Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West

I have been following Ashley Avis journey creating this magnificent film about the wild mustangs for years now. She captures the harsh reality of the BLM round ups with stunning accuracy. The tragedy of these majestic creatures stolen from their natural habitat is that future generations might not know the inspiring freedom that a wild horse embodies! Ironically, the symbolism of the United States being connected to 'freedom' is tied in with wild mustangs, yet they are being rounded up at an unprecedented rate by our own US government. I am incredibly grateful that endless hours of dedication and devotion was poured into this film and hope that it helps the public realize what a treasure the wild mustangs are, before it's too late! Please share this message about the wild ones with your friends and family for the future of the Earth, future generations and for these unique animals!

As a person who owns/loves dearly her own Mustang and has watched/competed in Mustang shows, I was disappointed by the obvious bias displayed by Ms Avis. Her only mention of the sale of Mustangs was to bring up the slaughter pipeline which would lead the uninformed to believe that's what happens to most adopted Mustangs. She failed to mention the Mustangs that have been adopted from the BLM, successfully gentled and trained, and now serving as anything from family trail horses to police horses. Nor did she show any of the programs using Mustangs to help rehabilitate prisoners or as therapy animals for people struggling emotionally. Some footage of the amazing accomplishments of kids with their Mustangs at the Mustang Youth Shows would have been nice. I get that she wants her viewers shocked and appalled at the fate of the horses and showing horses who were rounded up but ended up in great situations might defeat that. But she's going down the very path that Velma Johnston (Wild Horse Annie) tried to avoid. That is, focusing totally on emotion and leaving out facts. The value of the Mustang, their strength, hardiness, and intelligence, should not be overlooked if she hopes to convince the US government to take a different path in Mustang management. Simply painting the BLM as villains (multiple times in the film the camera is focused on guns worn by uniformed BLM employees. Some BLM employees are law enforcement, so they carry guns, just as police officers do, but obviously the camera focus is meant to make them appear.cold and threatening to her film crew) does not help her agenda. Do I agree with how the US government is currently managing the public lands? No. But more facts to go along with the beauty of the photography would go further in convincing those in power to explore other options in managing the situation. Going on endlessly about how the horses are "crying for their families" might not have the result she hopes for when the film is shown to Congress. Those holding the purse strings need to see the value in preserving the Mustang, beyond just an emotional plea to save the pretty horses. When the bias is that obvious it makes it more difficult for the viewer to believe everything the filmmaker is saying.

This original film juxtaposes a breathtaking cinematic journey with the horrific cruelty of our government, framing the expose through the lens of passionate filmmakers and the subject of the battle: horses. However, this film is not just an ode the majesty of the horse (although it certainly encapsulates their remarkable wisdom and family bonds). It is a plea, similar to Anna Sewell's novel which inspired the journey, to preserve the wildness in our country and world before the effects of millionaires' greed become permanent. The film implores the public to protect our lands by reclaiming our rightful voice in government. After watching dream-like utopian visuals contrasted with equally surreal dystopian ones, the viewer feels compelled to heed their call to action.

You will never see wild horses the same after watching this. As a horse lover it was difficult to watch at times. This film shows the true beauty of wild horses and also uncovers the hard truth about what is happening to them. They capture the wild horses true beauty, family bonds, and personalities perfectly. You can't help but fall in love with them, which in turn leaves you feeling sad knowing what their future holds. Movies like this leave us wanting to get up off of our couch and head straight to the Capital to demand change. It is a must watch for anyone who cares about horses, animals, our environment, and doing what's right.

This is an exquisitely written, paced, and executed film, bringing the plight of wild mustangs on public lands into sharp relief, without overbearingly portraying the hidden physical and emotional toll these animals face on a regular basis. Avis's film is a perfect blend of science, history, and art, shining a bright light on the BLM's decades-long scapegoating of these horses and burros for corporate greed, and putting the story in a proper conservation context. In rightly humanizing the horses as families and individuals, this is the most impactful animal welfare documentary I have seen since My Octopus Teacher. I can't wait to see more from this director and production team.