Horse Illustrated Magazine

The Mustang Heritage Foundation (MHF) is shaking up the horse industry again as it offers a sister event to the highly successful Extreme Mustang Makeover with its $100,000 guaranteed Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover.

“Fans of the Extreme Mustang Makeover already know that the Foundation has been very successful in placing nearly 2,000 yearling, three and four-year-old mustangs for adoption after a training competition,” said Executive Director Patti Colbert. “Now, there is a large population of older horses being managed by the Bureau of Land Management that need adoption. So, we are bumping it to another level by providing a competition for trainers who adopt a five or six-year-old wild horse, train the animal and then compete for $100,000.”

Unlike the current Extreme Mustang Makeover, where horses are randomly assigned to trainers, the Supreme Extreme will allow trainers to choose their horses and adopt them prior to the competition. Up to four horses can be adopted at one time and current BLM adoption requirements will apply. In order to adopt, applicants must be at least 18 years old, have no prior conviction for inhumane treatment of animals or violations of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act and be able to demonstrate that adequate housing, food, water and facilities will be available to humanely care for the animal. Specific facility requirements also apply that pertain to type and height of corral as well as shelter from the elements. For complete adoption requirements go to www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov or call 866-4Mustangs.

A special Superior Livestock Auction will be televised on RFD TV April 25 at 11 a.m. CST. Trainers will be able to view the horses available for adoption on the Web prior to bidding in the studio or by telephone for the horse of their choice. The minimum bid will be $125. Horses will then be shipped to BLM holding facilities in different parts of the country in order to allow trainers to pick the horse up at a location nearest them.

The $100,000 Supreme Extreme Mustang Challenge will be held August 12-15 in Fort Worth, Tex. There will be no entry fee, however, trainers will be required to provide a stall fee and cattle fee, if necessary, for each horse entered.

Competition will be similar to that of the Extreme Mustang Makeover and will consist of body condition scoring, which measures the overall health and condition of the animal; an in hand course, which requires the trainer to demonstrate their ability to handle the Mustang on foot, including moving through an obstacle course, picking up the horse’s feet and loading it into a trailer; and a “horse course,” which requires the trainer to ride the horse through a series of obstacles and complete basic maneuvers, such as a walk, trot and lope, stop and back. Finalists will compete in a freestyle competition to determine the winner and are encouraged to use props, music and other theatrical methods to demonstrate the skills they have taught their Mustangs since pickup.

“We’ve very excited about this new competition and believe it will be one of the most true tests of horsemanship in the industry,” Colbert said. “Just 100 horses will be available to choose from, which means this will be a relatively narrow field competing for the $100,000 guaranteed purse.”

To learn more, go to extrememustangmakeover.com or call 512.869.3225.