Standing Ovation by Ovation Riding: Let ‘Em Run Foundation

Every Friday, Horse Nation teams up with Ovation Riding to spotlight an individual or organization doing good work in the horse world. Today, we’re recognizing the Let ‘Em Run Foundation.

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Founded by country/western singer Lacy J. Dalton in 1999, the Let ‘Em Run Foundation became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2004. The organization’s mission statement is as follows:

To serve as an educational, fund-raising and public relations entity, through its own efforts and in assisting similar non-profit organizations, to save, preserve, protect and maintain the wild horse, estray horse, and mustang population of Nevada and other species of endangered or mistreated animals. To accomplish its goals by means of educational seminars, entertainment appearances, musical recordings, special events, and public and media appearances. To provide or assist in fencing, veterinary care, relocation, protection, and improvement in habitat, adoption programs, and other projects to further its goals. To do all such things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects.

Dalton moved to Nevada in 1998, partially to live close to wild horses, and quickly realized that the state of the wild horse in the American West, particularly in Nevada, is precarious: horses not on protected BLM land faced loss of habitat, semi-domestication by living in proximity to humans who fed them and danger when straying onto public highways.

To lend her voice to the conversation swirling about how best to protect Nevada’s wild horses — Nevada is a fence-out state, meaning that most of the state could be considered open range — Dalton formed the Let ‘Em Run Foundation to help educate the public about wild horse-related issues and network with other organizations to fundraise and protect wild horses in Nevada.

The Let ‘Em Run Foundation is entirely volunteer-operated, with a four-pronged goal of preserving habitat for wild horses, recovery of horses in need whether that means on-range medical help or bail from auctions, provide sanctuary for rescued horses or burros, and securing of safe forever homes for rescued animals.

To learn more about the Let ‘Em Run Foundation, visit the organization’s website.

Many thanks thanks to Ovation Riding for their support of both Horse Nation and individuals and organizations that are doing good work in the horse world. If you know someone who deserves a Standing Ovation, we would love to recognize them in a future post. Email the name of the person or organization along with a message about the good work they do to [email protected]. Photos/videos are always welcome, and include a link to their website if applicable.