What’s Important (Arts & Humanities): America’s Wild Horses

America’s wild horses are protected by the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, which was passed unanimously by the United States Congress and signed into law by then-President Richard M. Nixon. Nixon declared that these horses are “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West; that they contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people.” The Act provides protection against harassment, capture, and death, and provides for the safety and well-being of these animals by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) under the U.S. Department of the Interior. Unfortunately, those charged with their protection have allowed special interests to erode the provisions of the Act, with wild horses being rounded up and housed in government facilities at a tremendous expense to the taxpayers. In the most heinous manner, the actions of the BLM have led to these congressionally protected animals being sold into slaughter.Fig. 1: The “Ghost” stallion (far right) and his band. He was rounded up in 2021 and is no longer wild and free.Fig. 2: Bachelor stallions roaming and causing a ruckus at the Onaqui Mountain range, Utah.Fig. 3: “Why I get up early.”Fig. 4: Wild mustangs at peace.I’m a passionate wildlife photographer who began this journey in 2010. My photography roots started nearly 45 years ago—my first assignment was shooting high school football games, at night under the lights, with an all-manual Pentax K1000 camera, a 50-mm lens, and 1 roll of black and white film. Yet despite these challenges, I was able to produce 2 or 3 photographs for the student newspaper. Without formal training in photography, I honed my skills in exposure, light, composition, and visualizing where the action would be. My formal training is in medicine, and I am a practicing orthopaedic spine surgeon. Spine surgery embraces technology, fine motor skills, focus, and patience—all characteristics that serve me well while photographing wildlife in their natural, untamed environments. I focus on large mammals and some birds in North America, with plans to venture across the globe with camera in hand. The beauty of these wild horses is unparalleled and is woven through the fabric that makes the American West such a vibrant part of our country’s spirit and history. I hope these photographs will raise awareness and help protect these national treasures.