Special to the HT
MEEKER | A quiet energy settles over the Rio Blanco County Fairgrounds each April as trainers gather for Pick-Up Day, the official start of the Meeker Mustang Makeover.
For those selected, it marks the moment they are paired with a wild mustang — many for the first time — beginning a roughly 150-day journey that culminates at the Main Event on Sept. 18-19, 2026. The initial interaction, often called the “first touch,” is the beginning of the bond between trainer and horse.
Pairings are determined through the “Double Draw,” a two-step process. Trainers first draw for their position in the selection line, then draw again to determine which mustang they will train.
Following the draw, clinician Nick Mantle led a hands-on clinic to help trainers establish early connections with their horses. Sessions began with yearlings and continued through the 2-year-old in-hand and 3-year-old under saddle divisions, with trainers joining later in each session.
Once the mustangs are loaded for transport, the timeline begins. This year, 31 trainers took home 33 mustangs. Leah Wood of Colorado and Zain Dumont of Texas each selected two mustangs — one for the 3-year-old under saddle division and one for the 2-year-old in-hand division.
Over the coming months, trainers will work to develop “green broke” horses capable of competing in obstacle courses, cattle work and freestyle performances.
The program includes monthly mentorship sessions, known as “Bits of Wisdom,” and a follow-up clinic June 13-14 featuring Bryan Neubert.
The season concludes at the September event, when the mustangs are showcased and offered for adoption through auction. Trainers receive half of the final sale price.
The Bureau of Land Management delivered 38 mustangs for the event; five not selected during the draw were adopted separately. One yearling filly was adopted by Deirdre Macnab, a past president and co-founder of the organization.
Organizers also announced plans to open a storefront at 1085 Market St., owned by GWTJ Holdings.
More information is available on Facebook at Meeker Mustang Makeover, on Instagram @meekermustangmakeover, and at meekermustangmakeover.org.
The next round of the Meeker Mustang Makeover gets underway with pick-up day.
