The Mustang Heritage Foundation (MHF)’s virtual KY Extreme Mustang Makeover concluded on Sunday, June 27, 2021after five days of exciting performances and a successful auction. Originally slated to be held in Lexington, Kentucky, the event’s virtual format brought the action-packed excitement to Mustang fans and horse lovers from around the world.
Adult and youth competitors showed the trust they had built with previously untouched wild horses in approximately 100 days of training by submitting videos of their performances. Complete class videos, which are available to view online, were scored by a panel of judges to determine who would take home top honors and more than $40,000 in cash and prizes.
Katie Ketterhagen of May, Texas, earned the 2021 KY Extreme Mustang Makeover Champion title for her work with Like a Champ, a 4-year-old gelding gathered from Little Owyhee. Ketterhagen and Champ earned scores of 71.5 in the handling class, 64.5 in the pattern, 61.5 in trail, and a combined score of 164 in the finals to clinch wins in four classes as well as the horsemanship award for highest combined score in the preliminary classes and the overall champion title.
Isidro Espinoza of Concho, Arizona, claimed the reserve champion title with Pelos, a 4-year-old gelding gathered from Devil’s Garden Plateau, and Cat Zimmerman of Archer, Florida, earned the horsemanship reserve placing with Stitch, a 4-year-old gelding gathered from Paisley Desert.
In the Youth portion of the event, Dixie Marrese of Munfordville, Kentucky, was named Youth Champion with her 2-year-old gelding Smudge, who was gathered from Frisco. The pair earned scores of 98 in handling, 104.5 in trail, and 103.5 in freestyle, for an overall score of 306. Receiving the youth reserve champion title was Maleah Redmann of Athens, Wisconsin, who trained Tally Mark, a 2-year-old mare gathered from Antelope Valley.
Find complete results and watch class videos online at mustangheritagefoundation.org/watch-ky.
In addition to the competition, adult horses were available to approved bidders in an online auction hosted by Champion Horse Sales. The high seller, a 4-year-old bay gelding named Pelos, sold for more than $22,000. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each horse goes back to the horse’s trainer, while the rest helps the Mustang Heritage Foundation achieve its mission of helping mustangs find loving, permanent homes through events like this one.
Extreme Mustang Makeover events are produced by the Mustang Heritage Foundation, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse & Burro Program, to showcase the versatility and trainability of the American Mustang.
The events are presented by Western Horseman and sponsored by Yeti, NRS Supply, Espana Silk, A Cut Above Buckles, Classic Equine, Martin Saddlery, and Resistol. 
Adult and youth competitors showed the trust they had built with previously untouched wild horses in approximately 100 days of training by submitting videos of their performances. Complete class videos, which are available to view online, were scored by a panel of judges to determine who would take home top honors and more than $40,000 in cash and prizes.
Katie Ketterhagen of May, Texas, earned the 2021 KY Extreme Mustang Makeover Champion title for her work with Like a Champ, a 4-year-old gelding gathered from Little Owyhee. Ketterhagen and Champ earned scores of 71.5 in the handling class, 64.5 in the pattern, 61.5 in trail, and a combined score of 164 in the finals to clinch wins in four classes as well as the horsemanship award for highest combined score in the preliminary classes and the overall champion title.
Isidro Espinoza of Concho, Arizona, claimed the reserve champion title with Pelos, a 4-year-old gelding gathered from Devil’s Garden Plateau, and Cat Zimmerman of Archer, Florida, earned the horsemanship reserve placing with Stitch, a 4-year-old gelding gathered from Paisley Desert.
In the Youth portion of the event, Dixie Marrese of Munfordville, Kentucky, was named Youth Champion with her 2-year-old gelding Smudge, who was gathered from Frisco. The pair earned scores of 98 in handling, 104.5 in trail, and 103.5 in freestyle, for an overall score of 306. Receiving the youth reserve champion title was Maleah Redmann of Athens, Wisconsin, who trained Tally Mark, a 2-year-old mare gathered from Antelope Valley.
Find complete results and watch class videos online at mustangheritagefoundation.org/watch-ky.
In addition to the competition, adult horses were available to approved bidders in an online auction hosted by Champion Horse Sales. The high seller, a 4-year-old bay gelding named Pelos, sold for more than $22,000. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each horse goes back to the horse’s trainer, while the rest helps the Mustang Heritage Foundation achieve its mission of helping mustangs find loving, permanent homes through events like this one.
Extreme Mustang Makeover events are produced by the Mustang Heritage Foundation, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse & Burro Program, to showcase the versatility and trainability of the American Mustang.
The events are presented by Western Horseman and sponsored by Yeti, NRS Supply, Espana Silk, A Cut Above Buckles, Classic Equine, Martin Saddlery, and Resistol. 
