Extreme Mustang Makeover

Back by popular demand-the Extreme Mustang Makeover is back at this year’s Midwest Horse Fair®! Trainers from across the country picked up their wild mustangs in January and had approximately 80 days to gentle the wild horse in hopes of winning a share of the $10,000 estimated purse. The Mustangs competing in the Extreme Mustang Makeover challenge are mares that were virtually untouched prior to their January pick-up. Horses will be judged based on their body condition and their newly learned skills. Both horse and trainer will compete in a series of classes that include an in-hand obstacle course and a horse course where the horse and rider team must maneuver over obstacles. The top 10 from the preliminary rounds will have the chance to win the prize money during the freestyle finale on Sunday afternoon.

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. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) protects these iconic animals under federal law and 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. More than 3,300 wild horses have been adopted through Mustang Heritage Foundation events and programs since 2007.

2012 Extreme Mustang Makeover Trainer List

The Adoption
All Mustangs competing in the Extreme Mustang Makeover will be available for adoption during an auction on Sunday afternoon. Adoption fees will be set by competitive bid. To qualify to adopt, individuals must be at least 18 with no record of animal abuse. In addition, adopters must have suitable facilities and can adopt no more than four animals. Adoption applications may be obtained and approved onsite by the Bureau of Land Management during the event. Adopted horses must remain with the adopter for one year before “title” of ownership is provided from the BLM.

About the Mustang Heritage Foundation
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.

About the Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for managing 258 million acres of public lands, located mostly in the West. Wild horses and burros roaming public rangelands are managed in a manner consistent with BLM's overall multiple-use mission, as set forth in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. For more information, visit www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov or call 866-468-7826.