One day in 1950, Velma B. Johnston was driving in Nevada and noticed a truck with blood dripping from the back. She followed the truck and discovered that it was carrying horses to a slaughter house.

Johnston began to conduct her own research into how wild horses were rounded up by "mustangers"—ranchers and hunters that captured wild horses for slaughter. It was then she became aware of how badly wild horses were treated.

Determined to make a difference, Johnston began a grassroots campaign, that involved mostly school children. Young people from all across America sent letters to newspapers and legislators and attracted enormous attention that outraged the public and made them aware of the issue. And, as public attention grew, some of Johnston's critics began to make fun of her and call her Wild Horse Annie.

But no matter what her critics did, she continued her fight—and newspapers continued to publish articles about the exploitation of wild horses and burros. In January 1959, Nevada Congressman Walter Baring introduced a bill prohibiting the use of motorized vehicles to hunt wild horses and burros on all public lands. The House of Representatives unanimously passed the bill which became known as the Wild Horse Annie Act. The bill became Public Law 86-234 on Sept. 8, 1959.

However, this law did not include Annie's recommendation that Congress begin a program to protect wild horses and burros. Public interest and concern continued to increase, and with it came the realization that federal management was needed.

In response to public outcry, the Senate unanimously passed a law on June 19, 1971. It became known as The Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971.

Wild Horse Annie knew that young people can make a difference. And at Return to Freedom we know that, too. That's why we have begun a program where your class can help us to help wild horses in America. 

Now this organization is run by Karen Sussman, 2010 Wild Horse Annie.