The Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge is an event that is coordinated between the BLM (Bureau of Land
Management) and the Mustang Heritage Foundation. Last year, 100 trainers had 100 days to train 100 Mustangs to
be the Best of the Best. The competition was unbelievable! This year, there are 200 trainers training 200 Mustangs!
The competition is fierce, and will show who's got the talent, and who doesn't.
This year, I am one of the chosen trainers. I went to Paul's Valley, OK on Friday, June 13, to pick up my Mustang. On
this page you will follow his training, from the time we picked him up to the time he goes to Ft. Worth. Stay tuned!
Management) and the Mustang Heritage Foundation. Last year, 100 trainers had 100 days to train 100 Mustangs to
be the Best of the Best. The competition was unbelievable! This year, there are 200 trainers training 200 Mustangs!
The competition is fierce, and will show who's got the talent, and who doesn't.
This year, I am one of the chosen trainers. I went to Paul's Valley, OK on Friday, June 13, to pick up my Mustang. On
this page you will follow his training, from the time we picked him up to the time he goes to Ft. Worth. Stay tuned!
We arrived at the BLM facility about 10:30 a.m. They loaded a few horses
before me, so we were waiting. Nemo was finally loaded into the chute.
before me, so we were waiting. Nemo was finally loaded into the chute.
Nemo apparently didn't like the idea of
being trapped in that chute....
being trapped in that chute....
Nemo apparently didn't like it when they tried to put halter and lead on him and
attempted to run for it! This was not the first attempt he made, but clearly the
most dramatic!
attempted to run for it! This was not the first attempt he made, but clearly the
most dramatic!
They finally opened the gate and let
him get into the trailer. The trip home
was pretty much non-eventful.
him get into the trailer. The trip home
was pretty much non-eventful.
Finally at home, he
settled in. At first, he
was sure the lead
rope that was
dangling around his
legs was going to kill
him, but he soon
figured out that he
was safe...
settled in. At first, he
was sure the lead
rope that was
dangling around his
legs was going to kill
him, but he soon
figured out that he
was safe...
We've made some progress. It's now Day 16. While I haven't worked with him every day, I have spent some good time
with him. I can now get him to whoa on command and turn and face me, he will walk up to me, I can hold his halter, rub
his cheek and rub him on the face between his eyes. I have been sacking him out by tossing his long lead rope over his
back and having it touch his back and sides. He has a plastic bag attached to his stall gate, but he doesn't seem to
care. He has learned that grain is a "good" thing! LOL He is still very reactive, but getting more and more used to all
the commotion around here...
with him. I can now get him to whoa on command and turn and face me, he will walk up to me, I can hold his halter, rub
his cheek and rub him on the face between his eyes. I have been sacking him out by tossing his long lead rope over his
back and having it touch his back and sides. He has a plastic bag attached to his stall gate, but he doesn't seem to
care. He has learned that grain is a "good" thing! LOL He is still very reactive, but getting more and more used to all
the commotion around here...
Wow! Time flies! It's now day 23, and we have made lots of progress! Nemo will now let me approach him without the
lead rope on him (I took it off on day 22). I can get him to lower his head just by holding my hand in the air. He will now
let me touch him on his neck from the front, and he FINALLY let me stand beside him and rub him on his shoulders and
back! He still gets frightened easily, but now, he doesn't always take off like a rocket - he sometimes will just take a
couple of steps sideways! He's getting there! He's starting to trust me. It won't be long now!
lead rope on him (I took it off on day 22). I can get him to lower his head just by holding my hand in the air. He will now
let me touch him on his neck from the front, and he FINALLY let me stand beside him and rub him on his shoulders and
back! He still gets frightened easily, but now, he doesn't always take off like a rocket - he sometimes will just take a
couple of steps sideways! He's getting there! He's starting to trust me. It won't be long now!
Ok, now we're into day 24. A lot of progress from the day before! I'll just have
to keep plugging away and try to get there faster! Worked with a blanket today.
to keep plugging away and try to get there faster! Worked with a blanket today.
If you would like to be a sponsor for Nemo, just
contact me. Thank you to the following:
Sharon Villilapando - $100
Ginny Fox - Donated use of her truck to go get
Nemo
contact me. Thank you to the following:
Sharon Villilapando - $100
Ginny Fox - Donated use of her truck to go get
Nemo
Ok, it's been a while since I've posted pics, but here are some really great ones! Once Nemo decided he could trust
me, we started making progress rapidly. He still won't be in the saddle by show time, but we've gotten darned close! He
will now hand me his front feet and let me pick up the back. I think we're on to ground driving!
me, we started making progress rapidly. He still won't be in the saddle by show time, but we've gotten darned close! He
will now hand me his front feet and let me pick up the back. I think we're on to ground driving!
And now for trailer loading! After he loaded several times, I enclosed the slats, loaded Dawn behind him and we went
for a little ride. He acted like he'd always loaded in a slant load trailer! I was so proud of him!
for a little ride. He acted like he'd always loaded in a slant load trailer! I was so proud of him!
The space below will be for the pics at the show on Sept. 18, 19, 20 and 21 (a week and a half away). Nemo will be
showing in ground work on Thursday the 18th. We will NOT be in the saddle work, as he is just not ready for that yet.
The auction will be on Sunday, the 21st, and I'm hoping there's some way Nemo will be coming back home with me. But
if not, I hope he gets a really great family that will treat him the way he deserves to be treated...
showing in ground work on Thursday the 18th. We will NOT be in the saddle work, as he is just not ready for that yet.
The auction will be on Sunday, the 21st, and I'm hoping there's some way Nemo will be coming back home with me. But
if not, I hope he gets a really great family that will treat him the way he deserves to be treated...