Spring Creek Basin Mustangs

Telluride filmmaker James Kleinert has produced a provocative film called “Saving the American Wild Horse” and has been showing it at film festivals and – at least – to San Miguel County commissioners to garner support for our wild horses. The film was screened at the Durango Film Festival about a month ago, and the two showings were absolutely sold out. Four Corners Back Country Horsemen member Rachelle Davis saw the film for the first time that weekend and met James, and she worked to get the film shown again in Durango. 

She offered this information in the 4CBCH newsletter this month:

“I was shocked and moved by the information I learned. It brings to light the mistreatment of wild horses, inhumane slaughter and other issues pertaining to wild horses. Sheyrl Crow, Viggo Mortensen and Peter Coyote are featured in this film. Much of the footage used is of the horses in Disappointment Valley that we count each year. I thought it was very well done and worth trying to get screened again so the back country horsemen could have a chance to watch it.”

The film will be screened at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 30, at the Abbey Theatre in Durango; doors open at 6 p.m. The cost will be $6 per person, with a portion of the proceeds going toward marketing for additional screenings. A silent auction also will be held. 

 James attended the roundup last April, and he spent some time last summer – before the roundup – in the basin filming our Spring Creek horses. Footage of them from the summer as well as during the roundup is featured in the film. It’s not an easy film to watch, but it is important to know what’s going on. James’ Web site is movingcloud.com.