For the first time, the Extreme Mustang Makeover is traveling to Shartlesville, Pennsylvania, Aug. 22-23, 2014. This event, presented by the Mustang Heritage Foundation and the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program, is currently seeking youth and adult trainers to participate in the 100-day wild horse training challenge held at the Mountain Springs Arena.
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 then made available each year to the public for adoption.
Adults, ages 18 and over, and their assigned mustangs will be judged on the horse’s body condition and new skills at the event while competing in classes including handling and conditioning, a pattern class and a combined leading and trail class. The top 10 from the preliminary go-rounds will compete in a freestyle finals performance on Saturday, Aug.23. Finalists will wow the judges and crowd with a routine that is set to music in hopes of winning their share of $10,000.
Youth, ages 8-17, can train and gentle a mustang yearling they adopt to be shown in-hand in three classes: handling and conditioning, leading trail and freestyle. A $3,000 purse is offered for the youth division.
Interested horsemen and women are encouraged to visit http://extrememustangmakeover.com/events/extreme-mustang-makeover-pennsylvania/ for complete rules and trainer applications. Completed applications must be received by April 15, 2014, to be considered for the event.
Selected trainers will pick up their assigned mustangs May 14, at the BLM Wild Horse Facility in Ewing, Illinois, and work to train and gentle the mustang through the competition date.
Adult mustangs competing in the Extreme Mustang Makeover will be available for adoption through an auction on Saturday, Aug. 23, immediately following the freestyle finals. Adoption fees will be set by competitive bid. BLM representatives will be on-site to approve interested adopters.
The Extreme Mustang Makeovers are made possible through our partnership with the Bureau of Land Management and the generosity of our sponsors Ram Rodeo, Western Horseman, Zoetis, Vetericyn, Gist Silversmiths, Martin Saddlery, Classic Equine and Smith Brothers.
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 and Yearling Challenges 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 or call 866-4MUSTANGS for more information.
