Volunteer Spotlight: Marty Wright and Her Passion for Wild Horses

(June 20, 2021) Recently, American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) sat down with volunteer documenter, photographer, and storyteller extraordinaire, Marty Wright, on Nevada's Virginia Range to talk about all things wild horses! Marty is incredibly passionate and dedicated to protecting these historic wild horses. She can often be found trekking the dirt roads of the desert in her trusty Jeep, Nelly B!

How did you get involved in wild horses?

I’ve been involved with horses most of my life. I was a barrel racer as a kid and a horse show announcer as an adult. A friend and I came out west a few years ago and saw an advertisement about a wild horse tour near Reno. We booked two days with a guy named Mark Terrell. The first horses we saw looked like ants on a hillside in the Pine Nut Mountains, but we were thrilled. The second day, Mark took us up to a spring high in the Virginia Range. There were several wild horse bands up there, but the one that spoke to me was a dark bay stallion with about 30 in his family band. His name was Bodie and I was smitten. I watched him move his band down the mountain and across the valley below. I was fascinated when I saw how the family behaved so orderly. Part of the way down, he turned back to look at me and I knew I had found my new home.

What is your favorite part of documenting?

I love finding the bands that I’ve followed for years, photographing the babies, watching them grow up, and updating the band changes.

Why are wild horses special to you?

I get so much pleasure from watching them, being with them, sometimes I think I’ve caught a disease! Wild horses are my passion, I just love being around them.

How long have you been involved in helping wild horses?

After my wild horse tour in 2014, I went back to Houston and started researching the issues about the wild horses. A year later I sold everything I owned, bought a Jeep, and headed to Reno.

What is/was your day job?

I’m a Texas Real Estate Broker and I take folks on wild horse tours out here. I photograph and make people aware of the wild horses on my Facebook page, Wild Horses Carry Me Away.