Fifth annual Makeover sees local horses go to good homes
Dear Editor,
Michael Spickard, the outfitter at Trappers Lodge, raised his hand for the winning bid on the solid looking bay yearling Lightning. Trained by this year’s youngest trainer, age 12, Jakob James of Oak Creek, the little bay placed second in the Yearling Competition. Michael shared he has big plans for the little mustang who like all the others, hails from the Rio Blanco County Piceance herd of wild horses.
Michael wants to travel the Continental Divide one day, and he hopes this will be the horse that does it with him. He plans to continue Lightning’s training and use him as his personal horse up at Trappers Lake Lodge as he takes visitors on trail rides and hunts. A bright future for a little horse that was facing a future in a holding pen.
This year’s 2023 Meeker Mustang Makeover was a success by all accounts. With a strong audience turnout of well over 700, a total of 18 horses and trainers presented their progress and competed for prizes and scholarships on Saturday August 26 th at the Rio Blanco County Fairgrounds for $15,000 in locally raised prize and scholarship money.
Seven youth trainers competed with their yearlings from Rangely, Meeker and all over Colorado between 12 and 17. This year the champion buckle and $1,500 in prize money went to 16-year-old Angelina Bouzarelos of Centennial, Colorado, with her horse Kermit. No surprise, Kermit sported a little stuffed Kermit the Frog on his back during her freestyle. Kermit went home with Angelina at the end of the auction. Her little bay was followed by another bay, Lightning, trained by 12-year-old Jakob James. This was his first mustang to train and it was hard to let his buddy go at the auction, but Jakob explained his busy school life with several sports made that decision necessary.
Each of the yearling youth trainers receive half the proceeds of their horse’s sale as well as a $500 scholarship. This year for our youth, we had three local trainers, Elyse Francis, age 17, who just graduated from Rangely High School; Chance Allred, 13, from Rangely; and Jairus Stallings, age 13, from Meeker.
Grand champion winner Under Saddle went to first time competitor Clara Phillips from Nunn, Colorado, with her horse Ruidoso, she took home $5,000 in prize money, half the proceeds of the sale of her horse, and a beautiful, handcrafted saddle donated by Circle C Ranch, along with a buckle and basket of Curicyn products. Her horse was purchased by Brett Miller who will be riding the 3-year-old mustang along the Freedom Trail, a route over the Rocky Mountains. The horse was also the high seller at $6,000. All proceeds from the sale are split between trainers and the Meeker Mustang Makeover, a 501c3 non-profit, for the next year’s event.
Second place was Alicia Rodriguez-Alexander with her horse Amiguito from Wellington, Colorado, who bought her horse back for $2,250. Third place was Kylie Pflueger and her horse Tito, an athletic buckskin, that she bought back as well, to continue his training. Fourth place was Eric Pflueger and Slick, fifth place was Marny Belt and her horse Turtle who displayed an unexpected flying leap over a tarp, echoing the jumps of the Lippizaners, which Marny sat to with no problem at all.
Our Hi Scoring youth (15-17) Under Saddle trainer this year was Kylie Pflueger with Tito, she received custom made saddle bags from Mike Brennan of Pistol River Leather out of Meeker.
This year the Makeover offered multiple activities for all ages, from vendors to facepainting, sandboxes, coloring stations, cotton candy and delicious kettle corn offered by the White River Museum, who also doubled as bank robbers as they held up the Lions Club during the robust concession sales. Several beautiful ladies were seen strolling in period costume, twirling their parasols, led by our Rio Blanco County Historical Society’s Executive Director Terri Reed.
Visitors came from all over Colorado, Montana and Wyoming, many declaring they planned to make this an annual event. Hotels in town reported full rooms, and the restaurants were hopping.
Our incredible volunteers made it all possible. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Our sponsors, this year led by Town of Meeker, White River Electric Association who brought in their partner, Tri-State, the Bank of San Juans, and the RBC Lodging Tax Board, along with Rio Blanco County as our generous Gold Sponsors. Silver sponsors included: Rio Blanco Herald, Level Head Audio, Cimarron Telecommunications, the White River BLM Office, Circle C Ranch, Slash EV Ranch, Curicyn Equine, Moon Lake Electric and Westlands Ranch. Thanks to the White River Museum for the loan of their stagecoach, costumed characters and kettle corn made the old fashioned way!
Once again the Rio Blanco Herald produced our sparkling auction brochure, and helped with their partner Level Head Audio to livestream the whole event, which for those who watched at home, said had the quality of NBC Sports. Our longtime auction partner, Longhorn Video Auctions, did a spectacular job selling our horses creating a strong foundation for next year’s event. Did we mention 5,000 views on the auction page?
Meeker Lions Club stepped up with their great food, wonderful Mustang Margaritas and as always cheerful service.
And special thanks to all the trainers who came from far and wide for believing in our mission: educating the public and showing that even with just 120 days these Mustangs can become amazing partners.
Here’s to next year for full stands of local and visiting families and continuing the growth of this hometown fun event — a testament to the resilience and innovative spirit of the American West.
With appreciation, the Meeker Mustang Makeover Board: Deirdre Macnab, Robyn Blackwood, JH Sheridan, Sabine Murray, Jane Turnburke, John Rogers, Kelli Henry, Elizabeth Pearce, Alicia Mobley, Cindy Rohde; BLM Representatives: Tyrell Turner and Kyle Arnold; Veterinary Advisor: Mike Gotchey; Mustang Advisor: Steve Mantle; Judge Advisor: Bridget Strang
