ten years ago we had six eight thousand horses a year being adopted out and that
horses a year being adopted out and that
horses a year being adopted out and that number is plummeted to about twenty five
number is plummeted to about twenty five
number is plummeted to about twenty five hundred a year and part of its an
hundred a year and part of its an
hundred a year and part of its an awareness thing part of its people out
awareness thing part of its people out
awareness thing part of its people out know horses but I found one one story
know horses but I found one one story
know horses but I found one one story that really touched me
that really touched me
that really touched me after the unbranded ride there was a
after the unbranded ride there was a
after the unbranded ride there was a veteran in Afghanistan at Green Beret
veteran in Afghanistan at Green Beret
veteran in Afghanistan at Green Beret who was shot in the chest and had a lot
who was shot in the chest and had a lot
who was shot in the chest and had a lot of a lot of difficulties with PTSD maybe
of a lot of difficulties with PTSD maybe
of a lot of difficulties with PTSD maybe a drinking problem and was pretty
a drinking problem and was pretty
a drinking problem and was pretty depressed and just kind of down on life
depressed and just kind of down on life
depressed and just kind of down on life he ended up getting involved their
he ended up getting involved their
he ended up getting involved their program Bozeman called heroes and horses
program Bozeman called heroes and horses
program Bozeman called heroes and horses where they took ray and for three weeks
where they took ray and for three weeks
where they took ray and for three weeks I taught him horsemanship and they took
I taught him horsemanship and they took
I taught him horsemanship and they took him on a packed trip and after that he
him on a packed trip and after that he
him on a packed trip and after that he was like I’m going to do a 1,000 mile
was like I’m going to do a 1,000 mile
was like I’m going to do a 1,000 mile journey along the Connell Divide to try
journey along the Connell Divide to try
journey along the Connell Divide to try to kind of come to peace with some of
to kind of come to peace with some of
to kind of come to peace with some of the things that he’d gone through and he
the things that he’d gone through and he
the things that he’d gone through and he so there’s around lap there’s Micah Fink
so there’s around lap there’s Micah Fink
so there’s around lap there’s Micah Fink on the right he’s the guy who’s had
on the right he’s the guy who’s had
on the right he’s the guy who’s had serious horses I love that man but he
serious horses I love that man but he
serious horses I love that man but he was doing this journey in about 2/3 of
was doing this journey in about 2/3 of
was doing this journey in about 2/3 of the way through it some of his horses
the way through it some of his horses
the way through it some of his horses started colic which is like a bellyache
started colic which is like a bellyache
started colic which is like a bellyache and he thinks they got into some
and he thinks they got into some
and he thinks they got into some invasive weeds he called me and it’s
invasive weeds he called me and it’s
invasive weeds he called me and it’s like all distraught like I don’t know if
like all distraught like I don’t know if
like all distraught like I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to finish etc etc and
I’m gonna be able to finish etc etc and
I’m gonna be able to finish etc etc and I was like dude I got some ponies like
I was like dude I got some ponies like
I was like dude I got some ponies like you just use my ponies under the
you just use my ponies under the
you just use my ponies under the situation in the condition that I get to
situation in the condition that I get to
situation in the condition that I get to go with you so I got to go on this
go with you so I got to go on this
go with you so I got to go on this really cool trip with Ray and we went
really cool trip with Ray and we went
really cool trip with Ray and we went through Yellowstone and here’s some of
through Yellowstone and here’s some of
through Yellowstone and here’s some of the photos I got to go for around 2
the photos I got to go for around 2
the photos I got to go for around 2 weeks or so with him
weeks or so with him
weeks or so with him but we made a short film with National
but we made a short film with National
but we made a short film with National Geographic adventure on his story
I served in the US Army for 11 years I
I served in the US Army for 11 years I was in 10th Special Forces Group did all
was in 10th Special Forces Group did all
was in 10th Special Forces Group did all my comment plummets to Afghanistan and
my comment plummets to Afghanistan and
my comment plummets to Afghanistan and diagnosed PTSD pretty bad anxiety
diagnosed PTSD pretty bad anxiety
diagnosed PTSD pretty bad anxiety and for a long time eight nine months I
and for a long time eight nine months I
and for a long time eight nine months I didn’t want to leave the house at all
didn’t want to leave the house at all
didn’t want to leave the house at all [Music]
[Music]
[Music] I went on a horse packing trip with an
I went on a horse packing trip with an
I went on a horse packing trip with an outfit called heroes and horses last
outfit called heroes and horses last
outfit called heroes and horses last year they take combat veterans to the
year they take combat veterans to the
year they take combat veterans to the mountains and I went on that trip and
mountains and I went on that trip and
mountains and I went on that trip and all of a sudden I found purpose and it
all of a sudden I found purpose and it
all of a sudden I found purpose and it fundamentally changed my life I’m trying
fundamentally changed my life I’m trying
fundamentally changed my life I’m trying to get to Manhattan Montana and when I
to get to Manhattan Montana and when I
to get to Manhattan Montana and when I get there I’m going to donate all my
get there I’m going to donate all my
get there I’m going to donate all my tack and all my ponies to heroes and
tack and all my ponies to heroes and
tack and all my ponies to heroes and horses so I believe this program’s
horses so I believe this program’s
horses so I believe this program’s amazing and it’s going to help a lot of
amazing and it’s going to help a lot of
amazing and it’s going to help a lot of veterans a friend of mine that I worked
veterans a friend of mine that I worked
veterans a friend of mine that I worked with in the backcountry he was also a
with in the backcountry he was also a
with in the backcountry he was also a veteran committed suicide about a month
veteran committed suicide about a month
veteran committed suicide about a month ago so when I heard that Ray was riding
ago so when I heard that Ray was riding
ago so when I heard that Ray was riding 1,000 miles from Colorado to Montana
1,000 miles from Colorado to Montana
1,000 miles from Colorado to Montana along the Continental Divide seek
along the Continental Divide seek
along the Continental Divide seek healing through horses and wilderness I
healing through horses and wilderness I
healing through horses and wilderness I asked to come along I myself have
asked to come along I myself have
asked to come along I myself have completed two similar long distance
completed two similar long distance
completed two similar long distance rides and feel a bond with Ray it’s got
rides and feel a bond with Ray it’s got
rides and feel a bond with Ray it’s got the Yellowstone yeah
that’s pretty cool it’s so freakin cool
that’s pretty cool it’s so freakin cool then it hats off to that Buffalo for
then it hats off to that Buffalo for
then it hats off to that Buffalo for standing his ground
I’ve been carrying this rotten real
I’ve been carrying this rotten real around since Colorado they haven’t
around since Colorado they haven’t
around since Colorado they haven’t caught one fish yet
caught one fish yet
caught one fish yet [Music]
[Music]
[Music] yeah this is stitches absurd typically
yeah this is stitches absurd typically
yeah this is stitches absurd typically bad luck catch fish on first cast
bad luck catch fish on first cast
bad luck catch fish on first cast nice kid your spot holy crap there you
nice kid your spot holy crap there you
nice kid your spot holy crap there you area here yup
area here yup
area here yup now we’re talking Yellowstone cutthroat
now we’re talking Yellowstone cutthroat
now we’re talking Yellowstone cutthroat trout
trout
trout catching up ray ice miss one I got a
catching up ray ice miss one I got a
catching up ray ice miss one I got a nice dollars far the fastest I’ve ever
nice dollars far the fastest I’ve ever
nice dollars far the fastest I’ve ever seen 50 Michigan trot that was pretty
seen 50 Michigan trot that was pretty
seen 50 Michigan trot that was pretty cool
cool
cool [Music]
[Music]
[Music] part of the reason why I did this trip
part of the reason why I did this trip
part of the reason why I did this trip is for my buddy Clint who just passed
is for my buddy Clint who just passed
is for my buddy Clint who just passed away two weeks ago and I wasn’t able to
away two weeks ago and I wasn’t able to
away two weeks ago and I wasn’t able to go to his funeral and I thought you know
go to his funeral and I thought you know
go to his funeral and I thought you know this is perfect way to come out and
this is perfect way to come out and
this is perfect way to come out and honor our friendship and the good times
honor our friendship and the good times
honor our friendship and the good times I think so too
I think so too
I think so too so – Clint – all the guys that took
so – Clint – all the guys that took
so – Clint – all the guys that took their lives for reasons that we never
their lives for reasons that we never
their lives for reasons that we never understand
understand
understand [Music]
then you’ll just amazing critters they
then you’ll just amazing critters they give you lots of love and affection a
give you lots of love and affection a
give you lots of love and affection a lot more than I Mehra does this is the
lot more than I Mehra does this is the
lot more than I Mehra does this is the first time I’ve been able to come up to
first time I’ve been able to come up to
first time I’ve been able to come up to ladies been laying down without him
ladies been laying down without him
ladies been laying down without him standing up this is so cool okay I tried
standing up this is so cool okay I tried
standing up this is so cool okay I tried in the other mule hey buddy hey buddy
these ponies
these ponies [Music]
[Music]
[Music] have
have
have [Music]
[Music]
[Music] they absolutely trust me now they agree
they absolutely trust me now they agree
they absolutely trust me now they agree it makes me feel really good these
it makes me feel really good these
it makes me feel really good these parties have an amazing ability once you
parties have an amazing ability once you
parties have an amazing ability once you gain their trust they care for you they
gain their trust they care for you they
gain their trust they care for you they believe in you and they look for you for
believe in you and they look for you for
believe in you and they look for you for leadership when someone’s looking for
leadership when someone’s looking for
leadership when someone’s looking for you for leadership you can’t fail them
you for leadership you can’t fail them
you for leadership you can’t fail them and that’s an amazing thing you stop
and that’s an amazing thing you stop
and that’s an amazing thing you stop worrying about yourself
worrying about yourself
worrying about yourself [Music]
I hadn’t learned anything new about
I hadn’t learned anything new about myself on this trip I just found things
myself on this trip I just found things
myself on this trip I just found things that I had once lost it’s really easy to
that I had once lost it’s really easy to
that I had once lost it’s really easy to get in a pattern of self defeat and I
get in a pattern of self defeat and I
get in a pattern of self defeat and I think that’s where I was at and this
think that’s where I was at and this
think that’s where I was at and this challenge made me realize that there was
challenge made me realize that there was
challenge made me realize that there was nothing wrong with me
nothing wrong with me
nothing wrong with me [Music]
after this film was made heroes and
after this film was made heroes and horses has continued to expand a program
horses has continued to expand a program
horses has continued to expand a program and Rea last year was one of the trip
and Rea last year was one of the trip
and Rea last year was one of the trip leaders taking guys like him into the
leaders taking guys like him into the
leaders taking guys like him into the wilderness teaching them horsemanship
wilderness teaching them horsemanship
wilderness teaching them horsemanship and she’s kind of cool to see you know
and she’s kind of cool to see you know
and she’s kind of cool to see you know dude that was really struggling and you
dude that was really struggling and you
dude that was really struggling and you know is now giving back to people and he
know is now giving back to people and he
know is now giving back to people and he also another thing about this program
also another thing about this program
also another thing about this program this this yearõs in horses program is
this this yearõs in horses program is
this this yearõs in horses program is in January they adopted fifteen Mustangs
in January they adopted fifteen Mustangs
in January they adopted fifteen Mustangs yeah it’s pretty cool
yeah it’s pretty cool
yeah it’s pretty cool I kind of nudged him that way a little
I kind of nudged him that way a little
I kind of nudged him that way a little bit i was like ‘i tell you what’s up
bit i was like ‘i tell you what’s up
bit i was like ‘i tell you what’s up and sit out about getting Canadian
and sit out about getting Canadian
and sit out about getting Canadian Mustangs I was like get some American
Mustangs I was like get some American
Mustangs I was like get some American Mustangs
Mustangs
Mustangs so they rented galleries Mustangs they
so they rented galleries Mustangs they
so they rented galleries Mustangs they trained them and they’re going to become
trained them and they’re going to become
trained them and they’re going to become therapy versus this summer four more
therapy versus this summer four more
therapy versus this summer four more guys going through the program and in
guys going through the program and in
guys going through the program and in order to complete their training we’re
order to complete their training we’re
order to complete their training we’re actually gonna do a 500 mile ride
actually gonna do a 500 mile ride
actually gonna do a 500 mile ride through New Mexico in Arizona just to
through New Mexico in Arizona just to
through New Mexico in Arizona just to prepare the horses and I’m going to get
prepare the horses and I’m going to get
prepare the horses and I’m going to get to go on part of that which I’m really
to go on part of that which I’m really
to go on part of that which I’m really excited about I don’t know if you guys
excited about I don’t know if you guys
excited about I don’t know if you guys noticed or not but I kind of like to
noticed or not but I kind of like to
noticed or not but I kind of like to ride horses in the mountains but but it
ride horses in the mountains but but it
ride horses in the mountains but but it is it’s really cool raised stories is
is it’s really cool raised stories is
is it’s really cool raised stories is one that I’ve heard from quite a few
one that I’ve heard from quite a few
one that I’ve heard from quite a few people you know people that are in a bad
people you know people that are in a bad
people you know people that are in a bad place in life or they don’t have a lot
place in life or they don’t have a lot
place in life or they don’t have a lot of direction they don’t really know
of direction they don’t really know
of direction they don’t really know where to go and they kind of seek solace
where to go and they kind of seek solace
where to go and they kind of seek solace or they seek purpose and an adventure
or they seek purpose and an adventure
or they seek purpose and an adventure and an escape by you know going into
and an escape by you know going into
and an escape by you know going into into nature going into the wild and
into nature going into the wild and
into nature going into the wild and just stepping into some woods and going
just stepping into some woods and going
just stepping into some woods and going and finding a place to think about and
and finding a place to think about and
and finding a place to think about and um you know I changed Ray’s life that
um you know I changed Ray’s life that
um you know I changed Ray’s life that has completely changed my life
has completely changed my life
has completely changed my life and I believe that you know ensuring
and I believe that you know ensuring
and I believe that you know ensuring that public lands have a place into the
that public lands have a place into the
that public lands have a place into the future you know it isn’t just like
future you know it isn’t just like
future you know it isn’t just like crucial for biodiversity for a lot of
crucial for biodiversity for a lot of
crucial for biodiversity for a lot of stuff for a lot of the indigenous
stuff for a lot of the indigenous
stuff for a lot of the indigenous species in North America but I mean for
species in North America but I mean for
species in North America but I mean for our society as well I think I think
our society as well I think I think
our society as well I think I think having a place where the average Joe can
having a place where the average Joe can
having a place where the average Joe can go on to regulate and to think and
go on to regulate and to think and
go on to regulate and to think and escape and you know it’s part of what
escape and you know it’s part of what
escape and you know it’s part of what makes us human so you know there’s
makes us human so you know there’s
makes us human so you know there’s there’s three points that that I really
there’s three points that that I really
there’s three points that that I really wanted to send you guys home with they
wanted to send you guys home with they
wanted to send you guys home with they made me drill it down to three but one
made me drill it down to three but one
made me drill it down to three but one of those is is is public land you know
you know there are people that
you know there are people that legitimately want to sell it and that is
legitimately want to sell it and that is
legitimately want to sell it and that is such a bad idea I mean it is one of the
such a bad idea I mean it is one of the
such a bad idea I mean it is one of the one of the greatest things that the
one of the greatest things that the
one of the greatest things that the United States has ever done is set aside
United States has ever done is set aside
United States has ever done is set aside lands for future generations
lands for future generations
lands for future generations there’s so many people that enjoy and
there’s so many people that enjoy and
there’s so many people that enjoy and appreciate those and it changes their
appreciate those and it changes their
appreciate those and it changes their lives and give them purpose and I just
lives and give them purpose and I just
lives and give them purpose and I just think it’s crazy that you would ever
think it’s crazy that you would ever
think it’s crazy that you would ever want to sell something like that and
want to sell something like that and
want to sell something like that and then the second one is you know we have
then the second one is you know we have
then the second one is you know we have all these public lands and what do we
all these public lands and what do we
all these public lands and what do we what do we want to do with it you know
what do we want to do with it you know
what do we want to do with it you know it’s a big question people fight tooth
it’s a big question people fight tooth
it’s a big question people fight tooth and nail to keep them but they’re like
and nail to keep them but they’re like
and nail to keep them but they’re like well what is good Land Management how do
well what is good Land Management how do
well what is good Land Management how do we define what good Land Management is
we define what good Land Management is
we define what good Land Management is and there’s a lot of big environmental
and there’s a lot of big environmental
and there’s a lot of big environmental and ecological time-bombs you know in
and ecological time-bombs you know in
and ecological time-bombs you know in the American West and on the world as a
the American West and on the world as a
the American West and on the world as a whole in in my opinion I feel like the
whole in in my opinion I feel like the
whole in in my opinion I feel like the longer you wait and you procrastinate to
longer you wait and you procrastinate to
longer you wait and you procrastinate to tackle these issues you know head-on you
tackle these issues you know head-on you
tackle these issues you know head-on you know just the bigger the bigger they’re
know just the bigger the bigger they’re
know just the bigger the bigger they’re going to be
going to be
going to be and in the third one
and in the third one
and in the third one anyone that I really want you guys to go
anyone that I really want you guys to go
anyone that I really want you guys to go home with is you all need to adopt a
home with is you all need to adopt a
home with is you all need to adopt a burro especially you sister you have
burro especially you sister you have
burro especially you sister you have note you have no choice so that’s the
note you have no choice so that’s the
note you have no choice so that’s the end of my talk thank you guys so much
end of my talk thank you guys so much
end of my talk thank you guys so much for coming
for coming
for coming [Applause]
”
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