The Power of Words and Young Voices: Inside the Lost Horses Letter Writing Competition

In a world where digital activism and viral campaigns dominate conversation, a simple handwritten letter may seem like an unlikely tool for change. Yet for the Wild Beauty Foundation and its Lost Horses campaign, the act of writing to legislators carries profound weight. The Lost Horses letter writing competition gives young people across the United States a structured and meaningful way to raise their voices on behalf of horses facing export and slaughter. It also serves as a reminder of the enduring power of thoughtful and personal advocacy, particularly when paired with broader cultural and legislative work.

The initiative emerges from a troubling backdrop. Tens of thousands of American horses are exported annually across borders to Mexico and Canada, ultimately bound for slaughterhouses. Many of these horses were once beloved pets, competition partners, or companion animals. The trend has drawn increasing scrutiny from welfare advocates who see it as a symptom of systemic failures in the way society values and protects equines. In response, the Wild Beauty Foundation, founded by filmmaker Ashley Avis, has taken a direct and sustained approach to these issues through storytelling and policy engagement.

The Lost Horses campaign goes beyond raising awareness. It asks young citizens to engage directly with their elected representatives by composing letters that explain why they believe horses deserve protection and humane treatment. The competition provides resources, guidance, and a platform to ensure that students’ perspectives reach the halls of power with clarity and conviction. Details on how to enter can be found on their website.

Why Youth Voices Matter in Advocacy

At first glance, a letter writing competition may seem modest in scale. But the initiative taps into a powerful tradition in civic engagement. Letters to legislators, especially from young constituents, have historically influenced public policy and legislative priorities. Elected officials are accountable to the people they represent, and they pay close attention when that representation comes from the next generation of voters and advocates.

For many young participants, the competition also functions as an education in citizenship and social responsibility. It asks them to think critically about complex issues, articulate personal values in a public forum, and understand the mechanics of democratic engagement. Teachers and parents are encouraged to integrate the competition into classroom discussions or home conversations about animal welfare, ethics, and how lawmaking works.

The competition intersects closely with the Wild Beauty Foundation’s broader body of work. Ashley Avis, director behind the modern adaptation of the classic story of Black Beauty, and later through the critically acclaimed documentary Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West. These projects highlighted the emotional lives of horses and the threats facing wild populations, cultivating empathy and urgency among global audiences. Lost Horses continues this trajectory with a more direct emphasis on policy reform and legislative change.

One of the core strengths of the competition is its accessibility. Young people do not need prior experience with advocacy to participate. The foundation provides templates, examples, and talking points that help students structure their thoughts and make compelling arguments. Participants are encouraged to draw on personal experiences with horses, whether through riding, caretaking, or community involvement, adding emotional resonance to their letters.

The initiative also places strong emphasis on respectful and thoughtful communication. In an era where online discourse can quickly become hostile or sensational, the Lost Horses competition prioritizes sincerity, care, and clear expression. Competitors are encouraged to address legislators politely and support their viewpoints with facts and compassionate reasoning. This approach models a constructive form of engagement that young people can carry into other areas of civic life.

Beyond individual empowerment, the initiative plays a broader cultural role. It helps normalize the idea that horses are not merely commodities or aesthetic elements of sport and entertainment, but sentient beings with intrinsic worth. Public discussion around equine welfare has often been fragmented or confined to niche circles. By placing young voices at the center of advocacy, the competition amplifies perspectives that are too often overlooked.

The competition has already seen participation from students across the country, and educators report that it has sparked meaningful classroom discussions about ethics, law, and animal sentience. Many students express surprise at how seriously legislators respond to their letters, reinforcing the idea that individual engagement can matter. Some participants have gone on to testify at local hearings or organize follow up campaigns after witnessing the tangible impact of civic communication.

For the Wild Beauty Foundation, this initiative is part of a wider strategy to support legislative change, including advocacy around the SAFE Act, a bill aimed at ending the slaughter of horses for human consumption in the United States. By mobilizing young advocates now, the foundation seeks to cultivate long term supporters who will continue to champion equine welfare into adulthood.

Critics may question whether a letter writing competition can influence entrenched political systems or shift industry practices, but the value of the initiative extends beyond immediate outcomes. It teaches young people to think empathetically, understand policy mechanisms, and recognize their own agency in shaping public discourse. It plants the seeds of lifelong civic participation that may, over time, grow into meaningful reform.

In the final analysis, the Lost Horses letter writing competition is as much about personal development as it is about animal protection. It broadens young people’s understanding of citizenship, invites them into conversations about justice and compassion, and encourages them to speak for those who cannot. As society continues to wrestle with how to balance tradition, economics, and ethical responsibility, this kind of thoughtful engagement becomes not only valuable, but essential.

To learn more about the Lost Horses letter writing competition and how to enter, visit www.losthorses.org/letterwriting.