Tennessee Thunder, a five-year-old sorrel American Mustang, proved he was at the top of his game when trainer Chase Dodd leapt from a small trampoline, onto the gelding’s back and then stuffed a basketball into a hoop to a standing ovation to take the win and $3,500 at the second Mustang Magic competition in Fort Worth, Texas.

If the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo ever wondered if more people could be stuffed into its John Justin arena, that question was answered January 23 when an estimated crowd of 3,000 spilled over into aisles and stairwells in the 1,900-seat venue to experience the Magic of the Mustang.

Mustang Magic, powered by Wheaties FuelTM with support from OmniAmerican Bank, featured 10 trainers who, for the previous 120 days, gentled 10 American Mustangs they received in September to compete for the $10,000 purse and the title of Mustang Magic champion.

Dodd captured the judges attention early on in the compulsory round when he “led” Tennessee Thunder through the in hand course without a halter, then proceeded to perform a flawless riding pattern. He repeated the same hands-free technique following the slam-dunk in the freestyle as he moved the horse, wild only 120 days earlier, through a bridleless routine to the tune of “Southern Voices.”

This was Dodd’s second Mustang Makeover win, having captured the Midwest Mustang Makeover championship in 2009 in Madison, Wis. Tennessee Thunder was placed for adoption with the returning support of Madeleine Pickens with a bid of $10,000.

“This was an exceptional group of trainers and an exceptional event,” said Mustang Heritage Foundation (MHF) Executive Director Patti Colbert. “I have to say these trainers poured their hearts and souls into these horses and it really showed throughout the competition.”

Takin’ it to the Fans

 Red Ryder and Logan Leach, voted the overall Mustang Magic Fan Favorite by the throng after 200,000 votes were received in on-line voting, grabbed the crowd’s heart and admiration after an extraordinary bridleless performance. Red Ryder and Leach executed a freestyle performance that brought the crowd to their feet with a bridleless routine that was both beautiful and without fault, garnering perfect 10 scores from all four judges. An honorary fan favorite title was also given to George Gregory of Saint Jo, Tex., who led the on-line voting but was forced to withdraw from competition for health reasons.

Excitement escalated during the adoption after a jaw-dropping bid of $29,000 was made by Joy Murray, mother of world champion cowboy Ty Murray, to adopt the horse. The bid was made even sweeter when it was announced that the bid was made on behalf of Western Horseman magazine in the creation of a partnership with the MHF to promote Red Ryder as an ambassador for the iconic American Mustang.

Logan Leach/Joy Murray

Logan Leach/Joy Murray

 

“I haven’t cried in 20 years,” said Logan, as he realized he would be able to take Red Ryder home with him. “I really wanted to keep this horse. He has more heart than almost any horse I’ve ever trained and when it got past $10,000 I knew that wasn’t going to happen. But, now this – this is incredible.”

All 10 horses were placed for adoption with Tennessee Thunder adopting for $10,000 with an average of $2,900 on nine head.

Produced by the Mustang Heritage Foundation (MHF) in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Mustang Magic is the only invitational Extreme Mustang Makeover event and featured Dodd of Soddy Daisy, Tenn., George Gregory of Saint Jo, Tex., whose horse was shown by Sonny Martin of Muenster, Texas, Weldon Hawley of Electra, Tex., Leach of Tucson, Ariz., Bill Lopez of Norman, Okla., Mark Lyon of Arlington, Neb., Joe Misner of Hamilton, Tex., Betsy Moles of, Woodstock, Ga., Joel Sheridan of Acton, Calif., and Jonathan “J-Dub” Weisiger of Ft. Worth, Tex.

To learn more, go to extrememustangmakeover.com or call 512.869.3225.

Results:

Placing, First, Last, City and State, Horse Name, Color, Foal Date, HMA, Adopted for

1. Chase Dodd, Soddy Daisy, Tenn, Tennessee Thunder, Chestnut, 2005, Coyote Lake , OR, $10,000

2. Logan Leach, Tucson, Ariz., Red Ryder, Dun, 2005, Maverick-Medicine, NV, $29,000*

3. Bill Lopez, Norman, Okla., Caballo de Colorres, Pinto, 2005, Maverick-Medicine, NV, $3,500

4. Mark Lyon, Atherton, Neb, Pilgrim, Buckskin, 2005, Buck and Bald, NV, $150

5. Joel Sheridan, Acton, Calif., Joaquin , Sorrel, 2005, Coyote Lake , OR, $1,900

6. J-Dub Weisiger, Fort Worth, Tex., Two Tone Texan, Pinto, 2005, Johnnie, NV, $4,000

7. Joe Misner, Hamilton, Tex., Lonestar, Grey, 2005, Saulsbury, NV, $900

8. Weldon Hawley, Electra, Tex., Rounder, Bay, 2005, Maverick-Medicine, NV, $1,700

9. Betsy Moles, Woodstock, Ga., Cody Coyote, Sorrel, 2005, Maverick-Medicine, NV, $3,000

*promotional package, not included in adoption average

Did not place. George Gregory, Saint Jo,Tex., Doc Holliday, Buckskin, 2005, Owyhee, NV, $1,500.

About the Mustang Heritage Foundation

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 Fort Worth Stock Show

From a one-day affair with a few head of cattle tethered under ice-laden shade trees, the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show has grown into a three-week extravaganza with international appeal for exhibitors and visitors alike. More than 900,000 visitors packed into the Will Rogers Complex in 2009 for the 113th Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show. The legendary 24-day event will return in 2010 running from January 15 through February 7. For more information go to fwssr.com.

About the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro

The BLM manages more land – 253 million acres – than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.For more information, visit wildhorseandburro.blm.gov or call 866-4MUSTANGS.

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.