Sid Zacharias and Mustang Sally Win Extreme Mustang Makeover at the Midwest Horse Fair
Press Release
Georgetown, Texas, April 23, 2012 – Thirty-one Mustangs and their trainers gathered at the Midwest Horse Fair Extreme Mustang Makeover in Madison, Wisconsin, April 20-22. The trainers began working with the horses approximately 85 days ago when the horses were picked up in late January. When the dust settled and the scores were tabulated, Sid Zacharias of Spooner, Wisconsin, and his 4-year-old trainee Mustang Sally emerged the champions. Zacharias and Sally earned 84 points in the compulsories and 154 points in the freestyle for a finals total of 238 points. The pair earned a $2,500 check, a custom Gist belt buckle and custom Extreme Mustang Makeover RES Equine Products splint boots. Mustang Sally is a bay mare that was gathered from Wyoming.
T.J. Clibborn of Milton, Wisconsin, and Red were the reserve champions. Red is a 3-year-old Mustang gathered from Warm Springs Canyon in Nevada. Clibborn and Red were also voted as fan favorites, and Clibborn received a custom Gist belt buckle. The Australian-born Clibborn was also named the Silver Bullet for the Madison event as the top-placing trainer over the age of 50. In the finals, Red and Clibborn marked a 69 in the compulsories and a 163 in the freestyle for a combined total of 232 points.
Katie Ketterhagen trained Nevada Rose, and the duo finished third. Ketterhagen and Nevada Rose had the highest preliminary scores going into the “clean-slate” finals, and Ketterhagen received a custom Gist belt buckle for being named top Rookie and top Young Gun (trainers 18-21) at the event.
The horses were judged on their body condition and new skills to advance to the finals. The trainers and Mustangs competed in a series of classes such as an in-hand obstacle course and a horse course where the horse and rider will maneuver over obstacles.
All Mustangs competing in the Extreme Mustang Makeover were adopted at the conclusion of the event though an adoption auction. At $2,600, Mustang Sally was the highest adopted horse at the event.
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. The BLM periodically removes excess animals from the range to ensure herd health and protect rangeland resources. Thousands of the removed animals are then made available each year to the public for adoption. More than 3,300 wild horses have been adopted through Mustang Heritage Foundation events and programs since 2007.
The Extreme Mustang Makeovers are made possible through our partnership with the Bureau of Land Management and the generosity of our sponsors: Ram Trucks, Western Horseman, Pfizer, Vetericyn, Roper Apparel & Footwear, Gist Silversmiths, Martin Saddlery and Smith Brothers.
May 18-20, the Extreme Mustang Makeover returns to Norco, California. Applications are still be accepted for two 2012 Extreme Mustang Makeover events. Applications for the Clemson,South Carolina, Extreme Mustang Makeover are due June 4, and applications for the new Extreme Mustang Makeover Slot Barrel Race being held in Alvarado, Texas, are due by July 2.
About the Mustang Heritage Foundation
The mission of the Mustang Heritage Foundation and the goal of the Extreme Mustang Makeover events are to increase the adoption of Mustangs across the country. The Mustang Heritage Foundation created the Extreme Mustang Makeover events to showcase the recognized value of Mustangs through a national training competition. For more information, visit www.mustangheritagefoundation.org.
About 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. For more information, visit www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov or call 866-468-7826.
About the Midwest Horse Fair
The Midwest Horse Fair is one of the top three-day horse fairs in America. Held in Madison, Wisconsin, at the Alliant Energy Center, it has been growing and going strong since 1979. In 2012, the Midwest Horse Fair will celebrate its 33rd annual event. The mission of the Midwest Horse Fair is to unite all facets of the horse industry through the premier event by focusing on education, networking and promotional opportunities and to introduce non-horse owners to the beauty and enjoyment of this magnificent animal while providing entertainment to individuals and families of all ages. Learn more at http://midwesthorsefair.com.
Date Event – City, State
May 18-20, 2012 Extreme Mustang Makeover – Norco, California
June 8-10, 2012 Extreme Mustang Makeover – Fort Collins, Colorado
June 29-July 1, 2012 Extreme Mustang Makeover – Albany, Oregon
August 10-12, 2012 Extreme Mustang Makeover – Gloucester Co., New Jersey
August 31-September 1, 2012 Extreme Mustang Makeover Team Roping – Salado, Texas
September 13-15, 2012 Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover – Fort Worth, Texas
October 19-21, 2012 Extreme Mustang Makeover – Clemson, South Carolina
November 16-17, 2012 Extreme Mustang Makeover Barrel Slot Race – Texas