Save Our Wild Horses 2023 Rally & Conference 

​in Washington, D.C.


EVENTS INCLUDED:
Wild Horse Rally on the National Mall: April 22nd, 10:30am - 3pm
Save Our Wild Horses Conference: April 23rd-25th, 2023, 9am - 5pm each day
Lunch and An Afternoon of Rewilding with the CANA Foundation (now known as Rewilding America Now):
Sunday, April 23rd, 12pm - 4pm
Wild Horse Lobby Day: April 26th
The 2nd Save Our Wild Horses Conference and rally focused on spreading awareness about the issues facing our wild horses & burros, wildlife and wild places. Our goal was to shine a light on these issues and to give those of you attending, the tools to become powerful voices.  We, the organizers, were a grassroots group of wild horse and wildlife advocates.  
​
What did we discuss at the conference?
Key matters and legislation relating to our wild horses & burros, and our public lands, including steps that need to be taken to protect rangelands, re-wilding, rescues & sanctuaries, and a class on how to become a more effective advocate. Informational tables, photography displays, a rally on the National Mall, and more.
​2023 presentations are available on the 
Save Our Wild Horses YouTube Channel here
or click on the pics below to see a particular video or slideshow

Topics covered at the conference included:

Wild Horses and Burros   • Rewilding  • Public Lands  •
Rangeland Health & Ecology  •  Wild Horse Photography  • Lobbying 101  • The Media and Wild Horses  •
​Roundups and Holding Pens  • How to Become a Better Advocate

Speakers included:

• Erik Molvar - Western Watersheds Project   

• Sandy Sharkey Photography   

• Laura Leigh - Wild Horse Education   

• Chris Kman - Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates   

• Colleen Teubner - PEER.org       

• Scott Beckstead - Center For a Humane Economy   

• Vickery Eckhoff   • Jen Britton & Christian Hunold   

​• Ginger Fedak 

• Manda Kalimian - CANA Foundation  ​• Wouter Helmer

• Dr. Ross MacPhee  • Elise Vaughan  

• Samantha Skenandore  • Allecia Maine

​• Chad Hanson - Wyoming Mustang Institute   

​• Marty Irby   • Cynthia Smoot   • Craig Downer   

• Ginger Kathrens - The Cloud Foundation 

Rally on the National Mall

2023 Conference
Sunday April 23rd - Tuesday April 25th

Image description
This special event took place on Sunday afternoon, April 23rd and included:
12 - 1pm: Luncheon sponsored by CANA Foundation
1:30 - 3pm: A conversation about the tremendous benefits of rewilding with the CANA Foundation Board:
• Manda Kalimian, Founder and CEO of CANA Foundation
• Dr. Ross MacPhee: CANA Science Advisor and Senior Curator at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City
• Wouter Helmer: CANA Science Advisor and Co-Founder of Rewilding Europe and ARK Nature
• Samantha Skenandore: CANA Attorney at Quarles & Bradey and Native Policy & Relations Advisor
​• Elise Vaughn: CANA Veteran Programs and Workforce Initiatives
3 - 3:30pm Q&A with the panel


Where Was The Conference Held?
We once again held the conference at the beautiful hotel Yotel Washington DC at:  
​415 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

Wild Horse Lobby Day
Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Image description
We were on Capitol Hill for Wild Horse Lobby Day!  We worked together to hand out Congressional Wild Horse Packets and Wild Horse Calendars to members of Congress.  

Couldn't join us for Lobby Day on the Hill?  That's okay!  Call and/or email your Representative and ask for a phone meeting or in-person meeting.  

We encourage all wild horse and burro organizations to participate by asking their followers to make appointments with members of Congress, and provide talking points for those meetings. 

Whether you joined us in DC or not, please try to make an appointment to meet with your member of Congress.  We have instructions and tips on how to do that here. 

Additional Conference Information

Was there a fee to attend?

There was a $200 attendance fee for the entire 3 day conference. The fee helped us cover the costs of the conference room, technical equipment and supplies needed (literature, posters, graphics), and two luncheons (included as part of the conference room rental). This fee covered all 3 days of speakers and events. 

  • As organizers, we paid for our own travel and hotel expenses and will not monetarily benefit from any funds raised for this event. Yotel DC raised the conference room rate this year by 40% and that is why this year's conference ticket cost is higher. The luncheon(s) are included with the conference room rental.


What actions did we take during the conference?

We encouraged our attendees to call their elected officials prior to the event to ask for an in-person meeting, and/or to visit your elected officials during our planned Lobby Day on Wednesday, 4/26. We provided everyone with a packet of information and a 'buddy' to help with the meetings. See here for the first step in acquiring appointments with your Congressperson and both Senators.


​What else can I do?

  • You can do a local assembly or table event in your area: this should be held in a public space so as to gain the best possible exposure for your event: government buildings, city centers, or near relevant organizations or businesses. Make sure to connect with your local town hall and police department to ensure you are obeying all local laws. We are recommending setting up a table at local high traffic location such as pet stores, farmers markets, etc. 


What materials are available?

• SOWH has downloadable pictures and coloring pages for the kids ​here as well as a full color tri-fold brochure filled with information to let the public know about our wild horses and their plight. You can download and print out any of the literature or photos that you would like to use.

 • Vinyl banner with wild horse photo and the wording Save Our Wild Horses can be found here

 • Examples of table setups are below; see more event examples and tips here