Linda Hanick

Board Member

A few years ago a friend suggested that one of the young fillies belonging to Linda's daughter resembled the pale palomino stallion in the PBS "Nature" program and shared the video with her. Linda was surprised to learn about this wild herd for the first time, even though she had previously lived in Montana for nearly 10 years. In the summer of 2009, she and her husband, Vic, decided to travel north and learn more about Cloud and the herd of wild horses who lived in the Pryor Mtns. Since then they have traveled there several times a year, to experience the magic of the wild mustangs on the mountain top and canyon area. About the same time, an active group of wild horse advocates became active in Ft. Collins, Northern Colorado Wild Horse and Burro Partners, and Linda became active in that group--through educational meetings, research, rallies and protests, meetings with USGS research teams, and an intense sharing of knowledge. Linda quickly realized that the management of our wild horses was not only a humane issue, but also political, scientific, and fiscal. Sine 2009, Linda has become an active advocate on various other levels, from arranging education opportunities and booths at farmer's markets, to arranging meetings with BLM offices and visiting various wild horse herds, and to meeting with members of Congress in Washington.

Linda has a graduate degree in Education--and enjoyed teaching Middle School English and Speech and Drama before she and Vic opened Great Harvest Bread Co., Kansas City, MO. After 23+ years, Linda and Vic sold their bakery and moved back west, to beautiful Estes Park, CO. She now helps her daughter with her business, substitutes in the local schools, and still spends time with her two "grandhorses," while her daughter travels. Vic bakes bread for fun now, and they both enjoy their mountain life in Estes Park, with their dachshund and greyhound--hiking, biking, skiing, and snowshoeing. But one of their most memorable trips each year is their camping trip on top of Pryor Mountain with Cloud and the Pryor Mtn. herd. which re-energizes an appreciation for the outdoors and the importance of protecting our wild horses. (Pictured: Linda with her husband, Vic, with Cloud atop the Pryor Mountains)