#MUSTANG
The Thursday Morning Mustang: From Wild to Mild
Do you have what it takes to gentle mustangs?
Weekend Movies to Watch: 3 Horse Documentaries
These three horsey documentaries prove that fact is better than fiction.
(more…)
The Thursday Morning Mustang: BLM Seeking Trainers For New Pilot Program
Are you or someone you know an experienced trainer with a love for the American mustang? The Bureau of Land Management’s new Trainer Ambassador Pilot Program is seeking trainers to help place wild horses in new homes.
SpectraVET Perf. of the Week: Madison & Takoda
Check out this “colorful” performance from the Extreme Mustang Makeover in Louisiana, held March 11-12! Madison Shambaugh and Takoda won the freestyle and were named overall reserve champions.
Madison Shambaugh and Takoda put on quite a show at the Extreme Mustang Makeover of Gonzales, Louisiana last weekend: this performance earned them the victory in the freestyle segment of the competition and won them the reserve championship as well. The Extreme Mustang Makeover competition requires competitors to take on an untouched mustang through a Bureau of Land Management adoption. In 100 days, the mustangs need to be competition-ready to perform both under saddle and in hand, with the top ten performances at the Makeover competition qualifying for the freestyle. Shambaugh’s performance was intended to celebrate the individual nature of the horse, highlighting the fact horses should be trained according to their unique personalities, strengths and weaknesses.
2016 Extreme Mustang Makeover Bridleless FreestyleMeet Mustang No. 6042, now known as “Takoda,” who was wild just 100 days ago. Madison trained Takoda for the Extreme Mustang Makeover, in which trainers have 100 days to train a wild mustang. These competitions serve to showcase the trainability of America’s wild horses and raise awareness for the some 50,000 mustangs currently waiting in holding pens to be adopted. After the competition, the trained mustangs are auctioned off to the public to be put into caring homes. Madison used the money she won in the competition to bid on Takoda herself. She was successful in adopting him and will be giving him a forever home. She plans to travel with Takoda & the other mustangs she has trained in order to continue to raise awareness for the mustangs still awaiting adoption, as well as to educate the public on equine behavior and communication techniques to achieve more successful horse-human relationships.Their very colorful performance served to communicate a message about embracing your individuality and finding the strength to show who you really are and what makes you unique–showing your true colors! It was about embracing what makes you different, recognizing that our individual differences is what brings out our true beauty!Madison was inspired to convey this message after realizing and appreciating how different and unique each mustang that she works with is. She believes every horse has a potential for greatness if we can learn to appreciate their unique gifts and embrace what makes them so special, rather than fitting them into our preconceived perceptions of what they should be.Special thanks to Crypto Aero Wholefood Horse Feed, Motion for Life, Rosebud Ranch, & The Glam Factory.#DifferentIsBeautiful #TrueColors Posted by Madison Shambaugh on Sunday, March 13, 2016
Keep in mind that this horse was totally untouched 100 days prior:
Sneak peak of my Louisiana extreme mustang makeover assignment! A 6 year old bay gelding from Nevada…sound familiar?;) I have approx 100 days to tame and train this guy for the competition in March! Stay posted on his progress and our schedule to see if he will be coming to an area near you! #meetthemustangs #extrememustangmakeover #lettheadventurebegin #mustangmaddy A photo posted by Madison Shambaugh (@mustangmaddy) on
Each Extreme Mustang Makeover concludes with an auction so each mustang can find a forever home. Shambaugh used her winnings to buy back Takoda to permanently join her string. While also maintaining a schedule as a college student, Madison Shambaugh also teaches liberty clinics as well as performs with her horses.
Madison Shambaugh first appeared on the mustang radar with last year’s Virginia Extreme Mustang Makeover, where she performed with her mustang Terk. Clearly the sky is the limit for this young trainer!
To learn more about the Extreme Mustang Makeover, check out the event website.
Go mustangs! Go riding!
Why SpectraVET?
Reliable. Effective. Affordable.
SpectraVET is committed to providing only the highest-quality products and services to our customers, and to educating the world in the science and art of laser therapy.
We design and manufacture the broadest range of clinically-proven veterinary therapeutic laser products, which are represented and supported worldwide by our network of specialist distributors and authorized service centers.
World Equestrian Brands Helmet Cam: Red Hills Hwin
Mount up for a mustang cam! Elisa Wallace lets us ride along for the prelim cross-country course at Red Hills International in Tallahassee, Florida, aboard her mustang mare Hwin.
BLM Seeking Feedback On Mustang Trainer Ambassador Program
A new proposed program sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management would increase the availability of trained adoptable mustangs for the equestrian public. We’ve got the details!
Friday Flicks: ‘American Mustang’
American Mustang, a Swift Rascal Production film, takes us on an incredible 3D journey, showcasing wild horses of the American West with a unique mix of documentary and narrative. (more…)
EN Today: Elisa Wallace wins Extreme Mustang Makeover
Eventer Elisa Wallace and her adopted Mustang Fledge have covered a LOT of ground over the past four months, and their hard work paid off at Finals. Kate Samuels has got the story. (more…)