National
Pennsylvania horse trainer Suzanne Myers took home the win April 19 in Madison, Wis., during the Midwest Horse Fair in the first of three Mustang Challenge events staged this year by the Mustang Heritage Foundation.
The slender blonde from Port Matilida wowed a crowd of more than 8,000 spectators at a sold-out Midwest Horse Fair riding the American Mustang "Jazz" to Craig Morgan's "Little Bit of Life."
Head judge Suzy Jeane of Valley View, Tex., noted that Myers and Jazz were the most consistent team of the Finals. "This is the second Mustang event I've had the pleasure to judge and I was extremely impressed with what the trainers were able to accomplish through the winter months with record snowfalls this year," she said. "Suzanne and Jazz had a routine that showed control, finesse and the trainability that we were looking for in these Mustangs."
Joining Jeane as judges were horsemanship clinician Patty Campbell of Whitesboro, Tex., and well-known trainer and clinician Ken McNabb.
Myers executed a memorable performance as she and Jazz floated across the arena with smooth figure eights, demonstrating their ability to rate and change speeds. The knowledgeable crowd particularly appreciated the four-year old grullo gelding's ability to change leads and side pass, as well as execute clean diagonal strides across the arena. The duo scored a check for $5,000 of the $12,000 purse.
"I knew from the minute I saw him load on the trailer that he was a thinker," said Myers, who conducts research at Penn State University, as well as trains horses. "He was really shy and once we got over that, he did anything I asked him to and if he wasn't sure what to do, he figured it out."
Midwest Mustang Challenge trainers had 100 days to gentle their American Mustangs. The Mustangs were judged on conditioning, ground work and a "Horse Course" that required maneuvers and included obstacles found in trail and recreational riding situations. A value of 20 percent was applied to the body conditioning, 30 percent in the in-hand and 50 percent for the horse course. Mustangs mares and geldings ranging in age from three to four years old were included in the competition, sponsored by Fort Dodge Animal Health, Western Horseman magazine, Orthoflex Saddlery, Daily 72 Nutritional Supplements, Roper Apparel and Smith Brothers.
Taking second place was Mineral Wells, Tex., trainer Travis Dittmer riding the American Mustang "Elko Sage". Posting a score of 171 to Myers' 176.5, Dittmer took on the look of the working cowboy taking "Sage" through a series of obstacles, including walking over and under a tarp, across jumps while firing a pistol and then the coup de gras of roping an uncooperative steer.
In third with a score of 152 were Hookerton, N.C., native Dave Robart and the sorrel mare Carolina.
"We could not have been more thrilled with the reception this event received from the people of Wisconsin," said MHF Executive Director Patti Colbert. "The Midwest Horse Fair helped us give birth to this sister event and we hope to return in 2009 to an even more enthusiastic reception."
April 20 brought another large crowd to the Alliant Energy Center Coliseum to take part in the adoption of the 50 mustangs. With auctioneer Bruce McCarty of Fort Worth, Texas, at the mic, bidding was lively as trainers demonstrated capabilities that hadn't been seen during the actual competition. It was clear, however, when applause greeted rider Lalo Govea, voted the professional sportsmanship winner of the event, that his stunning black gelding "Elvis" would make the bidding "a little less conversation and a lot more action."
Adopters did not disappoint as Elvis, who placed eighth in overall competition, bowed, loped soft circles, carried a small child and allowed Govea of Kenosha, Wis., to swing a rope around his head while bidding, which was started by McNabb at $2,000, quickly climbed to $9,000.
"This was one of the best group of horses started under saddle that I've seen," said McNabb. "You could tell that many of these trainers respected the wild environment these horses came from, giving them the time and care they needed to develop a strong foundation."
The 50 Mustangs sold for more than $90,000 with a sale average of $1,867. Champion "Jazz" remained in the care of Suzanne Myers, who invested her earnings to keep the Mustang in her barn. Trainers earned a 20 percent commission on the adoption fee of each Mustang that surpassed $125, a fee that went to the Bureau of Land Management. The remaining proceeds benefited the Mustang Heritage Foundation and Hospicare of Madison, Wis.
The Mustang Heritage Foundation (MHF), in partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), created the Mustang Challenge events to highlight the recognized value of mustangs through a national training competition. The event will give the public a unique opportunity to see the results of wild horses becoming trained mounts and then participate in a competitive bidding process to adopt one of these treasured animals. The purpose of the competition 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.
Additional Mustang Challenge events will be held June 6-8 at the Western States Horse Expo in Sacramento, Calif., and during the Wyoming State Fair August 16-18 in Douglas. The $50,000 Fort Dodge Extreme Mustang Makeover will be staged September 18-21 in Fort Worth, Texas, and will feature 200 three to four year old Mustangs, as well as 200 yearling Mustangs.
Midwest Mustang Challenge Freestyle Finals Results
1. JAZZ SUZANNE MYERS Port Matilda, PA 176.5
2. ELKO SAGE TRAVIS DITTMER Mineral Wells, TX 171
3. CAROLINA DAVE ROBART Hookerton, NC 152
4. TRUST DAN GRUNEWALD Jefferson, WI 150.5
5. JUMPER CODY KELLER Numa, IA 142.5
6. UNRAVELLED FATE DANEE RUDY Grantville, PA 139.5
7. GUARDIAN RACHEL GULLICKSON Rio, WI 139
8. ELVIS LALO GOVEA Kenosha, WI 126.5
9. FIRECRACKER GLENN CYPHERS Cedar Falls, IA 123.5
10. VEGAS RYAN ROSE Ironwood, MI 119
About the Mustang Heritage Foundation
The mission of the Mustang Heritage Foundation and the goal of the Extreme Mustang Makeover is 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.
Wild Horse and BurroAbout the Bureau of Land Management
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 rangelands 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 placed more than 218,000 horses and burros into private care through adoption. For more information, visit wildhorseandburro.blm.gov or call 866-4MUSTANGS.
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