Extreme Mustang Makeover Highlights Beauty, Versatility of “America’s Horse”

Fort Worth, Texas, September 22 -- In a stunning display of horsemanship that included cracking whips, balloons and a chain saw, the inaugural Extreme Mustang Makeover came to a close in Fort Worth, Texas, with veteran cutting horse trainer Guy Woods taking the top prize of $10,000.
 
The Extreme Mustang Makeover was created through a partnership between the BLM and the Mustang Heritage Foundation to showcase the beauty, versatility, and trainability of these rugged horses that roam freely on public lands throughout the West. Through this partnership, the BLM and the Foundation seek to highlight the recognized value of “America’s horse,” thereby increasing adoptions nationwide and leading to more effective management of wild horses on the range.
 
Woods, of Pilot Point, Texas, was among 100 trainers around the country who were invited to take a BLM mustang home with them earlier this year and see how well they could progress with it in just 100 days. The trainers then met in Fort Worth Saturday, September 22, to show their mustangs in a professionally judged competition, vying for $25,000 in prize money.
 
Following the competition, all of the horses were put up for public adoption Sunday, September 23. Adoption fees for the trained animals were determined by a competitive bid process, with some animals bringing more than $10,000. In all, the event generated $233,100, with fees averaging $3,108.
 
The BLM received $125 per head as the minimum adoption fee, while the remainder was allocated for the development and programs of the Mustang Heritage Foundation. Trainers also received a 15 percent adoption commission for any horse adopted for a fee higher than $250.
 
Facing 12 other finalists, Woods cracked a whip as he and his mustang Max loped around the arena in soft smooth circles, capturing the applause of a standing room only crowd at the Will Rogers Equestrian Center's Watt Arena as he jumped a series of three poles balanced on low barrels, followed by a higher jump. Judges Suzy Jeane, J.D. Yates, Bob Moorehouse and Chris Cox scored the duo a 288.
 
In addition to winning first-place in the competition, Woods was also the successful adopter of Max during the adoption, a spirit that continued throughout the event as many of the trainers successfully adopted their mounts.
 
Other Top Winners
 
Prineville, Oregon, native Kitty Lauman claimed the reserve championship and a check for $5,000 from sponsor Fort Dodge Animal Health with a score of 284.00 riding Ranger. Definitely a crowd favorite, Lauman maneuvered Ranger through a series of reining movements and then wowed the crowd with her shooting techniques as she galloped past a series of balloons, hitting all nine.
 
In third place was Whitehall, Mont., cowboy Zane Davis, riding Algore, earning a score of 279.5 from the four judges. Davis and Algore deftly performed an expert snaffle bit reining pattern, but thrilled the spectators when Davis pulled out a rope with Algore tracking a steer for a nice clean stop.
 
All horses competing in the contest were evaluated on their body condition, as well as scored through a series of obstacles in an "in-hand" course, and in a "horse course" which was also a set pattern of maneuvers. A value of 20 percent was applied to the body conditioning, 30 percent in the in-hand and 50 percent for the horse course.
 
Extreme Mustang Makeover Finalists
  1. Guy Woods, Pilot Point, Texas, riding Max. Score 288.
  2. Kitty Lauman, Prineville, Oregon, riding Ranger. Score 284.5.
  3. Zane Davis, Whitehall, Montana, riding Algore. Score 279.5.
  4. Eviga Aunina, Rock Springs, Wyoming, riding Wellington. Score 274.5.
  5. Dwight Bilyk, Pawhuska, Oklahoma, riding J4. Score 270.5.
  6. Bill Lopez, Norman, Oklahoma, riding Vegas, Score 265.5.
  7. Holly Davis, Whitehall, Montana, riding Chopper. Score 260.
  8. Nick Bowman, of Sanborn, Indiana, riding Willie, Score 259.5.
  9. Cody Keller, of Noma, Iowa, riding Trooper. Score 243.5.
  10. Robin Secrist, Alma, Wisconsin, riding Buster. Score 243.
  11. Roeliff Annon, Alcalde, New Mexico, riding Nick. Score 242.5
  12. Jeremy Dunn, Rosamond, California, riding Ojos. Score 237.
  13. Steve Hayden, Griffin, Georgia, riding Hampton. Score 221.5.

Guy Woods of Pilot Point, Texas, atop "Max" poses with his first prize check of $10,000, along with members of the Mustang Heritage Foundation and the BLM.

Guy Woods of Pilot Point, Texas, atop "Max" poses with his first prize check of $10,000, along with members of the Mustang Heritage Foundation and the BLM.

Kitti Lauman of Prineville, Oregon, atop "Ranger" poses with her $5,000 check for second place.

Kitty Lauman of Prineville, Oregon, atop "Ranger" poses with her $5,000 check for second place.

 

Extreme Mustang Makeover on RFD-TV

The Extreme Mustang Makeover will become a six-episode series on RFD Television's Wide World of Horses through December 2007. The show will share the stories of the mustangs and trainers as they learn to trust in one another and gain competitive confidence. The show will air future episodes September 24, October 22, November 19, December 17 and December 31. Airtimes for the series will be Mondays at 10:30 p.m., with additional airings on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. and Mondays at 4:30 p.m. All times are Eastern. RFD-TV can be found on Direct TV channel 379 and Dish Network channels 231 or 9049.
 

What’s Next? Wild Horse and Burro Expo!

Many adopters at the Extreme Mustang Makeover expressed interest in attending the New Mexico region’s 13th Annual Wild Horse and Burro Expo in Wichita Falls, Texas, October 11-14. There they’ll have another chance to showcase the versatility of their adopted mustangs. One of the Makeover finalists, Roeliff Annon of Alcalde, New Mexico, will hold gentling demonstrations at the Expo all weekend, taking adoption-eligible wild horses out of the pens and working with them for the public to view and learn.