Region:
Northeast

Horse:
Eight of Hearts
2005 Bay Gelding

Trained by:
Kris and Nik Kokal
HorseTenders Training Program
Greenfield, NH

He is super friendly and has been on the Kokal Farm since March 9, 2010. He was captured February 2007. He is from the Stone Cabin area in Nevada. He is so handsome and simply floats when he moves. Eight of Hearts is part of the Mustang Heritage Foundation Trainer Incentive Program as a part of the HorseTenders LLC “Last Chance Mustang Project.”

The Kokals developed and designed the “Last Chance Mustang Project” to save mustangs from being double branded and sent to wait out the rest of their lives in holding pens. These are the mustangs that were passed up at auctions or deemed untrainable, all of which seems simply unimaginable once you give them a chance and get to see their true capabilities and potential. When a mustang in the TIP program leaves us, he is able to stand quietly for the farrier, lead well and trailer load.

June Update: "Eight of Hearts" is now saddled and carries a rider. In July, Nik Kokal plans to ride him with a small group of friends on the back trails from Belchertown, MA to Windam, VT. He is getting the full treatment!

July Update: We are getting "Eight" ready for a cross country trail ride July 27- August 1, from Belcherstown MA to Windam VT. There will be almost no roads involved in the cross country trek, there will be 6 nights of camping with picket lines and the distance ranges from 22 miles the first day to 15 miles on a shorter day. Eight recently had a visit from the vet to get his health papers, shots, coggins, teeth floated and wolf teeth pulled. He has been trimmed, bathed and bug sprayed and he lives in a real herd of mares and geldings.

Congrats to Susan Garabedian of New Hampshire on winning "Eight of Hearts"

Region:
Southeast

Horse:
Moses
2007 Black Gelding

Trained by:
Tracey Denton
Quebeck, TN
www.traceydenton.com

Moses stands about 14.2 hands. He has a very gentle disposition and loves to get a bath. He has been very easy to handle. He has a few rides on him so far and we are working towards riding him more and completing his training over the next 90 days.

From Tracey Denton:

It's been my lifelong passion to ride and train horses. My whole life we've had horses here on the farm for work as well as pleasure. I've come to appreciate the importance of being well-trained and well-equipped when I'm riding. I have enjoyed my work with mustangs and plan to continue offering gentled mustangs for the public. Last year I competed in the Extreme Mustang Makeover in Murfreesboro, TN and had a great time.

July update: Moses is still a little green, but he is coming along well. He is easy to saddle and has good ground manners. Moses really has a good handle and has been a really gentle horse. He continues to be easy to work with and willing.

Congrats to Anthony Hoover of Arkansas on winning "Moses"

Region:
Midwest

Horse:
Cupcake
2005 Sorrel Gelding

Trained by:
Chad Kelly
Monett, MO
www.adoptamustang.com

Cupcake is about 14.3 hands and is very gentle to be around. This picture was taken his first day here. The first day I was on his back and riding him bareback. They’re not all this way, but this one is and I hope the training continues to progress this quickly. He will make a great horse!

As a trainer/showman Chad has shown AQHA, ApHCA and FQHA competing at Nationals and World Shows. Chad primarily shows in the Western Divisions and Roping. He has trained a wide array of horse breeds and does corrective training with many horses and owners wanting to learn more. Chad has trained and adopted out several hundred Mustangs thru the Mustang Heritage Foundation and BLM placing himself as one of the more prominent mustang trainers in the U.S. He says “These horses have not been handled, good or bad, so they have no preconceived notions on how to act or react with humans, no baggage and that is great.

July update: Cupcake is doing great, you can swing ropes on him, do backflips off of him, he rides good down the highway. He has great lateral movement and a good stop. He is used every day for general ranch work such as driving cattle and herding horses.

Congrats to Patsy Cotner of Indiana on winning "Cupcake"

Region:
Southwest

Horse:
Dagwood
2006 Bay Gelding

Trained by:
Ken Schwab
Hutto, TX

Dagwood is about 14.3 hands tall and has a star on his forehead. He is broke to ride, good natured, and an easy-keeper. He seems to get along well with other horses. He has good feet, loads well and stands pretty calm when tied. I think he will make a great horse!

Ken's horse experiences are somewhat unique. They span from 50 years ago until today. As far back as he can remember he has had a desire to train a wild horse. In 2007 he adopted his first mustang and from there went on to compete in numerous Extreme Mustang Makeover events and the Trainer Incentive Program. He has been very successful at gentling and finding homes for mustangs.

June update: He has had his feet trimmed and did great. Once I catch him I can pretty much do anything with him. He has never kicked or bitten and is an easy keeper. He is easy to ride and will make a very nice horse!

July Update: Dagwood is doing great. He is really willing to learn. He's had his feet trimmed and does not seemed to be bothered. Every day he shows improvement and continues to get better. There is never any starting over, he seems to retain everything very well.

Congrats to Margaret Napier of Arizona on winning "Dagwood"

Region:
Northwest

Horse:
2007 Bay Gelding

Trained by:
Jared Haddock
Price, UT

This beautiful 3 yr. old bay gelding comes from the Cedar City, Utah area and is about 15 hands tall. He loads and unloads well and I have two rides on him so far. Like most new horses, he is a little nervous at first, but quickly calms down once he realizes that you are not there to eat him. I suspect he will make a great kids horse as I put more and more rides on him through the next 90 day period.

June update: Dakota has made remarkable progress. He stands for me to catch him and has never tried to bite or kick. He has a very level head and learned that the blanket was not going to hurt in a matter of minutes. He uses his head when he faces something scary and not just his instincts.

July update: Dakota is coming around quite nicely. He continues to stand to be caught and is showing less and less fear of people and "new objects." He is a very smart horse and picks up on his cues with only a couple of attempts. Once he understands the cue, he does exactly what is asked and rarely, if ever, tries to test me. He has had his first few rides and was a little nervous at first, but is quickly calming down.

Congrats to Jennifer Barnum of California on winning "Dakota"