A unique event will be chronicled in a series of six programs produced by award-winning Envision Video of San Antonio, Texas. Set to begin in August, the programs will document the progress of the Challenge.
It all begins with an invitation to every horse trainer in America to participate in a true test of basic horsemanship, and an opportunity to win $25,000 in prize money.
The Mustang Heritage Foundation, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Wild Horse and Burro Commission, will bring100 wild Mustangs from the Nevada hills to the Fallon BLM holding facility in Nevada and the Pauls Valley facility south of Oklahoma City. The Mustangs will all be sorrel or bay and similar in age, size and condition.
Trainers will pick up the Mustangs at either the Fallon or Pauls Valley facility from June 6-9, 2007. They will have until Sept. 22, 2007 to train their horse. On that date, trainers will compete with their Mustangs at the Will Rogers Equestrian Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The trained Mustangs will be judged on conditioning, groundwork and a “Horse Course” which represents maneuvers and obstacles found in trail and recreational riding situations.
All Mustangs that participate in the Extreme Mustang Makeover event will be available for adoption through an adoption auction held at the Will Rogers Equestrian Center the next day. Interested adopters will be able to watch the horses compete on Sept. 22, then bid on Sept. 23.
In addition to $25,000 in prize money, trainers will be reimbursed up to $500 for costs related to hauling, training and medical expenses for the Mustang they have in training. Trainers will also receive 15 percent commission on the amount of the adoption bids exceeding $200.
“Mustangs represent the spirit of America,” says Patti Colbert, Mustang Foundation Executive Director. “We’re excited to present the Mustang Makeover and thrilled for the opportunity Wide World of Horses gives for getting the message out to millions of viewers.”
Wide World of Horses airs on RFD-TV at 3:30 and 9:30 p.m. CST every Monday, and on Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. The 30-minute program features a broad spectrum of the equine world’s most exciting events and individuals, including NRHA Inside Reining and Les Vogt’s Equine Insights.
For information on Wide World of Horses, visit www.wideworldofhorses.com.
For information on the Extreme Mustang $25,000 Makeover, visit www.mustangheritagefoundation.org.
That is very interesting.
I think this sounds exciting. I was glad to read that there are standards that have to be met by the facilities and trainers before they are allowed to compete. I also believe it is great that they are adopting the mustangs that will be trained. I am however confused as to why they all must be similar in size and color. Why should that matter?
I’ve read about this before, and it’s amazing how these horses turn out. I think it’s a great idea, and I’d love to do this someday (although it probably won’t happen).