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Challenge contestants train wild horses for a purse of $7,500
Steve & Peanut April 2008
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Steve Boyles of Santa Clarita, California was selected by the Mustang Heritage Foundation to compete in the Western States Horse Expo Mustang Challenge June 6-9, 2008 in Sacramento, California. Trainers selected from applicants across the nation were invited to compete in the competition following a rigorous application and selection process which narrowed the field to a total of 34 horsemen who will have 100 days to gentle an American Mustang. Trainers scheduled to pick up their horses that were preselected on March 6-8 in Sacramento, California.
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“The success of the Extreme Mustang Makeover in Texas, along with a heightened awareness of the value of these unique horses, caused the birth of the Challenge events as so many people wanted to see how these trainers worked with these Mustangs,” said Mustang Heritage Foundation Executive Director Patti Colbert.
Steve’s love for mustangs began in the early ‘90s when he attended a Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Adoption at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. He was immediately captivated by the sight of the mustangs. Even crowded in their sales pens, the horses struck Boyles as something special. “I liked the spirit they had,” he said. Boyles was so taken with these wild horses that he adopted his first two mustangs at the sale. Since then, he has been committed to rescue and adoption efforts and and is typically recommended by the BLM to transport and train wild horses.
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Boyles credits his experiences with wild horses with enriching his overall understanding of horse behavior. According to Boyles, getting a mustang to approach a person and allow itself to be handled takes patience and perseverance, but the rewards are well worth the effort. “Finding the horse’s aura, his energy, and blending your energy with his......it’s an amazing thing once you do it”. -About Steve Boyles by Mari Fukuyama
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During competition, trainers will be evaluated on the body condition of their American Mustangs, as well as their ability to handle the horse “in hand” through a series of maneuvers which include picking up the horse’s feet, maneuvering it through obstacles and loading it into a trailer. Following the “in hand” course, trainers will mount their animals and complete a “horse course” that will include a series of obstacles and require the trainer to demonstrate the level of competency the horse has accomplished. Three skilled horsemen, including well-known clinician and speaker, John Lyons of Parachute, Colo, will judge trainers. |
The public will be invited to participate in adopting one of the Mustang Challenge competition animals June 9. Even though the animals will have been handled and trained, the same conditions will apply for the new owner when the animal is adopted.
Potential adopters will apply for the opportunity to be included in the competitive bidding process at the event with BLM personnel available to review and approve the application on site. In order to apply, applicants must be at least 18 years old, have no prior conviction for inhumane treatment of animals or violations of the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act and be able to demonstrate that adequate food, water, and facilities will be available to humanely care for the animal. Specific facility requirements pertain to type and height of enclosed space, as well as shelter from the elements.
The purpose of the Mustang competition series is to showcase the beauty, versatility, and trainability of these rugged horses that roam freely on public lands throughout the West, where they are protected by the BLM under Federal law. One hundred percent of the horses place for adoption at the 2007 Extreme Mustang Makeover were adopted.
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The Mustang Heritage Foundation (MHF), in partnership with the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM), created the Mustang Challenge event to highlight the recognized value of mustangs through a national training competition. The Challenge events are the progeny of the highly successful Extreme Mustang Makeover first held in September 2007. The 2008 event, to be held September 18-21in Fort Worth, Texas, offers a purse of $50,000 and 200 horses.
The Western States Horse Expo is the largest and most comprehensive equine exposition and trade show in North America. Created to bring together horse enthusiasts and the businesses that serve them, the Expo has evolved into a three-day extravaganza serving the interests of every type of horseman in an entertaining and informative atmosphere. Since 1999, the Western States Horse Expo has attracted a half million equestrian enthusiasts and industry professions from around the world. |
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The mustangs selected for the Western States Mustang Challenge are from an area known as the Coppersmith Herd Management Area (HMA). This area lies 30 miles southwest of Cedarville, CA in Lassen County, California and Washoe County, Nevada. This area is comprised of approximately 70,500 acres. This HMA has an Appropriate Management Level (AML) of 75 wild horses with a range of 50-75 animals. This area contains horses thought to originate from Spanish stock diluted with ranch stock and US Cavalry remounts prior to and during World War I. Many of the horses in this area have characteristics common to Morgans and Quarter Horses. Predominant colors are bay, black, and brown.
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The mission of the Mustang Heritage Foundation and the goal of the Extreme Mustang Makeover are to increase the adoption of mustangs across the country. The Mustang Heritage Foundation created the Extreme Mustang Makeover event to showcase the recognized value of mustangs through a national training competition.
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for managing 258 million acres of public lands, located mostly in the West. Wild horses and burros roaming public rang elands are managed in a manner consistent with BLM’s overall multiple-use mission, as set forth in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. Since 1973, the BLM has place more than 219,000 horses and burros into private care through adoption.
For more information,
visit wildhorsesandburro.blm.gov or call 866-4MUSTANGS.
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