(March 4, 2021) For this volunteer highlight, the Pinto Post interviewed Deb Sutherland, a longtime wild horse photographer and newly-signed-up AWHC documenter. She has such a deep history in the Virginia Range horses and we love to hear her stories and see her beautiful photographs! Take it away, Deb!

I became interested in photographing the wild horses about twelve years ago when a band of wild horses ( Bodie Braveheart’s band) used to wander through our neighborhood then back to the canyon. I live at the base of the Virginia Range and started noticing them after that and I would follow them to the canyon to photograph them. 

I am a teacher in Lyon County, (almost retired) and I was on my way to work one day when I saw a mare standing guard over two sleeping foals in an empty field near my house. The foals were using each other as pillows, it was so cute, I had to stop and snap a photo of them and from that day on I would find the band in the canyon, spend time with them and photograph them.

I would watch their interactions with each other and with other bands on the range and was amazed how they loved and cared for each other, fought each other for various reasons, and their ever-changing family structure still amazes me. I noticed how they were survivors even when things got tough.  They became something I loved being with, not just something I photographed. I loved watching their relationships with each other as I watched them grow from foals to stallions and mares, to have foals of their own. I kept track of who was born to whom over a ten-year period on a piece of paper I would carry in my camera bag.  I still have that paper as a reminder of the wild ones who stole my heart. 

I am a documenter but have assisted with the reuniting of some wild ones who got separated from their bands over the years.  These events were so heartwarming to witness and photograph.

When I was asked this year if I wanted to be a documenter for the fertility control program, I was so excited because now my passion for photographing and keeping track of the wild horses can be put to good use and will help them.  It is also heartwarming to be able to share past family history about some of the horse bands in my area.  I feel very lucky to be able to contribute to the American Wild Horse Campaign using my two passions, photography and the love of wild horses. My husband and I have adopted two wild horses, Spirit Keeper in 2013 and Diamond in 2015. They are a joy to live with and if we had our way we would adopt them all.