Mustang Training Competition Offers $300K in Prize Money

The Extreme Mustang Makeover will offer an estimated $300,000 in prize money as it enters its third year of competition. "We've been very fortunate in this economy to be able to sell out all of our events with the average adoption of the mustangs holding at about $1,000 per head," said Mustang Heritage Foundation Executive Director Patti Colbert. "Our goal each year has been to place 1,000 mustangs in good homes through the Extreme Mustang Makeover and our Trainers Incentive Program and the American public has responded. We will close out 2009 with 1,000 of our nation's wild horses gentled and starting new relationships with their adopters." Trainer applications are available for events taking place in Oregon, California, and Colorado, with more events planned for Tennessee and Nebraska. First up in the "regular season" will be the $10,000 estimated Northwest Extreme Mustang Makeover March 19-21 held in conjunction with the Northwest Horse Fair and Expo in Albany, Ore. Trainer applications are due November 1 and are available though the event Web site. Forty geldings will be gentled for this competition with up to 40 trainers accepted to participate in the event. Trainers can apply for more than one horse to train. The 2010 season will begin with a return engagement to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo January 22-23 as Mustang Magic brings 15 of the 2009 season's top trainers in an invitational competition featuring horses they picked by draw in September during the Extreme Mustang Makeover Western Stampede in Fort Worth. Trainers competing in this event were among the top three contenders during 2009 events...TheHorse