The Mustang Summit heads to Woodstock’s Soulful Prairies Aug. 25

The Mustang Summit is galloping into the Soulful Prairies sanctuary and healing center in Woodstock on Sunday, Aug. 25, as part of the initiative to expand mustang education to the horse-loving general public.

The summit is a platform for mustang enthusiasts to learn, express views, share experiences, and discuss issues on an open stage and in a conversationally safe space. It features demos, discussions, and panels on off-range mustang topics and issues. Adoptable mustangs will be available for adoption on Sunday.

Soulful Prairies provides guests with a family-friendly environment for visitors to learn about American Mustangs and programs available to those who are interested or who are in need.

Meet “Year of the Mustang” Long Rider Jake Harvath, riding two mustangs across the United States. Jake Harvath is a long-distance rider from Heber City, Utah. He is riding a 6,000-mile horseback journey of mustangs from Utah to the Atlantic coast. His mission is to show the usefulness and versatility of mustangs and to educate the public about the need for adoption. His horses, Denver, Bella and Eddy, are showing the world the qualities that mustangs possess. Giving the world a look at what it’s like to cross America on the backs of wild horses.

There will be demos and educational sessions. The schedule opens at 10 a.m. with a prayer drum opening with Linda Bruce and Annamaria Sims. At 10:15 a.m., It will be Charlie Sims on “Growing Up With Autism & Horses, followed by Linda Bruce with an “Introduction to Equine Gestalt” at 11 a.m.

At noon, Sky Epperson & Annamaria Sims will offer “Body Before Mind” mustang training. At 1 p.m., there will be a Mustang Ballet Classical Dressage Long-Reining with Jill McCrae & Ambiante.

At 2 p.m., meet Jake Harvath who is doing a cross-country mustang ride, “Year of the Mustang.”

At 3 p.m., it will be the Sky Epperson Mustang Adoption Academy, followed by an “Introduction to Equine Body Work” with Annamaria Sims at 4 p.m.

Three films will be shown, starting at 10 a.m. with “H.O.O.V.E.S.,” a documentary about a veterans program in Ohio using horses.

At 11:30 a.m., see “The Mustangs: America’s Wild Horses,” a documentary addressing the current conditions facing the American Mustangs today.

At 1 p.m., it will be the documentary “Freedom Reigns,” about a mustang sanctuary located in California.

Or attend a panel discussion on “Mustangs and Mental Health” with the Rev. John Matis, Sarah Matis, Linda Bruce, and Dana Price at 2 p.m.

At 3 p.m., the panel will be “So, You Want A Mustang, Tales From Our First Mustang Year,” with Rebecca Castiello, and Rachel and Alexi Zurkowski, followed by “Mustangs and Veterans” with Patti Gruber and Sky Epperson at 4 p.m.

It will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the sanctuary at 4706 Alden Road. Tickets are $20 or $10 for kids under age 13.

For tickets, visit equusfilmfestival.ticketspice.com/soulful-prairies-mustang-summit.

The Mustang Summit is partnering with The Wild Horse Refuge in Craig Colorado, part of The Wild Animal Sanctuary, founded by Patrick Craig.

The Mustang Summit will be a safe environment to ask questions, listen to experts, and watch training seminars and demos. The goal is to help the general public understand more about the current conditions of the American mustang horse “off range.”

Soulful Prairies offers a safe environment to explore the equine gestalt process with Linda Bruce. Through this experiential method, Bruce guides individuals to the awareness that they hold their own answers, creating new perspectives.

The Wild Horse Refuge is a private sanctuary that was created entirely for rescued wild mustangs that were taken from BLM Herd Management Areas located within Colorado. The wild horses living on this special property are now protected and have regained the freedom and independence they had prior to government interference.

EQUUS Film & Arts Fest highlights and rewards the diverse and creative efforts of those who pay artistic homage to the horse. Every horse has a story, it’s the mission at the EQUUS Film & Arts Fest to share those stories, through film, art, and literature.

Visit www.equusfilmfestival.net or follow on Facebook.