Joseph Glen is the owner of the North-American Wildlife Park on Horse Reality. The gentle giant has dedicated his life to caring for wild Mustangs, but he may let you catch one of his fosterlings if you bring a ticket and some luck. He loves his work and cares greatly for his home and herd, though it can be tiresome. Now in his early 50s, he is ready for the next generation to learn and take over, which is why he may tell you about his life’s story if you are a good listener.
| Joseph Glen | |
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| Occupation | Owner of the North-American Wildlife Park |
| Age | Early 50s |
| Height | 198cm (6’6”) |
| Family Background | Lives with his life partner Leon in North America |
| Link | Here |
¶ Background
Back in the day, Joseph’s parents didn’t take long to realize that their adopted son was a gifted young boy. While other children played baseball, little 'Joey' was beneath a shade tree, reading as many books about nature and wildlife as he could get his hands on. When he wasn’t reading, he was trying to turn his postage-stamp-sized backyard in the suburban hills of Baltimore, Maryland into a tiny oasis for wildlife - much to the neighbours’ chagrin. His parents supported him as best as they could without ruffling the feathers of the homeowner’s association. Still, the city was no place for Joseph and he dreamed of wide-open plains and blue skies.
By the time he reached his teenage years, however, his life had grown more… complicated. Even with the love and support of his parents, 'coming out' was difficult. Times were different then and they worried about their son’s safety and future happiness. Shortly after Joseph graduated from high school, his parents asked to talk. Around the kitchen table, they shared their worries. Worries that Joseph himself mirrored: He was unsure what to do with his life or what direction to even go in. It was during that heartfelt talk that his parents honoured the wish of Joseph’s late birth mother - by giving Joseph the address of where she used to live.
The San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona - once known as Hell’s 40 Acres. The revelation shocked Joseph, but it gave him a new direction. With his parents backing him, he made his way across the country. When he arrived, he was met with people who looked like he did - something that he could never say back home in Maryland. The residents were skeptical of him at first, but when he revealed his reason for coming they welcomed him as one of their own. He knew in this instance that he had found his home.
Life there wasn’t easy, but over the years, Joseph found his place in the reservation. There was always something that needed to be done, so there was never a dull moment. He was content with his life and had no bigger plans, until one winter evening he happened to step out into the cold and right into the arms of his true calling. A wild Mustang - staring him down. He had never seen one of these feral horses so close, but somehow he knew right away it needed help. Very carefully, the young man approached the large Tobiano mare, and sure enough, a piece of barbed wire was wrapped around her heel. Though he feared she would nip him at any moment (or worse), Joseph freed her. The horse galloped away as soon as she felt the wire gone, but turned to take one last look at him before disappearing into the wild.
After that first encounter, Joseph found his home to be routinely visited by wild horses - all being led by the Mustang mare he helped. Some of the other residents of the reservation began to call him a 'horse magnet'. One elder, however, recognized that Joseph had formed a powerful bond with the wild horses. He encouraged the younger man to nurture that bond and see where it led him. It was advice Joseph took to heart and led to the formation of the Sonoran Wildlife Park. It encompassed much of the wild territory around the reservation, but with local government approval, spanned outside of it as well. Like his ancestors before him, he helped cultivate the land, so that it supported the horses and other wild creatures calling the desert area home. He always kept an eye on the herds, letting them remain wild and free, but intervening when necessary.
The elders of the reservation thought Joseph might be too good at taking care of the horses: Under his care, the herd sizes in their lands had quadrupled. Though he couldn’t be prouder that his work was making a difference, Joseph knew that wildlife was a delicate balancing act. For the sake of the herd, he needed to reduce their numbers. Special permits were granted to catch some of the wild horses - permits issued by Joseph himself based upon the actions of prospective caretakers of the Mustangs he protects. This was how he met his life partner Leon. Joseph was making camp with a group of Mustang-owning hopefuls, collecting brushwood for a fire… only for Leon to mistake his rustling in the brush for a horse hiding in the thicket. Fifteen years later and they still act like they’re on their honeymoon.
“It was love at first lasso.” - Joseph
“I didn’t catch a horse, but I did catch a stud of another kind.” - Leon
¶ Changelog
- Joseph's background story was chosen through a player writing contest on November 13th 2020[1][2]
¶ References
- https://v2.horsereality.com/news/29/closedjudging-writing-contest-whats-your-story-vol-i
- https://v2.horsereality.com/news/38/results-writing-contest-whats-your-story-vol-i