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The Horses They Couldn't Save | The Fall of the Appalachian Legacy Initiative with Erin “Feral Erin” O’Neil They were trying to protect horses. What they encountered was something far darker. In the mountains of Appalachia, the Appalachian Legacy Initiative set out to protect horses, their habitat, and a piece of Appalachian heritage that was rapidly disappearing. Then things began to go wrong. According to Erin O’Neil, known to many as Feral Erin, the people involved with ALI found themselves facing escalating threats and intimidation. There were allegations of arson, theft, threats, shootouts, and even snipers. Erin says the horses themselves became targets, while the people protecting them found themselves caught in a much larger battle involving ATV clubs, drug trafficking interests, and corrupt law enforcement. Eventually, Erin says she had no choice but to leave. ALI fell apart. The horses were left behind. And the story largely disappeared from public view. But what really happened? Why did an organization dedicated to protecting Appalachian horses become the target of so much hostility? Who wanted ALI gone? What happened to the horses they were fighting to protect? And what does Erin believe was really happening behind the scenes? In this episode of Behind the Horse’s Eye, Erin “Feral Erin” O’Neil sits down to tell her story—from the creation of the Appalachian Legacy Initiative to the events that ultimately forced her to walk away. This isn't just a story about horses. It's a story about land, power, corruption, violence, fear, and what happens when you stand between powerful interests and something they want. This is Erin's account of what happened. And once you hear it, you may never look at the Appalachian horse story the same way again. The episode contains allegations and firsthand accounts. Claims of criminal activity, corruption, and violence discussed in the episode are presented as allegations or personal accounts and have not necessarily been independently verified. Find Ryan on Tiktok @JRyanChastain Instagram @J_Ryan_Chastain Find Jayd on TikTok @jayd_raines Podcast Instagram @Behind_The_Horses_Eyes Broken Spoke Ranch Equine Transportation Facebook: Broken Spoke Ranch Email: [email protected] Ph: (520) 780-6900 Email us @ [email protected] Check out the other shows on the The Illiterate Podcast Network https://illiteratepodcastnetwork.com/ Support The Appalachian Legacy Initiative https://www.facebook.com/AppalachianLegacy/ Get a free audio book on me! www.audibletrial.com/Jryan www.herd-of-zebras.com and use the code JRyan for 10% off! Get all your Horse Daddy merch! https://mediocre-horseman-store.creator-spring.com

The boys are joined by the amazing Savannah Walker from the Florida Cracker Trail Association. If you are into trail riding, then this is the episode for you! www.floridacrackertrail.org Find Ryan on Tiktok @JRyanChastain Instagram @J_Ryan_Chastain Find Jayd on TikTok @jayd_raines Podcast Instagram @Behind_The_Horses_Eyes Broken Spoke Ranch Equine Transportation Facebook: Broken Spoke Ranch Email: [email protected] Ph: (520) 780-6900 Email us @ [email protected] Check out the other shows on the The Illiterate Podcast Network https://illiteratepodcastnetwork.com/ Support The Appalachian Legacy Initiative https://www.facebook.com/AppalachianLegacy/ Get a free audio book on me! www.audibletrial.com/Jryan www.herd-of-zebras.com and use the code JRyan for 10% off! Get all your Horse Daddy merch! https://mediocre-horseman-store.creator-spring.com

Its that time again when Ryan gives terrible take on the Derby, Find Ryan on Tiktok @JRyanChastain Instagram @J_Ryan_Chastain Find Jayd on TikTok @jayd_raines Podcast Instagram @Behind_The_Horses_Eyes Broken Spoke Ranch Equine Transportation Facebook: Broken Spoke Ranch Email: [email protected] Ph: (520) 780-6900 Email us @ [email protected] Check out the other shows on the The Illiterate Podcast Network https://illiteratepodcastnetwork.com/ Support The Appalachian Legacy Initiative https://www.facebook.com/AppalachianLegacy/ Get a free audio book on me! www.audibletrial.com/Jryan www.herd-of-zebras.com and use the code JRyan for 10% off! Get all your Horse Daddy merch! https://mediocre-horseman-store.creator-spring.com good thing he calls in an expert!

Jayd and Ryan discuss how humans ruin most events and the new equines in their lives! Find Ryan on Tiktok @JRyanChastain Instagram @J_Ryan_Chastain Find Jayd on TikTok @jayd_raines Podcast Instagram @Behind_The_Horses_Eyes Broken Spoke Ranch Equine Transportation Facebook: Broken Spoke Ranch Email: [email protected] Ph: (520) 780-6900 Email us @ [email protected] Check out the other shows on the The Illiterate Podcast Network https://illiteratepodcastnetwork.com/ Support The Appalachian Legacy Initiative https://www.facebook.com/AppalachianLegacy/ Get a free audio book on me! www.audibletrial.com/Jryan www.herd-of-zebras.com and use the code JRyan for 10% off! Get all your Horse Daddy merch! https://mediocre-horseman-store.creator-spring.com

Jayd and Ryan sit down to discuss a number of things from Racing, Sweet tea, skunk apes, and tobacco sick.. hang on because this one is a wild ride Find Ryan on Tiktok @JRyanChastain Instagram @J_Ryan_Chastain Find Jayd on TikTok @jayd_raines Podcast Instagram @Behind_The_Horses_Eyes Broken Spoke Ranch Equine Transportation Facebook: Broken Spoke Ranch Email: [email protected] Ph: (520) 780-6900 Email us @ [email protected] Check out the other shows on the The Illiterate Podcast Network https://illiteratepodcastnetwork.com/ Support The Appalachian Legacy Initiative https://www.facebook.com/AppalachianLegacy/ Get a free audio book on me! www.audibletrial.com/Jryan www.herd-of-zebras.com and use the code JRyan for 10% off! Get all your Horse Daddy merch! https://mediocre-horseman-store.creator-spring.com

episode 69... hehe Jayde and Ryan had two fun filled weekends between Road to the Horse and the Aiken Spring Steeplechase. Find Ryan on Tiktok @JRyanChastain Instagram @J_Ryan_Chastain Find Jayd on TikTok @jayd_raines Podcast Instagram @Behind_The_Horses_Eyes Broken Spoke Ranch Equine Transportation Facebook: Broken Spoke Ranch Email: [email protected] Ph: (520) 780-6900 Email us @ [email protected] Check out the other shows on the The Illiterate Podcast Network https://illiteratepodcastnetwork.com/ Support The Appalachian Legacy Initiative https://www.facebook.com/AppalachianLegacy/ Get a free audio book on me! www.audibletrial.com/Jryan www.herd-of-zebras.com and use the code JRyan for 10% off! Get all your Horse Daddy merch! https://mediocre-horseman-store.creator-spring.com

J Ryan dig in the ol' mail sack and answers listener questions. Find Ryan on Tiktok @JRyanChastain Instagram @J_Ryan_Chastain Find Jayd on TikTok @jayd_raines Podcast Instagram @Behind_The_Horses_Eyes Broken Spoke Ranch Equine Transportation Facebook: Broken Spoke Ranch Email: [email protected] Ph: (520) 780-6900 Email us @ [email protected] Check out the other shows on the The Illiterate Podcast Network https://illiteratepodcastnetwork.com/ Support The Appalachian Legacy Initiative https://www.facebook.com/AppalachianLegacy/ Get a free audio book on me! www.audibletrial.com/Jryan www.herd-of-zebras.com and use the code JRyan for 10% off! Get all your Horse Daddy merch! https://mediocre-horseman-store.creator-spring.com

It’s no secret that Jayd and Ryan are massive fans of Lonesome Dove — so with the passing of the legendary Robert Duvall, we figured there’s no better time to tip our hats and take a look at the rest of his incredible body of work. Most folks know him as the trail-weary, iron-willed Captain Augustus “Gus” McCrae, but Duvall’s career stretches far beyond the plains of Texas. From his quiet, haunting performance as Tom Hagen in The Godfather to the grizzled Marine helicopter commander in Apocalypse Now (who famously enjoyed the smell of napalm in the morning), Duvall built a career out of playing men who could command a room with nothing more than a look and a well-timed pause. And then there’s The Apostle, where he stepped into the boots of a fiery Southern preacher — proving he could deliver a sermon just as convincingly as he could deliver a cavalry charge. Whether he was a rancher, a consigliere, a soldier, or a preacher, Duvall had a knack for portraying characters who felt lived-in, flawed, and deeply human. To help us sort through the highlights — and probably argue about which role truly stands tallest — the boys are joined by two of their good friends, John and Quinton. Together, they’ll revisit some classic performances, share a few behind-the-scenes stories, and, if we’re being honest, attempt at least one questionable impression. Saddle up. It’s less of a formal film study and more of a campfire conversation — just with better lighting and (hopefully) fewer mosquitoes. Find Ryan on Tiktok @JRyanChastain Instagram @J_Ryan_Chastain Find Jayd on TikTok @jayd_raines Podcast Instagram @Behind_The_Horses_Eyes Broken Spoke Ranch Equine Transportation Facebook: Broken Spoke Ranch Email: [email protected] Ph: (520) 780-6900 Email us @ [email protected] Check out the other shows on the The Illiterate Podcast Network https://illiteratepodcastnetwork.com/ Support The Appalachian Legacy Initiative https://www.facebook.com/AppalachianLegacy/ Get a free audio book on me! www.audibletrial.com/Jryan www.herd-of-zebras.com and use the code JRyan for 10% off! Get all your Horse Daddy merch! https://mediocre-horseman-store.creator-spring.com

Just an update on things! No one panic

The people asked and we delivered! The Trail Twats sit down with J Ryan and Jayd to talk all things t**t. From their inception to building a t**t army across the country this is an episode you dont want to miss! Find the Trail Twats everywhere @TrailTwats Find Ryan on Tiktok @JRyanChastain Instagram @J_Ryan_Chastain Find Jayd on TikTok @jayd_raines Podcast Instagram @Behind_The_Horses_Eyes Broken Spoke Ranch Equine Transportation Facebook: Broken Spoke Ranch Email: [email protected] Ph: (520) 780-6900 Email us @ [email protected] Check out the other shows on the The Illiterate Podcast Network https://illiteratepodcastnetwork.com/ Support The Appalachian Legacy Initiative https://www.facebook.com/AppalachianLegacy/ Get a free audio book on me! www.audibletrial.com/Jryan www.herd-of-zebras.com and use the code JRyan for 10% off! Get all your Horse Daddy merch! https://mediocre-horseman-store.creator-spring.com

If you’ve ever seen a post screaming “TRUCK LEAVES TOMORROW—LAST CHANCE—NEED $4,000”… stop and listen. In this episode, Ryan and Jayd pull the curtain back on kill-pen “rescue” fundraising—how it works, why it spreads, and how good people with good hearts get fleeced. We’re not here to shame anyone for caring—we’re here to help you spot the con before you donate your rent money to someone selling dopamine for clicks. We give you the red flags, the questions to ask, and the hard truth: sometimes the “rescue” doesn’t save anything… it just keeps the machine running. Find Ryan on Tiktok @JRyanChastain Instagram @J_Ryan_Chastain Find Jayd on TikTok @jayd_raines Podcast Instagram @Behind_The_Horses_Eyes Broken Spoke Ranch Equine Transportation Facebook: Broken Spoke Ranch Email: [email protected] Ph: (520) 780-6900 E mail us @ [email protected] Check out the other shows on the The Illiterate Podcast Network https://illiteratepodcastnetwork.com/ Support The Appalachian Legacy Initiative https://www.facebook.com/AppalachianLegacy/ Get a free audio book on me! www.audibletrial.com/Jryan www.herd-of-zebras.com and use the code JRyan for 10% off! Get all your Horse Daddy merch! https://mediocre-horseman-store.creator-spring.com

Annie (Invitedinred on her social media accounts) is known for her lovable yet dopey gelding Taz. Annie and J Ryan have followed each other for years, so this episode was a great opportunity for them to not only talk horses but how social media is changing the industry, ethical breeding, and the hijinks of horses. Find Ryan on Tiktok @JRyanChastain Instagram @J_Ryan_Chastain Find Jayd on TikTok @jayd_raines Podcast Instagram @Behind_The_Horses_Eyes Broken Spoke Ranch Equine Transportation Facebook: Broken Spoke Ranch Email: [email protected] Ph: (520) 780-6900 Email us @ [email protected] Check out the other shows on the The Illiterate Podcast Network https://illiteratepodcastnetwork.com/ Support The Appalachian Legacy Initiative https://www.facebook.com/AppalachianLegacy/ Get a free audio book on me! www.audibletrial.com/Jryan www.herd-of-zebras.com and use the code JRyan for 10% off! Get all your Horse Daddy merch! https://mediocre-horseman-store.creator-spring.com

It's been a while since Jayd and I sat down and oh boy what a doozy of a conversation this is! From the fact your horse probably doesn't love you to Val Kilmer and even bourbon vs rye. Find Ryan on Tiktok @JRyanChastain Instagram @J_Ryan_Chastain Find Jayd on TikTok @jayd_raines Podcast Instagram @Behind_The_Horses_Eyes Email us @ [email protected] Check out the other shows on the The Illiterate Podcast Network https://illiteratepodcastnetwork.com/ Support The Appalachian Legacy Initiative https://www.facebook.com/AppalachianLegacy/ Get a free audio book on me! www.audibletrial.com/Jryan www.herd-of-zebras.com and use the code JRyan for 10% off! Get all your Horse Daddy merch! https://mediocre-horseman-store.creator-spring.com

Ryan and Jayd are joined by Nathan Klein of the University of Arizona's Racetrack Industry Program to handicap the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby! Gabby Goldenbogen of Prevail Equestrian comes by and pushes her connection to the max. you can find Nathan over on YouTube and TikTok as Sketchy The Horse Guy Find Ryan on Tiktok @JRyanChastain Instagram @J_Ryan_Chastain Find Jayd on TikTok @jayd_raines Podcast Instagram @Behind_The_Horses_Eyes Email us @ [email protected] Check out the other shows on the The Illiterate Podcast Network https://illiteratepodcastnetwork.com/ Support The Appalachian Legacy Initiative https://www.facebook.com/AppalachianLegacy/ Get a free audio book on me! www.audibletrial.com/Jryan www.herd-of-zebras.com and use the code JRyan for 10% off! Get all your Horse Daddy merch! https://mediocre-horseman-store.creator-spring.com

Jayd flies solo with his good friend Bryan...apparently there's a toilet involved! No intro or outro this week as we are revamping the whole show! Find Ryan on Tiktok @JRyanChastain Instagram @J_Ryan_Chastain Find Jayd on TikTok @jayd_raines Podcast Instagram @Behind_The_Horses_Eyes Email us @ [email protected] Check out the other shows on the The Illiterate Podcast Network https://illiteratepodcastnetwork.com/ Support The Appalachian Legacy Initiative https://www.facebook.com/AppalachianLegacy/ Get a free audio book on me! www.audibletrial.com/Jryan www.herd-of-zebras.com and use the code JRyan for 10% off! Get all your Horse Daddy merch! https://mediocre-horseman-store.creator-spring.com