Local Horse Trainer competing in Extreme Mustang Makeover

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Cindy Branham 785-224-1747 www.rockin-rc.com
to Compete in Extreme Mustang Makeover

Cindy Branham, Horse Trainer/Clinician vies for $25,000 purse in September event
(Bertram, Tex) –

Cindy Branham, John & Josh Lyons Certified Trainer, of Auburn, Kansas, has been selected from a field of 220 Horsemen from across the United States to compete in the Extreme Mustang Makeover, September 22-23 in Fort Worth, Texas. A total of 100 trainers from 30 states were selected in May during a painstaking process. Trainers then claimed their Nevada mustangs June 6-9 at BLM facilities in Nevada and Oklahoma.
Trainers will compete in the Extreme Mustang Makeover competition for $25,000 Saturday, September 22, at the Will Rogers Equestrian Center in Fort Worth. The trained mustangs will be judged on conditioning, groundwork, and a "Horse Course" that requires maneuvers and includes obstacles found in trail and recreational riding situations. Sunday, September 23, the competing mustangs will be available for adoption through an oral bidding adoption at the Will Rogers Center.
Three of the nation’s top horsemen will serve as judges of the first Extreme Mustang Makeover, produced by the Mustang Heritage Foundation in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro program. Judges include Pete Kyle of Whitesboro, Texas, Suzy Jeane of Valley View, Texas and J.D. Yates of Pueblo, Colorado.
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 removed animals are then made available each year to the public for adoption. All of the animals involved in the "Makeover" competition will be available for adoption at the Fort Worth event in September.
Adoption fees will be set by competitive bid with initial fees being determined by the level and quality of training each horse has received. To qualify to adopt, one must be at least 18, with no record of animal abuse. In addition, adopters must have suitable facilities and can adopt no more than four animals. Adoption applications may be obtained and approved on the spot. Sponsored by Fort Dodge Animal Health, Smith Brothers and Western Horseman magazine, the Extreme Mustang Makeover will also become a six-episode series on RFD Television's Wide World of Horses from August - December 2007. The show will share the stories of the mustangs and trainers as they learn to trust in one another and gain competitive confidence.

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. Go to www.mustangheritagefoundation.org for more information.
About the Bureau of Land Management
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 216,000 horses and burros into private care through adoption. For more information, visit wildhorseandburro.blm.gov or call 866-4MUSTANGS. The Save the Mustangs Fund, established in May 2005 by Ford Motor Company in collaboration with the BLM and Take Pride in America, builds public awareness and support for wild horses. In less than a year, the Fund generated more than $200,000 in contributions, including Ford's financial support for 2,000 horses, and has educated more than one million visitors through an informational website, (www.savethemustangs.org).

Cindy Branham, John and Josh Lyons Certified Trainer says that she has been truly blessed so far by taking part in this special competition. Her mustang, Joshua is truly living up to the name she game to him. She named him after applying for the competition, not even knowing if she would be selected. She chose his name at church. The Pastor was giving a message on the young man “Joshua”, who led God’s people into the promise land. God calls on him over and over to be “Strong and Courageous, and to trust in Him”. This was the perfect back drop for Cindy to share with the world how a trusting partnership can evolve between horse and human. “Joshua, the mustang, is strong and courageous and trusts in me so much!” says Cindy. “He is living up to his name and God has truly blessed me by allowing me to work with such an amazing horse!” Look for Cindy and Joshua on RFDTV, Wide World of Horses, starting August 21 for a mini series on the Extreme Mustang Makeover. Purina Mills has generously sponsored Cindy Branham’s mustang, Joshua.
Go to www.rockin-rc.com for more information on Cindy and Joshua, the mustang.