Howdy Folks,

On any given day there are upwards of 40,000 wild horses being held in the Bureau of Land Management’s long term holding facilities. The Mustang Heritage Foundation’s (MHF) mission is to facilitate and encourage the adoption of these noble spirits. They do this through a number of ways and programs ranging from hands-on youth projects, trainer incentive programs and the popular “Extreme Mustang Makeover”.

Current MHF director, Patti Colbert invented the idea for a “Mustang Makeover” to create excitement and interest in adopting Mustangs. You see, Patti is a mighty big fan of “reality TV” and she was kicking around ideas for a way to showcase the Mustang as a great horse for anybody. Understanding that many times horse owners send their horses away to trainers for 3 months or so for training, Patti began to devise the Guidelines for “Extreme Mustang Makeover.” Patti’s goal was to find a way to let folks know that the Mustang is very intelligent and is born with a strong willingness to bond with humans. She settled on a 100 day contest and announced it nationwide. Trainers would come select an American Mustang who had been virtually untouched by human hands and return 100 days later for the competition where they would not only show off the skills mastered by their Mustang, but have a chance to win $25,000. The first year, 2007, there were 100 applicants and 78 made it to the show!

Today the “Extreme Mustang Makeover” has grown to 7 events a year with nearly 400 trainers, and folks, all these horses get adopted. After each event the horses are “Auctioned” for adoption and there is consistently a 100% adoption rate. Isn’t that fantastic? The Freeze Brand on the neck is fast becoming a sought after badge of honor.

Another innovative and exciting program at MHF is the “Trainer Incentive Program” (TIP) where trainers can pick up a Mustang, gentle it and find a qualified adopter in 90 days. The trainers are guaranteed $700 a horse and may work with up to 4 at a time. This program also started in 2007 and is the fastest growing program at MHF with at any one day over 100 trainers participating nationwide, and 250 Mustangs in the pipeline for adoption. This year TIP will facilitate the adoption of more than 500 horses!

The youth of America are very important to MHF as well and there are several programs where they can shine. MHF believes “Mustangs Make Better Kids and Kids Make Better Mustangs.” A division of the “Extreme Mustang Makeover” specifically designed for them is the “Yearling Edition.” Youth Trainers pick up their randomly selected yearling 90 days before the event and will compete in Conditioning & Mannerisms, In-hand Trail Class and Showmanship. The top ten then compete in the “Freestyle Finals” for cash and prizes. After the event the Youth Trainers may choose to adopt their yearling or place it up for adoption. This program is growing very fast with over 50 youths competing this year and the adoption rate is 100%.

TIP also offers a youth division, “Youth and Yearling Mustang Challenge.” This program is hosted and managed by TIP trainers and as in the “Extreme Makeover” the youths receive a randomly selected yearling and work with the TIP trainer to train them and compete for cash and prizes. They adopt their yearling to participate in this program.

MHF also offers youth employment opportunities for young adults between 15 and 24 who can work at home to research the history, plight and current events of the American Mustang and then share this knowledge through social networking, community presentations and press releases. This is proving to be a tremendously successful outreach program.

Camp Wildfire, a day camp for youth, is an important form of outreach at MHF providing an exciting experience for young adults to learn more about the American Mustang and land stewardship. MHF also works together with therapeutic riding centers and organizations nationwide who help at-risk children. There are adopted Mustangs in nearly every state teaching children to love life.

Another form of outreach is MHF’s partnership with the American Competitive Trail Horse Association (ACTHA). “About 2 years ago we discovered ACTHA.” Patti told me. “We are a perfect fit. Their mission is to help horses, just as ours is. We fit perfectly with ACTHA in that a good adoptive home is where someone cares for a horse but also has the ability to go on trail rides and to be social with their horse and connect with other like minded individuals … that makes even a better horse and the best adoptive home. That’s why we’ve been working so hard with ACTHA the past couple of years on integrating the information about ACTHA into our programs; they create the ability to take the adopted Mustangs on great rides, socialize and let people see what a great partner our American Mustang can be. And ACTHA rides are about the most fun you can have with a horse!”

In support of Mustang Heritage Foundation`s mission to increase the number of adoptions of American Mustangs, ACTHA has selected the MHF as its main beneficiary for the 2011 Guinness™ World Record Ride. On September 10, 2011 riders and horse teams will hit the trail in over 30 states to, “Ride For The Mustangs,” and set another record!

Since 2008 The MHF has facilitated the adoption of close to 3,000 American Mustangs. Their goal for 2012 is 2,000 adoptions! Each of the programs are growing and Patti and the team are hard at work to create even more exciting programs to show folks what excellent partners our Mustangs can be. Please check them out at the web www.mustangheritagefoundation.org to learn more, and find a Mustang of your very own!

You can help the Mustangs on September 10, 2011. Click here to go the the ACTHA Ride for the Mustang page and find a ride near you. Have fun and ride for a purpose.

Gitty Up - Dutch Henry

Dutch Henry is a staff writer for the American Competitive Trail Horse Association. He is also a freelance writer who tells the stories of “People and Horses Helping Horses and People” and novelist. He resides in Virginia with his wife of 35 years, horse, dogs, cats and chickens. You can reach Dutch at [email protected]. He would love to hear from you so he can tell your story too. His novel “We’ll Have the Summer” is available on Amazon and Dutch’s website www.dutchhenryauthor.com .