Towaoc is a large mare who is the leader of the herd. She is happy to work with people and will make a great riding horse. Estimated to be born in 2019, she is 15 hands tall and very sensitive. (Courtesy of Mustang Camp)
The wild herd was tamed by Mustang Camp; adoption registration has begun and the application process will begin soon
Applications have begun to adopt a horse from the wild herd recently collected from Mesa Verde National Park, and an application process is pending.
In September, 19 horses were successfully rounded up using a low-stress bait-and-trap capture method.
Ownership has been transferred to the National Mustang Association Colorado Chapter, which will oversee the adoption process.
The troop of 14 mares, one stallion and four males was transported to Mustang Camp in Blanco, New Mexico to be tamed by horse trainer Patricia Barlow-Irick.
Eight mares and four geldings (neutered males) will be ready for adoption in the next two weeks, said Mesa Verde Horse Adoption Project ambassador Becky Leonard.
The horses were tame, are bridle and trail trained and spent time socializing with domestic horses outside of their pack. I’m not ready to be ridden.
The horses are healthy, have been treated by a veterinarian and farrier and have received the appropriate injections.
“The next step is finding their forever homes with owners who will continue to love and train them,” Leonard said. “There’s a lot of interest.”
Interested adopters should visit the Mustang Camp website. Click on Explore Mustang Camp and scroll down to the Mesa Verde horse section.
View the gallery of horses, then click the sign up link for a potential adoption. Check the box of the horse or horses you are interested in. The adoption fee is $1,000 per horse.
Cortez is a well built punch who takes training seriously and is very athletic. He was born in 2022. (Courtesy of Mustang Camp)
Pagosa is a very robust stallion. He will be castrated before adoption. Probably born in 2020. (Courtesy of Mustang Camp)
Tiffany is the busiest of the bunch. She can be annoyingly friendly, but willing to do whatever the man wants. She was probably born in 2021. This little heather skin is always on top of everything. She loves people and needs someone to love her back. (Courtesy Mustang Camp)
Rico is a handsome young colt and will be castrated prior to adoption. Born in 2022. Rico has an air of confidence. He is not afraid to leave his mother’s side and engage in life. His two-tone mane is stunning. (Courtesy of Mustang Camp)
The next step is an application process. The link to the app isn’t live yet, but it will be in the same location as the recording. The application will also be posted on the National Mustang Association Colorado Chapter website at nmaco.org
Applicants will be vetted carefully, Leonard said, and there are prerequisites.
- Adopters should have suitable land such as a farm or ranch with well maintained fences.
- Adopters must have adequate facilities and finances to keep horses and have experience in horse care and training.
- Horses are social animals, so an adopter should already have another horse or horses.
- Adopted horses must be kept and cared for for their natural lifespan and are not allowed to be sold or given away. If an owner no longer wants the horse, it must be returned to Camp Mustang.
Applicants will go through a video education process. Potential adopters will view a series of videos about horse care and training and then answer questions. They are encouraged to visit Mustang Camp to see the horses up for adoption and meet the trainers.
The Mustang Association along with Mustang Camp will screen applicants and make final decisions on adoptions.
There will be follow-up visits by organization officials to check on the horses being adopted. Titles are released after six months.
Mesa Verde horses are exceptionally calm and trusting of people, according to the Mustang Camp website. All are larger than most mustangs and properly proportioned.
The low-stress rounding technique used in the park translated into an easier taming and taming process, Leonard said.
“They love human contact and there have been no incidents of wild behaviour,” she said. “Because that trust has been established, they don’t fear people or trailers.”
Tamed wild mustangs have varied and sometimes unique personalities. They tend to be a bit smarter than their native counterparts.
“These horses are very generous and can do almost anything,” Leonard said. “Wild horses become very loyal to their owners.”
Once adopted, horses can be trained and put to work as a pack horse, riding horse, compete in rodeo events, farm work, or be used for recreational trail riding.
Mesa Verde National Park plans additional low-stress tours to capture the 65 to 70 wild horses that still remain in the park. The horses will go through the same process as the first captured troop and will be adopted.