Newsletter About The Wild Mustangs of Sand Wash Basin August 2013 Issue

Three Amigos of Sand Wash Basin Newsletter

August, 2013

Colorado Wild Horse Sanctuary

Thriving In Eastern Colorado

Written by Amigo Patrick Brennan

Some Current Reseidents of the Mustang Sanctuary

Sannctuary Founder-Michelle Sander

On the eastern plains of Colorado about 65 miles east of Denver sits a unique ranch amongst the many ranches and farms around it. What makes it unique is that it is home to former wild Mustangs that have been removed from the wild horse management areas, or from people who can no longer care for the mustangs which they adopted.

The ranch is named Great Escape Mustang Sanctuary. It is a longtime dream of the founder Michelle Sander and her father Gerhard K. Sander, who unfortunately passed before the reality of the mustang sanctuary was realized. Michelle made a promise to her father before he died that she would walk out his dream and making it a reality- and she did just that. In 2011 it all started with a story about five Spanish registered Mustangs now known as the Foxton Five. These five mustangs were on a hunting trip with their owner Dave Merrill, when Dave suffered a heart attack. In the middle of that life threatening medical emergency he still managed to get the five horses back to his ranch and secured before taking himself to the hospital, where he died a few days later. Friends of Mr. Merrill tried to care for the five Spanish Mustangs but couldn't on a long term basis. When Michelle heard about the horses needing a home she quickly made arrangements to take them and thus the Great Escape Mustang Sanctuary was born. The sanctuary location is currently located on a 800 acre parcel of land southeast of Byers, Colorado. They are currently raising money to add as much as 2,000 additional acres.

The complete vision of the Mustang Sanctuary can be found on their website that states the following:

"To complete the vision for the Great Escape, we will offer therapeutic and educational programs; connect the public to the horses; educate the public about the critical situation Mustangs are facing in the wild and in captivity; offer solutions and ways for the public to take action; make a difference and give the Mustangs a voice"

When I first read the part above "we will offer therapeutic and educational programs," I thought to myself that this organization might be a good one for the Three Amigos of SWB Wild Horse Youth Outreach Program, to partner up with- and I am happy to announce that the Three Amigos and the Great Escape Sanctuary are currently in talks about Joining forces on our mutual wild Mustang education goals and projects. Hopefully, by next month's newsletter we hope to announce this awesome partnership. So stay tuned.

I had a chance this summer to take my granddaughter's that were here in Colorado visiting from Nebraska out to the Great Escape Mustang Sanctuary and see this amazing place first hand. I got to meet the most excellent staff that Michelle has put together.

Giulia Rogers one of the staff caretakersinteracts with yhone of the young fillies

My granddaughters Miss Haley & Miss Ciara- They were joined by one of the Sanctuary residents- she has red hair just Haley

One of the key people that Michelle has on her staff is Gabriele Moritz is the sanctuary's resident trainer and works with the horse rom the time they arrive to make sure they are comfortable with their new surroundings. She also looks for the Mustangs that will interact with humans the best and works with those horses to be ready for adoption and other educational programs the sanctuary will be involved. Gabriele is from Berlin, Germany and has been involved with horse and currently owns 7 mustangs herself. She has also been involved in the nationally known Mustang Makeover Competition in 2011, and also trained at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary in South Dakota.

Other staff and partners are: Victoria Granger- Director of Planning, Mona Sander-Director of Administration, Colleen O'Holleran- Director of Development, Carol Brikmeyer-Volunteer, Giulia Rogers and Nicholas Kirkpatrick- Ranch Caretakers, Consultant Sean Davies - Mustang Makeover Trainer. And last but not least- Michelle's son's, Carson & Preston Sander-Ferracane - Little Ranch Hands.

Currently the ranch is home to a band of American Mustangs, three bands of Spanish Mustangs and 3 wonderful burros. Michelle tells me that they plan to concentrate working with Spanish Mustangs and removed mustangs from the Colorado Mustang herds, primarily the Sand Wash Basin herd northwest of Craig, Colorado by the Utah and Wyoming borders. The sanctuary has big plans to offer an on-site therapy and education, connecting children and adults with the horses. Other big goals for Michelle and her staff include, working with the different schools in the area by having field trips out to the sanctuary and also developing a a presentation where they bring gentled Mustangs to the students.

Another key goal for the Great Escapes Mustang Sanctuary is to serve as a practical model for sustainable herd, pasture and land management; working with the BLM and specific Herd Management Area's to arrive at a viable solution for the future of the wild horses.

Visit Great Escape Mustang Sanctuary's website:

http://greatescapesanctuary.org/

Also Follow Them on Face Book:

https://www.facebook.com/TheGreatEscapeMustangSanctuary

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We need to repeat this section from last month's newsletter- Thank you to those of you who did send in some money- enough has come in to at least get the production started- but we still need some more of you to step up and donate a few bucks to this very important project. We are running behind in getting this production started. Please share this need with other wild horse loving friends of yours.

We Need Your Help!!!!

With Production Cost For The Three Amigos of SWB

Youth Outreach DVD Project

The Three Amigos have arranged for David Gordon a very talented audio-visual expert and owner of his own studio to produce the DVD that will be carried in to classrooms all over the country, along with other presentation materials (Children's book and 60 piece Jigsaw Puzzle) beginning January 2014. Many of you may remember David as the graphic artist that designed both of the covers for our books. I will include a brief Bio and links to some of his recent work. Even with the "friends rate" he giving me, the cost of this 7 to 10 minute video with around 100 images, some video, Voice Over and music underneath will still run around $1,000 and maybe a little more.

Please help with what ever amount you can-even $10 or $20 will help on this very important tool in wild Mustang education to the kids of America- and to insure continued awareness and interest in the wild ones. It will be these youngsters that will be the future guardians of our beloved wild horses.

This link directly below will allow you to make contributions of any amount with credit or debit cards directly to the production of the Three Amigos of Sand Wash Basin Youth Outreach DVD Project.

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=6C57N82AQEQEW

David's Bio

David Gordon of Santa Fe, NM is an independent marketing and production consultant. As DGS Productions (Now David Gordon Video Online Resources for 30 years he has worked in:

graphics,general advertising, creative development and digital video production. His productions have included work for government, broadcast television, local advertising and national corporate accounts.

He has done pioneering work in character animation systems and now Internet broadcast. His impeccable record with literally hundreds of clients is the result of a long-standing on-time, on-budget and on-target policy. He has an untarnished reputation among his numerous professional peers and is in good standing with suppliers of broadcast facilities and production equipment

Other David Gordon work samples:

In Search of the Medicine Man
http://youtu.be/qsQ9Ykb2Oys

http://youtu.be/nxX0eHm0oTY

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From the camera of Amigo

Patrick Brennan

I am very sad to have to announce that we lost another one of our beloved wild Mustangs at Sand Wash Basin on Monday, August 19th 2013- RIP Little Cypress. She injured her leg about two weeks ago and it didn't appear too be serious at the time the injury was discovered- so officials and visitors watched her- but over time the leg injury got worse and on Monday she seen to be visibly in pain and distress and the decision was made to put down this little filly that was born just this spring. Here are some pictures that I took of her in June on my last visit to Sand Wash Basin.

RIP Little Cypress We Will Miss You

My Favorite Pic of Cypress

Showdown at Sunset!!!

Sir Picasso

Mimi with her new family

Voodoo do that magic you do so well!

www.blackhatphoto.us Visit Amigo Patrick's website and see more wild horse photography

From the Camera of Amigo

John Wagner

Cimarron

Cash, Fury and Splash




Cinnamon



Silverado

From The Camera of Amigo

Joe Tosh

Pepe'

PJ (Picasso Junior)

Wild Wind

Yarrow

Cimarron.

Meet and Welcome Two New Artist to the Three Amigos of SWB Artist Team:

Puller Lanigan , from Washington DC- has been in love with wild horse since she saw her first removed wild Mustang in California at the tender age of 5 years old. She is also a passionate advocate and watcher of all animals, capturing that passion in her writing, photography and paintings. Her main aim in her art and photography is to capture animals in their privet moments that "capture her breath," as he puts it.

Puller Lanigan

Photo credit: Andreas Thomsen, Germany

Sharon Hebert, from Basile, Louisiana- has always been a "horse lover" ever since she can remember and she always wanted to have one of her very own, but being born in to a military family that moved all the time- that didn't happen until she was 40 years old. Her interest in art started in her childhood when she began drawing the Sunday newspaper cartoons. Sharon's parents were very supportive of her new found talent and encouraged her. A little thing called "life" took off for Sharon, like marriage, a couple of kids came along and the art had to take a back seat to all that. Not to worry though- Sharon the artist is back!!!! The Three Amigos had the pleasure to meet Sharon and her husband this summer when we introduced them to the wild ones of Sand Wash Basin. Sharon like Puller will be doing a special painting of one of our wild horse photos for the upcoming 2nd Edition of the Three Amigos of Sand Wash Basin

Sharon Hebert

Painting from a photo by Tamra Gooch

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A Progress Report on the

The Three Amigos Present- The Story of Kissy.

Great News!!!! The Children's book- Three Amigos of Sand Wash Basin- Present the Story of Kissy is in the final stages of layout and production. All the wild horse artist have finished their work and foward it to Amigo Patrick Brennan, the projects Managing Editor. The children's writer Carol McLaren has turned in her final draft. We will now work on the layout and other technical task. It is all coming together very nicely thanks to efforts of all that were involved.

Announcing New Updated Edition of Three Amigos of Sand Wash Basin book to be released later this summer when the children's book comes out. We're going to add some fresh 2013 new baby wild horse photos and the amazing story of a new baby foal that had had a real dirty and muddy start to his new life out at SWB. The story and pictures of May Day will be something special to look for later this summer or early fall.

There will be a new Blurb.com website link for that New Edition. The link below is for the current print edition now available for sale.

http://www.blurb.com/b/4070695-three-amigos-of-sand-wash-basin-special-commemorat

Amigo Book Cover

If you would like to follow the Three Amigos of Sand Wash Basin further, than check out their Face Book Page and request to become a member at this link:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/threeamigosofswb/

And if your a particular fan of the mighty stallion of Sand Wash Basin- Picasso you'll want to follow hi m on Face Book- Yes, Picasso has his own Face Book Page- Check it out and ask to become a member of his Face Book Page at this web link

https://www.facebook.com/groups/212113472265406/

Of course if Picasso has his own FB Page- Corona thought he should have one too. Here is link: Corona the Golden Boy

https://www.facebook.com/groups/558317794187136/

Join us on our Three Amigos of Sand Wash Basin Face Book Page and become a member of the group. Just click on the link here.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/threeamigosofswb

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