Our Heritage at Risk

                                                                                                                                                     ©2012 LORI HUFF

Karen Sussman, ISPMB president and modern day Wild Horse Annie,
speaking to the audience at the recent fundraiser, Our Heritage at Risk

Our Heritage at Risk, the wild horse fundraising event for the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs & Burros (ISPMB) that Lori Huff and myself hosted is now history. However, many of the events that took place leading up to and during the event are indelibly etched in my spirit.

It all began last October. Terri Watson had driven all the way to our home in Allenspark, to hand-deliver a copy of her new book, Graceful Wind. It was a picture book about a filly that was born at the ISPMB facility during a photography workshop that Lori and I had conducted earlier that year in May.

Terri and her friend, along with Lori and myself, were setting around the dining room table, drinking coffee and Diet Coke, listening to Terri as she shared how she planned to use the book to raise money. Half of the funds raised would go to an equine therapy program run by the Griffith Centers for Children and the other half would be given to ISPMB.

                                                                                                                                                     ©2012 LORI HUFF

(L-R) Gabriele Moritz and her dog, Gabriels's friend Pat, Karen Sussman, Coppersmith, and Weldon Lee

I was well aware of the financial struggles of ISPMB, having led photography workshops at their facility since 2003.  In fact, I had approached Karen Sussman, president of the organization, in August, 2010, with the idea of getting school children to adopt a foal by raising money through bake sales, car washes, etc. This could be carried out in schools across the country. The children could name the foal. In return, we would send them a certificate of adoption and photograph of the foal, along with monthly updates as it matured into a full-grown mare or stallion. So far, we have yet to get any schools involved.

Anyway, I began thinking out loud and said, “Why don’t we put on a fundraising event for Karen!” and that’s how it all started.

After mulling the idea over for some time and gathering ideas from everyone we knew, we eventually put together a plan. Once a date and venue were finalized, we began sending out invitations. Much to our surprise, people began registering on my website . . . and that was good.  However, the big surprise came when donations from friends started coming in – donations ranging from $20 to $300.

It was time to contact businesses and seek sponsorship in the form of door prizes and items for our silent auction. Once again, the response we received was heart-warming.

Finally, the time had come to send out press releases to newspapers along Colorado’s Front Range. A couple of days after they went out, I received an email from Nancy Anderson of the West River Eagle, a newspaper in Eagle Butte, South Dakota. As it so happened, the Berthoud Recorder had posted my press release on their website. Ms Anderson saw it and contacted me wanting to know if it was “legit.” What’s so mystifying is the fact that Eagle Butte is where the ISPMB sanctuary is located. Talk about a small world!

                                                                                                                                                    ©2012 LORI HUFF

The audience listens on as Karen Sussmanshares stories about her friend, the real Wild Horse Annie.

  

Sign-ups didn’t come in as we had hoped. I began to worry. The event was less than four weeks away and only 10 people had registered.

Then we were down to a week. Still, only 21 individuals had signed up. Although this number plus donations represented roughly $1,000, which was all right, it didn’t leave very much for the horses, particularly when you deducted cost of airfare for Karen Sussman to fly to Denver.

About this time, I received a phone call from Gabriele Moritz. She wanted to know if it was all right to bring one of her adopted wild horses to the fundraiser. Absolutely! Hopefully, that would attract more people to the fundraiser. I breathed a sigh of relief. However, there was still work to be done. The public needed to know that they would have the opportunity to pet and photograph a real wild horse at the fundraiser.

Lori contacted both newspapers in Estes Park. They were wonderful. Both were willing to run another story about our fundraiser, announcing that a wild horse would be present.

Thanks to Julie Harvey of the Estes Park Trail Gazette, along with Kris Hazleton at Estes Park News, we had great write-ups and photos in both papers. It doesn’t end there. Nick Mollé ran our flyer on Estes Park TV everyday for almost two weeks.

Our Heritage at Risk was a huge success. According to a head-count conducted by Lori, 52 people attended the event; and, thanks to everyone’s overwhelming generosity we collected over $3,700 for the wild horses.

                                                                                                                               ©2012 LORI HUFF

Weldon Lee, the man who talks to wild animals, shares stories

of encounters with his wild brothers and sisters over the years.

I want to thank the following individuals.

Our Heritage at Risk would not have been possible
without your support.

Thank you.

Julie Harvey, Estes Park Trail Gazette

Kris Hazelton, Estes Park News

Nick Molle - Estes Park TV

Gabriel Moritz & her wild horse, Coppersmith

 Lori and I produced a DVD, Our Heritage at Risk.

All proceeds from its sales will go to ISPMB.

It features . . .

Wild horse images made during our photography workshops

at the ISPMB facility in South Dakota by:

Penny Lloyd

Connie Redak

Marge Maagoe

Mary O’Connell
Terri Watson

Lori Huff

and Background music from Canyon Trilogy,

an album of Native American flute music by:

Carlos Nakai

Individuals who donated Door Prizes and items for the Silent Auction

Sid & Laura Brown - Big Horn Restauraant

Jim Burry - commemorative coin set

Dawn Normali – Dawn Normail Original Oil Paintings

Andy Morgan - Dunraven Inn

Jim Haber - Estes Park Sweatshirt Center

Don Hess – Hunters Chop House

Judy Barnes – Judy Barnes Photography

Kevin & Debbie Weakland – Loveland Garden Center & Nursery

Lori Huff – Nature’s Secrets Photography

Prudy Brott - The Other Side Restaurant

Jo Adams - Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

Lil & Chester Ciezczak - Rodeway Inn

Tom Mussehl – Wildlife Photo Art
Terri Watson, Photographer

Last, but certainly not least,

I want to thank everyone who took time from their busy schedules

to attend this event and help us support wild horses

in these tough economic times.

"The Cycle Continues"

Mule Deer  -  Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, Colorado

I made this image last November during the rut. This buck was the biggest one I've seen in a long time. 

His entire focus was on the does in the area, making it easy for me to photograph him. Lori and I spent most of the day working bucks in the area near the old visitor center. As we were getting ready to leave, we decided to head south on Havana Street. It was near 58th Avenue, where we found these two, along with a dozen or so other does and bucks. We stayed there and worked them until sunset.

An Old Horse & A Young Horse

Me & A Member of the Gila Herd   -  Sunka Wakan

Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, South Dakota

Lori and I returned from South Dakota this past weekend, where we led our Wild Horses in the Snow photo adventure. In spite of the fact that there was practically no snow, we had a great time. It was certainly warmer this year than during our same workshop last year . . . 60-degrees warmer, to be exact.

One of things that is so special during this adventure, not unlike many of the workshops we conduct, is the connection and interaction we experience with our subjects. I've talked about it. I've written about it. However, you'll never really know what it's like until you experience it yourself.

"Awaiting Spring"

Pine Grosbeak  -  Allenspark, Colorado

Pine Grosbeaks have been daily visitors at our bird feeders for about a month. One morning when I went to let Diana our for her morning constitutional, there were a dozen, or so, feeding on our front porch. One thing is certain, they are always welcome guests and have definitely added a bit of color to the snowy landscape around our home in the mountains.

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"Winter Respite"

American Elk  -  Estes Park, Colorado

Lori and I made a run to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in Estes Park a couple of days ago on St. Valentine's Day. Afterwards, we decided to take a drive through Rocky Mountain National Park and see what we might encounter in the way of wildlife subjects. About the only thing we came across in the Park were a trio of coyotes, images of which I will share with you a little later. However, on the way into the Park, we encountered a couple of bull elk near McGregor Mountain Lodge, along Fall River Road. It was snowing pretty good, which added to the mystique of the day.

Together, We Can Make A Difference

"Bright Eyes"

Leopard  -  Kenya, Africa

Changing Our World:  One Photograph at a Time

©2012 Lori Huff

  

The wind is howling, so rather than brave the elements, I decided today would be a good time to go through some of my images. As I sit in front of the computer in my nice cozy cabin, a warm fire glowing in the wood stove, I start to think about what my images are saying to other photographers and to people in general. Here are the thoughts I would like to share and hopefully get you thinking of ways to spread this message to others.

Wildlife photographers introduce others to various insights in the world of nature. Every time we show an image of our wild brothers and sisters, we create an awareness of how these animals live and the habitat where they reside.  Our needs are destroying the world – more oil, more timber, more roads. The list goes on and on. We are destroying the very habitat these animals need to survive.

The places we visit and photograph may someday vanish. If we, as photographers and as a people, do not involve ourselves in protecting our wild brothers and sisters and the places where they live, the only thing that will remain are pictures of a vanishing wilderness.

Look at your photographs, and those of others. Continue photographing the world of nature, but more importantly, SHARE your images. You are building a portfolio of our natural world. Become one with nature. Believe in what you are doing and you will return with life changing images. Know that one person can change the world, and that my friend is you.

So, as the snow starts to fall and the wind continues howling, I can’t help but think of our wild brothers and sisters. What can we do to assure their survival, not only for their sake, but also for future generations as well as ours? 

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Lori Huff, my partner, is an accomplished photographer in her own right. She and I share the same values when it comes to our wild brothers and sisters. That's why I chose to share this article that she wrote, in hopes that it will motivate others to action on behalf of wildlife around the world.

- Weldon Lee

Rocky Mountain Photo Adventures Hosts Wild Horse Fundraiser