The Extreme Mustang Makeover Trail Challenge held in Norco, California, came to a conclusion Saturday, May 17, 2014, at the George Ingalls Equestrian Event Center. Joe Misner of Joshua Tree, California, and the 4-year-old Mustang gelding Kenai were awarded the adult championship at the sixth annual wild horse training event held in Horsetown, U.S.A.
Twenty-nine adult trainers spent the weekend showcasing their assigned Mustang’s skills in the arena and down the horse trails of Norco. The horses were virtually untouched before the training period began in April. The geldings, ages four and five, represented herd management areas from California, Nevada and Wyoming.
Kenai, named after Misner’s hometown in Alaska, was easy to work with from the beginning, Misner said. “He had the attitude that he wanted to be a part of something. I was leading and introducing him to new things in the first couple of days.” The handsome bay gelding was gathered from the Red Rock Lakes herd management area in California.
After finishing in the top three in three out of four preliminary classes, Misner was confident going into to the freestyle finals. “I tried to concentrate on straight horsemanship this year,” he said. “Kenai had a great stop from day one.” Misner’s freestyle performance combined horsemanship maneuvers and cow work. The win was Misner’s first championship at an Extreme Mustang Makeover event. This was the third time he competed in the Norco trail challenge.
Stacey Riggs of Eagle Creek, Oregon, took reserve honors with the gelding General George. The duo performed a patriotic freestyle routine and received the fan favorite award by the participating audience. The 4-year-old gelding gathered from Paisley, Oregon, also received the Cowboy Magic Shine On Award for being the best-groomed horse in the competition.
The competing Mustangs were available for public adoption immediately following the freestyle finals. All 29 mustangs were placed into new homes for an average adoption price of $1,600. For complete event and adoption results visit www.extrememustangmakeover.com.
New to the Norco event, eight youth trainers competed in hand with Mustang yearlings they adopted before the competition. Local resident Lacey Clarke and her gelding Rocky were first in the overall point standings. View highlight videos and photos from the event at www.facebook.com/extrememustangmakeover.
The Extreme Mustang Makeovers are made possible through partnership with the Bureau of Land Management and the generosity of sponsors Ram Rodeo, Western Horseman, Zoetis, Vetericyn, Gist Silversmiths, Martin Saddlery and Classic Equine, Cowboy Magic, Roper Apparel and Footwear, and Smith Brothers.
Since the first Extreme Mustang Makeover event was held in 2007, the Mustang Heritage Foundation has facilitated the adoptions of more than 5,000 gentled American Mustangs. In 2014, the Foundation in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management will continue to increase its efforts to raise awareness of adoptions of America’s Mustangs.
Future events will be held at:
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
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 the Youth Employment Program 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.
