Horse Girl
How Velma Bronn Johnston Became WILD HORSE ANNIE and Outsmarted the Mustang Killers of the West
The American mustang―wild, wind-tossed, and thundering across the open West―might have vanished into myth if not for Velma Bronn Johnston. A shy woman who was left with physical effects from a childhood battle with polio, Johnston was living a quiet life on a struggling ranch near Reno, Nevada, when she discovered wild horses being brutally transported to slaughter. Outraged, she reported it―only to be offered a permit allowing her to do the same horrific deed. But instead of backing down, Johnston took a stand.
Her refusal to profit from cruelty launched her into a firestorm of activism, upending her life. Laughed at, threatened, and dismissed, she pressed on. When a rival mocked her as “Wild Horse Annie,” she seized the name as a badge of honor and purpose. Embracing her new identity, she began to raid illegal holding pens under the cover of darkness, captivated the media, and became the voice of a movement. Her biggest allies? Schoolchildren across America, whose letter-writing campaign swept the country.
Johnston’s commitment to these majestic animals was finally recognized in 1971 when Congress unanimously passed legislation to protect the nation’s wild horses―an enduring victory for one determined woman and the animals she refused to abandon.
Award-winning author Terri Farley presents the captivating story of Horse Girl, revealing Velma Bronn Johnston in a new light through family photos and journal entries never before published. Farley’s storytelling brings Johnston’s unwavering courage into the spotlight, revealing a woman determined to protect the wild mustang―no matter the cost.
Aidan’s Story
This beautiful young stallion was born wild on the range of South Steens, Oregon in 2014. Humans who first spotted him named him Aiden. As a youngster, Aiden roamed free with his family band. As he matured, he joined a group of other young stallions called a “bachelor band.” They galloped, jumped, spotted predators and fought mock battles.
-
- photo credit: Shannon Phifer
-
- photo credit: Timothy Spencer
With the skills he learned, Aiden rose to become the leader of his own family. In 2022, a round-up ended Aiden’s freedom. He was separated from his mare and foal, and passed from one adoptive human family to another. Each hoped a more skilled trainer could domesticate wild Aiden.
By early summer 2025, it was clear the stallion would never adapt to captive life. His last heartsore owner made the selfless decision to find a place where Aiden could race across the landscape. Now he lives at Windwalker Ridge Mustang Sanctuary.
There he was photographed by Timothy Spencer. In September 2026, Aiden shines on the cover of my new book!