The 2021 Kentucky Extreme Mustang Makeover, originally slated to be held June 24–26 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, will now be held as a virtual event.
The Mustang Heritage Foundation made the decision to transition to a virtual event after evaluating the uncertainty of the state of Kentucky reopening plans due to COVID-19.
“While we are eager to return to in-person events, we want to ensure our trainers and mustangs are set up for success,” said executive director Alex Kappert. “This means being transparent about the uncertainties that COVID-19 has created, while remaining true to our mission to help the 50,000 mustangs in holding find homes.”
Both adult and youth divisions of the event will be produced virtually and hosted online by the Mustang Heritage Foundation. Following a similar format to the successful virtual Extreme Mustang Makeovers held in 2020, trainers will submit videos of themselves and their horses completing each class. MHF staff will be available to assist trainers in submitting their videos before the deadline. Those videos will be reviewed by a panel of show judges, then premiered online one class at a time along with official scores and results for each competitor. Extreme Mustang Makeover fans and horse enthusiasts from around the world can watch the action and find results in real-time at facebook.com/ExtremeMustangMakeover.
With the event format change, the auction of competing adult horses will also be held online. Interested bidders must submit a bidder application prior to the auction to be approved for bidding.
“Our virtual event this fall resulted in record-breaking sale averages,” Kappert said. “We are confident that the Kentucky event will be just as successful.”
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 Purina.