MAKING LEGENDS AT THE 2009 EXTREME MUSTANG MAKEOVER

SEPTEMBER 18, 2009, FORT WORTH, TEXAS – Today, mustang, El Compadre, and trainer, Jesus Jaruegui of Baileys Harbor, Wisc., took the early lead in the 2009 Extreme Mustang Makeover’s Legends division with the highest total score for the In Hand competition. El Compadre and Jaruegui are followed in points by Lots of Chrome and Bill Lopez of Norman, Okla., in second and Kidd Cool and Lorrie Grover of Corpus Christi, Texas, in third. The Legends division is the most difficult division at the Extreme Mustang Makeover with 28 three and four year old gelding mustangs competing for the Legend championship and $5,000.

During the In Hand competitions, trainers demonstrate their ability to handle their mustang on foot through an obstacle course and show off their mustang’s overall health and condition. While El Compadre and Jaruegui took home the highest total score, they tied Domino and Joe Williams of Reddick, Fla., for the highest body conditioning score. The Wisconsin mustang trainer team also tied Kidd Cool with trainer Lorrie Grover for the best in hand performance score.

Tomorrow morning, Legend trainers will compete their mustangs in the Horse Course, which requires them to ride their mustang through a series of obstacles and complete basic maneuvers, such as a walk, trot, lope, stop, and back. Ten finalists based on the results of the in hand and horse course competitions will compete Saturday evening in the finals for the championship.

The MHF in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) created the Extreme Mustang Makeover event to highlight the recognized value of mustangs through a national training competition. The event will give the public a unique opportunity to see the results of wild horses becoming trained mounts and then participate in a competitive bidding process to adopt one of these treasured animals. Adoption of all horses will take place September 20 with BLM personnel on hand to answer questions and assist adopters with the application process.

All events are free with the exception of the Legends Finals September 19. Tickets are on sale now through www.extrememustangmakeover.com for this entertaining and heartfelt event.