The Wild to Mild Trainer’s Challenge, a unique wild horse training competition in its 2nd year of production, will be held February 22-23, 2024 at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. The event has partnered with the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, Mustang Heritage Foundation, and the Bureau of Land Management to place over 120 (80 of which were placed for this year’s event) formerly wild horses and burros with trainers across the country who have approximately 100 days to bond with and train these animals for competition.
The competition is split into divisions of youth, adults and first responders/veterans. Trainers in these divisions will compete for cash, prizes, and a horse trailer for the overall high point champion. Competition begins on Thursday, February 22, but culminates with a finals freestyle challenge on Friday, February 23 at 6pm, which will be followed by awards and a mustang reassignment auction.
The Wild to Mild Trainer’s Challenge strives to promote youth involvement with mustangs and equines at large. Over 20 youth are expected to compete in this year’s show. Mustang Heritage Foundation has pledged a $2,000 scholarship to the high point high school senior or college freshman in the event. Palo Alto College Agriculture Program will also be in attendance as they announce a new partnership with the Wild to Mild Trainer’s Challenge and Bureau of Land Management to develop a state-of-the-art horse boarding and training facility, a Livestock Arena, the first higher education Equine Science program in Bexar County, and eventually adding Collegiate Rodeo into the program.
To learn more about the Wild to Mild Trainer’s Challenge, visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1621891128211367/
About the Wild to Mild Trainer’s Challenge
The Wild to Mild Trainer’s Challenge is celebrating its 2nd year at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. This annual event challenges mustang trainers and enthusiasts to gentle and show a previously wild horse while focusing on bringing awareness to mustangs, encouraging youth involvement with mustangs, and supporting veterans and first responders. Over 120 Bureau of Land Management mustangs have been placed through this event. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/1621891128211367/.
About the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo
The annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo takes place February 8-25, 2024 at the AT&T Center and Freeman Coliseum grounds. The event has grown to be one of the largest, most prestigious single events in the city of San Antonio, with approximately 1.3 million visitors each year from across the state. To learn more, visit: sarodeo.com.
About the Mustang Heritage Foundation
The Mustang Heritage Foundation is dedicated to facilitating successful placements for America’s excess wild mustangs and burros through innovative programs, events and education. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. More than 25,000 mustangs have been placed into private care through Mustang Heritage Foundation events and programs since 2007. For more information, visit mustangheritagefoundation.org.
About the Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) removes wild horses and burros from public lands to ensure a healthy balance of land and animals. Since 1971, the BLM has placed more than 250,000 wild horses and burros into good homes nationwide. Partnerships provide the BLM with additional opportunities to place animals into good homes. Interested applicants can attend BLM offsite adoption/sales event, visit a BLM Off-Range Corral, or participate in an Internet adoption/sales event to apply to take a wild horse or burro home! To learn more about the Wild Horse and Burro Program, please call 866-468-7826 or visit blm.gov/whb.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s mission is to manage and conserve America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield.
About the Palo Alto College Agriculture Program
The Palo Alto College Agriculture Program is the only Higher Education Agriculture institution in Bexar County, Texas and boasts an Ag Program serving more than 250 local agriculture students. They are currently teaching courses in Animal Science, Horticulture, Viticulture, Ag Mechanics, and Agriculture Business.
CONTACT: James Ellis, (580) 263-8340 jameshellis1@yahoo.com