What We've Been Up To
Southern Equine Expo
Date: February, 2024
MLP travels again to the Tennessee Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro, TN in late February, 2024. During the event, our students introduced instructor, Grace Thompson, who performed a demo at liberty with her mustangs. During the afternoon, the students participated in a clinic working on collaborative groundwork to enrich connection with Michael Cranfield.
MLP Summer Camp
Date: June 1, 2023
Our MLP students returned the farm for some fun activities including an obstacle course competition with their favorite MLP horses, a liberty session with Grace, fishing, where they learned how to fly fish and successfully caught five bluegills, and they finished the day with arts and crafts.
Archery
Date: May 17,2023
Celisse Barrett and the Equestrian Chaos team visited MLP for a day of mounted archery fun. Our students learned to shoot their bow and arrows at a target while on horseback. Their skills continue to improve.
The Equestrian Chaos team entertained with some trick riding and liberty demos.
Breed Show in Raleigh, NC
Date: May 12, 2023
Our warmblood partners, De Ciel, Secret Formula, Secret Devotion, and D'Amara traveled to Raleigh, NC again to qualify for Devon 2023.
Results:
Secret Formula won first place in his three-year-old gelding class. He also achieved a score of a 78.3% in the Hanoverian IBC.
De Ciel won first place in her three-year-old filly class.
D'Amara won first place in Hanoverian IBC, won Mare Champion and Mature Horse Champion.
De Ciel, Secret Devotion, and D'Amara won first place in the Dam and Produce class with a score of 82.5%.
CGLA Highlights MLP Seniors
Date: May 11, 2023
The MLP program had three seniors graduate this spring at CGLA: Alexis, Yesenia, and Aniyah
Annuals With Dr.Scott
Date: April 13, 2023
Dr. Scott and his team from the Equine Medical Center of Cleveland visited our program to explain the importance of regular dental care and vaccinations for our equine partners.
Paisley was our volunteer to have his teeth floated to allow the girls to feel the improvement in his teeth after dental care. Crush, Paisley, and Sahara were excellent volunteers to allow our students to learn to administer vaccines.
CGLA Highlights MLP Program
Date: February 14, 2023
Dressage at Devon 2022
Date: September 28, 2022
Our warmblood partners, De Ciel, Secret Formula, Secret Devotion, and D'Amara traveled to Devon, PA to their final breed show for the year.
Results:
Secret Formula won Champion two-year-old Colt, Reserve Champion Colt and Champion Young Horse.
Secret Devotion won two-year-old Filly and Reserve Champion Young Horse.
De Ciel won Reserve two-year-old Filly.
Our next and final breed show will be at Devon, PA in September.
Breed Show in Culpeper, VA
Date: June 18, 2022
Once again, our warmblood partners, De Ciel, Secret Formula, Secret Devotion, and D’oree, traveled to Culpeper, VA for their second breed show.
Results:
Secret Formula won Champion two-year-old Colt, Reserve Champion Colt and Champion Young Horse.
Secret Devotion won two-year-old Filly and Reserve Champion Young Horse.
De Ciel won Reserve two-year-old Filly.
Our next and final breed show will be at Devon, PA in September.
Equestrian Chaos Visits MLP
Date: May 18, 2022
“Equestrian Chaos and The Mustang Leadership Program join forces once again for an epic archery experience! Keep following your arrows ladies! You’re talented, beautiful and stunningly fierce when that bow gets in your hands. We look forward to out next adventure together” -Equestrian Chaos
Breed Show in Raleigh, NC
Date: May 14, 2022
Our warmblood partners, De Ciel, Secret Formula, Secret Devotion, D’oree and D’Amara, traveled to Raleigh, NC for a breed show.
Results:
Devotion won Champion two-year-old Filly with a score of 82.7%.
Ciel won Reserve Championship Filly and Reserve Champion two-year old with a score of 82%.
D’Amara won USDFBCS Reserve Champion Broodmare, Hanoverian IBC, as well as, the Dam and Produce class.
Secret Formula placed fourth in two-year-old colts.
D’oree placed third in two-year-old fillies.
We are proud of their accomplishments and look forward to future shows.
Southern Equine Expo
Date: March 18, 2022
MLP travels again to the Tennessee Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro, TN on Saturday, March 19th 2022. In the morning, our students sold T-shirts to raise awareness of their program and share their love for their mustang partners with the guests who visited. During the event, our students introduced instructor, Grace Thompson, who performed a demo at liberty with her mustangs. During the afternoon, the students attend an all exclusive access to a mounted archery class with the Equestrian Chaos Team.
CGLA Highlights MLP Program
Date: February 23, 2022
Our MLP Equestrian students do more than simply ride and perform dressage routines. We like to carry over our STEM curriculum and teach about equine science during our afterschool sessions!•••••#mustangs #stem #stemeducation #equine #horse #horse #equestrian #education pic.twitter.com/l2PEEBynKo — CGLA (@CGLA_Chatt) February 23, 2022
MLP Students Perform "Go Change The World"
Date: December 21, 2021
“Go Change the World” was written by Dr. Sue Anne Wells, co-founder of CGLA and MLP. The lead vocals were recorded and performed by CGLA and MLP students, Elyzah Smith and Lesvi Perez. The CGLA choir was responsible for the chorus. Enjoy!
CGLA Features MLP Program
Date: November 19, 2021
CGLA Choir Sings National Anthem
Mustang Discovery Ride – National Anthem Send Off Performed By Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy Choir
Date: September 28, 2021
“What better way to start the Mustang Discovery Ride in the morning on September 28, 2021, from the beach at Cape Henlopen Delaware, than with a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem. Working with Dr. Sue Anne Wells, Co-Founder of the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy in Chattanooga Tennessee, the Mustang Discovery Ride team will be streaming the National Anthem before the riders start their 5,000-mile cross-country journey that morning and again on October 12th before the group rides into Washington DC. Plans to have the full choir on the beach were put on hold due to Covid concerns.”
For more information visit: https://www.americanhorsepubs.org/newsgroup/29521/25333/
Ginger Duke Visits MLP
Date: August 25, 2021
A special thanks goes out to Ginger Duke, a professional trick rider, and her student, Ellie Butler, for stopping by Mustang Leadership Partners and not only amazing them with all of her stunts, but also sharing her story of perseverance and determination!
For more information visit Dynamite Dames
MLP Travels to Burns, Oregon
Date: March 22, 2021
On March 22, 2021, MLP traveled to Burns, Oregon to the BLM holding pens. They successfully adopted four wild horses for the after school program.
Odyssey 2021
Date: March 10, 2021
Odyssey 2021 hosted by local celebrity and news anchor, LaTrice Currie and a team of enthusiastic CGLA students was an online adventure. While it showcased the personality, the character, the faces of CGLA, Odyssey engaged, electrified, and entertained as the community journeyed through the CGLA cosmos. Wintley Phipps, a world-known baritone and loyal CGLA advocate, joined the festivities as a featured performer. Dynamic, unexpected, and jubilant, Odyssey 2021 re-imagined the landscape of virtual events.
MLP Students Premiere Video at 2020 Equitana
Date: March 4, 2021
What is Equitana?
Equitana began in 1972 as a biannual trade fair in Germany. It has been the leading international exhibition for the equestrian industry for over 35 years. The new Equitana USA aims to be the premier forum that promotes the exchange of ideas, information, and experience to enhance the horse and personal excellence among those with a passion for horses.
Due to Covid-19, Equitana was not able to hold their annual in-person event at the Kentucky Horse Park on September 25-27, 2020. Instead, Equitana presented only a virtual celebration for safety reasons. MLP students and their mustang partners performed to the song “Why Not Me”. Enjoy the music and the choreography.
Some Behind the Scenes Photos:
Mustangs Compete in the WDAA Worlds 2020
Date: December 31, 2020
During the pandemic of Covid-19, our mustangs, Argentina, Bella, James and Lily, trained and competed in the WDAA’s 2020 Virtual Western Dressage Show. They all qualified for the World Championship Finals. See the “Current Horses” tab for more information on these amazing horses.
WDAA is the Western Dressage Association of America. It is a USEF recognized organization established to promote western riding using classical dressage training techniques.
For more information, please visit https://westerndressageassociation.org/
MLP Featured on Wild Side TV
Date: December 14, 2020
What is Wild Side TV?
“Tennessee’s Wild Side, a nine-time Emmy Award winning series, is broadcast by all PBS stations in Tennessee and Kentucky. As a family oriented outdoor adventure show, Wild Side takes viewers from one end of the state to the other in seeking out interesting and entertaining segments highlighting outdoor activities from hunting, fishing and camping to conservation efforts. The longstanding series is a product of TRC Media, the media production division of The Jackson Foundation, and is sponsored by Tennessee State Parks.”
On December 2020, TN Wild Side visited Mustang Leadership Partners in Chattanooga, TN. The attached video is the result of their artistic creation of their time spent at the farm.
Some Behind the Scenes Photos:
Southern Equine Expo
Date: February 21, 2020
Once again, MLP students were excited to attend the Southern Equine Expo on February 21-23, 2020 at the Tennessee Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro, TN. During the three day event, the MLP students shared their stories with their mustangs to the crowd attending. MLP students attended seminars and clinics which only enhanced their personal growth in horsemanship.
Equus Film Festival
New York City, Equus Film Festival
Date: July 28, 2019
Dr. Wells attended the 2017 EQUUS Film Festival in New York City, accompanied by 4 CGLA students, 1 faculty member, and CGLA’s Executive Director, Dr. Elaine Swafford. Chattanooga’s Mustang Leadership Partners’ Documentary When the Dust Settles won a Winnie award at EQUUS Film Festival. A documentary highlighting the parallel struggles and feats of mustangs and disadvantaged girls from Chattanooga’s urban core also won Best Feature Length Documentary Award at the film festival in New York City.
The EQUUS Film Festival highlights and awards the diverse and creative efforts of those who artistically pay homage to the horse. The Chattanooga based documentary When the Dust Settles made its debut in New York.
The hour long film shows the parallel struggles and triumphs of mustangs and disadvantaged girls. Recognized nationally as a “living symbol of the historic and pioneer spirit”, the wild American mustang has preserved through persecution, starvation, abuse, neglect, natural disasters, and predators. It is this resilience, the mustang’s spirit and beauty, and her father’s legacy that inspired Dr. Sue Anne Wells to establish Mustang Leadership Partners (MLP) to help sustain and preserve the breed. Realizing the powerful leadership lessons that mustangs can provide, Dr. Wells launched an equestrian program in 2009 at the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy (CGLA), Tennessee’s first all-girls public charter school, which she helped co-found. CGLA serves primarily underserved minority girls in grades 6-12 and most have never been around a horse prior to starting the program. Meeting two hours each week through the school year, the MLP program exposes girls to a variety of hands-on experiences grounded in science, life skills, and leadership development. The journey of these students- and horses- is spotlighted in When the Dust Settles.
Telly Awards
The Telly Awards was founded in 1979 to honor excellence in local, regional and cable television commercials with non-broadcast video and television programming added soon after. With the recent evolution and rise of digital video (web series, VR, 360 and beyond), the Telly Awards today also reflects and celebrates this exciting new era of the moving image on and offline.
The Telly Awards annually showcases the best work created within television and across video, for all screens. Receiving over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents, Telly Award winners represent work from some of the most respected advertising agencies, television stations, production companies and publishers from around the world. The Telly Awards recognizes work that has been created on the behalf of a client, for a specific brand and/or company or self-directed as a creative endeavor.
Winnie Award
When the Dust Settles, was shown at the EQUUS Film Festival in 2017 where it won both the Wild Horse Full Length Documentary and Best of Festival about Wild Horses WINNIE Awards. This film shows the parallel struggles and triumphs that mustangs and disadvantaged girls from inner city Chattanooga have faced in their lives.
EQUUS Film Festival was “founded in 2013 by director Lisa Diersen and adding Diana De Rosa as co-organizer in 2015, the EQUUS Film Festival has grown into the “don’t miss” equestrian film industry event. In 2017, over 80 films were shown with the opportunity to win coveted WINNIE Awards for being the best in the herd, including Equestrian Art Film, Director, Documentary, Commercial, International, Music Video, People’s Choice and Best of Festival. EQUUS has created WINNIE Award categories for Literature and Art, which has rounded out its commitment to being the home to the storytellers of the horse world.”
Mustangs Participate in Breyerfest July 12-14, 2019
Date: July 16, 2019
MLP travelled to Breyerfest this year! This event celebrates many different breeds and is held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Students from CGLA introduced to a full stadium the mustangs with whom they have established a close bond. Several MLP mustangs, Amis, Argentina, Jolene, and Lily, travelled to Lexington to experience the vibrant community there. They were well behaved, focused on their job, and a crowd pleaser. Many who attended the event enjoyed meeting the mustangs and learning about their history.
MLP’s documentary “When the Dust Settles” was also shown during Breyerfest. This film tells the story of the relationship between the wild horse and the young woman – how the two partner and learn through struggles and victories as well as how to respect and trust one another. Their bond is life changing.
Southern Equine Expo
Date: February 24, 2019
MLP travels again to the Tennessee Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro, TN on Saturday, March 19th 2022. In the morning, our students sold T-shirts to raise awareness of their program and share their love for their mustang partners with the guests who visited. During the event, our students introduced instructor, Grace Thompson, who performed a demo at liberty with her mustangs. During the afternoon, the students attend an all exclusive access to a mounted archery class with the Equestrian Chaos Team.
MLP Students Perform "Mustang Pride"
Date: February 19, 2019
Here is the official video for “Mustang Pride”, a song written by CGLA founder Sue Anne Wells, and performed by two CGLA students, Justice Agnew and Mya Humphrey.
This track is available for download on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, and more! Be sure you purchase this track and support the girls of Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy and the Mustang Leadership Partners student equestrian program.
TALENT
Justice Agnew
Mya Humphrey
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Butter Hits Music
SONG WRITER
Sue Anne Wells
VIDEO PRODUCTION COMPANY
Vityl Media Group
Some Behind the Scenes Photos:
Mustangs Travel to the World Equestrian Games September 14-16, 2018
Date: September 16, 2018
Mustang Leadership Partners is going to The World Equestrian Games at TRYON Equestrian Center. We are so proud to be able to go to WEG and represent the wild American Mustang while we are there. On Saturday, September 15, the MLP students will take center stage and introduce an audience to the magic that is the Mustang. The students will tell how these amazing horses have influenced their lives by teaching them important life lessons. They have gained self-confidence, and are becoming strong leaders. The MLP students will be joined by Mary Jordan who will give a brideless demo on one of her BLM Mustangs.
Every day at the World Equestrian Games MLP’s documentary “When the Dust Settles” will be playing; please check event packets to find times and location.
Back to School Meet and Greet
Date: August 3, 2018
Mustang Leadership Partners will be at Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy to perform for the upcoming sixth-grade class. This will be a great opportunity for the MLP students to use their public speaking, mentoring, and horsemanship skills. The girls will perform their in hand choreography and talk with the sixth-grade class about being in the Mustang Leadership program. The sixth graders will then have the opportunity to meet and pet a BLM Wild Mustang.
Los Angeles Equus Festival June 15-17, 2018
Date: June 21, 2018
Students from Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy and Mustang Leadership Partners traveled to Los Angeles in June for the LA Equus Film Festival where the documentary, When the Dust Settles, was screened. The students attended the VIP party and told about their experiences of being in the film and their personal stories of how bonding with wild horses has changed their lives. Kasidey mentioned that she relates to mustangs because she knows how it feels “to be the only person fighting against big odds”. The crowd enthusiastically applauded and wanted to know more about CGLA and MLP. They complimented the girls’ composure, deorum, and general stage presence. The trip was a great success where fun was had by all, including the chaperones.
Southern Equine Expo
Date: February 24, 2018
MLP travels again to the Tennessee Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro, TN on Saturday, March 19th 2022. In the morning, our students sold T-shirts to raise awareness of their program and share their love for their mustang partners with the guests who visited. During the event, our students introduced instructor, Grace Thompson, who performed a demo at liberty with her mustangs. During the afternoon, the students attend an all exclusive access to a mounted archery class with the Equestrian Chaos Team.
MLP Girls to Perform at North River YMCA
Date: July 27, 2017
Mustang Leadership Partners will be performing at the North River YMCA on July 27, 2017. This will be a great opportunity for young kids in the community to be able to learn about mustangs, see them in action, and be able to meet and pet some of our wonderful horses.
Sue Anne Wells and Amis Qualify for Regional Championships
Date: July 17, 2017
Sue Anne Wells and Amis received their last qualifying score to secure a place at the 2017 USDF Region 3 Championships at First Level. The pair scored a 69.55 on a First level test 3 ride on July 15 at Circle G Ranch in Lynnville, Tennessee. With this score they are also on their way to claiming the All Breeds Award for Amis at the end of this show year. We are very excited about how this horse is coming along. A couple of years ago he was to fearful to even leave the stall at his first show and with just a little bit of time, correct training and care he is confidently strutting down the center line. We could not be more proud of Amis, he is truly a story of the success of the team at Mustang Leadership Partners.
Tryon International Equestrian Center
Date: June 18, 2017
The MLP students were invited to Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) to perform their in-hand choreography on June 17, 2017 during the TIEC Saturday Night Lights event. The girls presented their demo as the opener for the Grand Prix Dressage musical freestyles. The girls and mustangs performed flawlessly in front of a large audience and an electric atmosphere. Yhara was paired with Breeze for this event and together they demonstrated the wonderful characteristics of the Kiger mustangs. Mya performed with Lily, a young mustang who is just learning the ropes of being a performance horse, Mya handled Lily with excellent leadership and maturity. We were also pleased to bring Vinceia, V.C., a graduate member of MLP and a college student at Middle Tennessee State University, with us to perform with Chief one more time. V.C. and Chief share an incredibly close bond and it was wonderful to see these two old friends enjoying themselves and dancing in front of a cheering crowd. The demonstration was narrated by Kasidey who commanded the attention of the audience with interesting information about each of the horses involved in the demo. After the Grand Prix freestyles were completed, we presented a screening of the documentary “When the Dust Settles”. To read more CLICK HERE.
Southern Equine Expo
Date: February 27, 2017
On February 25, 2017, MLP students traveled to Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro, TN, and took part in the Southern Equine Expo. As a part of the experience, students had the opportunity to learn from Celeste Barrett of Equestrian Chaos; a Russian/Cossack trick rider and Roman rider who has worked professionally as a performer for several circus family shows. She is also a stunt performer. In addition to her performances across the nation, she uses her trick riding experience with special needs children as tools for positive reinforcement to overcome physical and mental blocks. Ms. Barrett’s goals are to give children and adults confidence in their abilities to achieve the unthinkable, and the desire to unlock the magic each of us has within.
MLP Girls Perform at Mustang Million event in Ft. Worth, Texas
Date: September 5, 2013
It was 10:00 AM on a Monday morning in the middle of summer vacation. For a late July morning in Tennessee, it was unusually chilly. Brittney, Frida, and Yhara were not at their homes in bed, at the breakfast table, or in front of the television; they were standing at attention by their horses at a Mustang Leadership Partners practice. As Sue Anne Wells called out the choreography, each girl’s face displayed a mixture of concentration, determination, confidence, and joy. Each girl was doing her very best to remember the choreography; each wanted to get it just right!
What would draw these girls out on a Monday morning during their vacation from school? The opportunity of a lifetime – the chance to perform at the Mustang Million event in September in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Mustang Heritage Foundation, in collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management, is presenting the unparalleled Mustang Million event from September 16 to 22 at the Will Rogers Memorial Facility in Fort Worth, Texas. One thousand mustangs will be eligible for participation in this grand event that offers $1 million in cash and prizes to trainers and presenters!
In the midst of one thousand mustangs and thousands of mustang enthusiasts, three students from the Mustang Leadership Partners in Chattanooga, Tennessee will have the amazing opportunity to showcase the beauty and agility of three MLP mustangs – Chief, Breeze, and Satin. As the girls perform a choreographed dance with their horses to country music star Jimmy Wayne’s “Where You’re Going,” they will demonstrate to spectators how stunning, trainable, and controlled wild mustangs can be when adopted, cared for, and properly trained. Chief, Breeze, and Satin are shining examples of the grace of the American mustang, and the MLP girls shine just as brightly when they perform with the horses.
VC, who was not at this particular practice, is the oldest and most experienced of this band of MLP students. Her face lights up when she talks about the upcoming trip to Texas. Having traveled with MLP to an Extreme Mustang Makeover (EMM) event in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, she is no stranger to large mustang adoption events. This trip will be different, however; she and her classmates will be performing in front of a large audience! VC is excited about performing with Chief and the other horses, but she is more excited to see how the mustangs, who are ready for adoption, have grown and progressed during their time with their trainers. Brittney, another seasoned veteran of MLP, is really looking forward to visiting Texas for the first time and staying several nights in the Lone Star State. For some of the girls, this trip will be their first time on an airplane! Brittney also traveled with MLP to the EMM event in Murfreesboro, but this trip will be even more special. Yhara, a 7th grade student, is focused on the choreography, which she loves. She especially enjoys the running with Satin and the sending in a circle because that part is done in unison. The fourth member of the group, Frida, is an alternate for this event and has worked just as hard as her classmates. She has some ballet experience, so as she has practiced, she has primarily focused on the choreography. She really hopes she and her classmates perform well in Texas!
For all the girls, this trip will undoubtedly be a highlight of the 2013-2014 school year! Mustang Million, get ready to host some stars!
MLP Hosts Heritage Foundation’s Camp Wildfire
Date: June 6, 2013
On June 3, 2013, Mustang Leadership Partners had the privilege of hosting Mustang Heritage Foundation (MHF) staff members who spent the day teaching and interacting with MLP students as part of MHF’s Camp Wildfire. Nine MLP students attended Camp Wildfire, and they enjoyed a full day of activities and lessons! In between fun activities such as relay races, acrylic painting, leather tooling, and songwriting, the MLP students learned more about the American mustang and land stewardship from MHF experts.
Kyla Hogan gave an overview of the Bureau of Land Management and the Mustang Heritage Foundation and described how these organizations work to preserve American mustangs. Then Byron Hogan talked with the MLP students about the strengths and characteristics of mustangs, and Randi Blasienz added an inspiring presentation about the efforts of Wild Horse Annie. After spending time reflecting and writing about what they had learned throughout the day, the MLP students finished the camp day with a scavenger hunt, a nice swim, and a water volleyball game! Camp Wildfire was an excellent start to the MLP students’ summer vacation!
Click Here to learn more about the Mustang Heritage Foundation and Camp Wildfire
Three MLP Students Participate in Extreme Mustang Makeover in Murfreesboro, TN and Ft. Worth, TX
Date: May 5, 2013
On May 4, 2013, the Extreme Mustang Makeover returned to the Livestock Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and once again, Mustang Leadership Partners was pleased to be part of the event. This year, however, instead of being mere spectators, three MLP students had the special opportunity to participate in the EMM pick-up!
These three girls showed the ability and versatility of three wild horses that have transformed into trained mounts. In demonstrating for trainers and potential mustang owners how tame and accomplished the horses are, the MLP students exhibited their own leadership and horse-handling skills, as well as the magnificence of the mustang breed.
As if the Extreme Mustang Makeover wasn’t a big enough stage for such a presentation, these same young ladies will also have a chance to show off their skills and the mustangs’ abilities at an unprecedented event in September – Mustang Million in Ft. Worth, Texas. Developed by the Mustang Heritage Foundation, the inaugural Mustang Million event will present 1,000 mustangs and $1 million in cash and prizes.
The MLP students understandably view this as an incredible privilege, and they anticipate this event with great excitement!
MLP Takes the Stage at National Mentoring Summit in Washington DC
Date: February 5, 2013
At the third annual National Mentoring Summit, which convened in January 2013, Mustang Leadership Partners stepped onto the national stage. Dr. Elaine Swafford, Director of Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, presented the unique mission and work of MLP to over 650 corporate and philanthropic leaders from across the nation at this inspiring event. And the audience couldn’t hear enough.
Co-hosted by The Bank of America Charitable Foundation and MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership, the 2013 National Mentoring Summit focused on the theme “Mentoring Works: Inspire. Achieve. Advocate.” Dr. Swafford gave one of the opening addresses to kick-start the conference. She artfully demonstrated that through Mustang Leadership Partners, mentoring works: students from Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy are inspired and encouraged to achieve and advocate – not just for the American mustang – but for themselves as well.
“The outcomes are profound so far,” she stated. “Our mentored are more sure. They are more confident because they met and conquered something new.”
Dr. Swafford artfully described MLP’s history and distinctive approach to developing leadership skills and mentoring relationships:
“Sue Anne Wells recognized the ultimate mentoring relationship was at her very fingertips. She combined her love of horses and her belief in mentorship and created the Mustang Leadership Partners. MLP is a mentorship, leadership and STEM project created to bring hands-on experiences that lead to life-long lessons inspired by the wild American mustang to our urban girls.”
Dr. Swafford’s presentation closed with a clip from the documentary Untamed Legacy: America’s Wild Mustang, which showcases the MLP mentorship model in action. At this National Mentoring Summit, where hundreds of leaders representing hundreds of ideas and programs gathered, MLP added an exciting and inspiring approach to a national conversation about best practices in mentoring children and young adults.
Sue Anne Wells Claims Bronze Medals
Date: April 24, 2012
In April 2012, Sue Anne Wells, director of Mustang Leadership Partners, earned her Bronze Medal Rider Award form the United States Dressage Federation, USDF. She accomplished this with two of her mustangs Narcil and Dart. Both Narcil and Dart are BLM mustangs that were adopted form Nevada. The Bronze medal is earned by acquiring two scores of 60% or higher at First, Second and Third Level. These scores must be earned by different judges at different shows. This past year the annual USDF awards were announced and distributed in New Orleans, LA.
Ballet Tennessee and Mustang Leadership Partners: A Graceful Collaboration
Date: July 15, 2011
In July 2011, dancers from Ballet Tennessee and students from Mustang Leadership Partners had the opportunity to share their respective passions for dance and horses, and in the collaborative process, they found some common ground. These students came from all walks of life: the inner city, rural communities, public and private schools. Together they translated what they learned about mustangs into an inspiring performance for the community. The article “Young Dancers in Chattanooga, Tennessee Explore the Spirit of the Wild Mustang,” originally published in the fall 2011 edition of the American Mustang and Burro Association Journal, describes this unique partnership between Ballet Tennessee and MLP.
