The Competition

Eligibility:

Mustangs meeting the following requirements will be eligible to compete in the 2024 Mustang Challenge.

  • BLM mustangs 3 years of age and older as of January 2024, adopted or purchased at a BLM off-range corral or BLM satellite event within the eligibility window of;

    Sept. 8th, 2023 - April 1st, 2024

  • BLM mustangs adopted during the eligibility window and reassigned to a new adopter during the eligibility window.

  • BLM mustangs purchased during the eligibility window and sold or transferred to a new owner during the eligibility window.

  • BLM mustangs adopted or purchased through the BLM Internet Adoption program and picked up (paperwork finalized and taken possession of) within the eligibility window.

Mustangs matching any of the following statements will NOT be eligible to compete in the 2024 Mustang Challenge.

  • Wild, free-roaming horses that fall under other government agency management; USFS, NPS, NFS, and others.

  • BLM mustangs with an adoption or purchase date outside of the eligibility window.

  • BLM Mustangs adopted or purchased at the 2024 Mustang Magic competition.

  • BLM Mustangs adopted or purchased that competed in The Fort Worth Mustang Show, September 9, 2023

Class Format:

The event will have three preliminary classes: trail class, reining pattern and ranch riding. The top 10 highest scoring exhibitors from the preliminary classes will compete in the Mustang Challenge Championship Finals for a grand prize of $50,000. The exhibitor is not required to be the adopter or owner of the mustang. An exhibitor may compete with up to two mustangs.

Reining Pattern

This pattern is intended to judge the horse on movements, mastery of a prescribed maneuver and attitude as it is guided through a series of patterns. The horse is required to perform a number of stops, spins, rollbacks, lead changes and circles at a lope. The mustang should be willing to be guided with little or no resistance.

Trail Class

This class is designed to show a horse's ability and willingness to perform several tasks that might be asked of it during the course of a normal trail ride. Exhibitors will be asked to lead and ride their horse through a course of obstacles and maneuvers, including but not limited to walk/trot/lope over poles, walking over a bridge, sidepass, serpentine, etc. Scoring is based on the horse’s willingness, ease and grace in negotiating the course.

Ranch Riding

This class measures a mustang's ability to be a pleasure to ride while being used to perform one ranch task to another. The horse and rider are asked to perform a pattern that includes but is not limited to changes of gait, extension of gait, crossing logs, lead changes, etc. All maneuvers should be performed as if the horse were being used on a ranch, and the horse should demonstrate a high level of training, relaxation and quality of movement in all gaits.


Mustang Challenge Championship Finals  

The top 10 performing mustang and exhibitor pairs from the preliminary classes will be invited to compete in the championship finals to determine the Mustang Challenge Champion. Scoring will be based on a compulsory maneuver and a freestyle performance. The finals event is designed to encourage exhibitors to exhibit the athletic abilities of their mustang to the crowd in an exciting and appealing way. The exhibitor will have three and a half minutes to showcase their mustang through a creative display of choreographed maneuvers that entertain the crowd and demonstrate their horsemanship. The exhibitor should incorporate props, costumes, and music to demonstrate their skills and the talents of their mustang.

Payout:

Mustang Challenge Championship Finals guaranteed payout: 

$50,000 - Champion

2nd - $20,000

3rd - $12,000

4th - $8,000

5th - $5,000

6th - $2,000

7th - $2,000

8th - $2,000

9th - $2,000

10 - $ 2,000

Class prize money 

1st - $3k

2nd - $2k

3rd - $1k