The Supreme Extreme Mustang Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas
I had the pleasure of attending the" Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover" last weekend at the Will Rogers Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The Mustangs were the stars and they and their trainers competed for $100,000 in prize money. This being richest wild horse competition in history.
These mustangs were all adopted prior to the competition back in April where 108 head were placed for adoption at an average cost of $650 per head. The adoption sale provided by Superior Livestock Productions in Fort Worth and brought over $70,000.
These horses would be competing for the first place prize of $50,000. This group of horses were all six years old. The older horses are harder to adopt and generally headed to long term holding facilities, so this Supreme Extreme was created to add value to those older horses. The trainers had approximately 120 days to take a completely wild horse and turn them into a usable well trained animals. The competition consisted of a series of obstacles and had to complete basic maneuvers such as walk, trot and lope, stop and back. It also included horsemanship and a trail riding component as well as cow work.
The 108 horses were narrowed down to the final 20 which competed Saturday evening, which we attended. This finals included all of the above but with a freestyle twist and spiced up with tricks, mounted shooting, and costumes along with choreographed music.
The Will Rogers Coliseum was filled with excited spectators to witness this first ever competition. I was stunned at what these trainers had accomplished and the quality of horses was amazing. I saw several I wanted to bring home.
The Bureau of Land Management enjoys a partnership with the Mustang Heritage Foundation and has produced one of the most successful adoption programs in our history. The BLM estimates more than 38,000 wild horses and burros are roaming in 10 Western States. Wild horse herd numbers can double every four years so thousands of horses each year must be removed to control the population. Since 2007, Mustang Heritage Foundation has placed over 2,000 horses to good homes.
This was a most entertaining and a heart felt experience, to see an American Icon given a second chance and brought into the light so we all can appreciate another part of our heritage. Happy Trails, Dk
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