tcmagazine farrah smith nov dec 2014

magazine nov/dec 2014

Our Buckle Bunny

Gina McKnight

iView

Elaine Nash

Laura Leigh

Wild Horse Roundups Roundup

Farrah Smith

Cindy Gendron

The Golden Years

“Follow your dreams, live your life with

purpose and never let fear stop you from being your true self ,

doing what you are meant to do.”

Wild for Life

The Monero

Mustangs

www.wildhorserescue.org

FEATURES

8

Wild for Life, The Monero Mustangs Katia Louise, Sandi Claypool Photographs by Sherry Kysely

24

The Golden Years Cindy Gendron

28

Wild Horse Roundups Round up Laura Leigh

36

Our Buckle Bunny Farrah Smith

48

iVIEW with Gina McKnight & Elaine Nash

54

When I Am An Old Horsewoman Patty Barnhart

56

Texas Jack’s Secret to Longevity Joe “Jake” Pratt, Jr.

63

“Cowboys” Jeff Hildebrandt

Please take a moment NOW and make your tax-deductible donation at www.ispmb.org

Publisher Equine Angle Marketing 818-642-4764 Editor & Creative Director Calamity Cate Crismani

Featured Fotographers Bristol MacDonald

Sherry Kysely

Contributing Fotographers

Christopher Amerouso Laura Leigh Kelle King

Jack “Jake” Pratt, Jr. Contributing Wriders Gina McKnight Katia Louise Sandi Claypool Laura Leigh Cindy Gendron

Cate Crismani Patty Barnhart

Jeff Hildebrandt Jack “Jake” Pratt, Jr.

tCmag Global Advertising 818 642 4764 calamity@truecowboymagazine.com Saddle Up, Subscribe PayPal online

www.truecowboymagazine.com VIVO LOS MUSTANGS!

Howdy partners!

Well, here we are again, another fabulous issue of tCmsg done! And it is EN FUEGO featuring Farrah Smith of the Sea Shepard Organization, our endearingly beautiful Buckle Bunny. And once again, I must extend my sincere gratitude to all the folks who not only contributed to this amazing issue but for all they do to save our wild horses: Katia Louise, Sandi Claypool, Sherry Kysely, Laura Leigh, Cindy Gendron, Elaine Nash and Bristol MacDonald. We welcome our first time contributor, Joe “Jake” Pratt, Jr. and our fabulous poets, Jeff Hildebrandt and Patty Barnhart, who help to lighten the vibe of a very serious issue: the plight of our wild mustangs and burros.

On a sadder note, I must say, Velma Johnston would be turning over in her grave to see the discord amongst the wild horse advocates and sanctuary leaders. Her intention, I am certain, is that we work together as a cohesive, powerful group to save our wild horses and burros from roundups, inhumane slaughter and imminent extinction.

We are powerful in numbers only and must unite to be the wilds’ voice. I pray this happens or we are all at risk of loosing our own freedoms and yet another species: an American Icon, the wild mustangs.

Gracias & Besos, Calamity Cate Crismani Vivo Los Mustangs!

Herd roun’ THe

waTerin’ TrougH

Contributing Fotographers

Sandi Claypool Laura Leigh

www.returntofreedom.org

If you ask Sherry Kysely, she’ll tell you that horses connect us to the land, to survival and ultimately to our own human roots. She’ll explain that the history of mankind has developed in tandem with equine evolution. She’ll also confess that horses have taken up space in her heart as far back as she can remember. Kysely credits her personal and professional inspiration and aspiration ,on many levels, to the connections between artist, human and equine confident. Sherry Kysely marries her artistic propensities and love of the sight of mustangs through her cameras and lenses, with her devotion to the breed as well as the land where they are the most indigenous, the Southwest. She is an avid explorer of the region and are thrilled to have, in a very serendipitous manner, discovered the Monero Mustangs at Yellow Hills Ranch in Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico. The Monero Mustangs had long been on Kysely’s photographic “bucket list”. As she took in the magnificence of the living legends of the Spanish Mustangs, Kysely knew she was experiencing something words would never aptly describe. This special herd of wild horses are the direct descendants of America’s most historic Mustangs; Spanish horses, Indian ponies and early Calvary mounts that once roamed the western region of the U.S. in great numbers, but are now under extreme threat of extinction. It’s been a long hard road for this herd of imperiled Mustangs that had already been through so much. Many of them first lost their freedom and their families when they were chased down by BLM helicopters and ATV’s. The trauma and physical suffering caused by these brutal roundups is virtually unspeakable.. The survivors were provided sanctuary under the charter of the Monero Mustangs, a federally registered 501c3 charity founded by Sandi Claypool and her late mother Ila Bromberg. This rare herd lived peacefully for years on a 5,000 acre ranch in New Mexico where visitors from around the world were able to experience their majesty through the Monero Mustang’s successful eco-tourism and conservation program. Many of the herd members appeared in Wild For Life Foundation's award winning documentary, “Saving America’s Horses”, which was partially filmed on location at the Monero Mustangs sanctuary in 2009. Filmmaker, Katia Louise says, “It was an honor to witness and film these magnificent living legends thriving in harmony with nature, complimenting the environment and gracing our world with their beauty.”

Wild for LifE

The Monero Mustangs With a little help from their friends, Katia Louise & Sandi Claypool

The Monero Mustangs Photographs by Sherry Kysely

Sadly, and most recently, the Monero Mustangs lost their sanctuary home due to conflicting special interests regarding land use. Within a few months the entire herd was in grave danger of going to slaughter.Mustang founder, Sandi Claypool says, bottom and there was no hope in site. But then I got a call from Katia Louise at the Wild For Life Foundation. She was the only person that stepped up to help.wasn’t for Katia and WFLF, our entire herd would have been brutally butchered alive for their meat. “When I heard that the Monero Mustangs lives were at stake, and knowing the untold horrors of their wouldbe fate, I knew we had to take immediate action,Katia Louise. Being a grassroots charity, emersed in equine rescue and preservation, Wild For Life Foundation (WFLF) works around the clock and in the trenches to meet these kinds of challenges on an everyday basis. “Going in, I knew this would be one of the biggest, most challenging rescue missions WFLF could take on. This was a matter of life and death urgency and an effort to prevent the most egregious cruelty inflicted upon animals by mankindLouise. And, so it was that in April 2014, the Wild for Life Foundation (WFLF) launched the WFLF MoneroMustang Rescue Mission. Teaming up with Monero Mustangs founder, Sandi Claypool, to help save and re-home the 140 imperiled Mustangs who were faced with barbaric slaughter, Louise and Claypool quickly got down to the business at hand. heaven for this historic herd of Spanish descended mustangs. “It’s a leap of faith for humanity and the future of the world that we share with these horses,says Louise, “Thank heavens for our supporters and their steadfast dedication in support of our work. Volunteer rescue members from the Wild for Life Foundation-Monero Mustang Rescue Mission put their lives on hold for over nine months to rescue, evacuate and provide care for these historic and majestic icons to insure they will never be subject to the risk of roundup and slaughter again.

Copyright 2014 Sherry Kysely. All rights reserved

Sadly, and most recently, the Monero Mustangs lost their sanctuary home due to conflicting special interests regarding land use. Within a few months the entire herd was in grave danger of going to slaughter. Monero Mustang founder, Sandi Claypool says, “We hit rock bottom and there was no hope in site. But then I got a call from Katia Louise at the Wild For Life Foundation. She was the only person that stepped up to help. If it

t for Katia and WFLF, our entire herd would have been brutally butchered alive for their meat.”

When I heard that the Monero Mustangs lives were at stake, and knowing the untold horrors of their would-

I knew we had to take immediate action,” says Katia Louise. Being a grassroots charity, emersed in equine rescue and preservation, Wild For Life Foundation (WFLF) works around the clock and in the trenches to meet these kinds of challenges on an

Going in, I knew this would be one of the biggest, most challenging rescue missions WFLF could take on. This was a matter of life and death urgency and an effort to prevent the most egregious cruelty inflicted upon animals by mankind”, says

And, so it was that in April 2014, the Wild for Life Foundation (WFLF) launched the WFLF Monero-Mustang Rescue Mission. Teaming up with Monero Mustangs founder, Sandi Claypool, to help save and

home the 140 imperiled Mustangs who were faced with barbaric slaughter, Louise and Claypool quickly got down to the business at hand. Securing a safe heaven for this historic herd of Spanish descended

s a leap of faith for humanity and the future of the world that we share with these horses,”

Thank heavens for our supporters and their steadfast dedication in support of our work.”

Volunteer rescue members from the Wild for Life Monero Mustang Rescue Mission put their

lives on hold for over nine months to rescue, evacuate and provide care for these historic and majestic icons to insure they will never be subject to the risk of roundup

Copyright 2014 Sherry Kysely. All rights reserved.

As the remaining number of wild horses in the U.S. nears extinction, education and appreciation through the protection and observation of Wild Horses in natural sanctuary environments becomes tantamount to their survival as a species. “America’s wild horses cannot be reproduced once they are gone,” says Monero Mustangs founder, Sandi Claypool. The Monero herd includes roughly three dozen rare Spanish Mustangs whose lineage has been traced back to the re-introduction of equines to North America by the Spaniards in the 1500's. They have been positively identified as El Rito Spanish Mustangs; descendants of the Spanish horses brought to the Americas by Juan de Onate in and around 1598. WFLF’s California wild horse conservation and natural habitat sanctuary has become the new home for these wild Spanish Mustangs and are among the rarest and most threatened wild horse species in the country. Wild horse Expert and conservationist, Sandi Claypool is now residing in California, with her beloved Monero Mustangs, at WFLF’s new Wild Horse Sanctuary as their Conservation Manager. Claypool has dedicated her life to keeping the genetic pool of the original Spanish El Rito Mustangs alive. “Sandi brings a wealth of knowledge to our wild horse educational program,” says Louise., “she is a passionate educator and will help teach our youth and other members of the community about the treasure of this regal and adaptive band of vanishing El Rito Spanish Mustangs who helped settle the west.” “Keeping them together in their family bands will also help protect them from extinction,” says Katia Louise. The family bands include several pregnant mares, orphan foals and key bloodline stallions who are now safely re-homed in California under WFLF's sanctuary and nature program. “Our American Mustang has impacted every race and every culture in the building of our Nation, and the world. These iconic, living legends helped fight our battles, carried settlers west, help to build our early railroads, delivered our mail, transported doctors to the sick, transported supplies, and fought in our nations wars on all sides,” says Sandi Claypool. “The symbol of freedom they represent is the greatest healer of broken hearts.” The Wild For Life Foundation has not only saved the lives of these majestic horses, but is also insuring that the Monero Mustang legacy lives on. "With wild mustang herds across the west vanishing, the importance of protecting and preserving them while providing the public the opportunity to view and experience wild mustangs in their natural environment is essential to the history and the future of not only our nation, but our world." says Louise.

“Wild horses are scientifically recognized for restoring rangehelping the return of a wider variety of plants and invertebrates to the lands where they roam. Scientists and conservationists have indeed found that the reopen lands provides a meaningful way to restore and sustain the natural environment and wildlife.” It has taken several months to save and restore over 140 of these majestic herd members to new safe haven natural habitat homes.necessary emergency rescue costs including blood tests for Coggins, health certificates and travel permits just to get them safely out of Mew Mexico,numbers of horses across state lines is complicated and costly. Stops must be made so the horses can rest, be watered and fed. Safely transporting horses across the country is limited during the hot summer months and these factors have all played into this major rescue mission.” funds were raised to save them. Continued support is crucial in order to insure the safe harbor of these historic equines. At WFLF, rescue is just the beginning of a long, dedicated endeavor to provide the best quality of life for these vulnerable and displaced victims.deductible donations.community enrichment through its multianimal cruelty, nature and educational initiatives, and therapeutic animalhealing. healing hearts enhance the lives of people. WFLF-Monero Mustangs extends their gratitude to the ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Society, the Onyx and Breezy Foundation, Elk Park Animal Hospital, Equine Voices, Firelight South, Equine Wellness and Double D Rescue Hauling for their generous support in helping to make this mission a success. And as if all of this werencourse of this rescue mission. Three of the new foals were born in California. Learn more about Wild for Life Foundation at www.wildforlifefoundation.org www.LifetimeEquineRefuge.org, www.SavingAmericasHorses.org Federal ID No. 26 Donations are greatly appreciated and put to great use. Wild For Life Foundation,9510 Van Buren Blvd, Suite F3236Riverside, CA 92508 310.439.9817.

Wild horses are scientifically recognized for restoring range-lands, boosting biodiversity and helping the return of a wider variety of plants and invertebrates to the lands where they roam. Scientists and conservationists have indeed found that the re-introduction of wild equines to open lands provides a meaningful way to restore and sustain the natural environment and wildlife.”

It has taken several months to save and restore over 140 of these majestic herd members to new safe haven natural habitat homes. “Our resources have been stretched to meet the necessary emergency rescue costs including blood tests for Coggins, health certificates and travel permits just to get them safely out of Mew Mexico,” says Louise. “Transporting large numbers of horses across state lines is complicated and costly. Stops must be made so the horses can rest, be watered and fed. Safely transporting horses across the country is limited during the hot summer months and these factors have all played into this major rescue mission.” Water and hay had to be trucked in daily to keep them fed and healthy during while funds were raised to save them.

Continued support is crucial in order to insure the safe harbor of these historic equines. At WFLF, rescue is just the beginning of a long, dedicated endeavor to provide the best quality of life for these vulnerable and displaced victims. The WFLF charity relies solely on tax deductible donations. Partnerships are crucial to helping the Wild For Life Foundation serve community enrichment through its multi-layered mission of preserving wildlife, preventing animal cruelty, nature and educational initiatives, and therapeutic animal-human healing. WFLF saves the lives of homeless, mistreated and slaughter bound horses, whose healing hearts enhance the lives of people.

WFLF-Monero Mustangs extends their gratitude to the ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Society, the Onyx and Breezy Foundation, Elk Park Animal Hospital, Equine Voices, Firelight South, Equine Wellness and Double D Rescue Hauling for their generous support in helping to make this mission a success.

And as if all of this weren’t challenging enough, ten pregnant mares gave birth over the course of this rescue mission. Three of the new foals were born in California.

Learn more about Wild for Life Foundation at www.wildforlifefoundation.org www.LifetimeEquineRefuge.org, www.SavingAmericasHorses.org Federal ID No. 26-3052458

Donations are greatly appreciated and put to great use. Wild For Life Foundation, 9510 Van Buren Blvd, Suite F3236 Riverside, CA 92508 310.439.9817.

Why do people always want young horses? I guess the answer is in the question. But for those just learning about horse-keeping and riding, an older, mature horse with more training and experience is often a superior choice. Adopting a senior horse can be an unexpected and wonderful experience for both new and experienced horse owners of all ages. It is tempting for beginners to want to grow up with a young horse or think they might have a stronger bond with one if they own and train it from an early age. Young horses tend to be less steady and have unpredictable reactions to all sorts of experiences. Some young horses may require experienced handlers who can foresee and predict those reactions and problems. Beginning horse owners rarely have the foresight, or knowledge, it requires to safely handle a “green” horse. The novelty of owning a young horse can wear off quickly when you can’t ride right away. Acquiring a young horse is a long-term

commitment, which may not be the best idea

for those with uncertain future plans. Provid-

ing a loving home for a horse in his golden

years is never a less-serious commitment, but

it can be a shorter one. A horse in its teens or

twenties may be a perfect match for many

horse owners but there are certainly no

guarantees. And sometimes, there is without a

doubt, nothing better for a young beginner or first-time horse owner than a

seasoned, senior horse.

Older horses have better focus and are calmer. They have years of experience

“reading” humans than younger horses and have already learned what it takes to

become part of a herd and a family. Some riders shy away from an older horse

because they have ambitious, future riding goals. But even older horses can

become world class competitors like Lenamore, who at 20 years-old, was a

member of the bronze medal winning team in the 2012 Olympics.

The Golden YearsReflections on Senior Horses During Adopt a Senior Pet Month

By Cindy Gendron

Rescues offer many healthy and active senior horses in need of good homes and

older horses are often the last to be considered for adoption. Valentine is a 25

year-old mini, who came to Healing Hearts Animal Rescue and Refuge in Arizona

after being a brood mare for almost 20 years. She had lived most of her life in a stall,

producing babies. Valentine was emaciated, with overgrown hooves, horrible teeth

and a tail matted with feces.

This sweet girl became the center of Healing Hearts educational program, "Books in

the Barn”. Valentine was recently adopted by a

long-time supporter of Healing Hearts and is now

living a life full of daily interaction, love and

friendship. Valentine and her family could not be

happier together.

Many older horses were once owned and loved by

someone. Yet, for whatever reason, they were

given up or abandoned. There is a misconception

that horses that end up in rescue are physically or

behaviorally problematic. It is not uncommon,

however, for very expensive, well-bred,

well-trained horses to lose their homes for a

variety of reasons. Usually those reasons have

nothing to do with their behavior or temperament

but, rather, to the fact that their owners are unable

to keep them for reasons including: death of a

guardian, riders going away to college, high hay

and boarding prices. Simply put, lifestyle changes. Or some become disenchanted

with the dedicated care involved in the lifetime of a horse. These senior horses need

homes just as badly as young horses do, in these situations, and make loyal and lov-

ing companions.

Scimakota, aka Coda, was a one-owner horse and an elegant and well-bred Arabian

who served as his owner's trail horse for many years in the hills of Santa Clarita,

California. As his people became older and could no longer care for him, Coda, and

his three Arabian friends, sat in their pipe corrals for five years: fed and watered but

receiving no other care. There was no turnout on the property so they just stood in

The Golden Years Reflections on Senior Horses During Adopt a Senior Pet Month

By Cindy Gendron

their pens as the years slipped away. Finally, after their owners passed away, their children reached out for help and Coda went to Polo Pony Rescue in Los Angeles. They doubted they would find a home for Coda after realizing that, despite his age of 27, he was still a hot, high-spirited horse to ride. After more than a year at Polo Pony Rescue, a woman named Suzie came along. Suzie owned other Arabians and loved the breed. She wanted a horse with some spirit and knew that Arabians are famous for their longevity. So Coda's 1986 date of birth didn't bother her. Coda went home in November, 2014, and quickly became a barn favorite. "Just like people, horses are living longer and staying useful well into their senior years," said Cathleen Trope of Polo Pony Rescue, "Coda would have been miserable retired. At 28, he is nowhere near ready to sit in a field. Fortunately, he found a rider who agreed." Adopting a senior horse pays off in many ways and you’ll feel the rewards every loving day you spend together.

Author’s Corner Cindy Gendron is the Coordinator of The Homes for Horses Coalition (THHC) which is supported by the ASPCA , Animal Welfare Institute, Human Society of the United States and the Jeannie and Jim Dodson Equine Protection Fund. THHC is dedicated to ending horse slaughter and other forms of equine abuse, while promoting growth, collaboration and professionalism in the equine rescue and protection community.

cindy@homesforhorses.org www.homesforhorses.org

http://www.facebook.com/HomesforHorses.

A percentage of sales proceeds will be donated to

the International Society for the Preservation of Mustangs and Burros.

www.ispmb.org

Wild horse and burros removals from public land are an issue of serious public concern. Often these operations, and the wild horses and burros sitting in holding facilities, become the “face” of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program. Field work and the land use planning process, that are responsible for both removals and holding, have very little public attention.

Called roundups, or “gathers” by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the result is removal. But even the term used to describe the event often becomes a heated issue. That is how explosive this issue can get.

Over the last few years issues revolving around a lack of access to removals, and repeated incidents of conduct that was observed, have gained the attention of the public, media and the courts.

The operations over the last month can serve as examples of some of the most contentious issues in wild horse management at the present time.

Sheldon, USFWS: The Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge near the Oregon border in Nevada, that is NOT managed by the BLM, has just completed an operation where they “zeroed out” the population of wild horses and burros. The plan began 5 years ago as the refuge finalized management documents into a “Comprehensive Conservation Plan,” or “CCP.” This plan is the equivalent of the BLM Resource Management Plan or “RMP.” Sheldon is NOT protected under the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971.

Wild Horse Roundups Roundup By Laura Leigh

Historically brutal practices, hidden removals and horses landing in the s laughter pipeline laid an intense foundation for the last operations. Tensions were extremely high on the ground and within social media. Wild Horse Education however was the ONLY public to observe the final removal. As with all things “wild horse” the “beating of the helicopter blade” is what draws the public long after the foundation for removal is built. Tensions with the agency, contractor and the public hit a zenith. You can read about the last day of operation here: http://wildhorseeducation.org/2014/10/19/good-bye-old-man/ (action alert at the link has expired as the last of the Sheldon horses have shipped, many still to an unknown fate). You can view the last of the Sheldon Mustangs in holding here: http://wildhorseeducation.org/2014/10/30/the-last-sheldon-mustangs-holding/ Reveille: Coming off the heels of Sheldon was the operation near Tonopah Nevada at Reveille. This operation was a BLM removal done under a court order that was incorporated into land use plans to things like the number of horses allowed on the range or what BLM called Appropriate Management Level (AML) and the boundary lines of the area the horses can legally occupy (Herd Management Area, HMA). http://wildhorseeducation.org/2014/09/01/reveille-2014/

In this area a program for management is beginning that will address many of the statements made in the National Academy of Sciences Report (NAS), prior to formal recommendations. The plan involves birth control, tracking, monitor-ing, data collection and multiple other facets that will give a clear picture of how the wild horses utilize the range to create a comprehensive management plan that has justification for any decisions that result in land use plans and wild horses in balance with other uses.

This operation was done with no deaths, injuries, access and a trap site adoption that has placed 10 of 15 wild horses immediately processed and offered for adoption (the 5 not immediately adopted may also have been placed) resulting in more than 13% of wild horses removed immediately going into homes and never joining the over crowded facilities that currently house nearly 50,000 wild horses (more than exist on the range at an estimated cost of $50,000 per animal over it’s lifetime if not adopted).

Yet this operation still became a flashpoint for controversy. http://wildhorseeducation.org/2014/11/04/reveille-update/

Those opposed to any changes became inflamed. In the extreme we had activists (many that have been all but vacant in the wild horse issue over the last decade on the range) began to scream about birth control (even though the advocate community pushed this concept at every meeting of the Advisory Board for the

last several years and it was recommended by the NAS). On the other side there was push back on the access given to me, Presi-dent of Wild Horse Educa-tion, by the contractor. (The types of images ob-jected to are in this slideshow: http://wildhorseeducation.org/reveille-slideshow-day-4/).

I was, again , the only ob-server during the week of operations (representing any organization or otherwise from the public).

Silver King: At Silver King an operation that was intended to remove wild horses from a portion of the area where they were traveling into a subdivision (public feeding), and crossing a highway, was originally set to occur before Re-veille but delays at Sheldon changed the schedule.

The first day of operation at Silver King was delayed due to “contractor issues,” just days after a confrontation at Reveille with the contractor to access. http://wildhorseeducation.org/2014/11/10/wild-horses-and-the-first-amendment-an-issue-again/

The issues to observe were supposedly worked out and the operation was sched-uled to begin the following day. The “access” given allowed NO meaningful access whatsoever and observers could not tell how many horses came into the trap or even simple body condition as NO opportunity was afforded to view wild horses at all on day of capture. Wild horses that day were held at the trap location and then transferred to a semi truck and shipped 9 hours away to Palomino Valley Center north of Reno. The operation ended that day.

The public is looking for credibility. Access is essential to credibility. Wild Horse Education has been involved through the work of our founder for 5 years to establish access. This included a case that originated at Silver King that went up and down the court system for over 4 years. http://wildhorseeducation.org/2013/11/26/first-amendment-and-wild-horses-ready-for-the-ninth-circuit/

This spring the BLM agreed to access that allowed observation of every horse on the date of capture and the reopening of the Broken Arrow Facility in Fallon NV. http://wildhorseeducation.org/2014/09/30/blm-to-open-facility-after-years-in-litigation/

Conversations immediately ensued that should provide that access moving forward, and what happened at Silver King 2014, will hopefully be an “isolated incident” in part likely spurred by those that are against positive change and practices based on a “truth.”

I was the only one from a wild horse organization along with two women who had flown in from Tennessee to see the roundup and essentially saw nothing.

Triple B: The Triple B operation north of Ely Nevada is set to begin on October 13. This operation was delayed by Sheldon and the delay at Silver King. Initially this operation was scheduled to be complete prior to Reveille. This is another “spot re-moval” intended to remove 70 wild horses in an areas of “trespass” into private property. Likely a one or two day operation this time around.

The last removal at Triple B was a six week long marathon intended to remove 1,726 wild horses (1269 wild horses were removed from the range with 12 deaths occurring during the operation . A court order gained by Wild Horse Education’s founder stopped the removal after federal Judge Howard McKibben called the excuses used to justify conduct a “blame the horse affront.” This order was the first in history against inappropriate conduct at roundups and we obtained 3 more orders including a Preliminary Injunction have been obtained since. http://wildhorseeducation.org/2014/08/30/triple-b-and-the-fight-for-humane-care/

The Triple B removal will be the last removal on the summer schedule or fiscal 2014 schedule. The fiscal year of 2015 began on October 1 and a removal schedule is expected shortly. These operations were postponed due to multiple factors. There is an assumption that these are the last operations of the year and that is not the case.

BLM began work on a welfare policy that was presented to the courts after Triple B gained the TRO as a Preliminary Injunction was fought for. Documents created for the court included the Triple B review where the conduct alleged in court was admitted to (even though it was called “appropriate”). http://wildhorseeducation.org/2011/12/11/analysis-of-blm-report-on-triple-b-conduct/

The Comprehensive Animal Welfare Plan (CAWP) will be announced shortly by the BLM and included in fiscal year 2015 contracts.

Multiple court orders including the ones gained at Triple B with the most recent ones gained during litigation as I was not present at this operation. But the Wild Horse Education has an observer on location that will share these reports later.

Owyhee http://wildhorseeducation.org/2013/01/10/judge-orders-blm-to-handle-wild-horses-humanely-at-ongoing-roundup/ should be incorporated into the policy.

There is no doubt that the opportunity for change is here. Will changes occur? Yes they will. Either positive change will begin that creates credibility through access, humane care and responsible data collection for decision making or other public land use factors will drive the program into further chaos. http://wildhorseeducation.org/2014/08/15/focus-nevada-battle/ New mining regulations and sage grouse issues have turned up the heat to an intensity never before seen. Will wild horses lose out again? With intelligent responsible engagement of process we can work toward the protections originally intended by law. Or we can watch as those opposed to recognizing a changing playing field “hold the ball” and it never makes the goal line. Time will tell.

Wild Horse Education is a registered 501(c)3 public charity devoted to gaining protection for wild horses and burros from abuse, slaughter and extinction.

www.wildhorseeducation.org

Our Buckle Bunny

Farrah Smith

Our gregarious Buckle Bunny, Farrah Smith, was born and raised in the small town of Granville, Ohio. Her adventurous nature always reminded her that she might be a “little to much” for the quaint community. “I never felt like I fit in and couldn’t wait to get out and experience new things”, smiles Farrah., “I had a very sheltered childhood so moving to Los Angeles on my own when I was only nineteen was very scary but that is how I live my life. I always do what I am afraid to do. I challenge myself and never allow failure to be an option. I make goals and I always reach them. If you are passionate, driven and determined you will succeed at anything you try to do”, says Farrah, “I make a conscious effort to be all of those things. The only problem was I thought a certain title and paycheck would fulfill me, but when I had accomplished those things I felt more empty and lost than I ever had,” she says. “I moved to Las Vegas to accept a high powered corporate position. I was living an incredible life, I thought, and catering to a very exciting clientele. But something was missing. I had “made it” so why wasn’t I happier. And then I heard a quote by Winston Churchill, ‘To each there comes in their lifetime, a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitted to their talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour.” “After hearing that quote I was disappointed in myself because I knew I was not preparing for my moment to make a difference. My passion has always been kids and animals so I quit my job and moved back to Los Angeles in hopes of living a more meaningful life, but I found myself stuck in yet another corporate job desperate for change.” “I became very depressed because I felt stuck. A friend suggested I spend time with her horse, Shuckin, at the stables nearby. This sweet horse truly saved me and spending time with him kept me sane. I finally felt like I could breathe again. I felt at peace and clear headed whenever I was with him and it motivated me even more to do something with animals. Photo used with permission. Copyright 2014 Kelle King. All rights reserved.

Then Farrah’s life took a big turn when she discovered the TV show, Whale Wars. “I was so inspired by Captain Paul Watson, and all the brave crewmembers, on the show. I wanted to do anything to make a difference like them. It’s amazing how the world works, because I ended up running in to Captain Watson at one of my venues. It was an unlikely circumstance because it wasn’t anywhere he would normally be. I got his information and offered to volunteer the next time they hosted an event in LA. But he left and I didn’t see him again for quite a while. I wanted to be like him, be surrounded by people like him and make a difference like him so bad it was all I thought about. I few months later I set up a meeting with Captain Watson and a very high profile and wealthy individual having no idea they were looking to fill s fundraising executive position. If I hadn’t taken that transition job I wouldn’t have been in the right place at the right time to meet him nor would that dinner have ever taken place. I got the position!!”

Shot on at Ansalyn Corner Ranch, Shadow Hills, CA. Photographer: Bristol MacDonald Make-up Artist Extraordinaire: Kate Chavez Fabulous Hair: Dry Bar, Beverly Hills, CA.

Stying and Creative Direction: Calamity Cate Crismani

“I just love looking back on my life and connecting the dots that brought me to where I am today. The first movie that ever upset me and made me cry when I was a child was Orca. I guess I was always meant to save whales, just needed all of the other experiences to be able to do that. My years of working with wealthy and high profile clientele and hosting events for the enter-tainment industry were all preparing me to be the right person, with the right skill set and the right connections to make a difference in the world”, smiles Farrah.

“Being an activist and seeing all the horrible things done to animals on a regular basis can be overwhelming so I still use horses as therapy”, says Farrah, “whenever I feel hopeless or like I am becoming too angry I go to the stables. I honestly have no idea what I would ever do without them. This is why the issue with wild mustangs and horses being slaughtered for human consumption feels personal to me. I can’t sit by and allow such horrific behavior to continue without doing something about it.

“Whenever the issue of slaughtering horses for human consumption is brought up, the government defends its actions by saying slaughtering horses in the U.S. is more humane than transporting them across federal borders to be slaughtered. They claim laws and regulations guarantee the humane treatment of equines in the US, but the problem is that there is a lack of enforcement and well-documented violations of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. Whistle blower laws fail to adequately protect employees that would otherwise bring at-tention to the violations that are occurring. As far as I am con-cerned, laws and regulations are not enough. Horse slaughter is never humane and is a gruesome reality. No compassionate individual should ever be ok with that. It’s cruel, barbaric and absolutely inhumane and needs to be stopped,” she says.

“The wild horse round ups are just as inhumane as they cause the animals a great deal of stress and suffering. The government claims there are rules and regulations to protect the mustangs and burros during the round ups, but they are often conducted in secrecy, with heavy police presence to keep the public at bay. Why would they go to such great lengths to hide their actions if they weren’t doing any-thing wrong? The reality is the federal government is using low flying helicopters to stampede hundreds of thousands of wild horses off of public land so commercial

interests can turn a profit. The wild mustangs and burros are an American Icon and the government is not protecting them, but driving them to possible extinc-tion. That is not an exaggeration considering the number of wild horses roam-ing the West has decreased by 98% since the 19th century. Wild horses already in government warehouses across the country far outnumber the horses that re-main free in the wild. The wild horses are supposed to be federally protected by the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), but violations are well

documented and happening on a regular basis. The BLM claims the round-ups are neces-sary because wild horses are overpopulating, but the fact is they take 1% of the land. The entire process is extremely cruel and violent. It’s blatant abuse and the government is allowing it to happen. To make matters even worse, 90% of rounded up horses ended up at slaughter. Many of the rest are stockpiled in government holding facilities living a life of misery. We need to be a voice for the voiceless, we cannot let this continue to happen. It’s our tax dollars that are killing wild horses so cattle can graze on public land.

For this reason we have the power to demand change. Congressional representatives need your vote so they will listen. Tell them to use our tax dollars to protect our horses, not try to get rid of them. And stop all horses, domestic and wild horses from horse slaughter. Otherwise our wild horse could soon be gone forever,” she says.

“I am honored to have Captain Paul Watson as a mentor and I love protecting marine wildlife”, Farrah says, “but I care just as much about whales and dolphins as I do horses, wolves, pigs, cats and dogs. I love all animals. Animals are sentient beings and experience pain and suffering just like we do. I feel it is every compassionate individuals responsibility to protect them or we are just as guilty as the abusers. Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things and stop cruelty and abuse of the defenseless we are not an evolved society.

“I love working for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society,” smiles Farrah, “because it’s not just about animal welfare. We understand everything is connected so we need to protect the entire ecosystem in order to ensure the survival of the planet and the human race. Sea Shepherd is great at creating awareness for animal and environmental causes so I feel it is the best organization for me to make a difference on a very large scale.” “Follow your dreams, live your life with purpose and never let fear stop you from being your true self, doing what you are meant to do. I think everyone should do his or her part to make the world a better place because you want your life to have meaning”, she says, “For me that is bringing awareness to animal issues and living a cruelty-free life and helping others to do the same. We can make change in the world. You can see it throughout history with animal and human rights issues. Like Margaret Mead said “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” “I live a fast paced life in Los Angeles right now, but my dream is to end up on a ranch with horses, surrounded by nature. I would love to have enough land to open a sanctuary so I can spend the rest of my life taking care of animals in need.”

I am honored to have Captain Paul Watson as a mentor and I love protecting

Farrah says, but I care just as much about

whales and dolphins as I do horses, wolves, pigs, cats and dogs. I love all animals.”

Animals are sentient beings and experience pain and suffering just like we do. I feel it is every compassionate individuals responsibility to protect them or we are just as guilty as the abusers. Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things and stop cruelty and abuse of the defenseless we are not an evolved society.

www.thecloudfoundation.org

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Elaine Nash is the quintessential equestrian; growing up with horses, living with horses, riding horses, now saving horses. EAngels, a non-profit organization providing safe passage for at-risk equines from danger to safety to save them from slaughter, in New York City and Colorado, Elaine oversees the organization’s operations through a fleet of thousands of expert drivers and volunteer staff. I had the great opportunity

to connect with Elaine while she was in Colorado. We had a wonderful conversation about equines and ElaineFleet of Angels eventually enlisting a hundred thousand or more members. She emphasizes that there are millions of people in she would like for everyone in the country who has a horse trailer to register with FOA. You may never be called to volunteerty to save an equine life. She stresses that if you register your horse trailer, and are called and asked to do something yo

if you register your trailer, pasture, stable, or time, you will have the opportunity to help save lives, and who knows, you

Gina McKnight: Welcome, Elaine. Thank you for connecting. What made you decide to organize a Fleet of Angels? Elaine Nash: Thanks for inviting me! Well, I saw a lot of posts on Facebook of people talking about what’s wrong; how we are all telling each other how bad everything is. I wanted to stop talking about it and do something about it. I noticed that people would talk about how they would love to adopt rescue horses, but that the cost of transportation was so high they couldn’t afford to bring them home. I started thinking about how many people there are around the country who have horse trail-ers parked beside their barns, and how in most cases people are happy to help horses in their area who are in trouble. I thought that we needed a way to connect the two people who had trailers and people who needed help with transportation for their horses. That's how Fleet of Angels was born. GMK: What steps did you take to organize Fleet of Angels? EN: We are about two years old now, and in my mind we are just getting started. We have about 8,000 people participating through our web site and our two Facebook pages. The Directory and the Map of Angels on our web site help people who need transportation assistance find the nearest 'transport angels'. The site lets people register to be Angels who offer help, an can make transportation requests. The transportation networking page where people can post about help they need with transportation. The users of Fleet of Angels can go there and connect and get help that way. Our other Facebook page, called Fleet of Angels' News, is where we post items about trailer safety, transportation issues, and things are related to what we do. Half of our missions have been from our Facebook pages. They go to the website and use the directory that has transport an-gels, layover locations, and foster homes to host equines overnight.

iVIEW with Gina McKnight and Elaine Nash

Elaine Nash is the quintessential equestrian; growing up with horses, living with horses, riding horses, now saving horses. Elaine is the founder and director of Fleet of risk equines from danger to safety to save them from slaughter, disasters, abandonment, and abuse. Residing

s operations through a fleet of thousands of expert drivers and volunteer staff. I had the great opportunity We had a wonderful conversation about equines and Elaine’s future goals for Fleet of Angels (FOA). Elaine foresees

Fleet of Angels eventually enlisting a hundred thousand or more members. She emphasizes that there are millions of people in this country who own horse trailers, and that she would like for everyone in the country who has a horse trailer to register with FOA. You may never be called to volunteer, she states, but if you are, it is your opportuni-ty to save an equine life. She stresses that if you register your horse trailer, and are called and asked to do something you're not able to do, all you have to do is say no. But,

if you register your trailer, pasture, stable, or time, you will have the opportunity to help save lives, and who knows, you may need a Fleet of Angels in your future.

By the way, when I say 'horses', I mean all equines: burros and mules included. We also have a category that people can register in which is called ‘Driver Hosts.’

Sometimes we have a driver who transports horses a long distance in an emergency situation, and needs to stop overnight and keep the horses somewhere, so it’s nice to have a place for the driver to sleep, too. We have people who open their homes to drivers to spend the night with them in those kinds of emergencies.

GMK: Do you have regular assigned dr ivers, or are they people from the Fleet of Angels registry? EN: Any transpor ter who is in the registry is a candidate for a tr ip in their own area. We really have three different types of people who help us. We have folks’ who have horse trailers parked beside their house, but they don’t do anything professional with that trailer except haul their own horses and they are available for transportation. Another category is for drivers who may have their own trailers, who charge to haul equines when they have time while running their own professional horse operation. Then we have commercial horse transporters who are the big guys with the air-ride trucks and trailers, and that’s all they do. The rules for Fleet of Angels membership are that you have a good reputation in life in general so that we can feel that horses will be safe with them; then, also, people who transport for us agree to transport either for free, for the cost of fuel, or for a

significant discount off their regular rate. Our whole point is just not transporting horses; our mission is to transport at-risk equines for the least possible price. GMK: Do you receive any government funding or other funding sources? EN: No, I have funded most of Fleet of Angels' costs myself. I was able to get non-profit status assigned to FOA last year, and we're in the process of getting our tax exempt status from the IRS now.. We haven’t been fundraising at any time

VIEW with Gina McKnight and Elaine Nash

except for the sales of t-shirts, until we started this burro campaign called the Guatemala 100, where we have been working to place almost 200 wild burros in American homes. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) had been transport-ing the burros to Guatemala where they were going to be used for beasts of burden and probably for food. GMK: What is the process to adopt a bur ro? EN: You star t the process by emailing me at holdyourhorses@aol.com to re-quest an application. I will respond with a letter with information and an applica-tion. Because these burros are in the BLM Sale Authority program rather than their adoption program, it's not at all difficult to qualify. You send the application back to me and that starts the approval process. The applications are forwarded to Heidi Hopkins, Director of the Platero Project (HSUS), who works with the BLM regarding application processing, and in some cases can arrange for the BLM to transport burros to more convenient the BLM facilities for pick up by the new owners. When your application is approved- and most of them are, we will start working with on transportation. Buyers need to pay all they can afford for fuel, but we do have funds that we have raised to assist with that. In the case of Sale Authority burros, they have been offered for adoption online or at public adoption events three times by BLM and haven’t been adopted, so they are put into the sales category. These sale authority burros cost $25 a piece. If you adopt a burro through the BLM, they are $125. These are very economical burros. An-yone can purchase the burros and with the help with transportation, we are mak-ing it quite reasonable to transport, and you can have two pretty cool burros. We are trying to get the burros placed in pairs, by the way. They are already paired up with a buddy in the holding facilities, and we don’t want to separate them be-cause they are very connected. GMK: Are there safety issues to be concerned about in regards to safe passage for the driver and the equines? Are there liability issues for the volunteer and how is that handled? EN: It depends on the dr ivers. A lot of them are professionals or semi-professionals and have Department of Transportation (DOT) permits, insurance, and so forth. The others have whatever insurance they have on their vehicles. In terms of liability insurance, sometimes the coverage they have on their own farms transfers to their vehicles. GMK: Any issues with equine health and transpor tation? EN: FOA does not transpor t horses that do not have Coggins tests, health certificates and everything appropriate for travel. They have to have their traveling papers with them unless it’s a situation where we are rushing to get horses out of areas where there are fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, or some-thing like that. In those cases, we try to get everyone with a trailer to just quickly get all the horses out of there. There are a lot of people buying equines through feedlots and auctions and places like that.

We don’t handle those through Fleet of Angels, but I did create a separate Facebook page called Home Runs where we network transportation for those horses. The drivers in our Home Runs group are aware of where the horses are coming from and can help the buyers with any problems that may arise. Home Runs drivers do take brokered or auction horses home for people, but sometimes people just need help getting their horse to a quarantine facility. In cases where the paperwork isn't in order, it’s called a ‘dirty load', meaning that the horse may be contagious or ill. A ‘clean load’ is a load of horses that have all of their traveling papers up-to-date, and all the horses aboard all healthy. GMK: Do you have a favor ite anecdote in regards to your operation? EN: Well, there are many. There are so many stor ies where people find horses that are starving to death, or about to be loaded onto a slaughter truck, and more. Someone may be advertising a horse on Facebook or on Craigslist, first come first serve, and our transport angels go get them and bring them home. Those horses often become gorgeous, beautiful and well cared for horses. We have a lot of that type of thing happening. We had a call from someone about a Newfoundland Pony organization and they were in distress. There was something like 26 or 28 Newfoundland Ponies on the west coast of Vancouver Island, which is the western-most point of Canada. They had to be transported to Nova Scotia- the most eastern point of Canada. We found a transporter for the ponies. They had to be ferried from Vancouver Island to the mainland, and then transported all the way across Canada, then from the mainland to Nova Scotia. They will eventually be taken on to Newfoundland. That trip was over 4,000 miles. The ponies are very rare now and Newfoundland government is to be involved in helping restore the ponies to a viable population. For another example, we have a mission in progress right now that requires transporting 56 wild horses from Nevada to Florida. They are wild, so they aren't trained to lead yet and have to have special handling. They will be hauled in two semi trucks for the trip of over 2600 miles. The drivers will stop for the night at several lo-cations along the way, where the horses will be given feed and water. It's a bit of a challenge to find layover locations for over 50 wild horses in the right spots as they make their way across country. These horses were saved from slaughter by the wonderful Victoria McCullough, who's making it possible for them to be trained by a very talented Parelli horse development specialist. Homes will then be found for all the horses. We love those kinds of stories! GMK: Are all of the wild horses spoken for? EN: None of them are spoken for yet. We are in the process of getting them transported now. They have to be taken to another facility first to get their Coggins, health certificates and feet trimmed. When that’s done they will be loaded on to the semi's to go cross-country. It is quite an operation when you are dealing with horses that haven’t been touched.

GMK: Wow., that is quite an operation. Do you travel to the locations to oversee these events? EN: No, I don’t. I am in Colorado right now, and will going back to New York next year. Fleet of Angels has amazing people throughout the United States han-dling these situations. Last year, for example, there was a severe flood in Colorado. A lot of animals were lost. It had washed out homes, barns, and fences. Fleet of Angels had almost 700 people in Colorado register to help with that situation. There were people riding up and down the river banks looking for lost equines and horses, hoping that many were still alive. One man rode his horse for miles up to a place in high mountain country where several miles of road had washed out. He had a difficult time getting in there, but was able to get to the horses and lead them all out and down the mountain so they could be trailered to food and water. There were a lot of things like that going on. There were people all over the place looking for horses, taking care of horses, and providing food. There were hay drops, people providing hay, shelter, and so much more. Although Fleet of Angels started as more of an emergency organization for equines in trouble, we have become a comprehensive equine emergency management organization embracing all kinds of scenarios involving equines. We have now groups of people involved in a lot of things besides transportation. We have a network of thousands of amazing people who care about horses. Many of them are willing to do anything they can do to help. GMK: What is your horse history EN: I grew up on a ranching farm operation in New Mexico. When I was about four, my folks got me a big retired plow horse named Smokey. I rode that big guy all over creation. I remember that I couldn’t get on him unless he was lying down. I would get up early in the morning to go find him lying down in the field and get on him, then would sit there until he decided to get up. Sometimes I could get him up to a fence, but he wouldn't turn sideways, so I had to climb up on the fence and then jump up on top of his head and then slide down his neck to his back. Or I could stand him beside a pickup truck and stand in the bed of the truck or the side rail of the truck and get on him. I saw a Disney movie when I was kid called Toby Tyler. It was about a little boy who ran away and joined the circus and sold peanuts and took care of the monkeys until the guy who did the horse act got hurt. oby got to take over the horse act which featured a big white horse galloping around the ring. Toby would jump on and off, stand on him at a gallop and do tricks on him.

I saw that movie when I was about five and I thought, ‘Well, I have a big white horse too!’ So, when I got home I started practicing behind the ranch house where no one could see me, doing all the tricks that Toby Tyler did. One day, I told my mother to watch, and I came galloping up the driveway standing on my horses back! I have had horses ever since until a few years ago when we moved to New York City to help my son with his acting career. I have had an amazing life with horses. I still have horses in my life, all day every day, just in a different way now. They are “calling” me to help them now. What I do, I do for horses.

GMK: What does horsemanship mean to you? EN: Horsemanship means par tnership to me, really. To have good horsemanship one has to establish a real partnership with a horse so that the horse understands you, you understand your horse, and you do what you do together with both of you happy about it! The horse has to be willing to do what you are asking without fear or intimidation. I am a big believer of natural horsemanship; the days of spurs, jerking, and intimidation, in my opinion, are over. We are past that. Horsemanship means partnership.

GMK: Thanks, Elaine, for a hear twarming conversation and insight to Fleet of Angels. Congratulations on your wonderful organization and best wishes to everyone who has registered their trailer and has a hand in saving equines. EN: All for the horses and thank you!

Learn how to become a Fleet of Angels Ambassador!

Connect with Elaine Nash and FOA at:

Blog: http://www.elainenash.com/ Fleet of Angels web site: http://

www.fleetofangels.org/ Fleet of Angels networking page

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Fleet of Angels

Email: HoldYourHorses@aol.com

“When I Am An Old Horsewoman"

By Patty Barnhart

When I am an old horsewoman

I shall wear turquoise and diamonds, And a straw hat that doesn’t suit me

And I shall spend my social security on white wine and carrots,

And sit in my alleyway of my barn And listen to my horses breathe.

I will sneak out in the middle of a summer night

And ride the old bay gelding, Across the moonstruck meadow

If my old bones will allow And when people come to call, I will smile and nod

As I walk past the gardens to the barn and show instead the flowers growing

inside stalls fresh-lined with straw.

I will shovel and sweat and wear hay in my hair as if it were a jewel

And I will be an embarrassment to all Who will not yet have found the peace in being free

to have a horse as a best friend A friend who waits at midnight hour

With muzzle and nicker and patient eyes For the kind of woman I will be

When I am old

Copyright 1992 Patty Barnhart. All rights reserved. Published with permission.

I don’t think Copernicus was from the Texas Hill Country, but he rightly figured that the earth circles the sun, and when that event happens 365 times in a row, we can say that one year has passed. Multiply 365 times 90, and if your math is right you will get 32,850. Now put the word ‘days’ behind that large number. That’s a lifetime of days. With that fact in mind, I reflect on a chance meeting I had recently with ‘Texas Jack’ Glov-er, 90 years old or 32,850 days old, in Wimber-ley, Texas. Before his Cowboy Museum and Emporium closed for the evening, it had dawned upon me, a couple of times, that I was actually in the presence of a man who had 32,850 stories.

Texas Jack has a gentle way about him. Seconds after my camera stopped clicking pictures of him, Texas Jack leaned back out of the window glare, got a comfortable smile on his face and announced it was time for a dip. He didn’t mean a proper swim in the Blue Hole or Jacob’s Well but something more akin to a skinny dip in a snuff can lid: a Copenhagen Long cut Smokeless Dipping Tobacco snuff can lid. “Do you wanna’ know the secret to a long life?” he quietly mumbled, as the wet dip settled around his gums. I knew that saying ‘no’ to a question like that, denying any interest in a secret which might further prolong my life, was tantamount to inviting the Borgia family to come to a sleep over. “You bet I do, Jack. What is the secret?’ Thus began Jack’s story. Spanning three generations beginning with his maternal great-grandfather, Henry Journeay, a cabin boy in his youth for the Louisiana buccaneer, privateer, and smuggler extraordinaire , Jean Lafitte. Years later, Journeay was a surviving prisoner of the valiant, but defeated, Texas Mier Expedition against Mexico. I love stories that start with a surprise beginning.

Now, Texas Jack has had a lot of time to think about the underlying reasons for the long life he has been enjoying. Along the way he has learned a handful of ‘longevity enhancements’ which have been working for him for at least five decades. However, he will tell you flat out that the reason he is alive in the first place is due to a fortunate continuation of his great grandfather’s gene pool through a lucky encounter with a certain white bean.

Texas Jack’s secreT To LongeviTy By Joe “Jake” Pratt, Jr.

It was the year 1843, and Mexico was ruled by its own home-grown, self-styled conquistador, an ego maniac named General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, the arch enemy of the early Texans. Santa Anna had already been defeated by General Sam Houston at San Jacinto in East Texas, and had returned to Mexico. Even though he had signed the 1836 Treaty of Velasco, he continually attempted to wrest Texas back and had raided San Antonio twice. Tensions ran high be-tween the new Texas Republic and Mexico and Texans across the state demanded retaliatory action. To satisfy their demands, Sam Houston authorized a force of seven hundred mostly untrained soldiers, led by Alexander Somervell, to raid Mexico in the disputed territories. After taking Laredo and the town of Guerrero, Somervell disbanded, fearing that further hostilities might possibly rekindle a full scale war for which the young Republic was not prepared to fight. There were some three hundred and eight men, however, that did not agree with the disbandment, and they remained on the Rio Grande under command of William S. Fisher. They took the city of Mier, Mexico in retaliation for the slaughter of 36 Texans at Salado Creek east of San Antonio, aka the Dawson Massacre. They didn’t know that a sizeable Mexican force was in the area, and after a twenty-four hour fight they were beaten and taken as prisoners by a force of three thousand Mexican soldiers. The Texas prisoners, one of whom was Texas Jack’s great-grandfather, were condemned to death and sent on a forced march towards Mexico City. For a short while a few hundred managed to escape, but due to the barrenness and hostility of the desert terrain, 176 of them were ‘recaptured’ and Santa Anna, hopping mad, was determined to execute every one of them. Due to political pressure from British and American ambassadors, Santa Anna was forced to concede, and he declared to the world that he would pardon them all. He later changed his mind and decided to execute one out of every ten prisoners. Many of the Mier patriots, including Jack’s great-grandfather Henry, had been transported to the notorious dungeons of Perote Castle, which was twenty six acres of stone surrounded by a moat in the State of Vera Cruz. Each man, enlisted and officers alike, was blindfolded and forced to draw one bean from a clay pot. That dusty clay pot was filled with 159 white beans and 17 black beans. The drawing of a black bean was a death sentence, finalized by a lead musket bullet to the heart at dusk later that day - March 25, 1843. Texas Jack’s maternal great-grandfather had drawn a white bean and his life had been spared. He lived on in Texas as a successful lumberyard owner. Due to that white bean, Texas Jack Glover was destined to be born further down the line on February 17, 1924 to James ‘Jim’ Glover, a North Carolinian of Cherokee de-scent, who had no birth certificate, and his wife Mattie Lee. So, in the six ingredients of Texas Jack Longevity Formula, the #1 ingredient should be a white bean, which seems to stabilize and preserve the gene pool and gets everything off to a good start.

With a twinkle shining in his eye, Texas Jack told me that about fifty years ago, in the mountains somewhere in Mexico, he met a virile old man, who had fathered sixty-five children by marriage to five or so wives. The secret to the man’s prowess, his healthy pink kidneys and impeccable bladder control, was the drinking of an ounce of jalapeno juice each night. Texas Jack has done likewise since that meeting. His wife makes it for him each evening by mashing up a pepper soaked in a shot glass of vinegar until the liquid turns brown. He takes it with no chaser. The Texas Jack Longevity Formula #2 ingredient is jalapeno pepper juice. I might as well spill the beans now (no pun intended), in saying that alcohol also plays a part in the Texas Jack Longevity Formula. It’s not White Lightning, boot-leg Gin or some kind of exotic liquor, but a nightly Margarita, (with lime, lightly salted around the rim) slipped in for relaxation, and about a third of a glass of red Texas Hill Country wine which his wife liberates to him at bedtime for his heart’s health. So the Texas Jack Longevity Formula #3 and #4 ingredients are Mexican tequila and red wine. Texas Jack adds another crucial ingredient to his formula that is as old as the Mediterranean Sea (which he says is a back bay connected to the Gulf of Mexico somehow). Medicinal in nature, used primarily for the lubrication of the delicate internal gears, and not to be sneered at, is another essential: olive oil. Not just any old olive oil will do, however. It must be cold, expeller-pressed virgin olive oil from a Greek island that is hard to pronounce. There is something about the mental image of a crystal-clear, heavy Irish whiskey shot glass half-filled with virgin olive oil that has a downright Old World feel about it. Gulp it down with a small amount of bread for the best health benefits. So, Texas Jack Longevity Formula’s ingredient #5 is virgin olive oil. Now, the last ingredient, #6, is the small red and black can of moist, black, smokeless tobacco which he keeps hidden from public view most of the day, behind a round circle in his left front shirt pocket. Not just any dipping tobacco, but Copenhagen Black Long-cut. Texas Jack doesn’t specifically come out and say anything like ‘A dip a day will keep the worms at bay’, but I think he feels in his heart that that is a plain, evident truth. As I wrapped up my first meeting with Texas Jack Glover, I got the clear impression that if you gave a complete stranger a daily dose of Texas Jack Longevity Formula, plus a cowboy hat, a shady spot to sit and enough dip to keep away the scorpions and rattlers, then you might hear him say “Do you wanna know the secret to a long life?” But, now that I think about it, a man has first got to be toughened up by life, and faceted with experience, in order for the formula to work. Most men aren’t tough enough to endure it. Are you?

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Cowboys?

by Jeff Hildebrandt

Do cowboys still find time to rhyme when cattle’s bedded down?

Or do they just hop in their cars and beat it back to town?

Do cowhands still

swap stories like

those hands

did years ago?

Or is that bit of

history gone like

the buffalo?

The romance of

the range lives on

around the

campfire’s light

in the minds of all

the wannabes who

spend each day

and night

doing what those

cowboys did a

hundred years ago.

And it’s up to full time buckaroos to let them think that’s so.

They long to ride Ben Johnson style with smooth and flowing grace.

Have a showdown with a grizzled cur and spit right in his face.

They’re living out a fantasy in hats and chaps and vest,

pretending to be real cowhands in the wild and wooly West.

Say what you will of tenderfeet, of dudes and wannabes

but if the West is to survive it’s up to folks like these.

Cause, were it not for wannabes, why use a horse at all?

They’d round up cows from ATV’s while making cell-phone calls.

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