How can we manage the challenges of the growing wild horse population in Colorado? With this essential question in mind, middle school students in the Horse Power Expedition course headed off to southwestern Colorado for a week of field work to explore firsthand the complexities of managing the wild horses that roam in the region. While there, they dove deep into topics including the roles of horses in Indigenous history and culture, land management politics, and ecosystem diversity and maintenance, with the ultimate goal that students would engage in a common good project focused on wild horse management. Back on campus and using knowledge from their fieldwork experiences, each student will select a horse management solution for which they wish to advocate and will create a persuasive communication piece to promote their plan. Options include crafting letters to legislators, designing a website, developing pamphlets or infographics for organizations like Wild Rose Mustang Advocacy, or preparing a ShedTalk-style presentation for the National Mustang Association of Colorado.
The students’ field work adventure began at the Spring Creek Basin Herd Management Area, where students met with two local experts: TJ Holmes and Laura Heaton. TJ, a dedicated volunteer for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) since 2007, has been a passionate advocate for wild horses, while Laura, the Ranch Manager for the Disappointment Valley Mustang Sanctuary, has played a key role in monitoring and caring for the herd.
On their first night, the students joined TJ for a walk to observe one of the local horse bands, where students were able to learn about each horse’s family history. This same night brought some dramatic weather that inhibited students’ planned vegetation monitoring, but they still enjoyed a productive Q&A session with Laura and TJ. Once the skies cleared, they took a short hike to Disappointment Creek to learn about the horses’ diets and how the BLM assesses rangeland health. Laura emphasized that “supporting a healthy rangeland for multiple uses is the primary goal of the BLM,” highlighting the importance of vegetation.
After their time in Spring Creek Basin, the group headed to Durango, where they met Brenda Van Keuren, president of the National Mustang Association of Colorado, along with additional trainers at Bell's Ranch. The students were introduced to a beautiful herd of mustangs there: brothers Merlin and Marvel, Ringo, Cowboy, Pecos, and Sage (who was born in Michele’s lap!). They learned grooming, handling, and training techniques, gaining insights into different methods used to gather wild horses, including humane bait-trapping versus helicopter round-ups.
A crucial lesson from their conversations with these experts was the importance of being open-minded and listening to diverse perspectives. The experts suggested several additional solutions for managing wild horse populations, such as increased fertility control, balanced cattle allotments, more sanctuaries, and humane gathering techniques. Brenda inspired the students by reminding them that as the next stewards of their lands, they have the power to make meaningful changes.
Their fieldwork concluded with a trail maintenance project in collaboration with Durango Trails, where their group worked to mitigate damage on the trail from water erosion and to prevent future water erosion. This hands-on experience taught the students about the hard work needed to preserve trails for everyone to enjoy.
The students are incredibly grateful to all of the experts and horses they encountered on this journey for an unforgettable learning experience. Their time in the field not only enhanced their understanding of wild horse management but also enabled them to take action through their selected common good project.
