Lessons From Wild Horses: Healthy Relationships Begin With Trust

I met Karen Sussman two years ago when I was leading a project for Ford called Save the Mustangs. We shared a desire to preserve wild horses that might otherwise be slaughtered for meat to be exported for human consumption. For so many people, the wild mustang embodies the essence of the American West – freedom, strength, vitality and a beautiful ruggedness. For Ford, the Mustang was our most powerful car brand and it seemed fitting to pay back in some small way the inspiration the wild horse has provided the company for more than 40 years. For me, it was one small but incredibly fulfilling part of my job. For Karen, it was her life’s work, consuming nearly every moment of her every day for more than two decades.

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I found Karen to be an incredibly knowledgeable, passionate advocate for the wild horse, and a warm and generous, compassionate person. When I created Force for Good I envisioned including a host of additional voices, Friends of Force for Good, for fresh perspective and insight. I asked Karen to author the first Friends guest post.

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Karen Sussman and Destiny, one of the wild horses she has befriended.

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For the past 25 years, I have devoted my life to understanding the basis of relationships among wild horses and how these relationships apply to people. In the wild horse world, life is about survival. Each herd animal has a particular task in making sure that the entire herd survives. In addition to safety, there are other wonderful benefits achieved when the entire herd functions as a unit such as pleasure, freedom and the expanding sphere of knowledge known as herd wisdom.

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Although the herd functions as a unit, one can observe subcategories such as natal bands, harem bands and bachelor bands. Each band has its own social order. Within those band structures we can look at each individual horse’s role and how it affects the whole.

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Trust is the first building block in creating a relationship with a wild horse. It is the matrix of all relationships. We create trusting relationships when we are honest, compassionate, respectful, responsible and accountable. These attributes must apply to all decisions and actions we take. It must also apply to our entire living eco-system as a whole – our Earth, even our universe.

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Horses have evolved on the North American continent for 60 millions years, disappearing for only 8,000 to 10,000 years. With advances in molecular biology, we now know that the horses re-introduced by the Spaniards in the 1500s are the same species as those that disappeared in that relatively short geological time period. 

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What lessons do we have to learn from our wild equine friends? Just viewing their highly adaptive skills in out-surviving many other species in an ever-changing environment can give us great insight into how we should manage our own relationships within the world, including the corporate world.

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The ancient horse makes no secret about survival. It is all out in the open for everyone’s understanding to apply to our daily lives. It is the readiness to change, with every thought and action based on trust – honesty, compassion, respect, responsibility and accountability to each other. When we violate any of those values for individual benefit, we fail as a whole.

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- Karen Sussman

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Karen was born in Pennsylvania but has spent most of her life in the West. She has been riding horses since the age of four and has spent the last 25 years of her life studying and caring for wild horses. She is president of the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros and currently resides on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota where she and ISPMB manage three wild herds of horses. 

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Comments

Though some may not think so, learning to patch up a relationship and keep it together is a skill that can be learned. I try to help others discover the keys.

[Jackie & Tim Martin]

We were very fortunate to spend some time with Karen and her horses (and dogs) a few years ago. She has the heart of a thoroughbred and the commitment of a Green Beret. And she has earned the love and respect of both the horses and the Native Americans with whom they share the land. Wild Horse Annie would be very proud of this incredible woman who has very capably taken the reins of a cause that should be dear to all Americans.

[Mike Penfold]

Karen has done incredible work to save wild horses and burros over many years. She has been tough as nails with the bureaucrats and gentle as a feather with the horses. Keep up the good work, Karen.

- Mike Penfold, Past Assistant Director of the Bureau of Land Management.

[Emily Corrigan]

Dear Karen:
thank you for all that you have done for wild horses. This year for my birthday party I asked everyone to either bring a present or a donation to ISPMB. I will be sending you the money in a few days. One of my friend's uncles runs another mustang rescue place and my friend sponsored a horse for me. All of my friends know that I love horses so almost every present I got had to do with them! Thanks again, from Emily (age 10)

[April Herrin]

I am very impressed with the work that Karen does fighting to save our wild horses. I am on her e-mail list and am constantly hounding our congressmen when issues arise concerning the horse. There are many ways to help the wild horse. I sponsor Sage, a young colt out of Karen's herd, donate monthly for Hay for Hope, and sponsor a bachelor band. Money helps the cause but adopting those misfortunate mustangs that sit in holding facilities is equally important. In the past two years I have adopted 6 mustangs and now they roam as a herd on our farm. I appreciate reading from others concerning their work in helping the wild mustangs. Keep up the good work. Maybe you too can give the gift of a home.

[Rhonda Huber]

Karen is coming to Brainerd in Sept 2007 for a Mustang fundraiser. Can't wait to see her and to help her raise money for the GILA HERD.

[Stephen Tusha]

I have spoken with Karen and there is substance in her beliefs and observations. To often people that devote their time and energy into saving something, no matter how special, are labled "wacko". However, after speaking many hours with Karen it can be assured that she is as realistic as she is passionate about the Wild Mustang.

I am a serious horse person with many years of riding and working with horse people professionally. After talking with Karen and learning what she has observed I have been able to gain additional insight into the horse and its needs and behavior. It is important for all people who own, ride or just love horses to support the Wild Mustang as well as those companies that devote their time and energy for such causes.

[Julianne French]

Karen, thank you for all you have done to preserve so many herds of horses and their family bands. I am honored to be a sponsor of one of your stallions, Ian of the Gila herd you rescued as one of the last wild horse bands in Gila, Arizona. I am saddened that I got into the wild horse preservation campaign too late to help the Gila's remain in their natural Arizona Territory, but I am commitment to furthering the cause of the mustangs to remain in their federally protected areas wild and free from harassment.

Indeed, nothing feeds the soul of the human like the spirit of the horse.