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Heaven is high and earth wide. If you ride three feet higher above the ground than other men, you will know what that means.

Story by — John Cox

CopyRight 2015

It wasn’t too long before Christmas, and sitting close to the campfire a good idea.  Yip, I was surrounded by snow, with a couple of icicles that hung from the highline where Babe tied-off.  The sky clear, stars bright.  It was cold.

Babe use to the weather.  Me, I could never get use to it. but no place I would rather be than in the wilds.  A person can do a lot with love, understanding, and knowing around every tree trunk, or hillside something different, something to learn; yes, even frozen toes and finger-tips sometimes.

So I got up and walked over to Babe.  Grabbed her blanket and put it on her.  That’s when I heard something odd.  Something I had never heard before out there.

Now, I had been out there many times, about 28 miles, as far as I thought, from anywhere or most anything.  The closest road was near 15 to 18 of those miles.  So when I heard a few horse-hooves clomp and stumble over tree branches, I listened close.

Babe’s head turned toward the sound.  Her look of curiosity, not a threatened-look in her eyes at all; how odd it was indeed.  So with my back to the saddlebags, my eyes riveted toward the stand of trees where the noise come from.  Without looking down, I pulled the old 1812 Winchester out, cocked the bullet into the chamber, and waited.

Ya know, the thing about nature is to wait . . . It’s always the moment in nature, in the wilds, and patients learned.  The gifts many, always, being patient and watching . . .

The brush rumbled a little beyond Babe.  I pulled-up the rifle.  I pulled the hammer back with my thumb, slow, deliberate.  Rifle butt tight to my shoulder.

Suddenly, the branches part and a big-ol horse’s snout peeks through.

My rifle down.  The black stallion, connected to that big ol’ snout of a nose — I was looking at nothing less than nature’s wonder.  It was beautiful.  It’s black, thick mane all the way down to its pastern’s.

Under my breath, “What the . . .” when out popped a little buckskin foal with a black mane, then a gorgeous buckskin mare, with her sparkling gold mane almost to the ground.

All three then turned and ran off, disappeared into the night.  I stood there . . .

“Those were some horses.  Do they range over here?”

I spun around, rifle up.

“Hold on!  We mean no harm,” come another voice.

I looked at three men, unarmed.  There was something about them, a glow or something . . .

“We just seen your fire, from the flat over on the basin,” as the first man spoke while getting off his horse.

“Thought we would come over, heat up a little coffee,” the third man said as he dismounted also.

I walked over and placed the rifle back into its scabbard, “Ya know, we’re some ways further than really anything else.  What the hell you doing over on the basin this time of night? Or morning?”

The last man got off his horse, followed the other two respectfully to the side of my camp, over to the highline.  One spoke while they finished hooking their horses up.  I did notice it was like they done it a few hundred times before.

“To be truthful, we’re searching,” while walking toward the fire.  “We come together a few days ago, started to talk, and we’re all looking for the same thing.”

The other finished with his horse, and come over to the fire as well.

The last man looked at me with the eyes, like someone I knew, but I just couldn’t put my finger on it.  It was uncomfortable, but oddly I felt in no danger at all.  As a matter of fact, I felt very safe.

“. . . so we joined up and rode through some of the most beautiful land in the Northwest.  These Cascades gorgeous, to say the least.  You’re a very lucky man, John.”

The other two come over and sat down.  I was caught off guard, “How did . . .”

“I’m Gabe, that’s Mike you’ve been talking to, and coming up is Leo.”

I sat on my ol’ rock next to the fire and warmth.  I have never felt so, well, once again safe, and in the middle of the woods, and surrounded by people I had no idea who they were or where they come from.  They seemed nice enough . . .

While they were fixin’ their coffee I took a minute to look at their horses.  Beautiful and so well kept they were remarkable; and yet, there was just something about . . . something different, but I found myself smiling . . . comfortable.

 

The still night broken.  Horse-hoof thunder — hundreds.  The sounds surrounded us.  I jumped up.  I looked at the others.  They were calm, as they glanced southward.  I ran over to grab Babe, and  . . .

“John, it’s okay,” Mike said.

The thunder grew intense, the ground shook.  Branches broke all around us.  It sounded like the very trees themselves would burst in half, any second.  I seen horses gathered in the trees, so thick, the horses heads bobbed, their manes swished side to side . . .

Then I saw the clearing over on the hillside beside us.  It started to fill with more horses, then even more yet.  God willing, I never seen so many horses rumble through the snow.  Why, they rolled over the other hills and into, well, right where I stood!

Clustered, as far as my eyes could see.  Everywhere.  Horses of all kinds and colors.  They just kept coming, and rolled across the hillsides, over the surrounding rocks, like a swarm of hundreds of . . . whatever swarms.

I could not believe my eyes.  Within a couple of minutes, which seemed like hours, we were surrounded, in total, by horses – I had never seen so many horses in one place, and as far as I could see, even though dark out, it was tremendous – we were at the very center of them all – surrounded indeed, an understated fact.

Babe?  Well, she just stood there beside me, and never was so calm and comfortable as she was right at that moment.  She knew something I did not.  I could just tell . . .

Then the horses on one side of my camp backed-off.  Clearly, they made a path, and in walked another man.  He was clad in armor, an extremely large broadsword hung off his hip, ready for battle, all in gold.  I had never seen such a bright-white horse, as he led it toward us, in the middle of . . .

“John, I want you to meet Samuel,” Mike said, while pointing toward Samuel’s outstretched hand, to shake in greeting.

I was speechless, and never seen anything like this before, the horses, the armor clad man, Samuel, shaking my hand, the other three and their horses.  To say I was overwhelmed would be an understatement.

“Greetings John, I am Samuel.  I wish I could stay longer, John, and get to know you better, as I understand . . .“

Gabe spoke up, fast, “. . . Not yet Sam, he doesn’t know.  We just got here ourselves.”

Samuel smiled at me, went over and shook the hands of the other three.

“. . . first-light is not far away, and I must go, Radueriel and Raguel wait,” Samuel said, in a command-voice.

He stopped to my front, stood to attention, raised his hand, palm forward, his other hand on the golden broadsword grip — as a salute to me and the others.  He spun, mounted his horse, and left.

 

I stood in such a humble state, as the horses surrounding us, cascaded by, and on both sides of my campsite.  They galloped, the snow-dust and mist rose up, their legs hidden; their bodies in confirmation, and heads swooped while high into the air, their manes swooshed and flew back as in flight.

There did not seem to be an end to them, as we watched the spectacle pass.  All of those horses, Wild Horses.  The thunder of their hooves — and with amazement I watched as they all followed Samuel into the valley then up onto the hillside itself; then leading the entire herd, broadsword out and raised, the white horse and he set aglow, soon disappeared over the hill.  The Wild Horses, there were so many, surged and rolled over the hill, a continuous flow that followed their leader . . .

As a matter of fact, we all stood and watched, still amazed at the site.  The last of the herd rolled over the hill.  At first the snow-dust and trailing mist disappeared; then eventually, the thunder of horse hooves, with the horses calling to one another, faded into the darkness toward the west; just as the first sparkle of sunlight started to come over the horizon eastward.

I looked over at Gabriel, Michael, and Leo and for a moment I understood, but just as much as I knew, I remained just as confused.

Gabriel and Leo were getting their horses off the highline, Michael’s as well.  Michael dumped the remainder of his cup of coffee on the ground, walked up to me, tipped his cowboy hat back, and looked me in the eyes.

“You know who we are, don’t you?”

“I think so, but a little confused . . .” I said.

“We’re going to make some Angels right here in your backyard.  And you know why?  Because it was you and the others that worked so hard to save them.  Samuel is meeting the Angel we call the Angel Maker . . . Radueriel,” Michael stated with a large smile, “. . . and ol’ Raguel, well, he’s the Angel that watches over us all.  He’s a pretty good Angel, very likeable.”

“You’re making Angel’s out of . . .?”

Michael throws his arm around my shoulders as we walked toward his horse and the others.

“Yip, John, you have it.  All those horses you seen?  We figured they needed protecting.  Those government people and the others with’em, they just don’t get it – and they’re killing some of the most Angelic things on the face of this earth.  They done that a few centuries ago as well!  And, by damn, as Angels, we’re going to put a stop to it, because no one else will.”

Michael slaps me on the back, grabs my hand and shakes it.  He turns toward Gabriel, who hands the reins to him, and he mounts his horse, while Gabriel and Leo wait.

I stood there in aw of the occasion, “. . . I don’t. . .”

Gabriel laughed, “. . . John, no words, it was all of your prayers’ were heard, and we also seen what was going on — evil.  We heard them, and we heard all the others who love horses as well and their prayers, brother; and these Wild Horse herds are saved because of you all . . . They’ll be here a long, long time . . .  Merry Christmas.”

I watched the Three Angels ride off, with snow-dust under their hooves.  I then heard a Merry Christmas from Gabriel and Leo as well . . . along with a laugh of a job well done.  – Merry Christmas To All with hope . . .   John

 

“So much falsified information from the Bureau of Land Management and the Department of the Interior about America’s Truthful Heritage and Icon, the Wild Horses, one must be leery as to why the Wild Horses have to leave America’s Public Lands to begin with?  One day American’s, outraged, will hold these government agencies accountable!”  — John Cox

We live in a society fraught with conclusions.  You may ask, now what is he talking about?  I will answer.  We simply live in a society that conducts itself upon conclusion, with often misrepresented Subjective Reasoning, mostly based from illegitimate facts — such as those based upon fear, or misrepresentation of facts sometimes based on Heritage, or just outright lies.

Arrogance out of profound ignorance, or macho posturing, or the inability to pass into the realm of manhood or womanhood, are merely subordinate to this situation – although emotion often plays a dramatic and effective roll, it is merely yet another subordinate causation.

What I am discussing here is “Illusory Superiority” within our human day to day activities.  This is a proven human condition we all suffer from regarding our daily aptitude in all things.  For many of us, it is not just within the horse or wildlife subjects, but inclusive with all else – for example politics and religion, and an insurmountable amount of other subjects as well.

Reality versus Ideology

For example, in any given group we find, through investigation, observation, and study that 80% of individuals might typically think they know about, as well as understand, the subject of horses.  In discussion we find many people are adamant about the subject, both emotional and can sway factual evidence toward non-factual circumstances.  But when tested we discover perhaps 20% of them do know, the others not so much.

It is sometimes called the “Above Average Effect” and essentially it means that for much of our life we will personally value our self slightly better at things than those around us.  It’s this same effect that also makes you think you, in this case knowledgeable about horses and wild horses, are and remain the pyramid of reasoning or the Patron Saint of Horses (keep it light and laugh as well, as human traits are fun and can be enjoyed), and all others, well, they just fall into place much less than average.

Human Confronts Illusion

Interesting is the fact this also goes along with the situation of only 40% to 46% of those who own horses actually ride them – yes, it is estimated that 54% to an amazing 60% do not ride their horses.  True, the remainder might own all of the equipment and trailers, and an insurmountable tack display, but simply rode the horse a few times, or not at all, and really do not ride them – out of fear, emotion, or false subjective reasoning – the reality collides with the conflict of illusion.

Another good example to many, and seen daily now, is the supposition that makes you think you can take on anyone in a fight, whether mental or physical, or navigate your way out of a life-threatening situation, whether mental or physical, and actually win.  Well, once again and most often this is an “Illusory Superiority” effect, and can get you hurt, or worse – so there is, make no doubt, a specific danger in this as well.

But this danger also opens the door to scams, or as we experience currently, people can take advantage of this particular mind-set (scammers see this as a demographic) and obtain donations, or mislead people to obtain either benefits for themselves, or to complete their job task – i.e. roundups and horses to slaughter for example – not so ironic that their (BLM – DOI – Welfare Ranchers – Corporations) mind-set totally built on the “Above Average Effect” simply so they can develop the excuse of being right in what they do –

I think we’re starting to get a glimpse of how this all works out, and how many times people choose sides, and indeed there is a right side and a wrong side, make no doubt, even though built on an  illusionary causation of circumstance – because frankly, the situation should not have developed to such proportion anyway – and that is often such a mitigating truth, and sad in the matter of how humans can be so destructive toward nature and our wildlife . . .

Bias and Reasoning

This cognitive bias, first officially named in 1991, has now become a staple of modern psychology and has been tested across intelligence assessments, physical performance, and yes even social interaction.

It is closely tied to a similar effect called the Dunning-Kruger effect.  It claims the “Illusory Superiority” is more common than you might think, and goes on to call it “the anosognosia of everyday life” – allow me to clarify, simply put it is a lack of truthful-subjective self-awareness in your daily existence.

There are many reasons, both positive and negative, in the matters of why we do this, to include physical mechanisms as well.  But the more acceptable theories state it comes down to the ways, or manner, in which our brains process complicated information, into simpler, easier to manage estimates, usually in our own favor — bias.

On a more positive side this situation aids in motivation, giving us incentive to push forward in the knowledge we are doing well and it gives us confidence that we will, indeed, succeed.

However, and this is a vast however, is the downside of this situation.  Many people think they are proficient at things without any evidence to support the idea.  Once again we wander into the realm of Subjective Reasoning.  What are the benefits involved?  More often than not, ego; sometimes financial benefits within a manipulated process and we become victims from our own illusions (i.e. politics or religion, or accepting anyone else’s opinions), and on and on it goes . . .

Ultimately what this means is – we are simply not as good as we think.  Our knowledge combined with someone else’s knowledge, and under the same cognitive bias, Subjective Reasoning or “Illusory Superiority” complex, is destine toward destruction.

Accept and Understand Truth

Sadly, we can look at the realm of Wild Horses.  Through the benefit of sound reasoning, now that we understand “Illusory Superiority” — we can hopefully approach, within reality, how to resolve this situation – or at least place ourselves on the right-road toward a resolution.

It is because the count of 70,000-Plus Wild Horses rounded up in the past few years (yes a vast Gorilla in the room we are all acquainted with), and many went or going to slaughter, is a realistic number.  This number absolutely contradicts and conflicts with many illusions many people have in the matter of them stating, or attempts to persuade others they are actually saving Wild Horses!

As usual, and with the Wild Horses sacrificed, the current mind-set of saving them is, and remains, merely an illusion; whereas, only a few benefit, and the Wild Horses die – THIS IS THE REALITY!

This is not a matter of me suggesting routes to resolution within this paper.  Rather, it is a matter of seeing the truth and how to actually get to it, or obtain the freedom for Wild Horses, in a reality mind-set; because, only through the truth will a resolution be brought about that can be of benefit to the Wild Horses, and actually save them from so much Subjective Reasoning developed through so much “Illusory Superiority” within BLM, Welfare Ranching, Corporate maneuvering on Public Lands, large advocate groups who need to make money to support themselves, and on and on it goes, this supposed reasoning and self-gratification over all-else, to include Destruction of Our Wild Horses for nothing more than small short term profits . . .

Yes, we have a problem — we need to confront it, and stop ignoring it!