A Unique Spring Break Trip
Albert Mitugo
SMU Outdoor Adventures Senior Coordinator , Southern Methodist University
AORE Board of Directors
This past spring break trip, we, at SMU Outdoor Adventures did something a little different than we have done
in the past. As many outdoor program professionals would agree, planning for spring break trips usually starts early
due to permitting and reservation issues and this one was not any different. We were planning to go to northern New
Mexico and do some backpacking and camping and therefore, I was getting all logistics down when I found out that the
Community Engagement & Leadership Center here at Southern Methodist University was also planning to do an
alternative break trip to the same area to volunteer in Taos and Southern Colorado doing service designed to protect
America’s wild horses. I immediately saw an opportunity for collaboration between Outdoor Adventures and
Community Engagement & Leadership’s alternative break trips. I proposed a joint trip where we would both have a
chance to do some outdoorsy things but also have a service piece.
Folks over at Community Engagement &
Leadership were very excited about the
possibly of working together with the
Outdoor Adventures program. Student
leaders from both sides started working
together and planning the trip with advice
from the professionals of both areas. Soon
enough, the trip was full with a long wait
list! A number of pre-trip meetings with
the participants were held to prepare
them for the trip and on Sunday, March 8
at 4:00a.m., we hit the road for Northern
New Mexico.
We weren’t sure what conditions we
would be working under, or what exactly
we would be doing once we reached the
Wild Horse Mesa, located just North of Questa, New Mexico on the Colorado side of the border. We met Jim, more
fondly known as Homeboy, at a gas station in Questa after a day of volunteering in Taos with a rescued horse
nonprofit. Approaching the gas station, the first thing we all saw was the port-a-potty strapped to a trailer of a navy
blue Ford truck. The first thought was what a luxury! Upon arrival at our base camp, Judy, the self-appointed mother of
the wild horses on the mesa, showed us where we would set up our camp.
For the next few days, we traveled with Judy, Roy and Homeboy around the mesa to survey the wild horses.
We took notes on their coloring, age, band, and distinctive forehead markings. The goal was to create a database of all
of the wild horses to prevent people from stealing them and taking them to slaughter on the other side of the Mexican
border. Snow was still melting aro und the mesa, which made for muddy, soggy roads. However, with Homeboy, Judy
and Roy’s wild but expert driving, the trucks never got stuck. By the end of the week you couldn’t detect the blue paint
under the thick layer of mud. Some of the bands were too scared of people to approach closely.
9