Pony Up


SJMA Presents Pony-Up Month  Pony Up

Events during Pony-Up Month are designed to raise money for and increase public awareness of wild horses in Colorado, particularly the Spring Creek herd located in Disappointment Valley, northwest of Cortez.

Funds raised during Pony-Up Month will be used to assist the BLM with:

    • Improving habitat to help enhance and sustain the Spring Creek herd,
    • Supporting work efforts by volunteers, especially Alternative Spring Break which SJMA hosts annually for college students interested in a meaningful work experience, and
    • Increasing public awareness of these symbols of western heritage

Donate to Pony Up here


Slide Show by Claude Steelman
Aug. 19, at the Durango Arts Center, 802 East 2nd Ave., Durango

Buy tickets here
Silent Auction including a Claude Steelman print, and tours to the herd area plus dinners at Steamworks.
First 100 participants will receive a free limited edition print by Claude Steelman, suitable for framing.
5 – 6 PM -- Pre-Reception for SJMA members only (w/opportunity to start bidding on Silent Auction items), Beer, wine, appetizers.
6 PM – Open to general public
6:30 PM – Slide Show by Claude Steelman
Following Slide Show:  
Drink, Mingle, and bid on auction items for 30 minutes
Book Signing by C. Steelman, Hot off the press, “Colorado’s Wild Horses”
Announce successful bidders – Bidders must be present to win



Spring Creek Herd, Disappointment Valley
Southwest Colorado has its very own wild horse herd and they need your help! Money raised during Pony-Up Month will support continuing efforts to enhance and sustain the Spring Creek Wild Horse herd located in Disappointment Valley northwest of Cortez.
Join us on august 19th at the Durango Arts Center for a fun-filled evening of activities. The event kicks off at 5:00 pm with a pre-reception for SJMA members, followed by a reception for the public at 6:00 pm. At 6:30 celebrated Colorado photographer Claude Steelman pays tribute to the grace and beauty of Colorado’s mustangs in a stunning photographic slide show. The party continues after the slide show with drinks, a book signing, and silent auction. Tickets are $10 for SJMA members, and $15 for non-members. Tickets will be on sale at any SJMA Bookstore (Dolores, Pagosa, Bayfield and Durango Public Lands Offices) or on-line at sjma.org.

http://springcreekwild.wordpress.com/

http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/wild_horse_and_burro.html


Steamworks Brewing Company is a co-sponsor of Pony-Up Month.
Beginning August 1 Steamworks will kick off Pony-Up Month at their Bayfield and Durango locations, offering a percentage of their beer sales (at the bar only) at both locations to the fundraiser. During the entire month, Steamwork’s staff will be promoting Pony-Up month with fun events and costumes with a western theme. In addition to a month long giddy-up of beer, Steamworks will be donating all of the beer at the slide show event at the Durango Arts Center with the entire proceeds going to San Juan Mountains Association and the Wild Horses of Spring Creek.

Spring Creek Herd Management Area
The 22,000 acre Spring Creek Herd Management Area, managed by the BLM, supports 35-65 horses. In August of 2007 the BLM conducted a horse gather and adoption which reduced the herd from 94 horses down to 46 horses, including foals. With no natural predators the herd size can double every 4 years.


The newly formed Disappointment Wild Bunch Partners includes SJMA, the National Mustang Association, Mesa Verde and Four Corners Back Country Horsemen groups. Over the years, volunteers from these groups have assisted the BLM on a variety of tasks like installing fencing, repairing fences, and gates, removing tamarisk near water sources, building exclosures and water catchments, population counts, improving habitat and increasing awareness of the herd and their needs.