EMA IMPACT Spotlight with Sosie Bacon: Preserving America's Wild Horses and Burros
A wild horse roaming the American West is an image as American as apple pie. Such an image represents the beauty of wild things. Sadly, habitat loss, overpopulation, and climate change exacerbate resource scarcity and jeopardize America's wild horses. Thankfully, organizations such as Return to Freedom work hard to ensure a future with wild horses and burros. Return to Freedom is dedicated to preserving America's wild horses and burros' freedom, diversity, and habitat through sanctuary, education, advocacy, and conservation while enriching the human spirit through direct experience with the natural world.
We spoke with wild horse advocate and actor Sosie Bacon, who will discuss her passion for horses and the environment on Return to Freedom's upcoming EMA IMPACT Summit panel.
First, we are thrilled to have you on our wild horse conservation panel at our upcoming EMA IMPACT Summit! Can you tell us about your association with Return to Freedom?
I met Neda through a friend of my husband's, and right away, we realized how deeply our values around horses aligned. I've been working with Carolyn Resnick, whose liberty training transformed how I see horses—and Carolyn was one of Neda's first mentors. That connection felt so full circle. What Neda has created with Return to Freedom moves me deeply—the way she protects wild horses, honors their bonds, and fights for their freedom is everything I believe in. I found Carolyn because I believed horses should be free to make their own choice in working with humans, and now I get to work with both of these women. I'm beyond grateful and honestly a little in awe to learn from her and get the chance to be part of her mission.
Why is protecting North America's wild horses and burros essential?
Protecting wild horses and burros is pioneering a more holistic, sustainable land and animal stewardship approach. Preserving genetic diversity, respecting wild behaviors, and advocating for minimally intrusive management fosters regenerative agriculture, restoring balance, resilience, and long-term health to our shared ecosystems. RTF is a large part of what our future could look like on BLM—a future that would mutually benefit humans and animals.
Is sustainability and wildlife advocacy something you grew up with or a passion you found later in life?
I was born on a farm in northwest Connecticut, where we always had horses, dogs, and cats. How my family approached animals, and the environment shaped how I relate to both today. We treated animals with deep respect and saw them as companions, not property—and treated the land the same way.
My mom hasn't used a plastic water bottle since 1990 and has always been a fierce advocate for the environment. During COVID, my dad rescued a handful of barn animals and now jokingly calls his place "the animal spa." That kind of love and reverence for animals—and the earth—has always been at the center of my life, and it's something I carry with me in everything I do.
What do you hope to gain from participating in IMPACT this year?
I hope to gain education for myself and help bring it to others. I'm looking for opportunities that lead to real action. I especially want to understand how we can extend this education to the communities most affected by our environmental crisis—those living in lower-income areas with limited access to healthy food and greater exposure to environmental health risks.
It's not enough for people with privilege to gather and talk about what's happening—we have to take meaningful steps to bring awareness, resources, and change to the rest of the population. That's where the real impact lies.
See Sosie and many other brilliant speakers at our upcoming EMA IMPACT Summit. Get your passes here.
Interview by EMA Director of Marketing Jay Jasinski.