Event Promotes Mustang Adoption
See what a horse trainer can do with a wild mustang in just 100 days at the next Extreme Mustang Makeover. The big event showcases both the trainer and the previously wild horse as part of the Mustang Heritage Spectacular, sponsored by the Mustang Heritage Foundation.
“In just 100 days from picking their mustang out of a pen, they’ll take their mustang through haltering, saddling, lifting their feet to work on them, and riding them,” says Devon O’Day, Mustang Heritage Foundation. “We’ve seen mustangs at previous makeovers sit on a beanbag, walk across a bridge and run through obstacles. One was doing slides and spins like a Texas quarter horse event. Most of them work without a bridle and bit in the show.”
The Mustang Makeover promotes mustang and wild burro adoption by raising awareness of their potential. The Mustang Heritage Foundation is dedicated to finding homes for wild horses and burros. In the past, they worked extensively with the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program. More recently, they’ve worked with the U.S. Forestry Service to find homes for the northern California Devil’s Garden wild horses.
“Devil’s Garden mustangs tend to be in great demand as they’re often bigger than other mustangs,” says O’Day. “Their bloodlines include workhorses and cavalry horses that were turned loose when no longer needed.”
Horse trainers are invited to apply to the foundation for the opportunity to train a mustang and show. “All the trainers pick up their wild mustangs on the same day, 90 to 120 days before the event,” says O’Day. “They’ll be different ages, but all more than 2 years old and rideable. Some, especially young males, have bone or teeth injuries from fighting while in the herd.”
This year, trainers will have the full 120 days to prepare their horses. They’ll bring them to the Williamson County Ag Expo Park in Franklin, Tenn., June 20 to 23 for the Spectacular.
The program will include a trail ride, music for mustangs, a wild horse art event, and three horse shows. More than 100 vendors will be exhibiting.
Mustang Makeovers end with an auction. Prospective owners will have had a chance to see the horses at the show in a variety of events and talk with the trainer. Before the show, many trainers post updates on Facebook as part of a group called 2024 Mustang Heritage Spectacular. Photos and information on participating horses will also be posted online prior to the event.
“This is a competitive auction with the trainer getting half the price and the foundation getting the other half,” says O’Day.
Last year, the highest price received was a little over $10,000, with another horse going for $7,000. Most sell for $2,500 to $3,500. O’Day warns prospective buyers they may end up bidding against the trainer.
“More often than not, the trainer has trouble letting go of the horse,” she says.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mustang Heritage Foundation, 200 University Blvd., Suite 225, #110, Round Rock, Texas 78665 (ph 512-869-3225; info@mustangheritagefoundation.org; https://mustangheritagefoundation.org).
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Event Promotes Mustang Adoption LIVESTOCK Horses/Mules See what a horse trainer can do with a wild mustang in just 100 days at the next Extreme Mustang Makeover The big event showcases both the trainer and the previously wild horse as part of the Mustang Heritage Spectacular sponsored by the Mustang Heritage Foundation “In just 100 days from picking their mustang out of a pen they’ll take their mustang through haltering saddling lifting their feet to work on them and riding them ” says Devon O’Day Mustang Heritage Foundation “We’ve seen mustangs at previous makeovers sit on a beanbag walk across a bridge and run through obstacles One was doing slides and spins like a Texas quarter horse event Most of them work without a bridle and bit in the show ” The Mustang Makeover promotes mustang and wild burro adoption by raising awareness of their potential The Mustang Heritage Foundation is dedicated to finding homes for wild horses and burros In the past they worked extensively with the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program More recently they’ve worked with the U S Forestry Service to find homes for the northern California Devil’s Garden wild horses “Devil’s Garden mustangs tend to be in great demand as they’re often bigger than other mustangs ” says O’Day “Their bloodlines include workhorses and cavalry horses that were turned loose when no longer needed ” Horse trainers are invited to apply to the foundation for the opportunity to train a mustang and show “All the trainers pick up their wild mustangs on the same day 90 to 120 days before the event ” says O’Day “They’ll be different ages but all more than 2 years old and rideable Some especially young males have bone or teeth injuries from fighting while in the herd ” This year trainers will have the full 120 days to prepare their horses They’ll bring them to the Williamson County Ag Expo Park in Franklin Tenn June 20 to 23 for the Spectacular The program will include a trail ride music for mustangs a wild horse art event and three horse shows More than 100 vendors will be exhibiting Mustang Makeovers end with an auction Prospective owners will have had a chance to see the horses at the show in a variety of events and talk with the trainer Before the show many trainers post updates on Facebook as part of a group called 2024 Mustang Heritage Spectacular Photos and information on participating horses will also be posted online prior to the event “This is a competitive auction with the trainer getting half the price and the foundation getting the other half ” says O’Day Last year the highest price received was a little over $10 000 with another horse going for $7 000 Most sell for $2 500 to $3 500 O’Day warns prospective buyers they may end up bidding against the trainer “More often than not the trainer has trouble letting go of the horse ” she says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Mustang Heritage Foundation 200 University Blvd Suite 225 #110 Round Rock Texas 78665 ph 512-869-3225; info@mustangheritagefoundation org; https://mustangheritagefoundation org
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