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BOBBY KERR WINS $25,000 AT FIRST EVER MUSTANG MAGIC CELEBRITY FREESTYLE COMPETITION AT THE FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW & RODEO

FORT WORTH, Texas (January 30, 2020) – Bobby Kerr of Hico, Texas, won the Mustang Heritage Foundation’s first-ever Mustang Magic Celebrity Freestyle competition in conjunction with the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo on Friday evening at Will Rogers Coliseum and took home $25,000 in cash and prizes in front of more than 5,000 spectators.

Dan James, a Midway, Kentucky native, finished second with 265 points and Madison Shambaugh of Telluride, Colorado, placed third with 264 points as judged by a panel of experts to Kerr’s winning total of 275.

“Everything I’ve had to do with the MHF has been life changing,” Kerr said. “It’s crazy amount of talent that was here. It came down to me and Dan James, and we’re big buddies. We said it doesn’t matter. We were just honored to be involved with everything that was going on. I just can’t believe it. It’s awesome.”

Put on by the MHF, which creates, promotes, supports and manages manage programs that provide information to the public about wild horses and burros and the challenges they face on overpopulated public lands governed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Mustang Magic Celebrity Freestyle was a one-night showcase featuring eight of the best mustang trainers and performers in the country – trainers who have competed in other MHF events in the past. The five other competitors featured were:

Wylene Davis of Nenzel, Nebraska

Ginger Duke of Springtown, Texas

Nate Eicher of Brock, Texas

Katie Ketterhagen of Granger, Texas

Marsha Sapp of Tallahassee, Florida

About the Mustang Heritage Foundation

The primary mission of the Mustang Heritage Foundation is to create and promote programs and activities that provide information and education about wild horses and burros, elevate their image and desirability, provide opportunities to become involved in the wild horse and burro experience and secure adequate numbers of caring homes for excess horses. Working in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management the Mustang Heritage Foundation works to ensure healthy wild herds and rangelands through the placement of excess animals removed from public lands so future generations can enjoy this distinctive part of our American heritage. As a 501 (C)(3), public, charitable, nonprofit organization, the Mustang Heritage Foundation works to identify and develop sources of private financial funding to further support the mission of the Foundation. For more information visit mustangheritagefoundation.org.

About the Bureau of Land Management: 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) removes wild horses and burros from public lands to ensure a healthy balance of land and animals. Since 1971, the BLM has placed more than 255,000 wild horses and burros into good homes nationwide. Partnerships, like the Mustang Heritage Foundation, provide the BLM with additional opportunities to place animals into good homes. Interested applicants can attend BLM offsite adoption/sales event, visit a BLM Off-Range Corral, or participate in an Internet adoption/sales event to apply to take a wild horse or burro home! To learn more about the Wild Horse and Burro Program, please call 866-468-7826 or visit BLM.GOV/whb.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Diverse activities authorized on these lands generated $96 billion in sales of goods and services throughout the American economy in fiscal year 2017. These activities supported more than 468,000 jobs.

MUSTANG HERITAGE FOUNDATION UPDATE 04.14.2020

Dear MHF Family,

First & foremost, I want to thank everyone for the support during this Covid-19 Pandemic. The calls, emails, letters & social media posts checking in reinforce the importance of the Foundation’s mission of Bringing Mustangs Home. As we all work together to navigate these uncertain times, I want you to rest assured that the Foundation has plans in place to continue advancing our mission while doing our part to enable social distancing.

Our Staff –

Williamson County, Texas – home of the Foundation headquarters, has been placed under a “stay home, stay safe” order through at least April 30th. This order, signed in to law by Williamson County Judge Bill Gravel, prohibits non-essential businesses from conducting business from their offices. I’m pleased to report that as a Foundation, we had already taken a proactive approach to our team’s safety by instituting a work from home policy on March 12th.

We Need Your Help –

Now is an opportune time to spread the news about what the Mustang Heritage Foundation does, why it’s important and how the general public can get involved.

Over the next several weeks, you will see many interactive education tools and fun activities being rolled out from the Foundation through social media, our monthly newsletter & through e-blasts. I ask each of you to take a couple of minutes and share this information with someone who doesn’t know about mustangs or burros & why the work of the foundation is so important. Let’s keep growing our Mustang Family.

Business as Usual-

Our team has successfully transitioned to working remotely and is here to support you with any questions or needs that may arise. The office hours remain 8:30-4:30 Monday through Thursday & 8:30-12:00 on Friday. The office phone number, 512-869-3225, continues to be attended during these hours and our remote phone answering capabilities are being augmented to ensure the MHF team remains accessible.

Please be aware of the fact that merchandise order fulfillment, trainer incentive payments and regular correspondence may be slightly delayed. The whole team is working as quickly and safely as possible to get these very important tasks completed. During this time, we will continue to be able to receive faxes and check standard mail regularly throughout the week. If you have an immediate need or inquiry, please email the appropriate contact listed below.

For General Inquiries, Membership and Online Store Inquiries – Emily Wilson – emily@mustangheritagefoundation.org
For General Inquiries – Ann Souders – ann@mustangheritagefoundation.org
For Equine Related Inquiries – Stormy Mullins – stormy@mustangheritagefoundation.org
For Extreme Mustang Makeover Inquiries – Cheyenne Johanson – cheyenne@mustangheritagefoundation.org
For TIP, TIP Storefront or TIP Challenge Inquiries – Lizzy Foster – lizzy@mustangheritagefoundation.org
For Veterans Program or Operational Inquiries – Kathy White – kathy@mustangheritagefoundation.org
For Marketing Inquiries – Michelle Bonds – michelle@mustangheritagefoundation.org
For Social Media Inquiries – Brandyl Calley – brandyl@mustangheritagefoundation.org
For Administrative Inquiries – Alex Kappert – alex@mustangheritagefoundation.org

An Update on MHF Programs:

Trainer Incentive Program –

As an organization, the Mustang Heritage Foundation, in conjunction with our partners at the BLM, have been monitoring the situation and evaluating the effect that COVID-19 could have on the many commitments we have made to our trainers, fans, supporters and partners. Our main priority is to ensure the overall safety of our trainers, partners, staff and program participants. Therefore, effective immediately, the Mustang Heritage Foundation is temporarily suspending the acceptance of additional mustangs and burros into the Trainer Incentive Program until June 1, 2020.

Any trainers who currently have horses or burros in training through the TIP program should continue with the TIP process. MHF will continue to make payment to TIP trainers who complete adoptions or sales on horses and burros that are currently in training. Please do not contact BLM to schedule appointments to pick up TIP animals at off range corrals or satellite events.

We know that the demand for TIP trained animals and interest in becoming an approved TIP trainer has not disappeared. We will continue to approve trainers for participation in the TIP program during this temporary suspension. We encourage you to complete the application if you are interested. The application can be found on the Mustang Heritage Foundation website at https://mustangheritagefoundation.org/tip/.

Extreme Mustang Makeover – 

The Extreme Mustang Makeover event in Lexington, KY scheduled for June 25-27 is continuing as planned at this time. In the event of the Lexington, KY makeover not being able to be held in person, contingency plans for a virtual show are being drawn up that will enable a safe & socially distant show to be hosted.

Due to current pandemic and logistics concerns preventing the scheduled April trainer pickup of mustangs, the Extreme Mustang Makeover Los Angeles event planned for August 7 – 8 unfortunately has to be postponed until a later date. While this was not an easy decision, the Mustang Heritage Foundation values the safety of our trainers, fans, and staff. We ask for your patience and support as we work to reschedule the California date. Please look for announcements and updates via social media and email in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to navigate this situation and we work to keep you updated as new developments arise.

-Alex Kappert, Executive Director
Mustang Heritage Foundation

ENTRY INFORMATION RELEASED FOR MUSTANG HERITAGE OPEN E-SHOW

The Mustang Heritage Foundation is excited to release entry information for its virtual mustang open show.

The show is produced by the Mustang Heritage Foundation and hosted on E-SHOWS, the new online horse showing platform developed by the American Paint Horse Association.

Entry information, including rules, patterns and video submission guidelines are now available at mustangheritagefoundation.org/openshow.

“We are excited to partner with the Mustang Heritage Foundation and bring something new and fun to their riders and trainers,” said Steven Hayes, APHA chief marketing officer. “E-Shows is giving competitors across the globe the opportunity to do what they love from the comfort of their own arenas. We can’t wait to host the first-ever Mustang Heritage E-Show.”

Show Information
All BLM-branded mustangs owned or adopted are eligible to enter in one of three divisions, in hand; walk, trot or walk, trot, lope. BLM-branded burros are eligible to enter the in-hand division. Each trainer or owner must choose one division to enter and will be able to enter two horses in that division. Classes per division will be trail, pattern and freestyle.

Videos for each class will be reviewed, judged and scored by show judge, Dennis Cappel. Winners will be announced June 3 and awarded buckles and additional prizes.

Entry Information
The show fee is $15 per class. Entries will open May 20 at 8 a.m. CST and close May 26 at 5 p.m. CST. All entries and videos must be submitted during this timeframe.

The Foundation is dedicated to helping mustang owners and enthusiasts continue to show and enjoy mustangs during this unprecedented time.

“The health and safety of our trainers, owners and fans remains our top priority,” said equine director Stormy Mullins. “We’re pleased to partner with APHA to offer another avenue for trainers and owners to participate with their mustangs.”

Learn more at mustangheritagefoundation.org/openshow.

For more information, please contact Stormy Mullins at 940-445-9773 or the Mustang Heritage Foundation office at 512-869-3225.

EXTREME MUSTANG MAKEOVER CALIFORNIA TO BE HELD VIRTUALLY

The Extreme Mustang Makeover California, originally slated for August 7-8, will now be held as a virtual event.

To ensure the health and safety of trainers, owners and fans, and remain in compliance with COVID-19 reopening plans in California, the Mustang Heritage Foundation made the decision to transition to a virtual event.

Trainers will be able to pick up their eligible mustangs July 17-18 at Ridgecrest, California. However, show and auction dates are still being determined and will be released as soon as they become available.

“While this is a difficult time for everyone, we are focused on supporting our trainers and mustangs,” said executive director Alex Kappert. “This means adjusting plans to ensure we are still able to raise awareness for the 50,000 mustangs in holding and share our mission of helping bring mustangs home.”

The show will be produced as a virtual event for both adult and youth divisions and hosted on E-SHOWS, the new online horse showing platform developed by the American Paint Horse Association. Entries will be submitted as videos through E-SHOWS. MHF staff will be available to assist trainers in submitting their videos by the deadline.

With the event format change, the mustang auction will also be held online and hosted by Superior Livestock Auctions.

“We remain grateful to have online platforms that allow us to continue to host our events,” said Kappert.

To learn more and stay updated, visit extrememustangmakeover.com.

The Extreme Mustang Makeover is produced by the Mustang Heritage Foundation, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse & Burro Program, to showcase the versatility and trainability of the American Mustang. The event is presented by Western Horseman and sponsored by RIDE TV, NRS Supply, Espana Silk, A Cut Above Buckles, Classic Equine, Martin Saddlery, Resistol, Yeti and Ram Rodeo Series.

MUSTANG MAGIC CELEBRITY FREESTYLE RETURNS WITH A TWIST

The Mustang Heritage Foundation, producers of the Extreme Mustang Makeover, is excited to announce the return of the Mustang Magic Celebrity Freestyle to the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo January 21-23, 2021.

Mustang Magic Celebrity Freestyle, held Saturday night, will feature the best mustang trainers and entertainers in the country. Performers will showcase the talents of their mustang partners during a six-minute freestyle routine. They will be allowed to incorporate props, people and other animals into their routines, along with their Bureau of Land Management-branded mustang, for a chance to win $50,000 in cash and prizes.

In an exciting twist, the Mustang Heritage Foundation will host a Mustang Magic Rising Star Freestyle showdown Friday, January 22. During this event, invited trainers will entertain the crowd with their best performance featuring a BLM-branded mustang. These trainers will be vying for a spot to advance to the Mustang Magic Celebrity Freestyle and compete for the purse of $50,000 on Saturday night.

“The Celebrity Freestyle, and now the Rising Stars showdown, showcase the true talents of the American Mustang for fans and enthusiasts,” said Alex Kappert, Mustang Heritage Foundation’s executive director. “We can’t wait to bring all of the action and excitement back to the Will Rogers Coliseum.”

The celebrity performers will include Ginger Duke of Springtown, Texas; Nate Eicher of Brock, Texas; Dan James of Midway, Kentucky; Katie Ketterhagen of May, Texas; Marsha Sapp of Tallahassee, Florida; Madison Shambaugh of Telluride, Colorado; and Elisa Wallace of Reddick, Florida.

Along with this one-of-a-kind competition, the weekend will also feature mustang demonstrations showcasing the versatility and trainability of the American Mustang. Evening performances are expected to sell out soon after tickets go on sale this summer.

Tickets for both the Mustang Magic Celebrity Freestyle and the Mustang Magic Rising Star Showdown will be on sale later this summer through the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo website.