My name is Mingo, and I was once a wild horse. I lived on the land and had freedom to run and go where I pleased. The herds I was part of lived in the mountains of what is called Nevada. There once were numerous herds that roamed the lands and kept to ourselves.
We never bothered anyone or the other animals. We are part of a heritage that goes back long ways. My ancestors helped to forge this land, and we always knew when to move to another location. This land was always special to our heritage, and we never wondered about losing the rights to live here.
Man had come and settled in the territory, but our ancestors lived in peace. We may have bonded with others from those that ran free, but we are of noble heritage. Some say our ancestors go back before the other visitors and their horses. They were the Spanish horses of the Conquistadors that came amongst us.
We lived freely amongst the other wild animals, such as the wolf, deer, buffalo, and bear, always watching out for safety. The land was plentiful and supported everyone. Even when the humans came, it was said to be supportive of all. The native people used my ancestors for both hunting and pleasure. The natives took care of the animals and there were never any issues.
Soon the white man came and brought their younger people to settle and build on the lands. Their horses they brought with them got free and came to us. They were allowed to live amongst the herds and be part of us. Soon we grew and became mighty herds with powerful leaders.
There would be times that the humans would take from herds for whatever reason, but we were still strong and plentiful. Our young horses would be free to roam and grow, soon making bands of their own. But we were a mighty herd, proud and strong.
Lately, it seems, that the humans are trying to remove us from the lands again. They seem to want to allow the cattle and sheep to have our grazing land, while we standby and watch. Quite a few times, they have come to chase us and move us off our lands, even the other wild animals. For what reason I do not know?
This was once my home, and we were free to roam. There were no limitations to where we ran. The land was plentiful and there were no ends in sight for us. We ran and found what we needed, including water and food. We only grazed what we needed and tried to keep the land full.
Now today, this is what I call home.
No longer are we free as they sent machines to chase us off the lands. They even chased young ones, such as Renegade who was only 4 months old to his death. They forced him to run and even though he injured himself; they made him walk and be driven in a big open box to be killed. And another died when she got here, a baby just under a year old.
Why? What did we do? What was the reason to bring us here and place us in cages?
Today this is what I see and wonder: what did we do wrong?
Mingo gazes out to the open fields and wonder when I will be free again. When will my nightmare end and freedom reign again?
When will my herd be free again as I gaze at them?
My family is no longer together and so now all I can do is stare and wonder why?
Is this Mingo’s life sentence? To live in a caged area forever. Will he ever be free to roam again and have his family, or will he become something else? Where will his ending be and when will man stop destroying his land and family?
Take a stand for Mingo and the others before they become just pictures on a wall. Contact your Reps and voice your concern for these icons before they are gone.
Please do this for Mingo and the others. No matter what herd — do not let them become just memories.
