I was born and raised in New Orleans, and grew up in a neighborhood right by the Fairgrounds. For those of you unfamiliar with New Orleans, the Fairgrounds is a long-standing tradition and community staple. It's a place where you can go watch the horses race, and then catch your favorite festival during their off season. As a little girl, I can remember standing on the big white boxed fence with my father, watching the horses go by from the end of our street. Needless to say, my love for horses was instilled long ago and has only grown deeper over the years. During my early twenties, I started traveling all over this country, discovering beautiful places outside the eclectic city that I thought I would never leave. Eventually, my travels out west led me to discover horses roaming wild and free on our public lands. The little girl inside of me screeched with excitement as this was something I once believed could only exist in my dreams. After my first encounter, it was a done deal. An addiction, one might say. I long for the time I get to travel to some of the most remote corners of our country in pursuit of the perfect picture and the most honest of interactions. Just sitting in silence and being in the horses' presence is more than enough. The energy, quiet and calmness enjoyed in those moments is something I hope to convey to all across this country, even if you are never able to make it to one of these places yourself. The 1971 Wild Horse and Burro act made them a permanent fixture and recognized the history this amazing animal has had as part of both our survival and success. Now, areas that were once deemed theirs forever are piece by piece being stripped away from them. I hope to bring awareness of these beautiful horses to all, so that proper management strategies can be encouraged and implemented ....and maybe, with a little luck, prevent the loss of this iconic animal on our public lands so that our future generations may enjoy this experience just as we do today.