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The Beaty Butte Wild Horse Training Facility, recently connected with a German Mustang group, “Der Mustang- Geschichten, informationen und Entwicklungen aus den HMAs”, who has politely provided us with information about their group and their involvement with Beaty Butte Mustangs. The following information and details has been provided by Sheetal Beckers, volunteer and founder of the MMO FB group.

We want to clarify that Sheetal and Ozlem Hamel have created a unique FB group that is not a second Mustang Makeover Group.

Sheetal’s work all started with his involvement with the Mustang Makeover Germany. The Mustang Makeover Germany was founded by Silke and Michael Strussione. They are the leaders of the Mustang Makeover Germany and started in 2017 when they adopted around 15 Mustangs that had been gathered from Beaty Butte HMA. These mustangs were adopted from a BLM facility, flown to Europe, trained with different trainers from all over Germany, and sold after the Mustang Makeover Event.

In 2018, they had their second makeover event with 22 Mustangs that had been gathered from other HMA’s with some being from Beaty Butte HMA. They used the same process as in 2017. However, this particular year, Sheetal volunteered to help the Information Center for the first time.

In 2019, Sheetal did the same volunteer job and created positive bonds with the Mustang Makeover founders and group members. Influenced by the Mustang Makeover, Sheetal and a friend, Ozlem Hanel, decided to start their own MMO group on fb.

The intention of their FB group was and continues to inform German followers. They work as volunteers in which their goal is to inform the people about wild mustangs and their living situations. Although Sheetal still supports the Mustang Makeover Events by informing viewers about where the mustangs are from, details about the event, and auction related materials, they use their volunteer time to create conversations with people.

Part of their goal when they are informing and having conversations with people, is to discuss organizations around the world that are doing positive work to support over population of mustangs, living conditions, and so forth. They translate this information into German language to help people comprehend better.

Horses that are adopted in Germany have owners that become curious and want to know more about their mustang. In order to better understand the wild mustangs and their new homes after adoption, Sheetal searches for different horses that have come to Germany. Sheetal follows the Beaty Butte Wild Horse Facility FB page, for example, and looks at the various posts of new owners who have adopted a Beaty Butte wild horse among others to gather more information. This is one of many roles Sheetal and friend do to provide the owner with more information about their horse. Sheetal follows many wild horse groups here in the US and other countries. Sheetal also communicates with advocates that work with BLM to gather information. Sheetal has been gathering information about their mustangs from several wild horse HMA’s at various locations. Researching and knowing the facts is crucial in communicating to others, expressed Sheetal.

Sheetal’s group emphasizes the importance of keeping positive relations with BLM in efforts to work together for the better of the wild mustangs. The FB group has grown to well over 200 members. The group feels it is important to connect with other groups related to wild mustangs and the HMA’s in which the horses are associated with.

Are you wondering who Sheetal Becker is and how he got started with his involvement of wild mustangs?

Sheetal was adopted at an early age from India and raised in Germany. At the young age of 6 years old, Sheetal started riding horses. He learned about mustangs after watching the movie “Spirit” when he was a boy. As he grew older, he watched other movies/shows about wild horses. He then read about mustangs. In 2012, Sheetal started following Sand Wash Basin and learned how to communicate with BLM. He studied more about the different HMA’s. He learned about on-range management in which he came across sanctuaries and adoption processes of wild mustangs. Sheetal has owned horses of his own and has ridden quite a bit.

He currently works in Germany with children from ages 2 to 6 years old by helping them get ready for school. Although Sheetal has got the “Mustang-Fever”, he is grateful for the work of his parnter, Ozlem, and the connection with the Mustang Makeover German group who has given him the opportunity to speak at a larger scale about Wild Horses and their current situations.

In communicating with Sheetal over the past week through FB messenger, there is a clear passion in bringing awareness to the German population about wild mustangs and the benefits training and adopting them out can be for not just the horses, but for the environment. Sheetal shows instant connections with wild horses and works to create a platform for conversation.

In addition to Sheetal’s involvement with wild horses, Sheetal has taken up writing in which he documents experiences people have had in working with wild horses, the different adoption processes, owning wild horses and much more. Although he is in early stages, he is inspired to eventually publish multiple books related to wild horses.

We look forward to staying in communication with our German friends and watch them grow over the years. Sheetal, thank you for your support and friendship. If you’d like to learn more about Sheetal and their group in Germany, please email us or message us on fb. You may also message Sheetal directly from their fb group. You can request to be part of their group. His groups provides up to date information about Wild Horses in Germany as well as the US.

I knew about Beaty Butte when the program first arose and began building up in Adel. My fiancé and his family live in New Pine Creek and I originally saw information on the facility in Jerry’s on a flyer. From there I followed them on social media. When I eventually started looking into purchasing/adopting, I simply called Jim and we talked about the horses they had available.    

The first thing that really caught my eye was the price tag. I grew up riding horses in San Francisco, and you can probably guess that literally nothing was less than $5000. When I heard that Beaty Butte’s typical adoption price was much lower, I was really excited. I was also really interested in mustangs as a breed. I took a lot of courses at Oregon State University that involved grazing and issues regarding feral horses. I knew that purchasing a mustang can not only help spread the word but also give facilities a chance to take more mustangs off the land and into captivity. Lastly my fiancé owns a ½ mustang, ½ quarter horse, and he works his butt off compared to all of the other horses on our ranch. Their work ethic, physical stability and sure-footedness were all aspects that I really liked about the breed.

I purchased both Chips n Dip (his old name was Jake) and Lewis in early August. I had been in contact with Jim and Ian for a few weeks prior to my interest in purchasing. Earlier in June, I also went and visited the facility and scouted out the younger/fresher mustangs, so I knew which ones I was interested in early on.

Both Chips and Lewis are primarily ranch horses. They are both going to be expected to rope, doctor, sort, and move cows. I originally purchased Lewis for my fiancé, so I won’t be utilizing him as my own. Since I grew up riding hunter/jumper and English horses, Chips may be a little bit more than a ranch horse. I plan on teaching him how  to be versatile such as jumping and possibly some very low level dressage work. Since I like to pleasure ride throughout the week, he will act as an all-a-rounder!

The qualities I like the most about them is that they are both very willing and excited to learn. I have yet to experience Chips refuse to try anything. He always searches for the right answer and has not given up on me yet! Chips also LOVES to move cows, he acts like a cow dog most of the time, and bites at them. I also really adore the connection that we have built. He knows me, and as we spend more time together, continues to trust me more. This really shows when he reacts well to new situations with confidence.

Lewis is more of my husband’s horse. From just watching him and talking to my fiancé, I know that Lewis is really independent and does not mind being away from the herd. He also has a really soft mouth and bridles up really nicely. Lewis tends to be a little bit more shy and reserved, but I can tell he is a sweetheart once you prove he can trust you. 

I know for a fact that I got my fiancé’s family interested in purchasing more mustangs. These two have already proven how awesome mustangs are and how vital they can be to a ranch setting. Chips hopefully will be in my life for a long time (being that he is only 3 years old) and I won’t need a new partner anytime soon. 

Rose McKereghan grew up riding hunter/jumper and had no ranch/cow horse experience until around 8 years ago when she met her fiancé. She had always been fascinated by it and has really enjoyed learning a new discipline. However, she stays true to her roots and continues to practice hunter/jumping.

She rode on the Oregon State IHSA equestrian team for three years, and did both western horsemanship and English equitation. IHSA is a catch riding show program, so she got to ride A LOT of horses over her career in IHSA. This gave her the tools to purchase a young/green mustang.

“Barry” is a typical Beaty Butte wild mustang. His name honors one of the first families in the area and his appearance is very similar to how most wild horses looked in the 1950-60’s recalls Board member, Mary Bradbury.

A mix of draft, Morgan  and Thoroughbred she thinks, although these horses are generally smaller now than they were then. Mary, is a direct descendant of the Barry family that immigrated from Ireland in 1874. They brought sheep from Dublin, California to settle in the Beaty Butte area.

 “We are not only preserving the Beaty Butte wild horses, we are preserving ourselves. We need to make the problems with their sustainable management our problem…. they are part of our culture and heritage.” – Richard Kiely, whose family has ranched in the Warner Valley area since the early 1900’s.

The wild horses of Beaty Butte and the pioneers who forged this western community are inseparable from the historical fabric in this remote corner of the Oregon desert.