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Trainers Needed for Extreme Mustang Makeover

The Extreme Mustang Makeover is stopping in West Springfield, Massachusetts, June 15-17; Reno, Nevada, June 23-24; and Lexington, Kentucky Aug. 17-19. This event, produced by the Mustang Heritage Foundation, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Program, is currently seeking youth and adult trainers to participate in the 100-day wild horse training challenge.

Adult Division

The purpose of the competition 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 held in off-range facilities and are made available each year to the public for adoption.

Adults, ages 18 and over, and their assigned mustangs will compete in preliminary classes, including: handling and conditioning, a pattern class, and a trail course with in-hand and riding obstacles in hopes of winning their share of $25,000. For each event, the top-10 trainers will be selected to participate in the exciting Freestyle Finals performance scheduled for Saturdays, June 17, June 24 and July 8, where competitors showcase their mustang’s skills with costumes, music and props. 

Adult mustangs competing in the Extreme Mustang Makeover will be available to the public for adoption via competitive bid immediately following the freestyle finals. BLM representatives will be on-site to approve interested adopters.

Youth Division

Youth trainers, ages 8 to 17, will compete in-hand with 18-24 month old mustangs in three classes, including: handling and conditioning, leading trail, and a freestyle class. Peter Whitmore of Orange, MA will be hosting the youth division of the Massachusetts Extreme Mustang Makeover. Rebecca Bowman of Emerson, GA will be hosting the youth division of the Kentucky Extreme Mustang Makeover. Awards and prizes will be determined by event manager. More details to be announced.

There will not be a youth division offered for the Nevada Extreme Mustang Makeover.

Interested horsemen and women are encouraged to visit http://extrememustangmakeover.com/ for applications and rules. Completed applications must be received by application deadlines listed below to be considered for the event. Selected trainers will pick up their assigned mustangs in March and work to train and gentle the mustang through the competition date. Trainers for the Massachusetts EMM will pick up their mustangs March 3-4 in Logan Township, New Jersey. Trainers for the Nevada EMM will pick up their mustangs March 10-11 in Palomino Valley, Nevada. Trainers for the Kentucky EMM will pick up March 17-18 in Ewing, Illinois.

2017 Extreme Mustang Makeover Application Deadlines

West Springfield, Massachusetts – Feb. 3

Reno, Nevada – Feb. 3

Lexington, Kentucky – Feb. 24

About the Mustang Heritage Foundation

The mission of the Mustang Heritage Foundation is to create and promote programs and activities that provide information and education about wild horses, elevate their image and desirability, provide opportunities to become involved in the wild horse experience and secure adequate numbers of caring homes for excess horses. Working in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, the Mustang Heritage Foundation is passionate about the successful placement of mustangs into private care so future generations can enjoy this distinctive feature of our American heritage. The Mustang Heritage Foundation has placed over 7,500 mustangs into private care since 2007. 

About the Bureau of Land Management

The Bureau of Land Management offers wild horses and burros that were removed from the range for adoption into private care. Since 1971, the BLM has adopted out more than 235,000 wild horses and burros nationwide. Potential adopters can attend an offsite adoption event, visit a BLM adoption facility, or participate in an Internet Adoption event. For general questions on adopting a wild horse or burro, visit the Frequently Asked Questions page. 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 subsurface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. In Fiscal Year 2015, the BLM generated $4.1 billion in receipts from activities occurring on public lands. 

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