An historic adoption ended Saturday April 24 when the Mustang Heritage Foundation (MHF) placed 108 six-year-old mustangs for more than $70,000, averaging $650 per head. Drew Olsen of Georgia claimed the high-adopting mustang, a bay gelding, for $3,700. Cindy Branham of Kansas came in close behind taking a striking buckskin gelding for $3,500.

The adoption was carried live on RFD TV through Superior Livestock Productions in Fort Worth and the bidder lines were smoking.

Adopters for the event were pre-approved for their chance to clam one of the wild horses for their chance to enter the $100,000 Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover August 13-14 in Fort Worth, Texas, where $50,000 is guaranteed to the winner.

Current plans include competition similar to that of the Extreme Mustang Makeover, which consists of body condition scoring, 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 a walk, trot and lope, stop and back. Twenty finalists will compete in a freestyle competition to determine the winner and are encouraged to use props, music and other theatrical methods to demonstrate the skills they have taught their Mustangs since pickup. Trainers will have approximately 120 days to get their new charges in shape for the competition.

“This was nothing short of amazing,” said MHF Executive Director Patti Colbert. “We had barely welcomed viewers to the show before bidders were calling in to place their bids. Incredible. Just incredible.”

Colbert said the adoption barely went past the two-hour broadcast window available on RFD, with seven horses adopted via the Internet at superiorlive.com.

“The Foundation is so grateful to everyone who hung in there with us and supported this adoption,” she said. “This adoption was truly an act of faith and belief that Extreme Mustang Makeover fans would want an event like this to happen.”

At six years old, the mustangs were likely headed to a long-term holding facility, but with this adoption, they have not only found a home, but a purpose.

The $100,000 Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover competition will be the richest wild horse competition in history. Tickets are available through www.extrememustangmakeover.com .

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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 and has placed more than 1,000 mustangs for adoption since September 2007. Go to www.mustangheritagefoundation.org  for more information.

About the Bureau of Land Management

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.