We’ve written about many different people during our careers but no one as intriguing as Wild Horse Annie. As soon as we came across her story and realized that there was no biography of her life, we knew we had to write it.
Disfigured by polio Velma Bronn dreamed of having an important job, a ranch, children and a man who loved horses just a little less than he loved her. Her mother’s friends dismissed her fantasies. Women who looked like Velma didn’t marry Prince Charming. And her father didn’t believe women should work. Yet Velma fulfilled all her dreams, except for children. She became an executive secretary, and lived on the Double Lazy Heart ranch with her Prince Charming, Charlie Johnston.
She was content with life, “full to brimming”, she would have said. Then, in 1950, as she drove to her job in Reno, Nevada, she encountered a nightmare -- a truck loaded with brutalized wild horses on their way to a slaughterhouse. These horses had been captured after being chased by airplanes, with air raid sirens blaring and shot at with guns.
Velma, an animal lover, and in particular a horse lover, vowed to do something about it. Though shy and disfigured with no political savvy or money, she fought a decades long battle to protect wild horses that culminated in the federal laws of 1959 and 1971. Beneath her heroic achievements was a very real person; she loved to drink, party and belt out show tunes until all hours of the night. She was also very passionate and sometimes, in her zeal to save “the wild ones”, she would cross the line.
Being rather skeptical by nature, we initially doubted the impact of Velma on others. We just thought she was a good story. But we came across dozens of people who’d been touched, influenced and stimulated by her. Such is the true legacy of an individual which transcends what they actually accomplished.
We’ve started this blog to share some of the material that didn’t make it into the book. Hopefully you will share your experiences and pictures with us. David Cruise and Alison Griffiths
7 comments:
I can't wait to read this. I have a mustang and he has been the greatest horse for me. Without Wild Horse Annie I would not be riding him. Kate
I actually met Wild Horse Annie! She was so gracious and I shook her hand but at the time I didn't know what she had done. Her efforts should praised across the county.
Thank YOU. Your book is published at the most critical time for the wild horses. They are being brutally rounded-up in an unprecedented frenzy, to the point of *extinction.
Wild Horse Annie must be looking down from above weeping, combined with her rage. But we are carrying the torch that she carried for the wild horses and burros. We will not stop either, until they are once again FREE.
I pray your film comes out soon!
Maybe now we all will be heard.
Bless you,
Ronnie
Marguerite Henry's book on her was one of my favorites as a child.
Velma Johnston deserves a place of honor in American history. We are all indebted to David Cruise and Alison Griffiths for 'unearthing' her story after all these years. It does seem timely in an age when when there are so few heroes to look up to and admire. Perhaps the book and the movie will re-ignite our passion and our belief that individuals can make a difference.
Just saw the movie "Secretariat". Can't wait to see "Wild Horse Annie" on the screen! We loved watching/hearing the trailer for "Wild Horse Annie". We have just returned from a visit to North Carolina's Outer Banks. Staying at the northern end of Corolla we actually saw several protected Mustangs in the wild! There's a museum there at Whaleshead as well as other venues featuring preservation of these - God's magnificent creatures! Good luck with your book sales :0) You are welcome to place one in each of our four beach condo rentals when you visit NW Florida after Thanksgiving. Looking forward to seeing you then.
blessings,
The Browns
DestinRentals@comcast.net
850 385-0917
http://home.comcast.net/~DestinRentals
My parents Beverly and Harold Walter first "discovered" Velma Johnson in Nevada in the '50s and wrote some of the very first articles that were published in Desert magazine at that time. I was about 7 years old and remember how passionately they wanted to promote her and her cause but only went so far... I will gladly get this book and rediscover someone who was talked about in our family for years and remember meeting her several times.
Dana Miller
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