Welcome to the Cloud Blog! Filmmaker Ginger Kathrens is currently filming the third program in her Cloud series for NATURE. The newest Cloud program, Cloud: Challenge of the Stallions, will premiere Sunday, October 25, 2009.
Until then, check back here for the latest updates from behind the scenes, as Kathrens reports from the mountains of Montana about her ongoing experiences with Cloud and his band.
The Cloud Blog has been featured on the PBS Engage Blog. The Engage Blog explores new connections between people, culture, and technology.
Filmmaker Ginger Kathrens |
About Ginger Kathrens
Producer/Director/Writer/Editor/Cinematographer
Ginger is an Emmy award-winning producer, cinematographer, writer, and editor. Her documentary filmmaking trips have taken her to locations around the world and all over the U.S. Since his birth in 1995, Ginger has filmed and documented a pale wild stallion in Montana, who she named Cloud. Currently airing on Thirteen/WNET New York’s NATURE series are her two documentaries: Cloud: Wild Stallion of the Rockies and Cloud’s Legacy: The Wild Stallion Returns. She has written two award-winning books about Cloud. Ginger’s revealing journey with wild horses has been compared to Jane Goodall’s experiences with chimpanzees. Her documentation of Cloud represents the only continuing chronicle of a wild animal from birth in our hemisphere.
Ginger is the founder and Executive Director of The Cloud Foundation, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to the preservation of wild horses on our public lands with special attention on isolated, historically significant and genetically unique herds like Cloud’s. She is an informed, impassioned, and entertaining speaker on behalf of wild horses.
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i love cloud he is a perfect horse and i just love sitku and her son flint he grow up to be daring just like his farther!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After the end of last night’s show, I tried to get online, but the chat was so full, it wouldn’t let me in. The news about the BLM capturing the wild horses had really upset me. I’ve felt like there’s a lump in my gut all day. I’ve written my senators and friends and family. What more can we do?
what happened to cloud afterr the fact he was caught because i have been crieing and dieng to know please tell me
The need and greed of a few will determine the survival of these magnificent horses. The horses and predators are national treasures. The government’s “management” of these lands and inhabitants has a long history of failure. Will we ever learn? Ask the bison, bear, wolves etc. about our conservation policies? Tampering with any species in this natural environment, will have long and far reaching effects we can’t begin to imagine. Most importantly to the livestock ranchers, the horses are a food source for the top predators. No horses equals predation on livestock. I guess then, we slaughter the cougars, bears, wolves. Oops, haven’t we already done that once. Now, were paying to reintroduce these animals. The difference for the horses, they are herd animals. The horse’s genetic viability will be destroyed under current practice. This alone will destroy a species. However, that’s not good enough. Let’s capture, injure and mame the horses first. They are relatively cheap to adopt by anyone. A well meaning novice adopts a wild horse. They are unaware of the cost involved in keeping any horse. Let alone a wild one, who requires gentle training and conditioning into a strange enviroment. Thus a cycle of abuse/neglect ensues until the animal is sold at auction. Here horses are purchased for slaughter in other countries. Believe it or not, I’m beginning to think shooting the horses out of helicopters was more humane. If we as country are going to kill these wonderful animals, at least make it quick. For every one adoption success there are probably 10 failures. Write your congressmen, senators, and the president. The voice of many cannot be ignored. These animals should remain free and untouched by all of “good intentions”.
When I saw the first Cloud movie, I was amazed! Then the second, so fantastic! & now,
the emotional and epic third film. I thank Ginger for her unbelievable dedication to Cloud’s
story and to the story of all wild horses in America. I have a horse in Tennessee and grew up around them. I love horses, their spirits,
their personalities, grace, wisdom and strength. I almost fell on the floor Sunday night to learn of the round-up and the separation of Cloud’s beautiful family. I cried like a river. HOW? WHAT? WHY? With so many problems in this country, these people take time and force to steal horses from the wilderness? for what money??? are you kidding me? Those horses don’t belong to them! They belong only to the earth itself! This has broken my heart. This makes me want to lay on the
ground and weep and wail forever. They destroyed all that Cloud and every wild horse lived to fight for! They starve through the winter
storms, lose babies to mountain lions and constantly battle with each other yet they were surviving without any human contact, without
causing any damage to the earth, a part of the food chain, a perfect part of nature. Domesticated, trained and cared for horses would never survive in the wild, especially in the Mountains. Wild horses are indeed a different breed all together. Without freedom, I fear for the survival of these horses and the unusual power and intelligence of their breed will become extinct. Whoever is buying these horses may or may not have any idea how to care for them. Tame them? put them in stalls? ride them? make them work? isolate them after their lives of being so free? This is animal cruelty! exploitation! inhumane and a horrible crime against the natural world! I didn’t know about the round-up and I truly can’t explain how much I wish I could have saved those horses. Cloud is an inspirational and majestic wild animal. I am totally devastated and hope to know someday what happened to him and his courageous family. Are there any wild horses left on the Mountain? Anywhere in America?
The Cloud series has fascinated me from the first. I have been a horsewoman for more years than I wish to admit, and I feel deeply that we are doing an unjustice to allow these wild horses to be rounded up and sold/auctioned/adopted just to satisfy someone’s greed. There is such a problem now in our country with domestic horses of all breeds that are homeless and unwanted by people who cannot afford to keep them any longer due to the economy. A lot of my friends have horses that are over 20 yrs old and now retired that need new homes. At least the wild horses know how to take care of themselves! It’s illegal to slaughter horses in the US now and the horses once killed in the US are now transported to Mexico or Canada where they are slaughtered and the meat is sold overseas. It’s unbearable to think of those poor horses being slaughter because simeone can’t feed them. Is the BLM going to transport these wild horses to slaughtering plants elsewhere? If they want to make money on horses, they should visit a few stockyards where all they have to do is pay a little money, load them up and haul them away. No expensive round ups, etc. of the wild horses. Leave the wild ones where they are – in the wild! Once they are gone, they will be forever gone. And then what do we tell our grandchildren when they ask what’s a mustang?
Mollie and others said everything I wanted to say. I would like to thank Ginger, Trace, PBS and everyone involved for a great series. I lived with horses and can’t find the words to say about their kindness and how intuitive they are. It’s obvious many of us watched and truly appreciated Cloud, his family and how they lived, died and managed to survive. I hope PBS can find a way to continue this story and help us find a happier ending. We were all so involved – this is painful.
I just watched an episode and it is by far the best horse shop EVER and EVERY horses-lover sould see it!!!!!!!!
Me & my children watched this show and enjoyed it VERY much. Thanks so much. We were all upset though that these animals are no longer wild. It is not fair that these beautiful horses and other animals cannot stay in their natural habits. Why do we have to control everything. It’s a big world. Just let the wild animals have their freedom.
I am amazed at the work you do Ginger. I wrote my senators today. How would you say we could make the biggest difference? What is most effective? Email? Letter? Call? I will send a donation as soon as I can. I try to support wildlife and domestic animals as I can. Have you always been in this work? How did you learn your trade? I love to take pictures but have never had a class in photography.
I love the wild horse and was able to visit the Pryor mountains in 1999. I have to wonder if the Black colt with the star down in the valley was related to Raven. That would make the colt/filly about 10 this year. I have some pictures but nothing very big. It was the best vacation of my life. Wyoming is beautiful.
To all who are concerned about Cloud and the others ~ Go here: http://www.thecloudfoundation.org/ You can keep up with all the news about the horses and learn what you can do.
Cloud is back free with what’s left of his family. He and some of his mares were injured, but they seem fine now. Although it would have been better to stay free, Clouds foals Rain, Ember and Image DO have wonderful new homes with people who know how to work with them, and love them very much. Ember and Image are together.
The older horses and their bands were saved by the Foundation and volunteers. They are free and together on a large ranch near their old range.
I want details on how to buy the whole cloud saga,thanks,Ben
No one is explaining what the motivation is for BLM in doing this. What is their goal? Clearly this is a sad and horrible incursion into our remaining wild country in the west. Please stop. But someone please explain why BLM is doing this.
I can’t believe that the government did that! Did they really have to take away more of nature. They already are destroying the national parks. Just stop, stop.
Hello Ginger! I’m 11 years old and ever since my mom bought me the two disc Cloud saga DVD years ago, he has become one of my very favorite horses. I have the Cloud’s legacy models made by Breyer, and I’ve memorized each story! Since I ride horses myself, I was very glad to hear what a wonderful job you did with Trace.
Tell Cloud Good Luck!!
~ Annie Keller
Two words for Gregory and everyone else who asks why the BLM has to interfere with the lives of these noble animals: Cattle interests.
our gov’t is too large to care about us or things of beauty like Cloud and other wild things. our gov’t representative remain in office so long they feel safe enough not to feel compelled to listen to we the people they were elected to serve. vote them all out of office in 2010. after a term or two in gov’t they become corrupt. the politicans must learn to fear us who elect them. i hope Cloud and his girls are safe.
I have been bothered by the way the BLM acts like they are employed by the ranchers, oil drillers, and loggers. When oil shale was discovered in Wyoming, the BLM rounded up the legitimate horses in the area so Big Oil could proceed.
Ben Barker – thecloudfoundation.org.
What will happen to Boulder and Cloud? We are in awe of your time with these groups. I wanted to Know if you were able to follow up on their development.
I love the cloud episodes I am 10 I love horses alot and someday want to actually see a wild musting in montana. PLEASE DONT STOP MAKING CLOUD SERIES
What is the status of Cloud today. In the last show we saw Cloud was rounded up but it didn’t say whether he was adopted or released. Please let me know.
Is it fun to search and find out acout Cloud and his group.
I watch the video’s you made of Cloud,Bolder and all the horse bands you have watched and wrote about I watch the videa’s over and over,I love horse,I always have since I was a small child,please let me know the statis on Cloud and Bolder and all the bands of horses,I pray the BLM will leave them alone and let them roam free all their lives.they deserve to run free,God made them to run free and if not to run free to be pets and be taken very special care of.they’re a very Beautiful animal to see and behold forever.I know if anyone knows about Cloud and all of them would be you,as you are a very caring person to search out these wonderful horses and check on them.I appreciate your work about these horses very much,so do please let me know how Cloud and Bolder and all of them are doing and whats become of them.
Is cloud still ALIVE someone PLEASE TELL ME!!!! I love the horses they are beautiful…..in my horse book it looks like a pic of clouds mate and her baby!
Clouds still alive right! I love the horses they are beautiful…..in my horse book it looks like a pic of clouds mate and her baby!
I love the horses they are beautiful…..in my horse book it looks like a pic of clouds mate and her baby!
GINGER HAS AGAIN OUTDONE HERSELF WITH HER 3RD WORK PREVIEWED IN OCT. 2009. SCENRY WAS SPECTACULAR BUT THE HORSES AND ACTUAL STORY EVEN MORE SO. THE EDUCATIONAL MESSAGE IS POIGNANT AND VERY APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES, STAGES, AND UNDERSTANDING OF LIFE. GINGER MUST HAVE GAINED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AS A RESULT OF THIS PRESENTATION ALONE. KUDOS ON THE LOVELY BOOK WHICH FOLLOWED, AND THE REMARKABLE EXPANDED SUPPORT BASE RESULTING FROM ALL THESE YEARS OF EFFORTS. PLEASE KEEP US POSTED ON THE STATUS OF CLOUD AND THE CURRENT PRYOR MTN. FAMILIES.
THANK YOU.
hello i´m katharina.
i come from Germany and i´ve seen all your videos.
i find it verry interesting and the natur and the horses are nice.. i like the rocky mountains and the animlas!
love greeting
Kathi
Hi,I am so thrilled with your video’s Ginger,they are so great to see Cloud and his band and all the bands on the mountains in Montana.How is Cloud,is he still the alfa male on the mountain.He,like his father Raven are such majestic beautiful Stallions,as so is Bolder.I could go on and on with the names of the foals that were born during the time you filmed these magnificent animals.the people need to ban the BLM ffrom rounding up any of the wild horses,they’re crueland mean to them.God intended for them to run free.the way they brand them and where is cruel.I hope one day we won’t hear anymore about BLM.the animals got along fie in the wild till man messed with them.
I and my son have watched the first show you did twice.Hope everything is going ok with the band. I can’t wait to see the new shows. Our horse a Tennesee Walker recently died. She was a rescue horse. Hope to have another friend come to live with us one day. Hope everything is ok with Cloud and his family and the other bands too.
hi, i have been watching the cloud series since they began and i am just wondering if you could tell me what has become of cloud…any updates?
I love sidcu, and of course Flint. Its really too bad that Flint turned on Cloud, because they’d always been so close. It makes me sad to see that the wild horses are being captured, I HATE to see those poor horses in corals, especially when Bolder was little and he was stiff, and foot sore. I LOVE your videos. I wish I could see Cloud. It’d be so great to see him and the band, running free in the Arrow Head Mountains. Bye!
Hey, can you tell me when it was the last time you saw Cloud? Where was he? Was he in good health? Was the band with him? Is he alive? Izzy