Why We’re Supporting Wild Horses This Giving Tuesday

Rip & Tan: How did you get introduced to American Wild Horses?

Kimerlee Curyl: When I got my first horse, I was living in Los Angeles and working with this cowboy who was training my mare. In truth, he was teaching me just as much as he was teaching her—the art of natural horsemanship. He often referenced life “in the wild” when explaining equine behaviors, which stirred something deep within me. As a little girl, I had always dreamed of racing bareback across open fields on a wild horse, and those childhood imaginings prompted me to seek out wild horses for myself.

At the same time, I was navigating a pivotal moment in my life, stepping away from a struggling acting career and beginning to explore photography, something I had deeply loved for decades. These two journeys—discovering wild horses and finding my voice through the lens—blended so seamlessly that, after my first experience among wild horses with a camera in hand, I never looked back.

Rip & Tan: Tell us about your process. How do you approach each shoot to ensure you’re capturing the horses in their element?

Kimerlee Curyl: I need to pay close attention to the terrain, the time of year and the weather. My partner and I haul out a small RV in order to be immersed in their environment for a couple of weeks at a time. Once on location, I quickly settle into their world, and aside from camera and travel logistics, I let the horses lead the way. They operate on their own time and instincts, so nothing is contrived.

I have such a profound respect for the horses and the land, I am a guest in their space and letting go of expectations becomes the pathway for my time with them. Patience is the most vital tool. Some of the most important and profound images I’ve captured happen when I’ve waited long enough to let their world unfold naturally. If I am gifted the ability to be in the right spot, with the right light, it is nothing short of absolute magic. 

It isn’t just about creating a perfect image, it is about capturing the essence of their wild and free lives. Each moment captured is part of a larger narrative that I hope will serve as a catalyst for helping preserve their rightful place on our Western public lands. 

Rip & Tan: What do you love most about being around the wild horses?

Kimerlee Curyl: Wild horses, and the untamed landscapes they call home, are some of the most profound medicine I know. They embody this unspoken alchemy. Witnessing stories of their grace, resilience and freedom really stirs something deep inside you. To stand in their presence you’re truly overcome with a remarkable feeling to surrender to the rhythm of the natural world. 

All horses, I believe, are master teachers. They remind us to pause, to breathe, and to find rest in the simplicities of life. But wild horses–they evoke something deeper. They remind me that at the heart of existence, the truest desires are universal; connectedness, family and freedom. These beings live fully in the moment, living by the elements and the instincts that guide them. 

Sleeping under the same stars as them, surrounded by vast open spaces, is where art and healing converge for me. This journey became not just about capturing images and artistic inspiration, it has become a refuge, a sacred place where the healing powers of wildness collide with the act of creation and the power of advocacy. Whether it’s watching a dust devil dance on the horizon at sunset or witnessing a stallion standing over his family, adorned with an invisible shield of protection, these moments remind me of life’s unbridled joy and enduring strength.

Rip & Tan: Which image is your favorite? Why?

Kimerlee Curyl: That is the hardest question to answer but I’ll try by sharing the story of “Snow White”, a photograph that was captured in the Great Divide Basin of Wyoming. 

In the harsh afternoons winds and relentless sun, a heavily pregnant snow-white mare found solace on the back of her stunning prince charming. They had been resting quite sometime and it was obvious she was uncomfortable. I sat at a respectable distance for a long time, in the hopes of witnessing the birth of her foal. 

But, as fate would have it, a group of bachelor stallions approached, and quickly became intent on driving a wedge between this stallion’s family band. His work was cut out for him, as he had no lieutenant stallion to assist him. He bravely, and defiantly fought his battle with fury. 

The other mares and a few youngsters in the group were extremely distressed. However what they did was remarkable. They started running circles around the pregnant mare, kicking up dust and determined to keep her safe, as she was quite defenseless. It made it hard for any bachelor to try and infiltrate the group. As he  drove the last of the bachelors towards the horizon, the ground shook with the stampeding of hooves across the desert floor. I didn’t think he could do it, but he did. The powerful stallion won this battle with his strength, determination and the unbreakable family bond they possessed. 

He swiftly galloped back to the family, returning directly to her side with an air of chivalry. A testament to the enduring noble nature of the wild. She returned her tired head to the space upon his back she had been resting, let out a big breath and all was calm in their world once again.

Rip & Tan: What do you hope to teach others about the cause for saving wild horses?

Kimerlee Curyl: Their survival depends on our willingness to protect their place in the wild and to challenge the systems that are threatening them and trying to dismantle the very freedom that defines them.

Wild horses are caught in a battle for survival against forces of power and greed. Their habitats are diminishing, their families are being torn apart, and their future existence threatened. 

Hope is rooted in the power of storytelling, art, and collective action. I believe that by sharing their stories and illuminating the raw beauty of their lives, we can awaken empathy and inspire change. Art, when paired with purpose, becomes a catalyst for awareness, urging people to see not just the surface but the soul of what is at stake—a beauty worth fighting for. I strive to amplify the voice of the wild—of the horses, the land, and the freedom they represent. 

I invite others to learn about the plight of wild horses and to connect with their story. Attend an event or support conservation organizations, like the one Jenni and I are ambassadors of, The American Wild Horse Conservation. Wild horses are more than just a part of the landscape; they are a part of us, reflecting our deepest longings and our capacity for resilience. To stand with them is to stand for freedom, beauty, and the healing power of nature itself. Together, through awareness, art, and action, we can ensure that their story continues to inspire generations to come.