The People Behind MMM

PRESIDENT

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 volunteered for the Piceance Mustangs, acting as their Workday Director from 2018 until 2022.

VICE PRESIDENT

Laurie joins the board after 3 years of supporting MMM in a myriad of ways – as a parent of a trainer, as a purchaser of MMM mustangs, as an onsite event and committees volunteer, along with fulfilling assignments delegated by the board to aid in bringing the event together. Now in 2026, Laurie is looking forward to participating as the Vice President on the Board of Directors. Laurie brings lifelong passion for horses and a newfound appreciation for mustangs. She is a small business owner and healthcare consultant, and will share her skills to continue the amazing trajectory of the MMM event and support the mission to move mustangs out of holding facilities and into homes. Additionally, her experience in the non-profit sector, serving over a decade on the Board of Directors for the Arapahoe Hunt Pony Club and the Rocky Mountain Region Pony Clubs. Laurie enjoys volunteering and supporting youth activities, equestrian sports/events, in animal welfare and human service organizations.

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.

SECRETARY

Sabine has a deep love for horses and a strong passion for the mission behind the Meeker Mustang Makeover. She believes in the importance of giving mustangs the opportunity to find lasting homes and is proud to be part of an event that highlights their value, versatility, and potential.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER

Melissa along with Deirdre Macnab co-founded the Meeker Mustang Makeover in 2019, starting with 6 mustangs that had been gathered nearby and were being held at the Canon City Prison Facility. Melissa retired from BLM, White River Field Office, Meeker, CO after 38 years in range and wild horse work. Melissa is also the co-founder of the Piceance Mustangs, another local organization doing great work on behalf of the mustangs and the rangelands where they live in both the Piceance and East Douglas Basins. Melissa brings a lifelong love for horses and was recently a past owner.

BOARD MEMBER & 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.

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.

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.

BOARD MEMBER & 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 and well-rounded both in and out of the arena and additionally incorporates the work and philosophies from several highly accomplished horsemen.  Kristin brings great enthusiasm to all she is involved with.  She is very excited to be a part of the MMM and the Mustang Only Horse Show and to contribute to the growth and long-term success of these events.  

BOARD MEMBER

Bettina Bigelow, a Colorado native, has been working with televised national and international sporting events for over thirty years. Her various roles include venue management, TV production, live event production, stage management and overall event coordination. She brings her experience to the Meeker Mustang Makeover to help foster the growth of the event.

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.

CO-FOUNDER

“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.

After serving as President, Dierdre continues to support and advocate for the Meeker Mustang Makeover.