October 23-25 - Extreme Mustang Makeover Eastern Stampede
Tennessee Miller Coliseum - Murfreesboro, TN

Apply Today: Applications Closed. | Rules and Regulations
How to get there: Directions | Driving Directions
Where to Stay: Accomodations
RV Spots: RV spots available on a first come, first serve basis upon arrival. $25 a night, Thursday through Sunday. The spots include water and electricity and have a dump station on site.
Tickets:Event Schedule
Blog: Follow the Trainer Blog
See the horses: Geldings | Yearlings
Results: Idols: In Hand | Riding Course | Finals | Tabulation
Legends: In Hand | Horse Course | Conditioning | Finals | Total
008: In Hand | Finals | Tabulation
Adoption: Adoption Results

Who will be judging:

Roger Elder, Marysville, TN Roger Elder is an approved AQHA judge, AQHA director and a past president of the Tennessee Quarter Horse Association.
Suzy Jeane, Valley View, Texas Suzy Jeane is an American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) judge, who's judging credits include the Youth, Amateur, and Open AQHA World Champion Horse Shows and the Quarter Horse Congress. Suzy was the first woman elected president of the NSBA. The AQHA 2004 Professional Horsewoman of the Year is currently an AQHA Texas director and a member of its youth committee. She and husband Joe operate Down The Rail Performances Prospects, a breeding and training facility in Valley View, Texas, where they stand six top pleasure stallions. Suzy and Joe have a son, T. Joe, also an avid Quarter Horse exhibitor.
Mark Lyon, Atherton, NE Winner of the 2008 Extreme Mustang Makeover Legends Divisions, Mark Lyon Mark Lyon is a horse trainer in the Omaha, Elkhorn, NE and Council Bluffs, IA area. Mark specializes in common sense Natural Horsemanship using California Hackamore Reinsman methods. Vaquero Buckaroo traditions help you and your horse communicate together. Mark and his mustang Christian won the championship round despite the saddle slipping off.
Chase Dodd, Soddy Daisy, TN Chase Dodd is the 2009 Midwest Mustang Makeover champion with the mustang mare Pat Summit and has had numerous top 10 finishes at the Extreme Mustang Makeover in Fort Worth and Wisconsin. He is also a farrier in Soddy Daisy and trains for the public.
David Whitaker, Murfreesboro, TN Dr. Dave Whitaker serves as director of the Horse Science Program at Middle Tennessee State University. His continuing priority is to give leadership to building one of the nation's best horse science programs. Dr. Whitaker teaches as well as coaches the MTSU Horse Judging Team. Judging on a National and International level, Dr. Whitaker has judged several breeds of horses and has been a carded AQHA judge for 21 years. He has judged the AQHA World Show three times, the AQHA Youth World Show twice, and the AQHA Select World once. International assignments include judging in France , Canada , Mexico, Paraguay, Argentina, Japan , Switzerland and New Zealand.

EXTREME MUSTANG MAKEOVER HEADS TO TENNESSEE
Estimated total purse of $30,000 offered

Georgetown, TX, September 28, 2009 - Following a successful Western Stampede event in Fort Worth, Tex., the Extreme Mustang Makeover makes it way eastward for the Eastern Stampede in Murfreesboro, Tenn., October 23-25 at Tennessee Miller Coliseum.

While 92 formerly wild horses were placed for adoption at the Western Stampede, Extreme Mustang Makeover fans can look for similar availability during the Eastern Stampede with 33 yearlings and nearly 50 three or four-year-old gentled mustangs available. All events are free with the exception of the October 24 Legends finals.

Expected to attend the competition is U.S. Bureau of Land Management Director Bob Abbey who will attend his first Makeover competition since being confirmed by the Senate in August 2009. The Stampede is also an official event of National Wild Horse Adoption Day.

Three levels of competition will be presented during the Extreme Mustang Makeover, including Idols and Legends, featuring three and four year old geldings, as well as Mission 008, featuring yearlings with trainers age 18 and under. Idol and Legend levels are determined by the trainers own assessment of the horse’s progress and level of ability. A total of $25,000 will be offered in the competition, with a $5,000 prize going to the Legends champion, while the Idols champion will take home $3,000 and the youth champion taking home $1,500.

Competition consists of body condition scoring, which measures the overall health and condition of the animal; an in hand course, which requires the trainer to demonstrate their ability to handle the Mustang on foot, including moving through an obstacle course, picking up the horse’s feet and loading it into a trailer; and a “horse course,” which requires the trainer to ride the horse through a series of obstacles and complete basic maneuvers, such as a walk, trot and lope, stop and back. Ten finalists will compete in a freestyle competition to determine the winner and are encouraged to use props, music and other theatrical methods to demonstrate the skills they have taught their Mustangs since pickup.

All Mustangs competing in the Extreme Mustang Makeover will be available for adoption October 25 at 10 a.m. through competitive bidding. Interested adopters must complete a Bureau of Land Management adoption application and be pre-approved by the Bureau of Land Management before bidding. The Bureau of Land Management will be on site throughout the event to help fulfill this requirement. A minimum bid of $125 is required for single adoptions.

The MHF in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management created the Extreme Mustang Makeover event 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 the Bureau of Land Management protects them under Federal law. The BLM periodically removes excess animals from the range to ensure herd health and protect rangeland resources. Thousands of removed animals are then made available each year to the public for adoption.