THE EVENT

1. When and where is the 2008 Extreme Mustang Makeover?

The 2008 Extreme Mustang Makeover will be held September 18-21 in Ft. Worth, Texas at the Will Rogers Memorial Center.

2. Where is the closest airport?

The Will Rogers Memorial Center is less than 30 miles from the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

3. How do I become a trainer?

Just go to the application tab in the above menu! You can either download the application and mail it to Mustang Heritage Foundation, P.O. Box 703, Bertram, TX 78605 or fax it to (512) 355-2737. All paperwork must be postmarked by April 15th.

4. What qualifications do I need to be a trainer in this competition?

You need to be at least 18 years old and your facilities must meet Bureau of Land Management requirements. You can find the facility requirements in the rules and regulations by clicking on the application tab in the above menu.

5. How can I adopt one of the Mustangs in the competition?

Come to the adoption on September 21st! All Mustangs competing at the Extreme Mustang Makeover will be available for adoption through competitive bidding. You 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 onsite the morning of the adoption to help you fulfill this requirement.

6. How do I become a sponsor?

To become a sponsor of the Extreme Mustang Makeover please call (512) 355-3225.

7. What about accommodations?

There are multiple hotels and RV parks in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. To find a list of these facilities please click on the Travel tab in the above menu.

8. What else is happening at the Extreme Mustang Makeover?

Hold on to your hats because this year's Makeover can't get more extreme!

In addition to the Extreme Mustang Makeover competition involving 200 die-hard trainers with their 200 wild Mustangs on Friday and Saturday, spectators will also enjoy a trainer talent show on the 'Stang Stage on Thursday night and an in-hand show of 200 youth and adults working with 200 Mustang yearlings on Friday. Don't forget, you can come home with one of these American Legends on Sunday by participating in the adoption! A full schedule will be coming soon.

9. What will the weather be like?

While Texas weather can be somewhat unpredictable, the average high in Ft. Worth in September is 90 F and the average low is 70 F.

10. Is there a separate admission fee to attend the adoption?

No, the adoption is free to the public!

11. Where else can I adopt a Mustang?

The Bureau of Land Management holds Mustang adoptions nationwide. For an adoption schedule please visit http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/wild_horse_and_burro/events.html.

12. How can I become a vendor for this event?

To become a vendor at the Extreme Mustang Makeover please call (512) 355-3225.

THE MUSTANG

1. What is a Mustang and where do they come from?

The American Mustang is more accurately termed the "feral horse". Feral horses (commonly known as Mustangs) are those horses whose ancestors were domestic horses that were freed or escaped from early explorers, native tribes, ranches, cavalry, etc. to become free-roaming herds all across the United States. The first domestic horses in America arrived with Columbus on his second voyage in 1493. During the early Spanish exploration years, horses came over with each voyage. The Spanish explorers were supplied these horses by breeding farms in the West Indies. It is not well documented on how or when the first horses were either stolen or escaped from the Spaniards, but it is estimated that by the 1800's there were 2 to 5 million head of feral horses, mostly in the Southwest.

2. What do Mustangs look like?

These horses are virtually all colors, shapes and sizes. They are recognized for having an extremely tough hide, being very hardy and a large hoof.

3. Are wild Mustangs protected?

Throughout the history of the feral horse, the government devised ways to reduce the numbers of free-roaming horses to appease the cattle-ranchers vying for the grazing land, and to keep the herds from over-populating thus starving to death due to lack of grazing land. As recently as 1952 a group of concerned citizens in Storey County, Nevada protested in court against roundups of the wild horses to be sent for slaughter by the use of airplanes. They convinced the Board of Commissioners that the practice was inhumane. The use of planes for pursuit of wild horses was banned in Storey County. This was the beginning of the movement to protect wild horses and burros.

"Wild Horse Annie" continued to fight for the survival of the wild horse and burro. She brought the plight of the wild horse and burro to the attention of the U.S. Congress. She lobbied against the cruel capture practices, and for management of the herd reductions so as not to wipe out the wild herds altogether. In 1971 the Wild Free-roaming Horse and Burro Act was passed by Congress which requires the protection, management, and control of wild free-roaming horses and burros on public lands.

4. How many wild Mustangs are on the range right now?

The BLM estimates that about 29,000 wild horses and burros are roaming on BLM-managed rangelands in 10 Western states, based on the latest data available (compiled as of February 28, 2007). Wild horses and burros have virtually no natural predators and their herd sizes can double about every four years. As a result, the agency must remove thousands of animals from the range each year to control herd sizes.

The estimated current free-roaming population exceeds by some 1,500 the number that the BLM has determined can exist in balance with other public rangeland resources and uses. The appropriate management level is approximately 27,500.

Off the range, there are more than 32,000 other wild horses and burros that are fed and cared for at short-term (corral) and long-term (pasture) holding facilities. All wild horses and burros in holding, like those roaming the public rangelands, are protected by the BLM under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.

5. How can I help support the American Mustang?

Join the Mustang Heritage Foundation in our mission! Any contribution, be it time, contacts, expertise or capital, will aid by increasing awareness and adoption of the American Mustang. Please visit www.mustangheritagefoundation.org or call (512) 355-3225 for more information.