For Immediate Release:
August, 4th, 2013
Port Matilda, PA – Next Level HorsemanshipTM, Suzanne Myers, and NLHTM intern Nate Peck received top ten placings in the Extreme Mustang Makeover, August 2-4, 2013, at Dream Park, in Gloucester County, New Jersey. Trainers had approximately 100 days to gentle a randomly assigned wild horse and compete for prize money and awards.
Suzanne Myers, founder of Next Level HorsemanshipTM and her mustang Jada,  finished 6th overall in the finals in a field of 35 participants.  In the preliminary round Suzanne and Jada placed 9th in the trail course and 4th in the pattern class which gave them a qualifying score for the freestyle final event held the following day. In the finals the team performed their freestyle performance to the tune of “I Want Crazy” by Hunter Hayes. Without obstacles or additional props, Suzanne and Jada focused on demonstrating the higher level maneuvers the pair had been perfecting in the last month of their training together. They showcased half passes, shoulder in, haunches in, extended trot, and flying lead changes in a dressage style performance.
“Jada is an exceptional mare with a lot of heart and natural impulsion”, says Suzanne. “She has the potential to excel in competition for many years to come or carry her rider over countless miles of trails. She had the ability to win this challenge but was a little over ambitious and needed a bit more time in training to balance herself and completely contain her natural energy.” “I was extremely proud of her for doing as well as she did and bringing us to a top ten finish.”
The NLHTM Training Program defines a unique and broad-based learning experience for both horse and handler. Three NLHTM Interns, Cassie Bieulieu, Nate Peck, and Molly Fetter competed in August with their randomly assigned Mustangs. The NLHTM Internship Program provides students with hands-on opportunities to train horses and learn effective horsemanship and problem solving techniques. Students participating in the Internship Program can gentle and compete in the Mustang Challenge as part of their Internship experience.
All of the Mustangs competing in the Extreme Mustang Makeover challenge were mares, and the horses were virtually untouched prior to the April pick-up. The trainers and Mustangs competed in a series of classes designed to showcase their new skills including handling and conditioning, a pattern class and a combined leading and riding class.Â
Mustangs competing in the Extreme Mustang Makeover were available for adoption through an auction on August 4.
The purpose of the competition is to showcase the beauty, versatility and trainability of these rugged horses that roam freely on public lands throughout the West, where they are protected by the BLM under federal law. The BLM periodically removes excess animals from the range to ensure herd health and protect rangeland resources. Thousands of the removed animals are then made available each year to the public for adoption. More than 3,300 wild horses have been adopted through Mustang Heritage Foundation (MHF) events and programs since 2007.
“Our participation in this event was made possible in part by our sponsors, Priefert Manufacturing, Mountain Horse, and Wyngz Saddle Pads. I want to thank them for their continued support for our program,” says Suzanne. Suzanne and two NLH interns will also be participating in the Mustang Million event (also a Mustang Makeover) in Fort Worth, TX on September 16th-21st. For more information on the Mustang Makeover events visit: www.mustangheritagefoundation.org
For more information on Next Level Horsemanship call Suzanne Myers, 814-280-6086 or visit www.NextLevelHorsemanship.com.
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