In January of 2010, NMMBA's proposal to the State of New Mexico, offered innovative community based services to engage wild equines in our community. Based on our experience and success with the Transition Training(R) process, we concluded that mustangs can partner with us to enhance education, eco-system management and provide therapeutic support for special needs adults and children. Our proposal went to NM Governor Richardson in January of 2010, received immediate interest, and we were asked to search for a location.
In mid September 2010, I was honored to be one of the guests at the Governor's Press conference, unveiling the 12,000 acre Cerrillos Hills State Park Expansion and Wild Horse Sanctuary that would have provided 6,000 acres for free roaming horses and a visitors center will host adoption and pre-adoption training for horse that can meet, greet and engage with people who might find their perfect equine partner at the Park Sanctuary plus 6,000 acres for recreational hiking and riding trails.
Although the purchase price was modest political and public comments, in a highly charged political climate, were unsupportive, although hardly representative of the wide scale support and the plan was scrapped in late December.
We are grateful for all the people who support sanctuary and for all those who are individually and collectively committed to ensuring safe, sustainable, and compassionate solutions for management of 32,000 wild equine currently in BLM corrals. We also honor those groups that work tirelessly to support those horses remaining on public lands, in hopes that they can live peacefully in nature without harassment or harm.
NMMBA is seeking an alternative site in NM for a sanctuary and also for a training center where girls and women can work with the horses. If you have or know of someone who would be willing to sponsor our program by providing a site for our operation, please contact Alicia Natiion at 505 629 2130 or email us at nnmustsangs@gmail.com
Here's an overview of our work so far on behalf of wild horses . . . Please consider a donation to help support our programs.
April 2009
Initial visit to BLM corrals and commitment to three wild horses: two adopted and one purchased
May 2009
Three wild horses made their home in Santa Fe and became the core of the Transition T raining program Development and Shaking Wind Ranch was named for “Breeze” a former herd sire that now resides at SWR.
June – October 2009
Alicia Nation developed the facility design and training model that is effective for helping wild equines adjust to domestication.
June- November 2009
Photographer Anne Martinez completes a photo portfolio for promoting mustangs as partners for women and children
Jay Fishback photo documents the training process for the horses at Shaking wind Ranch. Calypso becomes the organization’s poster horse and is a naturally talented photographic model.
July 2009
www.shakingwindranch.com and www.nmmba.org websites are launched
July 2009
Mustang Calypso works under saddle.
August 2009
NMMBA is officially established as a chapter of the American Mustang & Burro Association
September 2009
Executive Director Alicia Nation’s article, Horses as Teachers and Spiritual Healers was featured in Santa Fe Sun Monthly Magazine
October 2009
NMMBA attends the Northern Rio Grande Heritage Foundation meeting and begins networking with local and government agencies for development of a wild horse sanctuary in New Mexico.
October 2009
NMMBA and Shaking Wind Ranch host the first Hug – A- Mustang Day
Kahuna and Calypso welcome youth from Northern Stars 4-H group and prove themselves to be ready and prepared for their roles as Mustang Ambassadors.
November 2009
NMMBA’s president was featured in the Santa Fe Reporter’s article on Issues facing Horses in New Mexico.
November 2009
Photographer Jay Fishback and Alicia Nation visit the Colorado BLM Facility on a photo journalistic visit to complete Jay’s documentary of NMMBA’s Transition Training program.
December 2009
Alicia Nation, in collaboration with NMMBA’s board of directors and advisors began development of a Wild Horse Sanctuary Proposal for New Mexico
2010
January 2010
NMMBA’s Wild Horse Sanctuary Proposal was received by Governor Richardson
NMMBA presents at the Northern New Mexico Horseman’s Association
January 2010- July 2010
NMBMA worked extensively with state and local governments on development of further programs for the Sanctuary and wild horse initiatives.
April 2010
Governor Bill Richardson announces development plans for a wild equine preserve in New Mexico.
May 2010
NMMBA meeting with Governor Richardson
NMMBA president Alicia Nation, secretary Sharon Zagers, and advisors Dr. Mike Callahan and Lindsay Robinson meet with Governor Richardson in h is office to discuss wild horse sanctuary development, NMMBA presents Governor Richardson with a gift photograph from Jay Fishback’s documentary series.
May 2010
Jay Fishback’s photo documentary opens at the CSF gallery
Jay’s exhibit, The Unforgotten Love, is a featured exhibit at the CSF
fine arts gallery from May to August 2010.
May 2010
NMMBA featured in Santa Fe Reporter Article
Santa Fe Reporter covers the initiatives of NMMBA and other equine advocacy groups on behalf of wild equine program development.
MAY 2010
Wild Equine Enhanced Education
NMMBA meets with area schools to explore Wild Equine Enhanced Curriculum an in school equine assisted life skills learning
June 2010
NMMBA’s Mustang Ambassadors Attend Horse Expo
Kahuna and Calypso spend the weekend in Edgewood, greeting
families and children at the Hammers and Hooves Horse Expo. they are perfect
Mustang Ambassadors.
June – August 2010
NMMBA meets with local schools
NMMBA meets with local teachers and schools to develop equine enhanced curriculum and learning for special needs and elementary students.
June/July 2010
Kahuna goes to the School of Higher Learning
Kahuna attends a Linda Tellington Jones T TEAM weeklong seminar and held his own, staying calm and settling an 18-hand warmbood when he became fearful and began to spook at group training. Kahuna made lots of friends in the group and Linda had positive comments for the Transition Training® process. “I was impressed with the work (*transition training) Kahuna in preparation for saddling.”
August 2010
NMMBA feature article appears in Hoofprints Magazine
NMMBA’s feature article in the Journal of the American Mustang & Burro Association
August 2010
NMMBA holds its first official fund raiser,
With the help of coordinator Shelley Greene, and support of the Northern New Mexico Horseman’s Association, NMMBA presents an ACTHA trail ride at the Caja Del Rio
September 2010
GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES WILD HORSE SANCTUARY!
Our year and a half of work paid off when Governor Richardson unveiled the first state park wild horse sanctuary in the United States, the Cerrillos Hills State Park Expansion and Wild Horse Sanctuary. At a mid September press conference, the Governor discussed features of the sanctuary and acknowleged NMMBA’s Executive Director, Alicia Nation, and two other New Mexico wild horse advocates for their efforts on behalf of mustangs.
October 2010
NMMBA welcomes Dr. Michael Callahan, DVM and wild equine specialist to our board of directors as veterinary advisor in sanctuary planning and development. As a service provider to NMMBA, Dr. Callahan will be a non voting member of the Board of Directors.
NMMBA welcomes Richard Beal, of Lamy, NM, to the Board of Directors. Richard has extensive experience in the non profit sector, is an avid horseman and along with is wife, Kathy, is a philanthropist supporting causes that make the world a better place. We are delighted to have Richard join us as we enter this exciting time.
NMMBA welcomes Kirsten Henry to the Board of Advisors. Kirsten is a Level 3 Tellington Touch practitioner, who has worked closely in the T Touch organization since 1989. Kirsten is an expert horsewoman, trainer and educator. We are delighted to have her offer her specialized expertise as we go forward to make the world a safer place for wild equines.
NMMBA met with Sarah Wood, manager of the Cerrillos Hills State Park in an informal discussion about park development and sanctuary planning. The Parks Department will be holding forums in the future to draw input from the public on the future plans for the Park. NMMBA will work collaboratively with the park and the local community to get public feedback and assist the parks department.
