Mustang Kodak Moments

These are photos of 16-year old Victoria on mustang "Kahuna"  during our training ride on this gorgeous afternoon.    Victoria, a 16 year-old expert rider,  has been helping with the mustangs' education since August. 

She has been riding Kahuna bareback on training rides on trails for the past month and that is a huge testament to both the horse and rider.   

The bay Thoroughbred is the official escort for young mustangs on the trails. 

New Mexico Mustang & Burro Association mustangs all wear a  variety of hats, coats and sometimes even costumes as part of their Transition Training(R). And they are used to people doing the same. So Kahuna is at ease in varied surroundings and is a calming influence on other horses.

Read what Victoria has to say about mustangs and today's youth --

“For the past four months, I have helped train these mustangs to help them gain experience as saddle horses. They have impressed me even more with each training session. We took our time so that they would not feel rushed, and continued to gain their confidence through basic work before we progressed to riding. The mustangs’ level of intelligence was more and more obvious to me. But what was more, their patience and their level of understanding was greater than I had seen in any other horse.  The mustangs impressed me with their stable and calm personality.

 

Today’s youth have lost a connection to the earth and the animals which inhabit it, because they are too caught up in the next generation of computers, i-pods or video games. I am so lucky to be able to work with mustangs and I hope to continue to do so. However, it saddens me to think of other children who do not have access to these truly wonderful horses.

 

Just a few weeks ago, my father and I pulled our horse trailer into the Valles Caldera National Preserve.  When we stopped, we opened up the windows of the trailer and let the horses hang their heads out. Within a few minutes, a father with his three young children came over to see the horses. I happily let the children pet the horses and answered questions about them. The lack of knowledge that these children had, not only about the horses, but also animals in general, astounded and frightened me. They had no idea what the horses were eating or why the horses were eating hay with their mouths or why it was “messy”!

 

These children were, in my opinion, underprivileged. I do not mean by today’s modern standards, but rather, because they did not know what to make of animals.   To be raised without knowledge of nature or animals, to me, is heresy  -- pure heresy. How can we expect future generations to protect our environment if the have no knowledge of it? The less one knows about something the more one fears it.  If one fears something, one cannot respect it and if this vicious cycle continues, the human race’s disrespect for animals and the environment will continue and go unnoticed.”

DONATE TO New Mexico Mustang & Burro Association TODAY!

HELP US CONTINUE OUR IMPORTANT WORK AND LEADERSHIP 

ON BEHALF OF WILD HORSES AND YOUTH. 
NMMBA has had NATIONAL IMPACT in improving conditions for wild equines! 

    changing BLM policies on wild horse management

    correcting misinformation about wild horses

    promoting compassionate and safe training methods

    modeling wild horse education programs

    demonstrating how wild horses can help our youth . . . and more. 

. . .  With your help, we can show America how to bring those horses back into our lives,  revitalize schools and and our economy, and help our youth. 

Please donate now!

New Mexico Mustang & Burro Association 

is the New Mexico chapter of the 

American Mustang & Burro Association, 

a 501 c-3 organization. 

Our non profit tax ID is: FEIN 74-2382575

Your donation is fully tax deductible.
Send your check to New Mexico Mustang & Burro Association today!

New Mexico Mustang & Burro Association
2323 Casa Rufina Road # 301
Santa Fe, NM 87507

MUSTANGS CAN TEACH LIFE LESSONS

As the first state to create a park preserve for wild equines, New Mexico models responsible stewardship of a species that is fast going the way of the wolf and the bison, lost forever from our public lands. We can ill afford to loose another species and pay later to preserve the last few living specimens.

As a former teacher and therapeutic riding instructor who is hands on with mustangs, I see the park sanctuary as an opportunity to boost New Mexico’s educational system, economy, environment and set new standards for wild horse management. Mustangs have collaborated throughout history, pulling wagons and plows, carrying little girls in pretty dresses, and ensuring our survival. Drama photos of herds madly running and stallions fighting are a stereotypic misrepresentation.

We all stand to benefit by embracing a renewed collaboration with mustangs. Trained equines at the park can help at-risk youth replace violence with respectful communication, help special needs children improve physical strength and coordination, and provide support for combat veterans returning form Iraq and Afghanistan as they re-integrate into society.

Mustangs are similar to Chincoteague Ponies, a protected herd that lives on a sandy barrier island just off the Virginia/Maryland coast. Managed respectfully for over seventy years, Chincoteague ponies live as wild horses, but are calm and gentle around humans. Prized as mounts and companions for children, women and families, they attract over 100,00 tourists annually and support the local economy.

Buffalo graze on the plains in Custer State Park, South Dakota, attract tourists from all over the world. Like buffalo, wild horses roam and forage rather than stand in one area to graze, as do domestic livestock. With a climate similar to ours, the Custer grasslands benefit from constantly moving buffalo that nourish the plains. We can expect this tourism, ecosystem and land restoration benefit from wild horses at the Cerrillos Hills State Park.

As a model for environmental education, the park sanctuary will prepare the next generation as stewards for our world. Motivating students for whom textbooks, computers, and technology-based learning are ineffective will provide awareness, understanding and insight into the natural world. Science, reading, math and other subjects will become more relevant to our youth.

A wild horse sanctuary will enhance our economy, protect our environment, and help New Mexico step forward in social responsibility. America did nothing as millions of buffalo millions and wild horses were slaughtered in the last century. The buffalo are extinct in the wild. As wolves become extinct, we did nothing. Now we have postage stamps saying “Save a Lobo.” America did nothing when native people were culturally decimated and driven off their lands. We were afraid of wolves, of bison, and of people different from ourselves. We are similarly misinformed and frightened of wild equines.

Ignorance and fear are our worst enemies. At the Park Sanctuary, we will learn about the natural world and its inhabitants, participate in peaceful, solution-based management that is considerate of other species, and learn how we all benefit from responsible stewardship of our environment.

The park expansion is a brilliant plan for green industry to revitalize our economy, a resource to enhance education, an ecosystem management model for our youth and an innovative plan to protect our pristine landscape. Under Governor Richardson’s visionary leadership, the Department of Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources has given New Mexico an unprecedented opportunity to renew our state and lead the world. We can and we must begin a new page in history based on sustainability, peace and a renewed commitment to compassionate stewardship of natural world and all its magnificent inhabitants.

Alicia Nation, volunteer executive director
New Mexico Mustang & Burro Association

Alicia Nation is a resident of Santa Fe. A former public school teacher, equine assisted therapy facilitator and therapeutic riding instructor, she is founder and volunteer executive director of the New Mexico Mustang & Burro Association (NMMBA). NMMBA, a non-profit organization, collaborates to create sustainable and compassionate solutions for wild equine management.

NMMBA'S MUSTANG AMBASSADORS: Calypso & Kahuna

Calypso and Kahuna made a weekend long appearance at the Hammers & Hooves Horse expo in Edgewood, NM, in mid June, to the delight of hundreds of visitors. Little children seemed particularly fascinated with visiting the mustangs, who were corralled along the main walkway. Both Calypso and Kahuna were perfect gentlemen with the many children who reached out to touch, photograph and visit during the weekend.

Both horses participated in a Transition Training demon on Sunday and we, at NMMBA, could not be more proud of our Mustang Ambassadors.

NMMBA Board of Directors 2012

Alicia Nation, M.S. Ed., Executive Director
nmmustangs@gmail.com
505. 466. 3240
Founder, Executive Director

Gary Barone
President
nmmustangs@gmail.com
505. 466.3240
Gary brings 15 years experience in fiscal management of grants environmental management, a keen interest in wildlife and desire to create a better world for our coming generations.

Cathy Todd, DC
Vice President
505 660-3088
Cathy's experiwnce as a network chiropractor and her innovative work in wellness and animal chiropractic, provide NMMBA's mustangs and mustangs ambassadors with unique physical and emotional support.

Sharon MItcheletti
Treasurer
505. 466-3240
Certified Public Accountant, Sharon brings career experience in corporate and non profit book keeping.


Nick Miller
Secretary
505 466-3240
Nick is secretary for the organization, serves as volunteer coordinator and barn manager for day to day equine operations.



Pamela Ennis
Director At Large
505 466-3240

Veterinary Advisor to the Board of Directors




Dr. Michael Callahan, DVM,
Equine Veterinarian and wild horse specialist, Dr. Callahan has extensive experience working with mustangs. "Doc" Callahan will participate as a non voting member of our Board of Directors, to assure that strategic planning for herd management is supported medically and Doc will, as necessary, provide veterinary care for the sanctuary horses.

Board of Advisors

Dr. Stuart McCall, DVM
Equine Veterinarian

Kirsten Henry
Level 3 Tellington Touch Trainer, Kirsten is a specialist in equine behavior, training and management. Kirsten has been
trainer with the T-Touch organization since 1989.


Lindsay Robinson, BSEE
nmmustangs@gmail.com
505 466-3240
Lindsay's career and interests have taken from working on NASA space teams to working on the set of movies. As a corporate trainer and mediator, and specialist in learning systems, Lindsay brings a wide range of skills and resources to NMMBA.

Sgt. Andy Brandi, USMC
Sgt.Brandi is an internationally known specialist in combat trauma, author, and consultant to the US Government on PTSD remediation. Sgt. Brandi has been active in educating the public and establishing resources to help returning combat veterans re-integrate into society.

Kahuna Goes to the T-TEAM School of Higher Learning

In early July, our little Munch King graduated to a new name, better fitting his greatness.
Kahuna, our classic Spanish Barb type mustang has compact, beautiful conformation, refined features and wonderful temperament. He now has a top quality education, after attending a week-long workshop with Linda Tellington Jones and a host of wonderful horsewomen and their mounts.

Linda Tellington had positive things to say about our work with Kahuna.
"I was very impressed with the foundation you have given Kahuna in preparation for mounting. . . .for me it is important to give mustangs the respect they deserve for what they have learned as wild horses. it is my experience that when mustangs are shown respect by recognizing their individuality (and of course this goes for all horses) and appreciation for their intelligence, they reciprocate with a depth of human/horse connection that can be indescribably rewarding. I honor you for the respect you show with these wonderful horses."


Kahuna and the other horses completed obstacle courses as part of ground work training and he was an excellent model of composure when, while we were ground driving him, an 18HH warmblood became excited about the new environment and prepared to bolt -- bolt big! Kahuna, a few feet away, paused, kept his confident composure and helped steady the big guy. We all went on with our lessons.

Following the workshop, Kahuna is now under saddle and with the assistance of Victoria Lustig, a local area teen and excellent young horsewoman, is happy to be out on trails. He is even tempered and confident. His progress is so promising that we plan to keep Kahuna for our equine assisted therapy programs and as a trail horse at the Sanctuary.

Swimming with Dolphins & Standing Among Wild Horses

A transcendent feeling that is beyond words brings people to tropical waters to be in the presence of dolphins, and whales. They exude something intangible, wordless, and indelible.


This is the magical, mystical experience of being among a herd of wild horses. They are gracious, sweet, loving and eager to be friends.

Standing in a herd of untrained mustangs, discovering their kind and willing nature, and leaving behind false impressions and fears that wild horses should be avoided, is a life changing experience. By special arrangement with the BLM, New Mexico Mustang & Burro Association's photographer Jay Fishback, was permitted to bring cameras to the Canon City Facility as part of a photo documentary on the NMMBA Transitioning Training program. I snapped these photos of curious 2-5 year olds who captured Jay's attention while he was trying to photograph me!

At an one of several visits to a Canon City Colorado Facility, I could have easily selected 300 willing, gentle mustangs suitable for transition training and adoption, from weanlings to ten year olds. This is largely to the credit of the Canon City facility manager, who has a "way with horses" that helps the wild horses relax and relate to people.

If the idea of a wild horse intrigues you, but you would like to feel a bit more secure about adopting, there are halter trained horses available in the Wild Horse Inmate Program. The kindness, beauty, gentleness, curiosity and sheer numbers of wild equines awaiting adoption motivated the formation of NMMBA. Horses like the ones in these photographs are ready, willing and available to become your next equine partner. NMMBA provides support, education, training for horse and adopter, and information to help you select the right horse for your lifelong best friend. Join NMMBA on our visits to the BLM facilities. Before you go, take the time to fill out an adoption application. You can do this by fax and the application process is free.

That way, when fall in love and want to claim you match made in heaven,



you won't need to look for a Justice of the Peace to seal the deal!

Hug A Mustang Day: 4 H Youth meet NMMBA's Mustang Ambassadors

The Northern Stars 4 H Group gathered at Shaking Wind Ranch in October 2009 -- just five months after our wild horses arrived from Colorado, to meet our official Mustang Ambassadors!

The young people had a first hand opportunity to meet and greet, groom and pick up feet, and discover how kind and gentle
mustangs can be.


4 H Group leader, and New Mexico Mustang & Burro Association board member, Anne Martinez, coordinated the youth and parents for the afternoon's event. Anne captured the horses and kids on camera at perfectly charmed moments.

Both mustangs shown here with the kids are aproximately 5 years old and were adopted from the same Colorado Facility, arriving here in Santa Fe in early May. Like may young people and adults, may of the children were under a false impression that wild horse are mean.


Not any more! Our wild horse ambassadors were perfect gentlemen!

Contact us to arrange a Hug A Mustang visit!