Mustang Meg
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KEEP THE WEST WILD! VID www.mustangjourney.com
FUND MM www.roamwildfund.com
WEB www.mustangwild.com What's with the alias name? Who am I? Thank you! S.
Who is "Mustang Meg"
My name is Sonya, my name "Mustang Meg" is my alias to share and report on our wild mustangs and burros, a real life western. My focus is not about the BLM management at the state level, but rather focus on the bigger picture at the federal level, and the removals and elimination of mustang herds for special interests at the expense of our mustangs and burros and the wild public range lands they roam, rather than upholding the original intent of the 1971 Wild Free Roaming Wild Horses and Burros Act- and that focus is in Washington DC. There's a method to my madness.... "Meg" is a concise and memorable name fluid with "mustang" I chose, as I wanted to develop a page easily remembered and easily accessible ~ where much scattered information about our wild horses can be funneled to one spot for review, education, and discussion. I try hard to bring factual information, by research and cross-referencing information first, for the education of others to help them in their own endeavors of seeking protection for our mustangs and wild burros, with confidence sharing with their own "netposse", ultimately benefiting our wild ones. Wild horse and burro advocacy has become the greatest "grassroots" effort in history... and since the government in DC has proven it is less then concerned with our wild horses entrusted in their care, this union of grassroots of wild horse enthusiasts and concerned citizens ban together and remind lawmakers the importance of wild horses to the people. My name is Sonya Spaziani, and I am a graduate from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. I've studied Oregon wild horses since 1994 while out in the southeast region of the state, the Steens Mountain area. While driving around a rimrock corner, about 40 or more wild horses of just about every possible color crossed the little mountain road in front of us- big ones, little ones, manes and tails flying... some walking, some trotting, and some loping. I could still hear the hoof beats on the hard packed earth, smell the sage they brushed against, and taste the dust on my lip. I've been mesmerized by them ever since, wanting to know everything I can about these soul-stirring, pure and natural wild-born creatures. In my early history, my parents with their two young girls fled the Czech Republic (Czechoslovakia) in 1968, and all my life to this day, from my father, I've been given the lessons of freedom-- and what that truly means. Wild mustangs for me are that bridge to that ideal. Although he's gone now, his words, "Never take freedom for granted" I still hear in my head to this day. Since 1994 every year, we travel out to the SE Oregon herd management areas searching for these wild ones, sometimes when I'm lucky, several times a year. In 2011, we've included our two little boys on our wild horse trips, to add to the love of wild horses and advocacy for them in their new generation. I keep a journal and write-ups on my excursions. I reside in the foothills of the Cascade Mountain range of the central Willamette Valley in a zone between valley and mountain where I am also fortunate to observe varied wildlife, also satiating my interest is in nature and wild animals. I live about a half day's drive to the herd management area. Besides documenting my own on-the-range findings, I also put in many hours of research time, to continue to educate myself with ongoing information for this plight. Besides the natural lure of the wild horses, I am on this mission to 'protect to preserve' our wild horses and burros full force since I discovered an amendment to their protected Federal status. With the insult of the sneaky rider/bill introduced by Montana Senator, Conrad Burns in 2004, slipped in the appropriations bill, during the major holidays and without public knowledge or review, single-handedly and with the swift motion of a pen, deteriorated wild horse and burro protection given in 1971 known as the Free Roaming Wild Horse and Burro Act. This tragic amendment was signed by President George W. Bush on December 6, removing most protection for our wild horses and burros, where a majority can be sold/ auctioned/ processed "without limitation". Currently there are roughly 50,700+ mustangs in holding (at a cost of $450 per head), awaiting an uncertain future at best, and a loss of over 111 herds, and over 19 million herd management acres. Yet more are gathered, removed, and adding to the stockpile of horses in holding. It has been my mission since 2004 to bring awareness to the public and aid, in my small way, to help to restructure even better wild horse protection and preservation. My Stand~
I stand for "on the range management" with the aid of wild mare contraception in managing herd levels. Contraception is the lesser of the evils in terms of management. However, *permanent* sterilization of any kind mare/stallion surgical or chemical is inappropriate on wild horses intended to be protected on designated BLM Herd Management Areas as established with the 1971 Wild Free-roaming Horses and Burros Act. Sterilization adversely effects "Natural Selection" and completely changes essential horse, band, and herd behavior dynamics of an intricate wild mustang society. Outside of rotating wild mares with contraception, 'we the people' request and require that wild horses are left as natural as possible for our and future generations benefit as well as assure full genetic representation among each unique herd, and maintain the wild and tightly knit social orders within established bands. Permanent sterilization should never be an option in the wild. Natural selection knows best for optimal survival, natural behaviors are necessary, and genetic viability through variability is essential. Permanent altering would change all that, and no longer the wild mustangs we know, but no better than farm animals. In addition, realistically, careful management will always be necessary, but in cooperative efforts with a wild horse-based coalition or advocacy group overseeing our wild horses and burros. With the assistance of independent scientific analysis by range ecologists and biologists, when removal is deemed necessary, removing some but with a sound plan in place (ie: programs/homes), and no longer stockpiling them in government long-term holding, or with the threat of euthanizing or sending them to auction "without limitations". It's also my opinion, that lead and established stallions earning their "reign" should never be removed from a herd area along with the lead or elder mares- all teachers for other generations. I am a firm believer, that 'protected' wild horses "lock up" our wild lands from being turned into anything from wind turbine farms to strip malls, homes, and exploited for natural resources, etc. In this struggling economy, money talks loudly to our government. It's more than mustangs, I also stand for protecting the last of our wild lands of this high desert basin of our "still" wild west. So I learn, I write, I research, and I spend time out there among the wild ones, gathering information, videos, and photographs to share in my own small way and possibly make a difference by bringing awareness to these incredible wild horses. My work also includes an art series called "For the Mustangs" where a percentage is utilized where proceeds help the organizations dedicated also to keep our mustangs where they belong, on our western public rangelands. I also am in the process of writing a book, complete with my writing, quotes, and mustang photos, as well as a website for purchase of my photos. These endeavors will help me reach out to more of the public, bringing more information, research, and of course photographs to the mainstream, so that our mustangs and burros become a conscious awareness. I am a citizen concerned for the future welfare of our wild horses. I chose no other, but one side, the side of the wild horses and burros. It's my hope and ambition that I can reach at least one person daily, so they know that we still have these inspiring free-roaming animals on our wild lands, and how necessary they are on so many levels, but mostly our spirits.... These wild horses, an American icon symbolizing our own struggle to remain free~ A powerful icon to the citizens of the great Nation, and to so many around the world. Keep the wild in our west and our WEST WILD! Sonya, aka Mustang Meg
Contributions keep me roaming wild and sharing/researching pertinent information as well as photo-documenting mustangs of Oregon and learning about wild mustang society. If you are looking for a way to help what I do- purchasing my photos on mustangwild.com as well as sharing my videos on www.mustangjourney.com (youtube), but also a direct contribution is also welcome: www.roamwildfund.com . My jam~
videos- www.youtube.com/mustangmeg
web- www.mustangwild.com
fb- www.mustangmeg.com
P. The world is watching- Protect to Preserve...
Never give up. Never give in. Never back down. VIDEOS www.mustangjourney.com
PHOTOS Any of my photos can be also turned into canvas or metal prints- just ask, message me or [email protected] . Here are specs and vid examples about both metal and canvas prints- costs/sizes for both and both of which are ready-to-hang:
METAL Dimensions: 14" x 11" $70, 12x12 $70, 16x20 $100, 16x24 $120
Shipping 6.99 in the US. Made of 0.045" thick aluminum
Example (video):
https://www.facebook.com/mustangmeg1/videos/6085931631480334
CANVAS Dimensions: 12x16 $70 16x20 $90 20x30 $130
Shipping 6.99 US. Thickness 1.25” Gallery Wrap
Example (video): https://www.facebook.com/mustangmeg1/videos/249571416898655
Message me for an invoice and will put it on the ponyexpress to you! Want to take a stand and be their voice? To contact your Senators and Representatives - call the switchboard at 202-224-3121
Also:
•The Honorable:
US Senate
Washington DC 20510
www.Senate.gov
•President :
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC, 20500
Comments 202-456-1111
Switchboard 202-456-1414
Fax:202-456-2461
•Secretary:
Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, N.W. Washington DC 20240
Phone: 202-208-3100
Fax: 202-208-6956
E-Mail: [email protected]
The world is watching- Protect to Preserve...
Never give up. Never back down. ~Mustang Meg
09/12/2026
Kindle
Kindle is still out there on the Steens. She has quite the history. She is daughter of pretty grulla mare, Cinder and granddaughter of Steens legendary grulla mare, Granite. She looks like both mother and grandmother. She was not captured and April 2025 she had a grulla pinto c**t. She was with the Amado band in July 2025 as well. By October, she was with stallion Starfire, an Honor son. She was most recently still seen with Starfire and three of her offspring, including her 2022 filly.
Almost a yearling in this image, Kindle was born late in the season in October and we all were hopeful we would see her again in the spring following winter. Needless to say, we were relieved to find her and her mother Cinder doing well coming out of a harsh long winter on the mountainside.
Early that spring the HMA had a small bait gather of 100 horses on this side of the herd area and we heard the Phoenix band had been captured, but no word on this filly being in the corrals with her mother.
That April I went out on the Steens range, and just by chance spotted her in the distance with an elder mare known as Sanopa and they were with the black stallion, Reno. I was so happy to see her and she was in fine shape. Somehow in the chaos at the bait trap, the filly was separated from her mother Cinder when the trap door closed.
Since she was located and well, we enlisted the help of readers to find her a range name for tracking and documentation. To go along with her mother Cinder's, and grandmother Granite’s name themes of natural elements of stone and fire (to tie them together in lineage), readers selected the name Kindle (as in fire kindling).
She was next spotted with the Red Vogue band the next May by photo friend of our Oregon Mustang Group (OMG). On this trip she was still with RedVogue and looked comfortable there with both mare Saige and (intermittant visitor) Lady Avalon keeping her company. The Red Vogue micro band still followed closely the larger Ranger band at the time. And the two bands had a group of bachelors trailing them.
She got through two large helicopter roundups in 2022 and 2024. Somehow she remained on the range when the bands got split up in the chaos of the roundup. Interesting that she has her 2022 filly in her same band now with Starfire …. somehow finding each other on that vast range.
Time tells the best stories.
The day we first met her- October 2016: https://www.facebook.com/mustangmeg1/photos/a.10154487408213956.1073741880.226517823955/10154488279808956/?type=3&theater
Red Vogue Band
August 2017/SE Oregon SS HMA To inquire about one of these photos at full resolution, please contact me here or [email protected] .
Thank you for roaming wild with me and helping to keep the WILD in our west... and our WEST WILD! ~ Mustang Meg
MustangWILD
PO Box 785
Lebanon, OR 97355
www.roamwildfund.com
VIDS www.mustangjourney.com
SHOP www.wildehorsespirit.com
09/12/2026
“Sides”. My thoughts. I wrote this a few years ago, but still applicable today. 
Sides.... Who am I and what side am I on?
Simple. As a horse lover all my life- horses are my focus. As far as management it's a bit more complex.
When new people land on my page and who haven't spent the years like some following and understanding how I tick and why I do things, might read one post and sometimes assume the rest in terms of my thinking on wild horses and their management. The wild horse and burro world is much more complex than simply linear thinking. And naturally with that, occasionally the question comes up “Who's side am I on?”
That's quite alright as it gives me a platform to talk about wild horses... and I can talk mustang all day… along with a portal to share these incredible beings, current events, sometimes an opinion - a portal backed by roaming ranges and studying horse and land for over ten years reporting about horses and band structures or herd movement on social media.
Ultimately my hope is by providing information, images, events, and stories that readers will decide for themselves and help guide the most proper course for mustang and burro management on these.... our shared public lands.
In my journey, it began the first time I discovered horses when my dad set me up on a little leopard appaloosa. So my early initiation to this wild world began as an avid child horse lover- reading books, drawing, writing everything horses, learning all I can. As a young adult I enjoyed teamroping and had my equine love of my life, ol Gus fast and bold working cattle. Went to college and graduated in psychology- and helping to fund my way through by buying thoroughbreds off the racetrack otherwise going to uncertain futures, and training/selling them for a better future as riding or working companions, and college tuition for me. Once I started my career, I worked as a troubled youth counselor, followed by work as an admin for the State of Oregon as a tech in HR. Once I had kids I was head over heels for them and became a stay-at-home mom. Being at home I used my art and photography to help with home finances. Mustang photography also has funded my way to roam the mustang ranges and bring them to you.
I began my mustang journey as a photographer and only later added mustang advocacy to hopefully help even in a small way, to assure the pure and natural wild born mustangs with their complex societies, remain for future generations. I am not an advocate turned photographer.... I am a photographer who added advocacy for mustangs and burros. My home business is MustangWild, instrumental in funding my way to roam those ranges, and share about them, bringing awareness by following herds for years- learning dynamics, documenting, and sharing with the public.
Still in the formative years, I learned about the deadly Burns Amendment of 2004 to the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, launching me forward researching and doing what I can to help bring more awareness and hopefully have a part or influence in some way so these amazing wild horses remain as nature intends. The label advocate seemed to fit, so I created this page with my simple alias “Mustang Meg” in hopes my photos and journals could be a way to help the public learn about them- that they do exist, and that they are thriving, beautiful, and inspirational. The hope has always been that these mustangs, bands and herds, and their journeys hopefully inspire others to be their voice. I focus on the photography trying to not only focus on their beauty but what they do for us on the inside and what we stand to lose if we don't stand up for them.
I'm also a behaviorist, I have a degree in Psychology from Oregon State with a focus in Motivation... needless to say, their behaviors and their complex wild society fascinate me, and with other photographers started wild horse pages to track them, observe behaviors, and so on. I am part of the South Steens Wild Horses here on fb where several of us and our various pages track and photo-document mustangs on the south Steens over the course of the last decade to understand their wild societies better.
I am also part of the umbrella group that casually monitors the ranges/HMAs across SE Oregon on a broader scale for herds and ranges. By monitoring ranges and observing mustang herds covering numerous miles and areas between a handful of other photographers, we also on occasion interact with the Oregon Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and local ranchers, and they work with us as well providing needed information, almost like a symbiotic relationship - a good cooperation between all, which in the end, benefits the herds, ranges, and horses most. This often unfortunately also becomes confusing for others.
As I see it, the local BLM offices in the west states are a beneficial conduit to those actually in charge in DC where change occurs- big BLM and DOI - and as an independent photographer not working for any one, any organization or any agency, I fully believe that by working with varying groups, we are more effective in creating effective change for wild horses and burros which means better management on-range and further protection for them. I hope we as photographers and liaisons can represent well the citizens who want the best outcome for wild herds, while we also help preserve a way of life. Personally, it's always about the mustangs and burros for me, but I also appreciate the ranching way of life, as I've lived it and those I know are good stewards of the land and help lookout for the horses. Looking at it as “sides” to me is divisive which never does any good to any ideology but rather inflames and those at the two far ends of the spectrum are left “spinning their wheels” in ineffective emotion. I do, however, recognize and respect the various perspectives, and when looking at the wide spectrum of thought, believe that the truth is in the middle.
Keeping the west WILD, MM
About the photo: May 2015 as they were- stallions Benson (bachelor) on the left and the great Honor (band stallion) on the right. Why does Honor have a freezebrand? He was captured and returned to the range in 2009. "Meeting in the Middle" is available on MustangWild https://www.mustangwild.com/p891040568/eba0b1be1
That's it in a nutshell, but there's more information, if you would like to learn more about how I tick, here are some write-ups I did to better understand what I do and where I stand.
My Side of the Fence: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10158785019263956&set=a.10158717834863956
Armchair Warrior https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10158719636133956&set=a.10158717834863956
Who is this Character, Mustang Meg: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10158717326263956&set=a.10158717834863956
Other Field Notes: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10158717834863956&type=3
See Oregon mustangs in motion- follow me on my YouTube channel www.mustangjourney.com
09/12/2026
Facebook memories came up w this one today, and thought I would re-share it. A moment out on the range looking for Kiger mustangs.
When my mom was new to facebook, and learning about it and she would express that I share a lot of horses or 'science-y' things,and wanted family pics....
This one's for you mom- your daughter- out studying and photographing- what else? Wild mustangs! 🙂
Photo by good friend for many years and fellow photographer, Carolyn Edson.
Had I known that I was being shot at, I would have shot back! But I was too focused on some Kiger mustangs, when Carolyn Edson of Photography By Carolyn stealth manuevered a successful shot with her long lens.
Also, somewhere out on the range, are these sunglasses... left, lost, and all alone.....
To see the March 2015 trip/album ...
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153103221698956.1073741864.226517823955&type=3
March 2015/SE Oregon
My website: www.mustangwild.com
Email: [email protected] .
Thank you for helping me roam wild on the ranges, and helping me to work on keeping the "wild" in our west... and our west WILD
09/12/2026
Memories, two wild girls in the Yellowboy band - 2016.
Double Trouble
Stallion Yellowboy's fillies. The darker one is CopperPenny's Nickelette, and the lighter one is Zana's- Chicca. Feminine little adorable girls. You can see the leg-barring, especially on Chicca. We often see that primitive characteristic, along with the dorsal stripes, on the dun colored mustangs.
The completed August JOURNAL:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/mustang-meg/mustangs-rattlers-and-dust-devils/10153912165877776
The August 2016 photo ALBUM...
https://www.facebook.com/mustangmeg1/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10154320766628956
The August VIDEO (youtube) : Mustangs, Rattlers, and Dust Devils...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F-kEixywhs
Yellowboy band
August 2016/SE Oregon
*Please note that my images are shared here at a low resolution. To inquire about one of these photos at full resolution, please contact me here or [email protected] . You can also visit my MustangWild photography website www.mustangwild.com .
Thank you for helping me roam wild on the ranges, and helping me to work on keeping the "wild" in our west... and our west WILD! ~ Mustang Meg
MustangWILD
PO Box 785
Lebanon, OR 97355
Wicasa went through a helicopter gather in 2022 and a portion of his band was captured but he was able to get away.
In 2024 he almost got away refusing to be pushed by the helicopter time and time again, but ended up being captured.
He had been a band stallion for a number of years. He was released early 2025. Will be interesting to continue to follow his journey from here. this video is from April 2025:
09/11/2026
Never Forget
I grew up with these words hearing them from my father — “Never take Freedom for granted” Mustang Meg
I was in a conversation with someone about the intro music at the very beginning and at the end of a number of my videos (99 by Toto). Thought I'd share and explain it here too. Why? Bc it's meaningful to me- bringing me back to my wildself as a kid who lived and breathed wild horses and wrote in her journals....
For me it's about the instrumental part rather than word meaning... I use the intro and end (not ended w it in this vid bc of the length, but typically) of the song bc as a horse-crazy kid I remember hearing it and loved the beat-- always imagining a wild horse's loping beat on a hillside. And at the end, the last part, standing on the hilltop with the wind blowing. My nostalgia.
This is a longer video- 15:33. But I hope you guys block out some time and immerse yourselves into the songs and music in the main part of the video by Cindy Loos of Opus Moon who graciously gave me permission to use her inspirational music. The words are magical and along the same trails of thought so many of us share in terms of wild horses, what they mean to us, and our concerns and our hopes for their futures.
The ending vid clip is my favorite, with band stallion Cherokee standing there with a breeze slightly playing with his tail.
Enjoy, and if you have little ones, sit them with you and tell them, Yes- we do still have wild untouched horses running free~ in our still WILD WEST.
Keep the WILD in our WEST-- and our WEST WILD!
Mustang Meg
A short video from recent August trip, roaming with Lazarus & WildWind bands, and bachelor stallion Firefly. (3:53 min)
*For better viewing, click the toolbar below the video to a higher resolution. 2022
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