NMACO steps in to help Mesa Verde Horses

For several years NMACO lobbied Mesa Verde National Park to leave its horses wild and manage the population. The Park’s mandate to protect the antiquities and archaeological sites, however, was deemed to be incompatible with wild horses and the Park is finalizing its plan to remove the horses from the Park.

NMACO is collaborating with the Park and with Tim McGaffic (The Nature of Natural) to make this a successful plan for capturing the horses without helicopter or horseback chases, using habituation principles, bait trapping, and low-stress livestock gathering techniques. We are hopeful that this will result in better domestication for the horses and successful human-equine connections.

In the interest of finding the best possible outcome for the horses, NMACO has agreed to take possession and title to all of the horses gathered, and to re-home them to adopters or sanctuaries.

Toward that end, we will be releasing a select few horses to qualified trainers and transporting the remainder to the Mustang Camp in Milan, New Mexico.  Patricia Irick of Mustang Camp has developed an innovative, scientifically-based training program that uses positive reinforcement without punishment to domesticate, tame and train these horses, who will then be available for adoption.

The horses will be trained to be touched, groomed, haltered, trailer loaded, and to be ready for saddle training. NMACO will be responsible for costs of the horses while they are held at the Park, for feed and transport costs, and for paying Mustang Camp for their feed, care, and training.

You can help. Even if you cannot adopt a horse, you can help byclicking the link below and donating to our cause. If you are interested in adopting a Mesa Verde wild horse, stay tuned to the NMACO website and FB page for updates as this project unfolds.