Wild Horses Drive Jenni Kayne’s Los Angeles Luncheon

The alfresco gathering of equestrians and supporters benefited the American Wild Horse Campaign

Words by ELIZABETH VARNELL

Jenni Kayne. Photo by Amanda Sanford.

Jenni Kayne and Stacey Kubasak Goschin gathered friends and equestrians for an outdoor luncheon set in Kayne’s Los Angeles backyard, steps from the barn housing her rescue animals, to benefit the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) on Wednesday, April 12. “It feels like the perfect setting for a bunch of animal lovers to gather,” Kayne said. Along with her daughter, Ripley, Kayne discovered the nonprofit — which has a conservation mission to reform roundups of wild horses and burros on public land and ensure the future of the free-roaming animals and their families — on social media. Kubasak Goschin and Kayne gathered guests, including Zoey Deutch, Nikki Reed, Julianne Hough, Nikki Pennie, and Jessica Rose Lee Welling, to learn about the horses’ struggles and celebrate their beauty.

“They’re doing such amazing work,” Kayne said of the organization, which works via grassroots mobilization, legal action, legislation, and in-the-wild management with a humane fertility control program. “Last summer we went out to the range by our home in Lake Tahoe with [a member of] the AWHC team and we were 10 feet from the horses,” she added. “It was magical and we learned so much.” The eponymously named lifestyle brand founder selected fresh florals and décor incorporating wild flowers and plants for the luncheon, and Gjusta created a menu of brunch staples including salads made with falafel; kale, fennel, or little gem lettuce; and spreads, dips, and flatbreads. Cocktails and other beverages were served from The Double Shot’s vintage trailer–themed mobile bar, and Dunstan wines were sourced from Sonoma’s Durell Vineyard.

Proceeds from the gathering will aid AWHC’s legal fight in Wyoming, where eradication campaigns have put wild horse herds at risk. “And we raised $60K!” said Kayne, who added that she’s drawn to the cause, “not only because I love animals, but also because these horses are icons of the West and they need a voice.”