October 25, 2011–Fifty-nine previously wild Mustangs competed in three divisions at the Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Extreme Mustang Makeover October 21-23 to show the trainability of Mustangs. Wild American Mustangs previously untouched by humans began training for the competition in July when they were picked up from a Bureau of Land Management facility. All 59 Mustangs that competed at the event were adopted on October 23.
Cohn Livingston and Doc?s Teddy Bear won the Legends Division with a crowd-pleasing Phantom of the Opera routine. Livingston is from Florence, Mississippi, and describes himself as a dad, husband, part-time horse trainer and construction superintendent. He and his wife, Brandee, own and operate Doc Livingston Farm & Stable in Pearl, Mississippi. Doc?s Teddy Bear is a 2008 chestnut gelding gathered from Beatys Butte, Oregon.
Doc?s Teddy Bear took part in the Purina Mustang Challenge to show how the proper nutrition in Purina feeds can transform a horse in three months. Doc?s Teddy Bear was fed Purina feed products, provided by a Purina?s sponsorship of the event, while training for the Extreme Mustang Makeover. Purina Mills is North America?s leading feed company, providing producers, cooperatives and dealers with an extensive line of animal feed, ingredients and services designed to provide the best nutrition to equine athletes and companions. For more information on Purina horse feeds, visit www.horse.purinamills.com.
Randy Speegle of Benton, Tennessee, and Steel, a 2007 gray gelding gathered from Adobe Town Herd Management Area in Wyoming were the reserve champions in the Legends division. Stan Smith and Eli; Marc Chancey and Mustang; Marsha Sapp and Balou; Cody Keller and Stormy; Betsy Moles and Whispering Hills Legacy; Jessica Davis and Goodness Greycious; Jennifer Brown and Foster; and Douglas Burns and Pilgrim completed the Legends top 10 finals.
In the Idols Division, Carl Wright and Mo Black took top honors. Wright of Brighton, Tennessee, started training his own Quarter Horses for speed events in 1983. Then in 1987, he started breeding and training Peruvian Paso?s. He competes in barrel racing, pole bending, penning and sorting events. He and his wife like to trail ride at Natchez Trace State Park.
Jessica Freeland and Raider were the reserve champions of the Idols Division and were followed by Jeff Woodberry and Darkie; Abby Walker and Jeremiah; Amanda Lane and Zion; Josh Foster and Hank; Alysia Makuski and Ne-Mo Attitude; Jamie Dodson and Legacy’s Divine Will; Jason Lancaster and Remington; and Joel McCormick and Salty.
The Legends and Idols divisions are for adult trainers. When trainers arrived to claim their Mustangs approximately 90 days ago, they had been untouched by human hands. The trainers have worked with their Mustangs using natural horsemanship techniques to prepare for the Extreme Mustang Makeover competition and adoption. During the competition the trainers were judged on their Mustangs? overall body condition as well as ?in hand? maneuvers such as grooming, loading in a trailer and obstacle courses. Trainers also competed in the ?horse course? which requires the pair to ride through obstacles similar to those found on a trail ride.
In the Youth Division, Abby Brown and Presley were crowned the champions, and Presley rocked the house dressed as Elvis. Brown is a 16-year-old junior from Seymour, Iowa. She has only been around horses for four years and uses her Mustangs in 4-H and FFA shows. This spring, she won a state 4-H award for her work with Mustangs. She is a four-sport varsity letter winner and a varsity cheerleader for football and boys basketball. Presley is a yearling Mustang filly that was born in a Colorado BLM facility.
Rachel Ward and Doc?s Princess Jasmine were the reserve champions in the youth division. Doc?s Princess Jasmine was also part of the Purina Mustang Challenge. Anna Cothran and Sugar Land; Julia Farmer and Aspen; Jayde Dittmer and Shasta; Harley Goad and Sally; Shellee Hudson and Cheyenne; Michelle Deden and Pilgrims Pride; Jerrad Dittmer and Rosie; and Cassandra Labato and Color Me Red completed the youth top 10.
As an added bonus, the world renowned Kentucky Horse Park Mustang Troop performed at the October 22 finals and included Mustangs Danny and Gunner, who were adopted at the 2010 Extreme Mustang Makeover in Murfreesboro. Since 1993, the Kentucky Horse Park Mustang Troop program has teamed inner-city youth with adopted Mustangs.
The Mustang Heritage Foundation in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management (www.blm.gov) created the Extreme Mustang Makeover event to highlight the recognized value of Mustangs through a national training competition. The events give the public a unique opportunity to see the results of wild horses becoming trained mounts and then have the chance to adopt one of these treasured animals.
Since the inception of the Extreme Mustang Makeover events in 2007, the Mustang Heritage Foundation has placed more than 3,000 Mustangs, and an estimated 100,000 fans have filled the stands and walked the barns of events held across the United States. For more information such as results on the Extreme Mustang Makeover event in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, visit www.extrememustangmakeover.com/emmtennessee.php. For more information on the Mustang Heritage Foundation?s adoption programs, visit www.mustangheritagefoundation.org.
