During the four seasons of 2008, I worked in Saskatchewan's Bronson Forest photographing wild horses. About 6 months into the project I sent an email to Prairies North Magazine. I asked the editors if they would be interested in publishing a feature article about the Wild Horses. I sent some sample photographs and a rough outline of my ideas regarding text. I received an enthusiastic "Yes" the next day.

By this time I had portraits of most of the individual Bronson horses and was hopelessly in love with them. I decided to insist that I not be paid for this work. I did not want monetary gain to in any way influence the article or its eventual use in lobbying legislators for protection of the horses. The income from photoartcanada's gallery enables Sharie and I to contribute to conservation efforts throughout Canada.

Late in Fall after the leaves had dropped, I confirmed my count of the wild horses in the forest by air. Accuracy of the count was controlled by flying an overlapping grid using a GPS. If there was the slightest concern during a particular pass, it was repeated. 

I completed the article after spending time with the frosty red roan's band on December 23rd, 2008.

It was always my intention to contact legislators only after the article had been published. I felt the photographs and text offered the best chance of striking a chord in the hearts of members.

Immediately after reading my article in the Spring 2009 issue of Prairies North, Bob Hougham wrote to me. He's a rancher from Frenchman Butte, Saskatchewan and a long term advocate of the Bronson Horses.

Bob shared in his letter "55 years of watching them grow and thrive in a rather harsh environment". Mr. Hougham also informed me that his son had recently found "5 horses that had been shot and then dragged into a pile, left for the coyotes and ravens to eat, some were even colts!"

He explained his past efforts (again in his words) "to get laws put into place to protect these beautiful animals."

He then wrote: "If you can in any way help to stop this needless slaughter, there are many folks that would appreciate your assistance. I have sent pictures to our MLA Tim McMillan and to Hon. Linda Haverstock who is now with tourism, hoping they will help."

I immediately wrote to the Honourable Nancy Heppner, enclosing several copies of Prairies North Magazine, containing my article and photographs. With Bob Hougham's permission, I included a copy of his powerful letter.

Posted to the right - you will find Ms. Heppner's reply along with that of the Minister of Agriculture.

A few days later, I received confirmation from Lloydminster's MLA, Tim McMillan, that protective legislation was being drafted. Tim wisely chose to introduce the legislation as a private member's bill. The province is blessed with an extraordinary public servant.

I had the honor of negotiating with the opposition and want to publicly thank all members for passing Tim's bill. Judy Junor responded to every one of my emails and personally by telephone as well.

Thanks to Wayne and Marilyn Brown of Peck Lake, who assisted me in countless ways with my work in the Bronson Forest.

I also want to thank the Island Lake Reserve's justice coordinator, Austin Eaton. He is to be commended for his timely efforts. Support from Island Lake First Nations people contributed to the successful vote on November 26th.

Everyone that I had the opportunity to meet during this effort has renewed my faith in the potential of grassroots efforts.

Thanks to all the advocates that worked together with our legislators on behalf of the wild horses living in the Bronson Forest.

Conservation efforts are by their very nature never finished. Management of the Bronson Horses has not been addressed. If we rest on our laurels, the recent victory will be short lived. Consideration may need to be given to importing wild horses from other provinces to increase genetic diversity.

Harassment is now illegal. But it is inevitable that groups that "should know better" will exploit the horses for their own purposes. Even local events organized under the guise of supporting the horses may have devastating consequences.

Groups of people seeking to view the wild horses can easily cause the death of a new born foal. Foals are extremely vulnerable during the first few days of their lives. Signage on the road leading to Bronson Lake could help discourage careless pursuit and harassment of the horses.

Any long term management plan implies local monitoring and enforcement of the intent of bill 606. Advocates are quietly working on these issues.

In the meantime the horses will depend on locals to keep an eye on activities and report any harassment to wardens.