Boots Made for Winning at Extreme Mustang Makeover Eastern Stampede Tennessee trainer to donate earnings to local hippotherapy program

Boots and Stanfill

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OCTOBER 25, 2009, FORT WORTH, TEXAS – Boots Burro’s life was probably on the losing track as he stood in a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) holding facility in June, but that all changed when trainer Gary Stanfill drew him as his mount for the Extreme Mustang Makeover Eastern Stampede and the pair took the win October 24 in the $15,000 Legends division.

The four-year-old sorrel gelding didn’t even have a name, just a number that identified him as one of 30,000 wild horses under the care of the BLM, that provides wild horses to the Mustang Heritage Foundation for adoption through its Extreme Mustang Makeover competitions around the country.

Stanfill, of Lexington, Tenn., said the gelding surprised him. “I was very surprised at how athletic he turned out to be and how quickly he came around,” said the trainer, who has been involved with American Quarter Horses most of his life. “This has been a great experience for me; a fun experience.”

Stanfill’s win didn’t come easy, though, as he bested a field of 28 in the Legends division. In a rare tie for first place, Stanfill had to go up against Dillinger and Hank Hepperly of Walland, Tenn., in a “mustang smackdown” to determine the winner after both had performed and received the same score for their freestyle performance. With music selections by management and two minutes to perform, Boots Burro repeated his ease of movement and lead changes, not to mention his clear connection to the rider, to take the win over Dillinger, whose sliding stops were a crowd favorite.

Stanfill earned $5,000 for the triumph, which he plans to donate along with funding raised through Lexington businesses to a local hippotherapy program. Boots had a strong following at the show, having already raised a fan base in Lexington when Stanfill made front page news for riding Boots into the mayor’s office, as well into a local bank lobby to make a deposit.

Rock’n Red and Jessica Davis

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The more than 90 horses in the competition were scored on body condition, which measures the overall health and condition of the animal; an in hand course, which requires the trainer to demonstrate their ability to handle the Mustang on foot, including moving through an obstacle course, picking up the horse’s feet and loading it into a trailer; and a “horse course,” which requires the trainer to ride the horse through a series of obstacles and complete basic maneuvers, such as walk, trot and lope, stop and back.

Three levels of competition were presented during the Extreme Mustang Makeover, including Idols and Legends, featuring three and four year old geldings, as well as Mission 008, featuring yearlings with trainers age 18 and under. Idol and Legend levels are determined by the trainers own assessment of the horse’s progress and level of ability. A total of $30,000 was offered in the competition, with a $5,000 prize going to the Legends champion, while the Idol champion will take home $3,000 and the youth champion taking home $1,500.

After 100 days of work, on October 23, Jessica Davis and her four-year-old American Mustang Rock’n Red traveled from Janesville, WI to Murfreesboro, Tenn. to compete in the Extreme Mustang Makeover Eastern Stampede where they were named the champions in the Idols Division.

Docs Golden Allegro

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Performing to the tune “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” it was hard to imagine the sorrel gelding as a wild horse with moves that included great extension at the trot and a classical frame worthy of any dressage arena. The pair bested a field of 34 contenders and earned $3,000 of the $10,000 purse and a championship Gist Silversmith buckle for the win.

A total of 22 youth returned to Murfreesboro with their young charges and inspired the audience with their dedication and effort. Taking the Mission 008 championship was 18-year-old Diane Ward of Brandon, Miss. Bringing her dance experience to the arena, Diane and her palomino gelding Docs Golden Allegro wowed the crowd with a performance the incorporated flame and finesse. The pair earned $1,500 of the $5,000 purse.

About the Mustang Heritage Foundation MHF Logo

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The mission of the Mustang Heritage Foundation and the goal of the Extreme Mustang Makeover is to increase the adoption of mustangs across the country. The Mustang Heritage Foundation created the Extreme Mustang Makeover event to showcase the recognized value of mustangs through a national training competition.

About the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro

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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. Since 1973, the BLM has placed more than 220,000 horses and burros into private care through adoption. For more information, visit www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov or call 866-4MUSTANGS.

Mustang Heritage Foundation Patti Colbert P.O. Box 703 Bertram, Texas 78605

(512) 355-3225 (512) 355-2737 fax

[email protected] weslies@mustangheritage foundation .org

Bureau of Land Management Tom Gorey (202) 452-5137

The Extreme Mustang Makeover and any marks or images are the copyrighted property of the Mustang Heritage Foundation and may not be reproduced without permission. Contents of this release may be reproduced and distributed.