PAGE 8
TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012
SAFETY FROM PAGE 1
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
LINDSEY MAYFIELD/KANSAN
Lawrence Police Officer Mike McAtee assists juniors Lilly Maggiortrott, left, and Kathryn Langhofer, right, with a self-defense tactic. McAtee, who has more than 20 years of experience in law enforcement, taught a free self-defense class held at PUNCH Boxing + Fitness last Saturday.
Although only women took the class, Heleniak said men need to be just as prepared to defend themselves as women. He said one of his male employees was mugged on his way home from work.
"Men have bigger egos," Heleniak said. "It's all right to not know something; you just have to admit it. You need to learn. You need to make sure you're safe."
Gates said that she participated in the class partially because of her experience being assaulted, but also to learn what more she could do to protect herself. Luckily for her, when she and her friend were attacked walking home that night, they were able to fight their assailants until two passersby intervened. They escaped that night by what she called "random chance," but not every victim is as fortunate.
McAtee ended the class by playing the surveillance video of the abduction of Kelsey Smith. Smith was an Overland Park teen who was taken from the parking lot of a Target store and murdered later that evening.
One woman asked how Smith's abductor was able to force her into a car in the middle of the day in such a highly trafficked area.
"I don't think she had a plan," McAtee replied. "What is your
plan going to be?"
Heleniak said PUNCH Boxing + Fitness plans to hold self-defense classes about every two months. Both he and McAtee, however, teach weekly boxing classes at their Lawrence location. McAtee teaches class Mondays at 5:30 a.m. and Saturdays at 8:15 a.m. Heleniak teaches Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m.
Edited by Luke Ranker
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Shawn Lewis leaned against the corral paneling of the indoor arena talking with fellow horsemen about the unique traits of a breed that took over his life. He watched the horses in front of him, fresh from the range, with rapt attention and a pride that only Mustang owners can describe.
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Lewis, who co-founded the sanctuary one year ago, is a retired engineer. At the sanctuary, the training process begins with 90 days of training. After the horse completes that training, Lewis pairs horses with owners based on the characteristics of both. Once a match is made, Lewis requires owners to go through a 20-hour training session.
Lewis, owner of the Legendary Mustang Sanctuary in Illinois, trains horses for private ownership. He and his wife Kathy drove five hours from Alhambra, III., to this weekends U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management National Wild Horse and Burro Program adoption event at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. Although training the horses is the goal, maintaining the heritage of the American Mustang gives that goal a larger purpose.
"Once you bond with a Mustang and they give you their heart and choose you as their leader, you better be ready to step up, because it's a lot like raising a child," Lewis said.
Dexter Hedrick, director of the Hutchinson Correctional Facility Wild Horse and Burro Program, understands the love affair with the Mustang. The program matches 12 to 15 inmates with Mustangs for training and later adoption by private owners. Hedrick has seen firsthand how the animals bond with convicted criminals.
Shawn Lewis planned to leave Lawrence with at least two new members of the Legendary Mustang stable. As a member of the BLM's Trainer Incentive Program that promotes Mustang training facilities in many different regions of the country, the Lewises continue to promote the breed that provides their inspiration. The Trainer Incentive Program provides homes for the horses that don't get adopted at adoption events.
"They're different because they value family and relationships a little more," Branham said. "They're struggling to survive out in the wild. I believe we need to have some in the wild, but they're struggling. They're surviving. They're looking for their meals, water and shelter, but they're also looking for a relationship, and I want to show with the right training these animals can make great partners."
"It isn't, Oh, this is just another horse." Lewis said. "This is my Mustang,' and they're proud of their Mustang."
With Mustangs, the relationship between owner and animal is unique. Cindy Branham, certified horse trainer and clinician from Topeka, trains several Mustangs for adoption.
With the wild horse population doubling every four years, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is hosting 40 events this year in locations throughout the country. When the Wild Horse and Burro Program determines that public lands cannot support the number of animals, horses are removed from the range for adoption. The horses that don't get adopted are returned to the nearest BLM holding center to be adopted at a later event.
around animals," Hedrick said. "These guys are learning how to build relationships with the animals, and this is directly transferable from the animals to people. They're learning a lot in life that they may have not experienced before. They have something to care about that cares about them."
"Mustangs are all we work with." Lewis said. "So far we've successfully placed 12 horses. Everyone we've worked with is in love with their Mustangs."
— Edited by Emma McElhaney
"Most of the guys that come to work for us have never been
"A lot of people have the misunderstanding that this event is a rescue," said Paul McGuire, U.S. Bureau of Land Management
For Lewis, the rewards of adopting a Mustang outweigh those of owning a standard breed.
The BLM brought more than 50 horses from across the western U.S. to the event in Lawrence. Adoption candidates are vetted thoroughly by the agency. Requirements for adoption include being 18 years old with no record of animal abuse, the ability to provide a 400-square-foot corral with access to food, water and shelter. The adoption fee is $125.
McGuire said the nationwide program is ongoing and aims to prevent the overgrazing and damage of public lands.
Public Affairs Specialist, "We don't have a situation where there's a shortage of horses or the horses are in peril. The issue is one of management."
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Two Mustangs roam the pastures of the Legendary Mustang Sanctuary in Alhambra, III. Shawn Lewis, owner of the sanctuary, said that it's very stressful for a captured horse to ride in a trailer for a long time, so he lets them run free on the pasture grounds to let them calm down and get settled.
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