Mustangs and the American West
Sample Itinerary*
Prior to the travel seminar, students will be required to attend a series of short meetings (approx. one hour) in preparation for travel.
Saturday, March 9 - Travel day from Albany to Sacramento, CA
Sunday, March 10 - Drive to Stonyford, CA. Observations and discussion at Montgomery
Creek Ranch (mustang rescue and training) with mustang advocates and trainers. Stay
overnight in local hotel.
Evening: discussion of equine behavior observations and
advocates’ point of view. Observations at horse pens at Palomino Valley Wild Horse
and Burro Center. Visit Lake Tahoe – observe ecology/landscape characteristics and
transitions. 1 hour meeting in evening to discuss first efforts at behavior observation
and documentation and ecology.
Monday, March 11 - Drive to Shingletown CA to Wild Horse Sanctuary (2 hours): introduction by staff,
discussion of history of involvement in wild horse conservation,
interaction with government policies, issues of management of horse herd, observation
of horses in sanctuary with trip to upper pastures, view adopted mustangs. Dinner
at Sanctuary (takeout from local restaurant), followed by drive to Susanville for
hotel (1.5 hour).
Tuesday, March 12 - Susanville CA: meet with BLM wild horse specialist Amanda Gearhart, visit Twin Peaks HMA and do ecological survey of protected, unprotected, and fire impacted rangelands, view water sources and discuss private vs public range management.
Evening: discussion of ecology observations and range management.
Wednesday, March 13 - Drive to Carson City (2 hours, drop of luggage at hotel?) BLM
Range observations with BLM rangeland specialist (TBD) and John Axtell, BLM Wild Horse
Specialist. Ecological survey and wild horse observations in the Pine Nut HMA. Check
into Carson City hotel through Sat AM 1 hour
Evening: discussion of the success/challenges of making range observations, comparison
with Twin Peaks, wild
horse behavior, role of BLM in horse/ecology management.
Thursday, March 14 - Morning visit to Palomino Valley Wild Horse and Burro Center,
observations of wild horses at holding facility. 2 hour discussion of policy and the
management of the confined horses with BLM staff and reproductive management by
staff veterinarian. Afternoon: Wild horse observations on BLM range.
Evening: discussion of observations, results of BLM management and intervention, reproductive
management.
Friday, March 15 - Morning visit to NNCC training facility to learn about training wild
horses, observation of training sessions. Afternoon: Wild horse observations on BLM
range.
Evening: discussion of observations and training techniques.
Saturday, March 16 - Meet with local wild horse advocates, Hidden Valley Equine Rescue.
Afternoon, drive to Sacramento via Lake Tahoe, stay in local hotel.
Sunday, March 17 - Return flight from Sacramento to Albany, NY.
Post travel seminar, students will be required to attend meetings and complete their presentations.
*subject to change
