Deirdre Macnab - President
“Heaven is on the back of a horse,” said Winston Churchill, and is inscribed in leather on Deirdre Macnab’s canteen. One of the founders of the Meeker Mustang Makeover, Deirdre is especially happy to see the bonds between wild horse and the under 18 trainers who put their heart and soul into instilling trust in these iconic symbols of the west. An avowed horse lover, Deirdre is a beef and hay rancher in Rio Blanco County whose ranch practices holistic grazing and abuts the BLM where over a thousand wild horses roam.
JH Sheridan - Treasurer
JH Sheridan lives in Meeker and is currently employed with White River Electric Association as the Manager of Office Services. He previously spent 20+ years in the Banking Industry, prior to that he was an auditor at MCI and attended the University of Denver. JH enjoys assisting on the family ranch here in Meeker--cattle and haying operations. He also volunteers time with the Meeker Lions Club along with other community organizations.
Mike Gotchey - DVM, Veterinary Advisor
Dr. Gotchey was born in October 1950. He spent time around Steamboat Springs working for Pat Mantle at the Sombrero Ranches, then enlisted in the Navy and spent 4yrs as a Navy SEAL. After his service to our country he returned to Steamboat Springs and worked at the mines for several years. He then went to vet school and graduated from CSU in '85 with an equine specialty. First working in Texas at the Shelton Ranch, doing an equine residency in reproduction, then going to Florida where he worked for Peterson & Smith Equine Veterinary Services spending 6+yrs immersed in equine medicine and surgery. While in Florida, he also became accredited in Acupuncture. He then returned to Steamboat Springs and is now a senior partner in the Steamboat Veterinary Hospital where he has practiced both small and large animal medicine, surgery, and alternative care since 1991. Dr. Gotchey is the immediate past-president of the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine, as well as on the PAVE (Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalance) committee of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards. He has served for seven years as District Representative for CVMA (Colorado Veterinary Medicine Association). Dr. Gotchey currently serves as the Equine representative for the CSU Diagnostic Advisory Board.
Steve Mantle - Mustang Advisor
Steve Mantle grew up around horses, he worked for his father at Sombrero Ranches in Meeker in the '70s, learning the ropes from the likes of horsemen Pat Mantle, Keith Hagler and Mike Harding as well as his dad. After a move to Wheatland, Wyoming, establishing his family ranch and working with wild horses, he was awarded a 6mos contract from the BLM in 1998 to gentle Mustangs, and has maintained the contract to this day. Steve credits Bryan Neubert for instilling the foundation he uses today on the Mustangs, stating he had one of Neubert's "old time VCR tapes" that he literally wore out. That tape was eventually personally replaced by Neubert who has since then held clinics at the Mantle Ranch. Steve and his family train and gentle over 200 mustangs a year preparing them for adoption.
Bridget Strang - Judge Advisor
Bridget Strang grew up on a cattle ranch in Western Colorado. Her father and grandfather also bred horses and he was involved in starting and showing them until they were sold. Through the United States Pony Club program Bridget became interested in Three Day Eventing which lead her to the US Olympic Team developing riders program in Massachusetts on a home-bred horse that was out of a Mustang mare. Bridget galloped race horses, managed a barn on the east coast while attending college and competed with that same half Mustang horse in the advanced division, qualifying him for the Pan Am Games. She did a brief stint competing on some Cutting horses she bought and bred, and a gift of an upper level dressage horse gave her experience in that arena as well. After working as a rider/groom in Florida, and showing young Show Jumpers in New Zealand, Bridget returned to Colorado. She has based her business for the last 25 years on the ranch she grew up on, geared towards teaching kids and adults how to ride safely while always keeping the horses best interest in mind. The Strang Ranch is home to a thriving Pony Club, a very busy lesson program and a growing show string of hunters and jumpers. On the side Bridget also finds time to manage a flock of commercial sheep and train and compete border collies.
Kyle Arnold - BLM Liaison
Kyle Arnold has been the Assistant Field Manager (AFM) at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) White River Field Office (WRFO) in Meeker, CO, since 2016. He moved to Meeker with his family, after previously being the AFM at the BLM’s Roswell Field Office in New Mexico. Kyle is a Range Management Specialist, who's love for the outdoors and public lands led him to his career in public lands management, ensuring a healthy landscape for generations to come. His work with wild horses began in 2016 when he was given the responsibility of managing the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program. Kyle’s goal as a land manager is to ensure healthy animals on healthy landscapes and is very excited to help the Meeker Mustang Makeover showcase the personal bonds and usefulness that Mustangs can provide after training.
Elizabeth Pearce - Board Member
Elizabeth Pearce is a Colorado native, mother of 2 sons and currently works as a property manager. She states "being in the company of horses has fed my soul since I was 4 years old". Elizabeth rides both English and Western, enjoys fly fishing, hiking and baking.
John Rogers - Board Member
John Rogers is a long-time cowboy, growing up on a ranch on the eastern slope of Colorado, using horses and training for outside customers. He lends his invaluable knowledge and calm demeanor to MMM especially on Pick Up day to ensure the Mustangs are safely wrangled and loaded for their new trainers. John also volunteers with the Piceance Mustangs Workday projects.
Jane Turnburke - Board Member
Jane Turnburke is an avid horse lover, originally from Florida, who has owned, ridden and trained horses of all breeds including Mustangs. She has been involved with MMM since its inception in 2019 and also volunteers for the Piceance Mustangs, acting as their Workday Director since 2018.
Alicia Mobley - Marketing Coordniator
Alicia Mobley grew up in Meeker, CO and is currently in Grand Junction, CO pursuing her passion of working as a sports marketer. Alicia is the Marketing Coordinator for Meeker Mustang Makeover as well as a board member. She has a passion for helping organizations create brand awareness and recognition. Alicia greatly enjoys being a part of a non-profit organization like the Meeker Mustang Makeover whose mission is to help wild horses in Colorado and surrounding areas.
Kristin Jacob - Board Member and Judge
Horses are Kristin's greatest passion and from an early age she has competed on the Hunter/Jumper circuit through the Grand Prix on the West Coast. In 2007 she moved to Colorado to pursue a Ph.D. in geochemistry from the University of Colorado at Boulder. After graduating Kristin followed her passion and started riding professionally. Kristin currently resides in Berthoud, CO where she owns and operates her business, Blue Star Farms. Kristin's primary focus is on the development of horse and rider for competition on the "A/AA" hunter/jumper circuit; however, her program is unique in that she first wants her show horses to be confident, well rounded horses both in and out of the arena and takes great influence in working with them in the vaquero/buckaroo style of horsemanship. Kristin brings enthusiasm to all she is involved with, and is very excited to be a part of the MMM and to contribute to its growth and long-term success.
Kelli Lane - Concessions Coordinator
Kelli Lane is a second generation Colorado Native sharing her mother's passion for horses. Moving to the western slope and Meeker in 2020, Kelli was eager to find other like minded people and landed with the Meeker Mustang Makeover group. She is excited to be a part of a program that does such good for horses, both wild and domestic, share her horsemanship around Meeker and be a small part of an organization making such a big difference. Kelli adopted one of the yearlings from the MMM 2021 event.
