By Gary Goldstein of the Los Angeles Times
“…a revealing, disturbing look at how political and corporate forces have seemingly undermined the freedom and safety of our nation’s equine population.”
The documentary “Saving America’s Horses: A Nation Betrayed” unpacks the complex and, what may be for many, under-the-radar issue of the inhumane slaughter of wild and domestic horses (and burros) chiefly for human consumption abroad.
Writer-director Katia Louise (the lifelong horsewoman also produced and narrated) has crafted a revealing, disturbing look at how political and corporate forces have seemingly undermined the freedom and safety of our nation’s equine population. Tens of thousands of horses are said to be rounded up each year by the Bureau of Land Management, largely from public rangelands.
From agenda-driven congressmen and federal agencies to deep-pocketed special interest groups and sporting organizations, there’s been, the filmmaker forcefully contends, a multi-layered conspiracy — fueled by a parade of misinformation — against the survival and proliferation of horses. The beneficiaries: the horse racing trade, the cattle industry and meat sellers, plus a cross-section of lawmakers and politicos.
Louise utilizes an eclectic blend of new, archival and undercover footage documenting the ill-treatment of our country’s horses and other related controversies (beware: there are some grisly images).
The film also includes a wide mix of in-person and audio-only interviews with such equine advocates as actors Paul Sorvino, Linda Gray, Tippi Hedren and Ken Wahl, “Dances with Wolves” author Michael Blake and singer Willie Nelson, as well as a vital array of Native American voices.
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Categories: Horse News, Horse Slaughter, Wild Burros, Wild Horses/Mustangs
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
So why has this documentary not made Chicago area? Is it out on dvd so the rest of us can see it? Time is running out..Get it out here so people can view it!!!!!
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Just wanted to report Discovery channel aired Wild Horses and Renegades,twice on Sunday here in Ohio at 7 and 11 pm …………… I cant watch without crying through most of and and it always ends the same IM FURIOUS !!!!!! I had many phone calls with Ohioans Furious also !!!!!!
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Arlene, I happened onto that video also and got to watch it from the beginning. It is a very well presented film I thought.
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Yes it is very good , i am Happy they aired it twice, the more that see whats going on the better !!!!!!!
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I am going to call the theatres in my town to ask if this film will be shown. I will not take no for an answer. Please call the theatres in your town and demand that this film be available to the public. Also, there is a film festival every year in my town and I will ask that this film be shown there. We can make an impact…..if this film is hidden away at some little theaters and the general public doesn’t see it, it will be a waste of a tremendous effort to end horse slaughter once and for all.
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I have been waiting for this movie to come out. I hope they show it all over the East Coast. Please show this movie whereever possible. It is important for the general public to know what is going on with our American Wild Horses. American Wild Horses need to be left in their natural environment without the tainted hands of the BLM.
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Its extremely important that we pass this along to our Legislators. If anything is going to be done unfortuately it appears it will have to be legislated. When we in Illinois were in the process of closing the slaughter plant in DeKalb, Illinois, Bo Derek brought the documentation to our state. There were several viewings of the disturbing documentation showing how inhumane it was to slaughter our horses. This is what I believe is needed because most of the damage and elimination of the horses is taken place in the West where the Good Ol’ Boys still it seems has an upper hand. We need to plan a Gigantic Protest in Washington, D.C. The election is over and now we need to get down to business. People in the Midwest and Eastern states have no clue as to what is going on unless they are on blogs such as this. We all know it can’t continue because the genetics for our Wild Horses and Burros will be gone forever! Its too bad Willie Nelson and some of the other celebrities couldn’t do something in between their concerts. I know Bo Derek made a huge difference and it was not only for her beauty.
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We need to keep this in focus…Horses need to be saved..they don’t deserve this treatment…Not to mention people are eating horses who have been drugged…it’s not fair to the horses and it’s unhealthy for people…Horses are part of our heritage..They deserve way better treatment
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ACTION ALERT…Comments due in today. Comment and sign the petition. Be certain to comment (one sentence is enough) so that your voice will be counted on the petition:
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/6931/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=12194
The BLM estimates that there are approximately 350 wild horses in and around the Swasey HMA and proposes to roundup 262 of these horses, removing 164 — leaving behind just 176 horses in this area where four times that number of livestock are permitted to graze.
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Is it snowing?
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Must be Louie they are trying to snow everyone !!!!
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I bought the DVD and gave it to Congressman Whitfield ( R-KY) after I watched it. He’s a horse and animal lover and is brave enough to go against others with his views and sponsorship of horse bills in Congress..
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I commented on the film on the LA Times site – only 4 comments?????????????
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You know I want to know HOW CAN ANYONE Do this horror to to these beautiful peaceful and gallant beings , who are what everyone of us should mirror image ……. It is beyond the minds understanding and even worse yet , how can they get away with it??????? Where is 80% of Americans , for the sake of what is right people , STOP THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Cant we see what is really happening , we are being showed what is next US!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is imperative that we stop them !!!!!
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