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For mothers who love horses and who don't care about sleeping in on Mother's Day, there's no better place to be on Sunday than the Maybell Community Park.

Hundreds of horses fresh off the range will be driven by the park on U.S. Highway 40 as Sombrero Ranches conducts its annual horse drive. Spectators can expect to view more than 500 energized horses stream by.

The horses are destined for one of the riding stables operated by Sombrero across the state, including one in Steamboat Springs. Sombrero also leases horses to other riding stables. The company is operated by the Rex and Queeda Walker family, together with many longtime employees.

The horses spend the winter on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management between Maybell and Browns Park. After a winter of fending for themselves without human contact, the horses are spirited and fascinating to watch in such large numbers.

Steamboat's Bill Montag was among the experienced hands who participated Monday in the roundup or "gather" that precedes the horse drive. He had an interesting encounter with a wild mustang.

"There were some BLM mustangs that got caught up in the herd and had to be turned back out (released)," Montag said. "I turned 'em back on Shepherd's Knob, and that mustang ran right alongside me. That was awesome."

This Sunday marks the first time the community of Maybell has organized to make the public aware of the chance to watch the horse drive from the park, which offers a campground and a nice lawn with shade trees. Organizer Lisa Balstad said it's a rare opportunity.

"I don't know of any other place where you can see something like this," Balstad said.

Balstad emphasized that people coming to Maybell for the horse drive want to avoid being caught on U.S. 40 while the horses are passing. For that reason, it's important to arrive between 8:30 and 9 a.m. to be in position for the drive. It is expected to pass through town anytime between 9 a.m. and noon.

In addition to camping in the park (there are improved restrooms and showers and a limited number of hookups), rooms are available at the historic Victory Hotel, right across a side street from the park. Call (970) 272-3773.

Balstad said the Maybell Women's Club has arranged for a caterer to serve breakfast burritos, juice, coffee and rolls in the morning. Burgers will be served for lunch.

This year's efforts to increase public awareness about the horse drive is part of a broader effort to highlight opportunities for cultural and heritage tourism in Northwest Colorado, Winnie Delliquadri of the city of Steamboat Springs said.

"I've been working with each of the communities in Northwest Colorado to determine regional themes and stories," Delliquadri said. "In Maybell, the women's club is the group that is taking the lead on cultural heritage tourism. Their interests are to generate community pride through telling their stories, to support local businesses and to raise funds for community projects."

The Maybell Women's Club will be soliciting donations for new playground equipment Sun--day.

-- To reach Tom Ross call 871-4205

or e-mail tross@steamboatpilot.com