Las Vegas was ground zero for the wild horse debate this past weekend.

According to the website, The Summit of The Horse,  was a “summit of concerned citizens who understand what is necessary to keep the land, the horses, the people, the cultures, and the economies vibrant and healthy.”

They met at the South Point Resort to discuss bringing back horse slaughter in the United States as a viable solution to the wild horse “problem”.

They even got Bob Abbey, Director, Bureau of Land Management, to be a speaker at the event.  Claiming it was his duty to talk with all those concerned with the issue.  His attendance was not an endorsement of the idea.

It may not be a direct endorsement of the idea, but we do know that Mr Abbey is a friend of the cattlemen who want unrestricted access to cheap federal lands for grazing. of cattle.  And that the wild mustangs pose a serious roadblock to their plans and desires.

Using the discredited argument that the wild Mustangs are over populated and endangering the lands they are on, they need to be brought down to “manageable” numbers.  By sending the excess horses to slaughter instead of to holding pens as the BLM  currently does, would save the government money as well as provide new jobs for western states.

Logic?? Who Needs Logic??
Most people can agree that holding these beautiful creatures in over crowded pens is wrong and costly to the American taxpayer.  But sending them to slaughter is not the answer.

The current system of rounding up and holding them in pens was an idea created by and profited by cattle ranchers, not Wild Mustang advocates.  Other, more economical ideas that cost less and give the Mustangs their freedom back, have been routinely ignored by the BLM.

Pandering to the left’s cry about all the jobs and new tax base a horse slaughter business doesn’t hold water.  Preserving our past and our history while creating eco-tourism involving the wild mustangs, would create as many if not more long term jobs and tax base.

Your Thoughts??

Madeline Pickens and others argue the merits of having a wild mustang sanctuary that creates tours for educational purposes.  I always questioned that idea.  Education?  Who would benefit from seeing the wild mustangs on an “educational tour”?  And wouldn’t that exploit them even more?

My argument always has been that the Wild Mustangs are a symbol of the American spirit, if not the American west.  Who needs educating on that??  Why exploit the horses more than they already are??

Well, as fate should have it, a reality check hit me square in the eyes last month.  I can now say “I See The Light!!”

First was at the Armargosa Opera House in Death Valley.  There, they are known to make friends with the wild mustangs.  Inviting friends and visitors out to see them, pet them and get friendly with them….

Richard, the caretaker of the Opera House, explained that the wild horses around their place are people friendly and that the friendliness helps with the horses chances for a successful adoption.  It also gives the visitor an idea of what we are really fighting for.  All in real living color and in the horse’s natural environment.

A second encounter was with a tour group.  This time, it was literally face to face with the symbol of the American west.  Most of the guests had already heard the media and government’s side of the story.  From what they thought they knew to what they saw, is a story all by itself.

Some felt that it’s just a horse.  Wild or otherwise, we can see them in almost any state at any time of the year.  What’s so special about these??  I can now honestly say they found their answer looking them in the face.

As they watched the horses slowly walk past them, on their route to water, the guests felt a special bond with the animals that they could not explain.  A couple of the horses stopped to investigate the two-legged creatures and wondering what they wanted.  Posing for pictures before moving on.

My guests expressed a unique sense of honor to be able to walk amongst them, in their natural environment and to see the hierarchy and the heard instinct in play.  Not to mention their ability to survive in this rough, unforgiving terrain.

The herd instinct happened when one of the mustangs tried to separate a female from our “herd” and make her part of his own herd.  She got a quick education in Wild Mustang 101.

They also saw that these are not skinny, malnourished, near-death creatures in need of help or disposal.  Yes, some are bruised and battered from territorial fights.  But they were all very healthy horses.

Many now understood that these creatures are more than just a horse.  That they may not be native to this land (neither are we), yet they are an important part of it.  The wild mustang does belong here.  They do not belong in holding pens and definitely not in some midwestern state grazing field.

Most of the questions were from the guests trying to reconcile what they were told to what they were seeing and experiencing.  They talked about how they grew up to stories of the west and in their mind saw the mustangs.  Now, here they are standing next to one.  They were awed by the whole experience…

So maybe Madeline and the others have a valid point that needs to be explored.  That people are really hungry to see what they imagined growing up.  To let people see the symbol that has inspired so many books, movies and lives.  See them in person and in their natural environment.

A sanctuary for the Wild Mustangs.  A place that inspires the soul and feeds the imagination.  What a wonderful place that would be!

Part 2: Madeleine Pickens’ National Wild Horse Rescue Foundation to host “Salute the Mustangs” event madeleinesmustangs.org

Madeleine shares her excitement for the land that’s been identified for the upcoming wild horse sanctuary. With the support of the visitors to madeleinepickens.com, she can’t wait to see the horses taken out of holding and set free in the sanctuary.

Mrs. Pickens is a recognized businesswoman and philanthropist who happenbs to be the wife of American financier T. Boone Pickens.  Madelein Pickens is working towards building a sanctuary for the over 33,000 wild horses and burros that the BLM is currently in holding facilities scattered across the west and midwset.

Madeleine’s goal is to buy a million acres in the Western US where these amazing horses could live out their lives. The ranch would also have an eco-tourism element, so tourists could come to see the horses.

“The foundation is being created to protect and care for the wild horses and to allow citizens from around the world to come to the ranch to see thousands of free roaming wild horses. To achieve these goals, the Foundation will be active in the community promoting eco-tourism, hire within the local area, and be a good neighbor with the adjoining ranches to ensure strong fences are maintained and horses are contained to their own million acre ranch.”

On January 20, 2009…  Senator Hussein was given something no other president in modern history was given:  The golden key to the castle that also came with magical powers granted to him by the Senate and Congress.  Giving the newly crowed messiah the ability to do whatever he wanted with no questions or oversight.

Those of us who gave him that magical key and special powers were promised change and hope.  The biggest change was in the fact that his administration was supposed to be the most ethical and transparent administration in history.

In the weeks before that fateful day, as well as the weeks shortly after that; he had the opportunity to do good by his promises.  He had the opportunity to show the good people of the kingdom that they had entrusted the right man with this unlimited power.

Instead, he chose to show us our ability to be suckered as he filled his administration with the most corrupt and unethical people one could ever imagine being put into the position of power. In positions to ruin the nation, destroy its future and eliminate its past.

Instead of keeping the nations enemies under close observation, he invited them into his castle and gave them duplicate keys to the kingdom along with the power to make rules and the power to violate laws with no questions and no oversight.  To forsake the public’s trust in order to enrich themselves and their friends.

Had this President honored that one promise…  Millions of your tax dollars would not be going to enrich western ranchers and the proud Mustangs would be allowed to roam free in their protected lands. As the law states they should.

Yes my friends, the destruction of the wild Mustang, the symbol of American freedom and western heritage, is the fault of President Obama and nobody else.  Remember, he said “The Buck Stops Here.”  So it does.