As a follow up to the exciting 2013 Mustang Million event, the Mustang Heritage Foundation and the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Program are returning to Fort Worth to host the Extreme Mustang Makeover, Sept. 18-20, 2014, at the Will Rogers Equestrian Center. As a special addition, those attending will have the opportunity to adopt trained as well as untrained Mustangs throughout the event.
Youth and adult trainers picked up Mustang geldings at the end of May and will spend the summer preparing their horse for the event. These horses, which were virtually untouched by humans, represent dozens of wild horse herds located all over the West.
Mustang and adult rider teams will compete in preliminary classes, including: handling and conditioning, a pattern class, and a trail course with in-hand and riding obstacles. The top 10 horse and trainer pairs will advance to the freestyle finals Saturday evening, in which they have the chance to show off their skills and creativity with music, costumes, and props. The freestyle finals are a thrilling conclusion that showcases the Mustangs’ trainability, athleticism, and grace. Trainers will compete for about $50,000 in prize money.
Youth, ages eight to 17, will show Mustang yearlings in hand in three classes, including: handling and conditioning, leading trail, and a freestyle class. The youth freestyle is scheduled for Friday evening in the John Justin Arena. Overall winners will be awarded their share of $10,000 in prize money.
All preliminary classes are free to attend. Admission to the youth freestyle class is $10. Tickets to the adult Top 10 Freestyle Finals Saturday evening are $15 for general admission while box seats are priced at $25. Please visit www.extrememustangmakeover.com for tickets and event details.
Those attending will have three opportunities to adopt a Mustang at this year’s event. Adult competing Mustang geldings will be available for public adoption on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 12 noon through a competitive bid adoption. The Mustangs qualifying for the Top 10 Finals will be available for adoption immediately following the performance Saturday evening. A great selection of untrained Mustangs and burros will also be available for adoption Friday and Saturday, 8 am to 4 pm, on a first-come, first-served basis for $125.
The Bureau of Land Management must approve potential adopters before they take a Mustang home. Approval can be done on-site and includes facility and horse trailer requirements. For more information about the wild horse adoption opportunity, please contact the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program at 866-4MUSTANGS or visit blm.gov.
The Extreme Mustang Makeovers are made possible through a partnership with the Bureau of Land Management and the generosity of sponsors Ram Trucks, Western Horseman, Zoetis, Vetericyn, Cowboy Magic, Gist Silversmiths, Martin Saddlery and Classic Equine, Roper Apparel and Footwear, and Smith Brothers.
The purpose of the Extreme Mustang Makeover is to showcase the beauty, versatility and trainability of these rugged horses that roam freely on public lands throughout the West, where they are protected by the BLM under federal law. The BLM periodically removes excess animals from the range to ensure herd health and protect rangeland resources. Thousands of the removed animals are then made available each year to the public for adoption. More than 5,000 wild horses have been adopted through Mustang Heritage Foundation events and programs since 2007.
The mission of the Mustang Heritage Foundation and the goal of the Extreme Mustang Makeover events are to increase the adoption of Mustangs across the country. The Mustang Heritage Foundation created the Extreme Mustang Makeover events to showcase the recognized value of Mustangs through a national training competition. The nonprofit organization also created the Trainer Incentive Program and Camp Wildfire to raise awareness about America’s Mustangs. For more information visit www.mustangheritagefoundation.org.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s mission is to manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield. In fiscal year 2013, the BLM generated $4.7 billion in receipts from public lands. Visit blm.gov for more information.
Date Event – City, State
July 25-26, 2014 Extreme Mustang Makeover – Nampa, ID
Aug. 8-9, 2014 Extreme Mustang Makeover – Decatur, AL
Aug. 22-23, 2014 Extreme Mustang Makeover – Shartlesville, PA
Sept. 18-20, 2014 Extreme Mustang Makeover – Fort Worth, TX
