Terri with Hoku, a young horse she met in Hawaii.

On Course to Save Horses

As the author of the Phantom Stallion and Wild Horse Island series, Terri Farley has penned more than 30 books—with more on the way! The Phantom Stallion books follow the adventures of Samantha Forster and a mysterious silver stallion known as the Phantom.

It wasn't until after she wrote about her fictional Phantom Stallion that Farley learned about a real Phantom Stallion. Farley took a few minutes to tell us about both, and why wild horses need your help today.

KIND News: Where did you get the idea for the Phantom Stallion series?

Terri Farley: I've loved reading—and animals—as long as I can remember. When I was a little girl, my mother gave me her old electric typewriter. I started writing a story about a wild pinto stallion, and I've never really stopped.

I was also inspired by Nevada's Black Rock Desert, where I once saw a wild white horse alone in a canyon. That planted the seed of Phantom's story in my imagination.

KN: Tell us about the real-life Phantom.

TF: People who lived near his wild horse territory called him the Phantom, just like the stallion in my books. They thought I knew about him...but I didn't! I had to go to prison to meet him.

The government captured Phantom and his family and brought them to the Nevada State Prison. The prison matches inmates with mustangs for a training program that benefits both the men and the horses.

It was barely dawn when I arrived at the prison to meet Phantom. He and his family were in a corral. He watched me over the heads of his family. There was a warning in his eyes, along with curiosity. I was a stranger to him, even though I didn't feel like one.

Today, the Phantom and his family live at the Wild Horse Sanctuary in Shingletown, California. There, on 5,000 acres of fenced-in land, he and other wild horses can roam safe and free.

KN: What are some of the problems facing wild horses today?

TF: Wild horses are being captured by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the government agency responsible for protecting wild horses. A lucky few, like the Phantom, go to sanctuaries or are adopted. But most of them end up permanently kept in BLM holding centers. There are now tens of thousands of horses being held. Because their care is so expensive, the BLM may start killing them. These horses deserve better.

KN: What do you do to help wild horses?

TF: I try to educate people about wild horse issues. I've worked with The Humane Society of the United States and met with Senator Harry Reid. I presented him with more than 1,000 letters sent to me by readers all over the world, asking Congress to protect wild horses.

KN: What can kids do to help?

TF: A lot! Kids can write to their lawmakers and ask them to support laws that protect wild horses. As a child, I was part of the letter-writing campaign that prompted the 1971 law to protect wild horses. People from all over the world, especially children, were responsible for making the government pass the Wild and Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act. It can certainly happen again!

KN: Tell us about the animals in your life.

TF: I have a peppy rescue dog named Zito (rhymes with Cheeto). She looks like a half-size golden retriever, but she’s probably a mix. My cat Sherlock is a gray tabby. When I open the cupboard for his treats, he’ll stand on his hind legs and walk toward me!

I also have the great fortune to help care for three horses who live next door—Shamrock, Darlin’, and Whiskey.