Mustang Advocacy

Did you know that Colorado was home to 5 of the 177 wild horse Herd Management Areas in the United States?

Sadly, in 2022, the Piceance – West Douglas herd was “zeroed out” by the Bureau of Land Management and 145 were lost to disease while in short term holding awaiting processing and adoption events. We are left with Little Book Cliffs, Piceance – East Douglas, Spring Creek and Sand Wash Basin.

"To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part, have no need of me. To you, I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world."
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

The Painted Ladies of Sand Wash Basin - Scenic (pictured below at the Sanctuary), Razzle, Dazzle and Felicity (from left to right, in the wild)

They have been a fixture since Dazzle’s birth in 2009, until their capture and adoption in 2021-2023. With the addition of Scenic, they are four generations of mustang mares – icons of the American West.

The Sand Wash Advocate Team’s (SWAT) mission is herd documentation, fertility control, range support, education/promotion, and to be a voice for the mustangs.

Scenic and Razzle were both born before SWAT’s herd documentation began, but we know that Scenic’s daughter was Vogue and Vogue’s daughter is Razzle. Her daughter, Dazzle was born in 2009 and her daughter, Felicity was born in 2014. Since then, Razzle, Dazzle and Felicity have chosen to stay together, while Scenic would spend time with them before moving to another band then returning.  This behavior is highly unusual for wild horses in that, they generally will leave the band they were born into around two years of age – fillies and colts alike – to start their own family bands.

In addition to The Painted Ladies and Scenic, our group of Mustangs include Berelle and Blaze. 

Berelle is our youngest mustang, born in 2018. We are hoping she will be an ambassador for the beauty, hardiness and versatility of mustangs for many years to come. She is out of Dianka and most likely by Alliance.

Blaze is a Devil’s Garden Mustang, born in 2012, gathered from Modoc National Forest (CA) in 2018. He was transferred to Litchfield BLM Corrals and from there went to Canon City, CO. He was adopted and began his life as a pack and riding horse, spending the majority of his days roaming large mountain pastures with his herd. He was working cattle. As things happen in life, a few years later Blaze needed a new home. He was adopted by a gentleman closely related to The Middle Way Sanctuary in Fairplay, CO. Blaze now happily resides at our Sanctuary with our other Mustangs, therapy and school horses.

You can help provide for the ongoing support of these beautiful mustangs by making a tax-deductible contribution by clicking the donate button below.


Our MUSTANGS 4 MUSTANGS™ Program
As a member of our Mustangs 4 Mustangs Program your school will be recognized on our website, receive a membership certificate, be invited to participate in our Mustang Mondays on Facebook and have a standing invitation to visit our sanctuary.
Students at Mustang 4 Mustangs™ member schools will be eligible to apply for internships at TMWS!
For more information to get involved, please contact us at (970)315-2897 or email us at
themiddleway76@gmail.com. Thank you for your support!!!