild horse overpopulation or spaying wild mares in the wild. Do you think this will contribute to the wild horses being managed into extinction?

CH: AWI has always supported the use of PZP but there are steps that need to be taken even before we get to that. We need better science, we need to restore the penned wild horses to the range, we need to give back the land that was taken away from them. We need to tear down the cattle fences that are blocking the wild horses from public water.

Let's face it, if we had good management in the first place we would have less need for PZP fertility. Unfortunately, it is a sad realization that public land is a great commodity to development and ranching, the horses are not. tCm: What has to be done to preserve this American Icon? Should they be placed on the "endangered species" list?

CH: Congress has been gutting the endangered species list so I don't see how that would help. You are just shifting one law for another. If you can show PZP works, maybe it will help. The National Academy of Science's new study on PZP is being misrepresented.

There is a lot of misinformation out there. But, again, unless there is a sweeping law to fix this problem we have to do what we can to humanely manage the wild horses on the range.

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tCm: Do you ever think you are fighting a loosing battle?

CH: No. I do not. I believe in what I do. My love of animals keeps me going. Without a doubt, I know we have improved things for a lot of species. And I also know what we are up against and it is a formidable enemy. Those that are trying to harm animals aren't stopping, so neither can we. tCm:. Animal rights and welfare seem to be gaining traction and awareness in the Senate and the House more so now than in the past. Why do you think is that?

CH: I think people are becoming more aware of animals and their emotional connection to us. People are also more aware of their diets and health issues. They are becoming compassionate about what they eat as well. This usually includes a switch to a vegetarian or vegan diet. People are signing more petitions and supporting organizations that work on behalf of animals. And, like I said, there are good and bad politicians in both parties. tCm: Do you have pets?

CH: I have a rescued pit bull named Boudica. Boudica, the woman, was a Roman era British Queen and a British folk hero who had fiery red hair. She was a warrior and beat the Romans several times after they raped her daughters. That is my sweet dog, Boudica, as well, a fierce warrior with fiery red hair. She is curled up at the foot of my desk right now. I am also on the Board of Directors for Presidential Pits. I also work to educate kids on animal issues and compassion. tCm: Are you married?

CH: Technically, I am single but married to my work and I love a crazy dog! tCm: Do you ever exhale?

CH: No, I don't and that is something I do get concerned about. But its just one of those things that I understand: politics and human nature, it never ends. tCm: When the time comes, how do you want your tombstone to read?

CH: Good question. I use to have a date written down when I would die; 2036. Now I want to push that back a little bit. There is a congressional cemetery in D.C. that was falling apart until dog walkers started walking there and cleaning it up. Now it is a membership dog club and its beautiful with dogs running freely through a cemetery. Pretty funny in a way. I've thought about creating a fire hydrant tombstone to put my ashes in and put it at the front of that cemetery for the dogs. Its inscription would read; "I tried to make a difference". If everyone tried to make a difference, there would be a difference. At the very least, be aware. I spent my career getting urinated on, at least with the hydrant tombstone, I would continue to make dogs happy. tCm: Thank you Chris. Your work and the work of the AWI staff is highly commendable and so necessary to the welfare of our animals, our planet and all who inhabit it.

CH: Your welcome. And thank you. It’s been a pleasure.

www.awionline.org

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After the Finish Line The race to end slaughter

By Jonathan Miller As the memories from American Pharoah’s thrilling ride still resonate, it's instructive to remember an earlier Run for the Roses nearly three decades ago. The 1986 Kentucky Derby was a sentimental, even magical affair, as the legendary 54 year old jockey Willie Shoemaker finally captured the only major racing prize that had eluded him -- the winner's circle rose garland. The Shoe had steered Ferdinand, a 17-1 long shot California three year old, from last place through a heavy traffic jam in the stretch, to a 2 1/4 length victory at the wire. Ferdinand emerged as a national figure, later sealing his own legend with an historic photo finish Breeders' Classic upset over the mighty Alysheba, clinching Horse of the Year honors in 1987.

It's also instructive to consider the retirement arc of that champion thoroughbred. After only modest success at breeding talented offspring -- Ferdinand was apparently a fighter, not a lover -- he was sold to Japanese interests in 1994. In 2002, at the relatively young age of 19, he was "disposed of" in a Japanese slaughterhouse. While Ferdinand might have wound up as a gourmet steak at an upscale Tokyo restaurant, the most likely fate of this elite athlete was in the form of processed pet food.

No other Derby winner has met the same despicable demise. In fact, since this tragedy was exposed, many sales contracts for prized stallions now include a "Ferdinand clause," enabling the seller to repurchase a horse after his career at stud is complete.

Every year, however, an estimated 150,000 U.S. horses are sent to Canadian or Mexican slaughterhouses to feed horse-hungry palates in Europe, South America and Asia. More than 10,000 of them are thoroughbreds.

At the center of this practice are middlemen known as "kill buyers," whose profitable profession consists of gathering up horses for slaughter and then transporting them across the U.S. border. They purport to offer a valuable service to the industry: With the sport of racing in serious economic distress, kill buyers provide financial recompense to struggling owners, and profess to provide a more humane alternative to the abandonment and slow starvation of unwanted horses.

But mercy killing it's not. Horses are hauled to their death in long transports to Mexico or Canada, often with only very minimal food, water or sleep. The slaughtering process can be deeply gruesome -- in some reported cases, horses experience excruciating pain while partially conscious as they are bled out and then dismembered.

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And in all-too-common cases when an international slaughter house deal goes bad, the kill buyers themselves will routinely abandon horses to which they've been entrusted. In one disheartening instance this year, described by the equine investigator as "the worst case of animal cruelty I've seen," a kill buyer in Pendleton County, Kentucky was charged with 15 counts of animal cruelty after examiners found 49 dead carcasses and 15 severely emaciated, barely alive horses on his property. Another kill buyer in nearby Mason County was charged last year with second-degree animal cruelty when 16 dead horses were found improperly disposed on his land.

It doesn't take a vegan-swearing, leather-protesting PETA activist to be disturbed.

Particularly here in the Bluegrass State, we have a special bond with the gallant steed -akin to that of a beloved family pet -- who we name, groom, feed, nurture, ride, cherish and celebrate. That other cultures find their meat appetizing is nauseating; the brutal and macabre process that leads them to the dinner table is infuriating.

It's also a matter of simple economics. Horse racing is responsible for more than 100,000 jobs and a $4 billion economic impact in Kentucky alone. And a 2011 report commissioned by the industry vanguard Jockey Club revealed that the recent steep decline in fan support for the sport -- particularly among younger Americans -- is in appreciable part due to concerns over animal safety and welfare.

Of course...declining revenues...lead to more desperate owners...who view kill buyers as a financial lifeline. This vicious circle can only be interrupted if this vicious practice is prohibited.

Fortunately, the anti-slaughter movement has been buoyed by the activism of a powerful ally: the thoroughbred industry itself. Just as with the battle against the use of performance-enhancing drugs in the spor t, leading breeder s, owner s and enthusiasts have argued that for racing to rebound from its decades-long decline, a focus on the sanctity of the horse itself is in order.

Both Churchill Downs and Keeneland have joined a growing number of national racetracks who've enacted stringent anti-slaughter policies that impose penalties -including race bans -- on anyone who is caught selling a horse to a slaughter house or to an intermediary auction. Thoroughbred enthusiasts have developed organizations that adopt and protect unwanted horses -- such as Georgetown's nationally-lauded Old Friends home -- and provide a dignified retirement to thoroughbreds after their profitable years have ended. The prestigious and influential National Thoroughbred Racing Association has instituted a variety of horse-protection programs that promote the rescue of horses that are in danger of cruel disposal.

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Voluntary industry action, though, has its limits. Banning horse slaughter, and the practices that facilitate it, requires federal legislation. While no permanent law prohibits horse slaughter in the U.S., Congress has overwhelmingly passed a series of spending bills since 2007 that have effectively shuttered domestic slaughter houses (a rare cause embraced by both President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell).

By contrast, efforts to ban the export of horses to slaughter abroad have continually failed. Some reform advocates charge Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid with running interference for Nevada cattlemen who find the pr actice a convenient way to rid their lands of wild horses.

But with a less powerful, lame duck Reid ambling toward his own retirement, legislation introduced last week could finally extinguish the practice. The Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, H.R. 1942, would prohibit the tr anspor t of American horses for human consumption abroad, while also permanently forbidding the reestablishment of slaughterhouses in the U.S. As its title reveals, the bill is shrewdly promoted as a food safety initiative: Unlike cattle and poultry, horses are not raised to be consumed -- there's no FDA oversight to prohibit the use of drugs that could be toxic to people -- so the practice poses severe human health risks in the U.S. and abroad. The bill already boasts broad bi-partisan support in the House, with 41 original co-sponsors.

Of course, in our polarized and paralyzed political system, the passage of any legislation faces dark horse odds. But as the industry continues to recognize that its future is dependent on the public's trust, popular support could ensure legislative reform. Best of all, a meaningful focus on the noble animal itself could one day reinstall horse racing to its rightful place as the sport of kings.

Author’s Corner Jonathan Miller, The Recovering Politician, has been elected twice as Kentucky’s State Treasurer; authored three books on faith, public policy and crisis management; graduated Phi Beta Kappa and with high honors from Harvard’s college and law school; practices as a crisis management attorney for Frost Brown Todd, a large regional law firm; serves as a Contributor to The Daily Beast and Kentucky Sports Radio; played straight man on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart; reached the final table in the World Series of Poker; and with his summer camp sweetheart, raised two remarkable college-going daughters.

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www.awionline.org

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Our Buckle Bunny

Kelle King I was born in Grass Valley, California.

My family had horses and I literally was on a horses back before I could walk. My dad would take me riding with him on a horse named Kellany. Kellany was the first horse I knew. He was a half Arabian, half Saddlebred, dappled buckskin. He lived to be thirty six!

Beside riding Kellany with my dad, I began riding ponies. When I turned eight, my parents gave me my own horse for Christmas. A big, 4 year-old, flea-bitten grey Arabian. He was the first horse I ever showed. We showed in a walk/trot class, but cantered the whole time. We got 8th place out of eight horses! I had the time of my life and I was addicted. I went on to have other show horses and eventually made it to Youth Nationals. I won four National Championships in an event called Show Hack. I won a Reserve National Championship in Side Saddle, and multiple National Top Tens in classes like Native Costume, Halter, Saddle Seat Equitation, and more.

I've competed in a myriad of different classes and events in the Arabian Horse World. Showing gives me one of the greatest highs you could ever imagine!

I wish I could do it all the time.

Now I have an older Arabian mare, a Friesian, and my retired show horse, Shuckin, the love of my life. His show name is Shuckin N' Jivin. I've had him for almost seventeen years and we've won numerous competitions together. He's been retired for fourteen years. But we still have so much fun together everyday.

He's the best and brightest part of my world. I swear, he's my soulmate.

I also have two cats and three dogs: Buster, Kaiya, and the newest addition, Honey. I’ve had animals all of my life and would be lost without them.

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I've always dreamed of having my own rescue and that dream materialized when I established my nonprofit rescue CARE Rescue LA. We have only been an official non-profit for ten months and have saved countless animals. I am very proud of that.

CARE, stands for Compassion Awareness Respect Education.

I believe all four are so important when it comes to taking care of animals.

Honestly, my ideal life would be to live on a ranch, show horses and rescue animals.

That's all I want to do.

If I died tomorrow, I would go knowing that my life had meaning and I accomplished something that made a significant, and lasting, difference for the animals.

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Shot on Location at Silver Spur Ranch in So. California, Photographers: Michael King, Danya Morrison & Shawn Getty-Lowe Creative Direction: Cate Crismani , Cowgirl Hat Courtesy of Red Star Riggings. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.

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I despise all the horrible things happening to our horses: both domestic and wild. There's no reason for the endless round-ups and slaughter of them or any other animal. It honestly breaks my heart more than anything else. If I had a super power, it would be to go around and stop the slaughter of all animals! Horse slaughter though, that's just unimaginable. Pure evil. I don't understand how we can allow our beautiful horses anything other than their God-given right to live. I don't understand, as humans, how we think it's fine to treat any animal less than equal. In my opinion, they are actually better, more tolerant, than us.

I am trying to do my part to help make this world a better one. Even if it's simply for the animals I save. I just want to do something. So many don't think they can make a difference and do nothing. But that's not the answer. Do something! No good deed is a small deed! Let's all do our part to help our animals and each other. Just imagine what a beautiful world this would be!

www.carerescuela.org

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Good Things Come In Small Packages Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses

By Victoria Netanel & Debbie Garcia-Bengochea

When a real horse walks into the hospital room of a sick child it is always a magical experience. Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses, an award winning nonprofit charity, works with over 40,000 adults and children each year inside hospitals, hospice programs with families who have experienced traumatic events.

Based in Malibu, California and Gainesville, Florida, the teams of little therapy horses travel across the country. From helping the children and first responders of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT to child trafficking victims in Texas and tornado survivors in Moore, OK they bring their special love where it is needed most. The horses also work inside schools, libraries and at risk youth programs. Gentle Carousel Greece in Athens helps children living inside orphanages and institutions.

These highly trained horses make challenging situations look easy when they are working with medical professionals. They walk up and down steps, ride in elevators, walk on unusual floor surfaces, carefully move around hospital equipment, work in small patient rooms and handle unexpected sounds like ambulances, alarms and hospital helicopters... and yes they are potty trained.

Therapy horse Magic was selected by the United States Equestrian Federation as a 2015 inductee into the Horse Stars Hall of Fame for her "life changing and inspirational impact on the public". She was also chosen by TIME Magazine as one of History's 10 Most Courageous Animals and is AARP’s Most Heroic Pet in America.

Magic's younger sister Valor was named in honor of fallen hero police officer Ken Tietjen and is a volunteer deputy and first responder with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. She comforts families who have experienced traumatic events. Valor was named one of the Most Fascinating People of 2015 by the LA Weekly.

Valor and Magic traveled to Washington D.C. for National Police Week in May. They worked with children who had lost parents in the line of duty, comforted hospitalized veterans and even visited Congress.

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The therapy horses have a special relationship with children and adults in hospital care. A boy losing his sight because of a brain tumor held Magic close to his face so he could always remember what she looked like. "It is like she can see inside my soul," he told his mother. Another little boy with a terminal illness requested a visit from Magic. He laughed and hugged her and was so excited. After the visit his mother said, "We have never had a happy day, and now our family will always have a happy day."

Valor regularly visits the children undergoing procedures at the Children’s Hospital who stay at the Ronald McDonald House in Los Angeles. The children eagerly anticipate Valor’s arrival and can hardly wait for her to get out of her van. One young man with severe physical limitations bonded with Valor and gained confidence and empowerment by walking her around the facility with the help of her trainer.

Magic, Valor, and all of the horses at Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses hope to bring many more happy days to children and families in need.

www.Horsetherapy.org www.facebook.com/TherapyHorses

(352) 226-9009

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THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE DECLARES MAY 26 “JOHN WAYNE DAY” AND MAKES THE ICONIC STAR AN HONORARY TEXAN

By Lauren Hedstrom The Texas Legislature officially adopted a resolution declaring May 26, the birthday of the enduring American icon John Wayne, as “John Wayne Day” in the State of Texas. Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a proclamation declaring the iconic star an honorary Texan.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, a self-proclaimed lifelongfan of the iconic actor, was instrumental in delivering both accolades in the Lone Star State.

The most popular film actor of the 20th century, Wayne became a symbol of everything a great American man could be, renowned not only as a talented actor but as a loving father, a fisherman, a horseman, a hunter, an adventurer and an unabashed patriot of the United States of America.

“The Duke’s independent spirit embodies what it means to be a Texan and personifies the storied history of the Lone Star State,” states Governor Abbott. “I am proud to join all Texans in honoring his legacy and celebrating May 26th as ‘John Wayne Day’.”

“Texas was always an important place to our father,” says Ethan Wayne, son of the legendary icon. “He starred, directed and produced one of his most distinguishing films, The Alamo, and told stories of how he felt it could have been his second home. The culture of the state and the strong pride of this American community reflects the spirit of John Wayne himself.”

"To me," said Lt. Governor Patrick, "when you think of Texas you think of John Wayne. Not only does he embody our proud traditions and rich history but the fundamental can-do spirit and persevering attitude of our state.”

38 years after his death John Wayne still remains one of America’s most renowned larger than life luminaries whose name appears at the top of the Harris Poll’s annual listings of America’s favorite movie stars year after year. With a career spanning over five decades John Wayne appeared in more than 175 films. The incredibly versatile actor starred in just about every genre but it was the Western, the American cinema, where Wayne made his lasting mark. He was nominated three times for the Academy Award, winning the Oscar for Best Actor in 1969 for True Grit. Wayne was also awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and in 1980 President Jimmy Carter awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor. In his memory, the John Wayne Cancer Foundation was founded in 1985 by Wayne’s children and is an organization that brings courage, strength and grit to the fight against cancer.

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ELIMINATING EQUINE SLAUGHTER

By Allen Warren Harbor Horse Foundation, Inc. THERE IS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO THE CONTINUED SLAUGHTER OF U.S. HORSES IF THE COMMERCIAL EQUINE INDUSTRY PARTICIPATES According to its proponents, if the slaughter of America's displaced horses in Canada and Mexico were to be halted tomorrow, there would be approximately 100,000 needing to be dealt with each year by alternative means which they claim do not exist today.

Those that would continue the practice of disposing of these companion animals, never bred or raised to be part of the food chain, and that total only about 1% of the total U.S. population of horses each year, argue that equine slaughter for human consumption abroad is the only economical way to handle what they call the "unwanted" horse problem.

The purpose of this paper is to prove that not only does an alternative already exist, but that it can be quickly expanded to accommodate America's not unwanted, but displaced horses if the commercial equine industry will stop using slaughter as a dumping ground for its byproduct and participate in providing for the true welfare of the animals upon which its businesses are based.

Elimination of horse slaughter would also remove the present incentive for bad equine husbandry and therefore reduce the number of displaced horses in itself by the simple laws of supply and demand, and also serve to improve the quality of all breeds. As one breeder who previewed this paper stated, “Simple logic-no slaughter, no profit for the rancher at the auction yard. No demand, no kill buyers at the auction. The rancher then reduces his breeding program substantially.�

That total of 100,000 horses sounds overwhelming until broken down by the number in the pipeline at any one point in time, and that is the factor that makes this alternative presented here viable.

One hundred thousand horses annually translates to 8,333 per month. Divide this number by the 48 contiguous states these horses are found in and the average is only 174 per month per state. Broken down even further into the weekly cycle of livestock auctions and the number of horses that actually must be dealt with at any one point in time is on average only about 40 per week in each state.

The ultimate solution for homeless horses is to reduce this number dramatically through more responsible breeding practices, a massive public education effort to make both current and potential owners aware of their lifelong responsibility to companion animals that can live 30 years and other measures. However, a viable interim alternative for re-homing displaced horses does exist today if the commercial equine industry and the horse rescue sanctuary community join forces instead of battling over this issue.

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It is indeed a sad state of affairs that all over the country equine rescuers are being forced to bid against kill buyers to save horses, using financial resources that could better be used for expanding and caring for those in their sanctuaries and foster home networks. These are supported almost entirely by charity with virtually no help from the $102 billion a year industry from which the problem stems.

Proponents of equine slaughter claim that the nation's horse rescue sanctuary resource is inadequate to handle displaced and neglected horses and many are even trying to revive equine slaughter in the United States based on this premise.

The fact is that many leading equine rescue sanctuary operators across the country have developed innovative new programs since the recession began in 2008 to save more horses than ever displaced by the economy. This places them in a unique position today to immediately play a major role in re-homing and caring for the country’s displaced horse population at this time, thus eliminating the perceived need for equine slaughter while long term measures are implemented to reduce the numbers needing re-homing in the future.

Another myth being perpetuated at the moment by those who do or would profit from equine slaughter is that the nation's equine sanctuary resource is at capacity because of the current economy and therefore there is no place for homeless horses to go other than slaughter. The simple fact is that rescue sanctuaries are and always have been at capacity. When a space opens up either to adoption or loss of a horse due to natural death or euthanasia brought about for medical reasons, another immediately takes it place. That is the way they have always operated.

New programs however, such as in-place rescue, in which dedicated but financially challenged horse owners are provided direct aid to keep their animals in safe homes, have prevented thousands from being neglected or displaced already and these efforts are being expanded. The innovative Oregon Hay Bank program, created and operated by horse rescuers, has kept 800 horses in their current homes since January 2009 in that state alone.

A recent survey by the National Equine Resource Network revealed that about 20 per cent of all rescue sanctuaries responding have similar feeding programs in place in their areas of operation across the country, effectively doubling and tripling their actual resident capacity since every horse that doesn't need to be rescued provides a space for one that does.

Further, the population of horses in sanctuaries is in constant flux, with openings occurring on a regular basis. A recent study by the University of California Davis indicates that four out every five horses that are taken in by rescue sanctuaries are then adopted out to new private owners, creating a constant stream of openings for more needing re-homing.

A national pilot program, funded by a private donor, is already in place this winter in which 1,000 horses are targeted for in-place rescue with aid to qualified owners ranging from hay and feed, farrier and vet services and even facility repair when safety or containment are a factor. A total of $200,000 has been provided to selected rescue sanctuaries around the country for this equine crisis intervention program, and that translates to an investment of only $200 per horse on average to keep these horses in their current homes and out of the displaced population.

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All America's horse rescue community needs to provide a viable alternative to slaughter is the financial support of the equine industry itself, and a simple way to provide this is to add a long-term care and re-homing surcharge to the fee for every horse being registered in the country each year.

The various U.S. breed registries add approximately 500,000 horses to their rolls each year, and a surcharge of $25 (Which could be viewed as a one-time long-term care insurance premium for these animals) would provide $12,500,000 annually toward making sure they never suffer the horrors of the slaughter house. And this would cost the registries nothing because the cost is passed along to the end consumer, the horse owner.

Since all breed registries have in their mission statements that they are dedicated to the welfare of their horses, this is a much more moral and ethical way to honor those commitments and would unquestionably resonate well with their ultimate constituency, individual horse owners themselves. If the funds being used for lobbying by the major breed organizations today to keep slaughter are redirected to re-homing and long term care when necessary instead, it would add millions more to this effort.

The following programs are not theoretical, but have already been developed and implemented by the country's equine rescue community, and if expanded by funding from the industry, can eliminate the perceived need to send our horses off to slaughter for human consumption abroad in a relatively short period of time.

A SIX - POINT PLAN TO ELIMINATE THE SLAUGHTER OF AMERICA'S HORSES 1. The creation of state and regional managed reserves to hold large numbers of horses safely until they can be absorbed back into the system. HSUS has already established two of these as a model and the cost for quartering and properly caring for each horse is miniscule compared to those on smaller sanctuaries. These can be established and operated by existing rescue organizations in each state working cooperatively and sharing the facility. Since much of America's farm and ranch land lies fallow at this time and many states have provisions for taking those dedicated to animal sanctuaries off the tax rolls, land owners will have the incentive to donate the use of these on long-term lease arrangements, thus minimizing the cost of establishing them.

2. Selected expansion of existing sanctuary capacity for rescues that establish business plans allowing them to accommodate and care for additional horses in their operations if more facility space is provided. Already many leading sanctuary operators around the country have expanded their rescue herds to deal with the crisis caused by the economy, and many more could if provided with the necessary funds to do so. Simply stated, if sanctuaries are at capacity, make them larger so they can accept more horses.

3. Expand existing and develop new sponsored foster home networks in which rescued horses are placed and supported with private individuals who have the facility and desire to keep horses, but are financially unable to. Interestingly, the economy has created more candidates for this than ever before as owners have had to give up their own horses, but still have the facility to provide a home for those owned by nonprofit sanctuaries. The largest go to page 50

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www.trfinc.org

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pure equine sanctuary in the country today has the majority of its rescued horses placed in foster homes in three states and many others have these on a smaller scale, so the experience and expertise for helping other sanctuary operators develop them quickly is already in place.

The cost for keeping a horse in a foster home is a fraction of that for one quartered on a sanctuary itself since there is no fixed overhead expense.

4. Expand the concept of in-place rescue to keep more horses with dedicated and committed owners in their current homes with temporary financial or feeding assistance. The nationwide pilot program mentioned is privately funded and a number of selected nonprofit sanctuaries are providing local horse owners who qualify with financial assistance for feeding, minor vet procedures, farrier work and other equine needs if they agree to a sustainability plan to keep their horses. This is considered a hand up, not a hand out and the goal of this program is to keep 1,000 horses in their current homes this winter. The investment to do this average only $200 per horse and this program can be rapidly expanded nationwide since the mechanics are already in place. Still another established program is emergency feeding assistance efforts being carried out throughout the country. The Oregon Hay Bank was also mentioned earlier and there are many smaller ones operated by rescue sanctuaries themselves with grants and public donations. With funding from the equine industry these efforts can be expanded immediately and directly benefit its end consumer, the private horse owner.

5. The creation of state and regional training centers and networks, in which younger, healthier horses, which represent most of those going to slaughter today, can receive the training they need to lead productive lives and therefore be much more eligible for adoption to new homes.

This can be based on the existing T.R.O.T.T. program for off-the-track Thoroughbreds which has been successfully implemented in California and the various mustang training competitions designed to make wild horses more adoptable. Again, there is nothing to invent in a program such as this, there are models already in place. Although some rescue sanctuary operators have the ability to train the younger, healthier horses being saved today, having this availability for those who do not would make many more of the horses in their herds adoptable, thus creating openings for more displaced horses. Also placing rescued horses in centers or with private trainers in these networks would provide temporary quartering for them, further alleviating the strain on the sanctuaries themselves.

6. A relatively new development in equine rescue, a growing network of sanctuary operators who work together to place horses they cannot accept themselves, has saved literally thousands of horses in the past two years. An informal regional group of a dozen in the Pacific Northwest has been able to place hundreds by posting horses needing new homes and sharing information. The establishment this year of the National Equine Resource Network provides a vehicle for not only creating and formalizing a national placement network, but also can be a resource for effectively distributing funding from the industry as envisioned in this paper.

Currently there are two individuals who post horses nationally needing re-homing that are listed directly or on various websites, and their records more than anything else belie the claim that only unwanted horses go to slaughter. The owners posting the vast majority of these horses have found themselves unable to keep them due to unemployment and other reasons created by the economy and are desperate to find them new homes to avoid slaughter for their beloved animals.

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CONCLUSION: There is an almost immediate and viable alternative to the continued slaughter of America's displaced and homeless horses. It will require the country's commercial equine industry and horse rescue sanctuary operators to join forces, with rescuers taking on the task of implementing the programs described above and others, and the industry accepting financial responsibility for its byproduct. It's first and foremost about the welfare of the horses. There can be no debate that the plan offered here is much more humane than slaughter in terms of their welfare. Public sentiment is overwhelmingly against equine slaughter. Every true horse lover, no matter what their position on the issue today, would like to see it end. In one way or another, it will either through legislation banning it or economic conditions such as the new regulations imposed on horse meat in Europe decimating the market. Now is the perfect time to act proactively and find a solution that works for all concerned, especially for our horses.

THE FOLLOWING LEADING EQUINE RESCUE SANCTUARY OPERATORS SERVED AS A RESOURCE GROUP FOR THIS PAPER AND ALL CAN BE CONTACTED DIRECTLY FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING THEIR REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY: Jerry Finch, Habitat for Horses, Texas; Hilary Wood, Front Range Equine Rescue, Colorado; Grace Belcuore, California Equine Retirement Foundation, California; Teresa Paradis, Live & Let Live Farm, New Hampshire; Katie Merwick, Second Chance Ranch, Washington, and Melanie Higdon, Hidden Springs Equine Rescue, Florida.

Editor’s Note:

It is worth noting that this white paper by Allen Warren was originally written and published in December 2010. Although there have been small steps of awareness, the majority of his points, and remarkably the solutions, remain the same. It is time that the slaughter issue was whole-heartedly confronted by the people that can effect its change once and for all in a positive direction. Passing the S.A.F.E. Act to terminatedly eliminate horse transportation across the Mexican and Canadian borders for slaughter and human consumption overseas and in Asia is the first and most powerful step forward. Please take the time to write, email or call your state representative’s in Congress and tell them as an American citizen and one of their constituents you demand the S.A.F.E. Act be passed into law. Sign every petition that comes your way. Follow me on Facebook on my group page, trueCOWBOYmagazine, as I post petitions frequently and am very vocal about this subject. Please support the efforts to shut this evil practice down, once and for all. Gracias & besos!

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www.beckyshope.com

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www.horseplus.org

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An Open Letter

A Unified Call to Preserve America’s Icon of Freedom from Monika Courtney

Mass removals of wild horses and burros from their rightful American Western ranges by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), decade-long, brutal evictions of tens of thousands of horses and burros from their legally designated habitats and the inhumane standards within the program have led to a huge public outcry, again. The crisis is real. We need your help.

While BLM admits the program is in dire need of reform, years of empty promises and stonewalling propaganda are a result of the agency’s desperate attempt to pacify the public’s ongoing concern as our last wild horses are fast and silently disappearing from the American landscape.

Their native status is mocked, and science refuted to pursue the inevitable extinction while benefitting self-serving interests – unless we put a stop to it.

Fatalities in holding, especially of baby horses – due to a lack of protection from elements, either triple digit heat or brutal winter conditions in states such as Wyoming–cause great concern. There are no Federal guidelines in place, nor an extreme weather protocol to ensure the animals’ wellbeing as it is mandated in Code of Standards for equines in non-government situations.

Many herds are gone forever; others are reduced to unsustainable numbers. More horses than are left in the wild, approximately 50’000, are stockpiled into government holding facilities, where they must endure minimalist standards, boredom and insufficient welfare. This is in clear contradiction to the 1971 Wild Free-roaming Horse and Burro Act, mandating the preservation of horses where they are found. BLM is not authorized to manage the horses by corralling them.

The horses’ basic needs in these barren feedlots are grossly ignored and the public’s ongoing call for increased welfare brushed off.

The formerly free horses are trapped and can’t seek protection in these holding pens as they could in the wild, where they find it in riparian areas, rock formations or under trees. The budget of an agency receiving millions of tax payer funds per year to “manage” our wild horses is not balanced nor does it allocate more than 1 percent to animal welfare or to humane, on the range management or fertility control. Yet, 11% of budget was spent on capturing the animals with aircraft operated round ups (2012) that are cruel and unnecessary, and holding cost at over 30%. The animals are subjected to great stress, injuries and often death. In 2012, Palomino Valley holding in Nevada reported that 241 horses died between 2010 and 2012.

However, the Nevada By-Product Rendering facility reported receiving 577 horses, reflecting a lack of transparency, another unending problem.

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The flawed assumption that wild horses and burros are over-populating the Western range is a reflection of monopolized agendas. In reality, the BLM has no accurate census of horses remaining on public lands. Independent outside analysis have refuted BLM’s own numbers and revealed a much lower count. This alarming situation is further doomed by an ongoing competition for forage by subsidized cattle ranchers and special interests who want the horses gone. Another tactic to rid horses from the range has been the ploy of starvation.

The “poor ecological rangeland” excuse has doomed the horses against all logic to further deploy their place and allocate lands to other uses such as cattle. Monopolizing water rights is another detrimental factor – and droughts pose another factor to propagate the partiality to livestock grazing. Most horses rounded up are in perfect body condition, as the animals adapt better to challenges than any other wild species.

The main tool of the wild horse enemies is to scape goat wild horses and burros for range degradation, while they in truth enhance the eco-system and help prevent wildfires. The horses only comprise a very small fraction of animals grazing on public lands. The greater damage is caused by privately owned livestock, outnumbering wild horses 100 : 1.

In June 2012, the National Academy of Sciences released a scathing indictment of the BLM’s wild horse and burro program, concluding that warehousing the animals was detrimental and calling for a sweeping reform. Recommendations were to let the horses and burros stay in their native habitats as mandated by the 1971 Act. By law it is a crime to harass or kill horses on Federal land, requiring the department of Interior and Agriculture to protect them, to study their habitat and habits, and permitting public land to be set aside for their use. However, due to countless roundups, less than 25’000 are left in the wild. This low number poses a serious concern to their inevitable extinction before our very eyes.

Recent transfers of wild horses and burros from western holding pits to Midwestern and Eastern “sanctuaries” not only pose significant health concerns, as animals adapted to Western landscapes are then exposed to sudden rich grasses and wet pastures – it also costs millions that could be allocated to other solutions focusing on real welfare and on the range management. The recent deaths of 75 formerly wild mustangs in a Kansas feedlot mirror the lack of monitoring and caring leadership by BLM. Workable solutions are on the table, such as applying real science to create self-sustaining habitats with sensible on the range management practices while reducing cattle lessees to obtain healthy range balance and forage. Yet, the priority of BLM is to do the opposite while applying bogus science, bogus double standard "scientists", refusing to use real methods of accurate census, and shamefully continuing to manipulate the public. The public must come together and demand the following: BLM must create healthy multiple uses of our public lands, safeguard the ecological balance of all wildlife and protect wild horses and burros in their legally protected homes. In the long overdue reform to the BLM program, we urgently must reverse the current course and keep calling for a moratorium on all round ups, until accurate, independent population numbers and range conditions are assessed and a solid, humane long-term solution is formalized, restoring the protections of the 1971 Act.

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BLM must reopen certain public lands to mustangs and burros, thus decreasing the numbers in captivity and the cost thereof. Return them to all available acres of public land designated primarily for their use by the 1971 Act. If such lands are not available, equivalent lands must be found as the BLM manages 245 million acres in the West. Eco-sanctuaries can be created to restore them in the wild, with predators present as nature meant, thus offering eco-tourism for the public and education for youth and tourists.

BLM must support federal grazing permit buybacks to reduce the harmful livestock overgrazing by cattle and reanalyze TRUE appropriate management levels with independent outside sources for herd management areas to allow for self-sustaining, genetically viable herds to exist.

- BLM must apply humane on the range population control without interfering with the horses' natural social orders. BLM must work with the public and be transparent in preserving our herds, not wipe them out with sterilization.

For the Department of the Interior (DOI) and Members of Congress to conduct Congressional hearings regarding the grave mismanagement of our wild herds and investigate the shortcomings of BLM to correct the program as audited by the Government Accountability Office’s reports (GAO) such as in 1990, 1991, and 2008.

In short, the wild horses and burros of America are in peril, contrary to what some whose agendas are self-serving, want you to believe. We, the public must come together and unite in a call for change, now.

Please know, that your voice is urgently needed – if our grandkids want to see a wild horse roaming free in the wild, immediate action is necessary to prevent further destructive and irreparable consequences to our mustangs and burros. Please be a part of this important momentum.

Thank-You, Monika

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HORSES & STARS Bhalin there must be a connection to wonder under inky night cold meteors and manes

nostrils flare frost shocks white breath The gravity of horses a mountain shroud surrounds the desert horizon the gravity of gods cloaked in black silk comes and goes hooves crash sweet water pools of solace form and mirror the constellations and quiet moon Midnight mass an ancient peace gravity comes again and heals me a comforting snort and nudge at my back, I stumble forward into the firmament the invisible centaur I am

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www.theearthorganization.org

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iVIEW with Gina McKnight & D.B. Jackson Welcome California cattle rancher, author and screenplay writer D.B. Jackson! I am super excited to share D.B.’s interview! He has penned a handful of novels, as well as short stories celebrating horses and cowboys. He is a multi-award winning author; has a couple of new releases in the works, a screenplay in production and much more…Read on, amigos!

Gina McKnight: W h at is it lik e to be a California rancher, award-winning novelist, expert cowboy and the owner of great horses?

D.B. Jackson: In a w or d: FUN. Cattle r anch ing in California is a dying proposition due to shrinking land availability, high costs and a general population that has little appreciation for the contributions the industry makes to the economy. But there isn’t much that’s any more rewarding than seeing new calves being born, spending long days in the saddle, being with good people who know how to work for a living and being able to experience a way of life that will eventually disappear. What a privilege. Owning good horses is just a part of that. Writing novels and having the opportunity to be involved with the television and movie industry on top of cowboying is the equivalent of winning the lottery and then coming home to see the Publisher’s Clearing House crew waiting on the porch holding a 3 foot by 6 foot check with your name on it. All the awards are like a bow on the whole thing. It’s humbling and gratifying. It just makes you want to do better.

GMK: Describe your horse history and the horses you now stable.

DBJ: The horses. Not to sound overly dramatic, but they are the soul of it all. They are what holds a cattle operation together, they are at the heart of every story I write, and they are the reason I believe I understand people better. Most horses are the reflection of the treatment they get from us. They are also completely honest with us—a trait most people find hard to understand. We ride registered Quarter Horses because of the overall breed traits and the high-accuracy pedigrees that give us some insight into the temperament and physical attributes we will end up with. The Quarter Horse is generally solid-minded, tough, willing, and capable.

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When a horse gets too old to work on our place, he has earned the right to stand in the shade, eat hay and live his life out with good care and no pressure…he’s earned it.

They say looks and color are immaterial as long as the horse is reliable and tractable. I know lots of people who say that, but it’s hard not to be influenced by a good-looking, soggy ol’ horse with great conformation, good color and eye-catching markings. We generally want it all and I’m partial to the understated “cowboy” look of a stocky bay or sorrel. We currently have two bays like that; a nice sorrel and a retired dark brown rope horse that has been there and done that. They are all geldings which seems to help keep everything on a more even keel that you don’t get when a mare is in the mix.

GMK: Do you show your horses?

DBJ: Our horses are working cow horses and, except for a roping or a team penning, they are solely ranch horses with jobs to do.

GMK: I noticed in a picture on your website, there are two iron brands on one calf. Why is that?

DBJ: Certainly, one iron is the owner’s brand and the other could be added identification like a number for the birth year, or shared ownership. Typically, if you saw a horse with multiple brands, it was a red flag that the horse was not working out and traded hands a lot. Hard to know for sure the reason for it in this old picture, but it was unusual to put more than one on a calf.

GMK: What are your views on BLM's current stance on America's wild Mustangs and the horse slaughter debate?

DBJ: Personally, I would love for there to be a solution that allows the feral horses to live and die free and unmolested. We have had first-hand experience with the issue and I can tell you that holding these horses in facilities like Palomino Valley and out-placing them through the Adopt-A-Horse program are not solutions. Conversely, pitting the horses against cowmen to compete for the same range isn’t working either. The wild horses find themselves in the same fix we put the American Indian in, you can see how that turned out. We have to find a protected sanctuary for the horses where they have adequate feed, water, and a chance for long-term survival. If that means the BLM has to set aside land to accommodate the program, so be it. At the same time, the government cannot go in and pull the economic rug out from under cow producers who have built a livelihood on those grazing allotments. This program is still not a high enough priority for the government to put the necessary time and resources against it. So it will probably go unresolved until that changes.

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GMK: Do you have a favorite Western saga? How has it inspired your writing career?

DBJ: I’m not sure I could pick just one movie, but three come to mind that I think are iconic and a good lesson for any storyteller: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid because it is a great example of using historical facts as the basis for an excellent fictional story, Dances With Wolves because it shows how cinematography and good writing can captivate an audience and, finally, Lonesome Dove because it demonstrates how powerful and memorable a story can be if the characters are welldeveloped and compelling. In terms of books, three top my list there as well.

Homer’s, The Iliad, is almost poetic in its unique use of language and imagery. The Bible is written in such commanding language almost any writer would benefit from studying the word usage and direct subject/ verb style that makes it so impactful. At the top of my list, however, is that classic and wandering masterpiece, Blood Meridian, by Cormac McCarthy.

McCarthy’s powerful use of language, his development of universal themes, strong visuals, and unrelenting hammering at the readers’ emotions is rendered in an archaic fashion that seems to defy all the rules. It’s simply a literary tour de force that overwhelms the reader.

GMK: As an author of many novels, how do you come up with story ideas, characters and plots?

DBJ: Well, as an author yourself, you know that’s the part of the creative process that is magic when it works and sounds trite when you attempt to explain it but, for me, it’s looking at situations that occur in everyday life and asking, “what would happen if...?” From there I take it into the embrace of one or more of the classic themes that are always present in what the academics consider good literature. In the course of any given day, the people I meet, the things I observe, and the successes and failures I witness are all material for the next story. I tend to skip the big and obvious and seem drawn to the common challenges people face—the ones in which they are easily able to see themselves.

For example, the conversations that come up riding out at daybreak to gather cattle produce more insights and ideas than a year’s worth of sitting in a writer’s workshop.

It’s all there, right before our eyes—all we need to do is look up once in a while to see it. The concept is generally first, but not always. Then come the characters. Ultimately, the characters are the most important element of most stories, so I make sure the relationships, their personalities, and their names fit them.

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GMK: Of all your characters, which one is your favorite?

DBJ: This is the “if you had to cut off a finger, which one would you choose?” question. I like a 15-year old kid in a short story called, Last of the Cowboys. His name is Bobby Earl Lee but they called him Early (a contraction of Earl Lee). He is innocent enough to be endearing, wise enough to be respected, and tough enough to admire—but mostly he is just a good person who his 82-year old cowboy friend trusted with his last wish in life.

I like Early because success to him was getting to cowboy for a big outfit despite a gimpy leg that caused most people to write him off.

GMK: How does writing novels differ from writing screenplays? Which do you prefer?

DBJ: There are similarities between the two disciplines in terms of painting a verbal picture, but the requirements of a screenplay quickly force you into a whole new world where pages are money, sparseness is a virtue, and imagery is everything. In my opinion, a novel is more forgiving than a screenplay because the novel allows you all the room you need to tell your story since page count is not a restriction. The rambling blocks of dialogue we sometimes put into our novels are an actor’s and a director’s nightmare when they are put into a script. Novels also allow the author the freedom to go along for the ride as the characters wander from the beginning of the story through the middle, and finally to a conclusion that the author may never see coming. A screenplay is far more structured than that. The first third sets up the story and the characters, the second third establishes the conflicts, dreams, setbacks, etc., and the final third wraps it all up, resolves the issues, and brings closure to the story in one way or another. The 120-page limit of the screenplay is a limiting factor that always hangs over the head of a screenwriter. My preferences: The most fun is the screenplay adaptation of the novel. The next most fun is the original writing of the novel itself (a little less fun because of the uncertainties of where the story is going), and lastly is the original screenplay—it has all the hurdles to get over as the novel and the screen adaptation combined.

GMK: What are you currently writing?

DBJ: My latest novel, Waiting On Rain, is in editing. It was inspired by the short story, Last of the Cowboys. It takes place near the fictional border town of Bufort in West Texas in 1958. The editor, Pat LoBrutto, who also edited the award winning Unbroke Horses, has previously edited Stephen King, the Louis L’Amour estate, Dune Sci Fi novels, as well as lots of other notable works by various authors.

Pat is one of the best in the industry and a pleasure to work with. Hardin and Tripp: Murder on the Bear Paw is also in process. It’s a contemporary story of two Montana cowboys (Will Hardin and Justin Tripp) who graduate from college, sign up for duty

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in Iraq, and return home with enough money to put a down payment on a cattle ranch. Their dreams are derailed when a sniper’s bullet meant for one of them kills a friend and kicks off an investigation that uncovers a local survivalist operation bent on taking out both men. And I just finishing up on the television pilot for They Rode Good Horses.

GMK: What are you currently reading?

DBJ: Right now I’m deep into film and TV trade journals as well as student work from a local high school creative writing class. So, reading for pleasure has been put on hold for a while.

GMK: Do you have advice for novice writers?

DBJ: Getting advice about writing is like getting advice about horses. There’s a lot of it out there, and most of it can get you off-track. Be selective about the advice you consider. Writer’s groups can be helpful to a point, but they can also be a real trap. Avoid getting so wrapped up in the group dialogue you lose sight of your real purpose in writing in the first place.

Most importantly, learn the craft of writing. If you decide to break the rules, at least you will know which ones you are breaking. There is a growing supply of poor quality writing on the market as a result of self-publishing, which bypasses the quality control step in the process. In order to break through the clutter you must produce a quality product. I strongly suggest employing the services of an editor with top credentials if you want to compete at the highest levels. Learn to take constructive criticism, which is not likely to come from your parents or friends.

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Writing is a solitary experience for the most part. Learn to deal with that. Do not let arrogance guide you. I hear authors say things like, “I only write for me.” I guess that’s okay if you do not intend to sell or share your work. If you do not write for the reader you may be missing the point. On the other hand, there is some validity to the practice of writing as a means of coming to terms with personal issues, but that’s a different proposition than writing with a commercial goal in mind. Recognize that writing is a business. If you do not understand marketing or are unwilling to do what it takes to promote your work, get used to the sound of crickets in the background.

Writing should be fun. It is a lot more fun when you are recognized for it. It’s not good enough to simply say “I’m doing the best I can,” and let it go at that.

Sometimes you have to do better. Figure out what that is and do it. They say more than 80% of the people in the USA feel they have a book in them and a desire to get it out. Less than .02% actually see it through, and only a small fraction of those experience any meaningful level of success. That’s not meant to be discouraging, but it does illustrate the extent to which you should be prepared to go to run at the head of the pack. If you are writing just for the fun and experience of it, go for it and have the time of your life because it really is a magical experience, and totally do-able. If you’re looking for literary success, get ready for the learning experience of a lifetime—it’s a huge education (and still fun). Discover your voice and develop it. Write a great opening sentence every time—do the same at the end. Never forget that this is an individual experience and it’s rarely the same for any of us. Never take anyone’s advice 100%. Adapt. Learn what you need to know to be a quality writer. Write with integrity—always.

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GMK: Tell us a few things that we may not know about you.

DBJ: They Rode Good Horses, my debut novel is under contract with a Hollywood production company who is in discussion with one of the leading television original content companies for consideration as a possible upcoming television series. I have completed the 2-hour pilot summary as well as the three season episode breakdown, and a feature-length screenplay.

Unbroke Horses, my second novel is under contract for a feature film, and I have been retained as the screenwriter on that project as well. I started writing late in life, I do not have a writing background, and did not major in English, literature, writing, or any related subject in school. But I did take the time to learn.

I do not believe that everybody can write a good book. I also do not believe everybody can paint a good picture, or carve a good sculpture. Some say the more you read and the more you write, the better you will become as a writer. That’s probably not very good advice for very many people. I see it in horsemanship all the time—the longer you do something wrong, the better you get at doing it wrong.

There is no substitute for formal training and an honest appraisal of where your talents lay. I have never taken golf lessons, but I have played with and watched a lot of good golfers for a long time. I’m pretty sure I suck at golf, but I sure have a good time playing it. One thing I do know about writing: You will never know how good you may be if you do not try.

Awards: Un brok e Horses is the recipient of the Triple Crown of Western Literature Awards: Western Heritage Wrangler Award, Will Rogers Medallion Award and the Western Fictioneers Peacemaker Award. It also won the Laramie Award and the Eric Hoffer Award for literature and was a finalist for the daVinci Eye Award for the cover design created by Sonya Spaziani.

Connect with D.B @ https://www.facebook.com/authordbjackson http://www.dalebjackson@dalebjackson.com dalebjackson@dalebjackson.com

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Doing the Right Thing For the love of a horse Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation

With the words, “That’s it, we’re getting her out!” two well-known philanthropic racing professionals teamed up last week to claim back a startlingly pretty race mare from trainer David Jacobson.

With swiftness and commitment to repay a kindness to race mare Rock N Cozy, New York trainer Carl J. Domino and Texas racehorse owner John Murell united forces behind the mare. This time not to win races but to see her through to a much-deserved retirement.

“I was worried about her,” says Murrell, a Texas racehorse owner and philanthropist who has donated tens of thousands of dollars to save Thoroughbreds from the slaughter pipeline. He was concerned that though she put in a first-place finish in her last race, she wasn’t running as well overall as she once did. And though not concerned about any immediate danger, he felt that perhaps it was time for her to be done with the racing life.

“I loved that horse. She’s spectacularly beautiful. You don’t often see white Thoroughbreds, and she’s nearly white. But that’s not why I wanted to claim her. The reason is that I’m a sportsman, and though I want to make money like everybody else, I do care about the racehorses and I wanted to do the right thing for the horse. She’s been very nice to me; I wanted to do right by her.”

And Domino was right there with him on that. For he had trained Rock N Cozy in partnership with Murrell for many years, and grown attached to the friendly mare who “looked for him” every morning in the shedrow, and who made a particular friend of his wife Sophia.

“This was one of my wife’s favorite horses,” Domino says. “After we claimed her, she stopped dead in the shedrow as soon as she heard my wife’s voice. She’s such a nice filly to be around and we’re all happy to have her back.”

Before Rock N Cozy “emerged with control” from the starting gate to handily win against lesser rivals, Murrell had quietly wired $14,000 to be used by Domino to drop a claiming tag on her.

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And while another person had dropped a claim on the mare, Domino won the shake (the draw), and seven months after losing Rock N Cozy to Davidson, the mare was again entrusted to his care. “I think it was destiny that we got her back,” Domino says. “I had to out shake another claim” —but they got it done.

Like Murrell, Domino was motivated to get her back because he started to doubt the mare could hold her ground in the higher claimers. “No matter who had her, sometimes horses, when they get older are worth less money,” he says, “I didn’t want to see the mare drop in class and possibly wind up running races every week.”

Then when Murrell saw her claiming tag drop from around $40,000 to a poor $14,000 that he started to grow concerned that the mare might not end up in as good a situation as he and Domino could provide.

“She was claimed by Jacobson for $50,000 at one point and then for $35,000 last October,” Murrell says. “And then all of a sudden he put her in for $14,000, and I said, that’s it, we’re taking her out.”

As the two decide on the next steps for Rock N Cozy, both men say they are happy such a beautiful horse has returned to their fold.

Friends and business partners for years, Domino and Murrell both donate generously to horse charities. Domino, who was elected to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) Board of Directors last October, created the Jana Domino Thoroughbred Foundation in memory of his daughter, and uses funds to assist several racing-related charities, including the TRF. Says Domino, “We got to the point with Rock N Cozy where we wanted to just take her now and get her a good home.”

www.trf.org Photos courtesy of Frankie Olaya & Sophia Domino. Used with Permission. All rights reserved.

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Great Turnout! @ LA Animal Law Symposium

By Stephen Wells, Executive Director of the Animal Legal Defense Fund

Exciting news from the Animal Legal Defense Fund!

More than 150 attorneys, law students, and animal advocates came together to attend ALDF’s first symposium of the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Los Angeles regional attorney network on March 28. Top experts discussed the harmful impacts of factory farming on animals, humans, and the environment and legal and grassroots strategies to challenge its stronghold in the legislature. The soldout event took place at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law and was co-hosted

by USC’s Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) chapter.

More than 10 billion chickens, cows, goats, turkeys, pigs, and sheep are raised and slaughtered on factory farms every year. The monumental suffering of these animals in horrific conditions on factory farms was the focus of our initial panel. After Pamela Hart, ALDF Animal Law Program director, gave an overview, ALDF director of litigation Carter Dillard spoke about common hurdles to litigation on behalf of animals. ALDF director of legislative affairs Chris Green gave an update on anti-whistle-blower “ag gag” legislation and other relevant federal and state laws.

Animals on factory farms experience psychological torture in addition to unimaginable physical pain and discomfort. From intensive confinement to acts of unimaginable cruelty, these conditions are considered standard farming practices under the law because the practices are defined by the industry itself. Such practices include mutilating animals’ bodies with procedures like “debeaking” with no pain relief and confining animals in cages so small they cannot turn around. No federal laws govern the conditions in which farmed animals are raised, and many of these practices are exempted from state anti-cruelty laws.

That’s why the Animal Legal Defense Fund works so hard to protect farmed animals by enforcing the laws already on the books and fighting for better laws.

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Because factory farms hide what they do to animals behind closed doors, investigations are necessary to document evidence of abuse and expose illegal and even standard practices.

ALDF’s new manager of investigations TJ Tumasse spoke at the symposium about the routine abuse he witnessed as an undercover investigator in factory farms and slaughterhouses.

A point TJ drove home for the audience was that the abusive treatment he saw every day represented the inherent cruelty of the industry, not merely the actions of a few “bad apple” workers. When he spoke about newborn piglets entering the world only to immediately suffer terror and pain from humans, the audience was moved, and disturbed.

Knowing that there are alternatives to this cruelty provided a much needed optimistic turn.

Beyond Meat CEO and co-founder Ethan Brown’s keynote presentation explained his company’s mission to use innovative technology to create and improve upon plant-based “meat” products. Companies like this are revolutionizing the future of food in ways that will reduce or eliminate animal suffering and greatly reduce the environmental and human health impacts of factory farming. With investors like Bill Gates, the future of cruelty-free alternative products looks bright.

One of the most important messages of the day was how advocates working in different areas can work together to combat the cruelty inherent in factory farming. It will take a multi-pronged and collaborative approach to dismantle the brutal system of raising animals for food on factory farms. For example, in addition to cruelty topics, other panelists addressed the environmental devastation caused by factory farms, human health risks posed by food borne pathogens and overuse of antibiotics, and ways to effect change on these issues.

Investigative journalist Will Potter closed the day with a keynote address about the work he’s done to expose the reality of factory farms. In addition to his award-winning writing, Will has made waves with an extremely successful Kickstarter campaign to purchase drones to document conditions on factory farms.

This symposium armed attendees with knowledge, strategies, and connections, and ALDF looks forward to hosting more events like this in the future. Factory farming is a formidable foe, but we continue our fight to protect the billions of animals used by this industry by working within the legal system to protect their interests.

www.aldf.org We may be the only lawyers on Earth whose clients are ALL innocent!

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