ALABAMA WILD MUSTANG and BURRO TIP CHALLENGES

<<<---CONGRATULATIONS!

2020 ALABAMA MUSTANG TIP CHALLENGE CHAMPION:

Marissa Donovan and Akela

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Paid out Prizes and Awards: $6600 plus a Champion and Reserve Champion Custom Buckles

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CONGRATULATIONS! --->>>

2021 ALABAMA MUSTANG HERITAGE TIP CHALLENGE OVERALL CHAMPION:

Breanna Holcomb and Oakley

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Paid out Prizes and Awards: $7200 plus a Mustang Champion Custom Buckle, Mustang Reserve Champion Buckle, Burro Champion Buckle, Burro Reserve Champion Buckle and Jeffers Sponsored Gift Bags.

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CONGRATULATIONS! --->>>

2021 ALABAMA MUSTANG HERITAGE TIP CHALLENGE BURRO CHAMPION:

Darlene Stevenson and Great Gatsby

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Who will win the next Alabama Wild Mustang TIP Challenge ??? WILL IT BE YOU???

"NEW in 2021" - Select your mustang IN PERSON August 21th, 2021. An option to pick up and compete with 2 mustangs. There will be no burros available for this challenge, mustangs only. Youth and Adults will not compete against each other. Wild Mustang Open Show Freestyle class $500 payout to winner(s) - can compete with multiple horses and people (Can team up/drill team), or individually. 

SIGN UP IS NOW OPEN!

ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED! 

SAVE THE DATES: 
Next Wild Mustang Selection & Pick Up:
August 21, 2021 (@Downtown Mustangs, Bell Florida)
Competition Dates:
November 19-21, 2021(@Southern Cross Ranch, Columbia, Alabama)

PHASE 1 - Starting May 26th, 2021 COMPETITORS APPLICATIONS are accepted. All interested competitors must submit all of these:

• The Competitor's Interest E-Form 

• The Competitor's Application; either scan (or take a photo with your cell phone)/email it only to mirkacrew@gmail.com or mail it to 6065 County Road 55, Columbia, AL 36319. QUESTIONS? Text 334-550-8750

• All 3 of the BLM forms provided here. Email the filled out BLM forms to both mirkacrew@gmail.com as well as sfrost@blm.gov

FACILITY REQUIREMENTS: Facility can consist of a corral/paddock/stall/round pen. Facility must be a minimum of 400 square feet (for example 20 feet x 20 feet or 10 feet x 40 feet) and at least 5 feet high for mustangs 12-24 months old and burros, or at least 6 feet high for mustangs over 24 months old. Facility must be sturdy and constructed of materials such as poles, pipes, or planks (minimum 1.5 inch thickness) without dangerous protrusions. Barbed wire, large-mesh woven, stranded and electric materials are unacceptable for fencing. Trainers should not release animals into a large open area, such as a pasture, since they may not be able to recapture the animal for training or to provide veterinary care. However, once the animal is gentled, trainers may release it into a pasture or similar area. Shelter for the animal must be provided from inclement weather and temperature extremes. Shelters must be a two sided structure with a roof, well drained, adequately ventilated, and accessible to the animal. The two sides should block prevailing winds and protect the major body parts of the animal. Tarps are not acceptable. Contact the
administering BLM office for shelter requirements in the area.

This TIP Challenge is a cooperative effort between the Mustang Heritage Foundation’s Trainer Incentive Program, the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Program , the event's host Southern Cross Ranch and the event's manager Mirka Crew.

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 PURPOSE:

The mission of the Mustang Heritage Foundation is to increase the adoption of BLM-housed American Mustangs and burros through innovative gentling (training) competitions and awareness programs. In keeping with this mission, the TIP Challenge has been created to place mustangs and burros in adoptive homes. These challenges involve youth (8-17 years of age) and adults (ages 18 and up) in the adoption and training of Mustangs and burros. Participants help promote the adoption of these national treasures by showcasing the animal’s value and trainability.

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PHASE 2 - APPLICATIONS DEADLINE - July 31st, 2021!!! Get your applications in by then!!!!

PHASE 3 - Mustang SELECTION PROCESS and PICK UP - August 21, 2021 at Downtown Mustangs, 1246 NW 40th Ave, Bell, Florida.

SELECTION PROCESS - August 21th - 8:00-9:00 a.m. (EST) ALL COMPETITORS MUST BE PRESENT! In person selection, in the order in which Applications were received and accepted; Each competitor will have 1 hour (8:00-9:00 a.m. EST) to select their favorite mustang from a load of mustangs ( should be around 30-35 head total ) in person. Then each competitor, one by one, confirms their pick, based on the order in which their applications came in. 

MUSTANG PICK UP - August 21, 2021 Trailer loading of all competitors' mustangs will start around 9:00 a.m.  and end at 1:00 p.m. (EST).
 
TRAILER REQUIREMENTS: You must provide transportation for your Mustang/burro. While someone else may transport the animal, all trailers must meet these minimum standards: covered top, sturdy walls/floors, and a smooth interior free from any sharp protrusions; ample head room; removable partitions or compartments to separate animals by size and sex, if necessary; floor covered with a non-skid material; and, adequate ventilation. The BLM requires stock-type trailers with rear swing gates to transport adopted animals. Drop ramp, divided two-horse trailers, and trucks with stock racks are not acceptable.

PHASE 4 - Mustang Gentling process from August 21, 2021 - till the competition dates - November 19-21, 2021;
 
CARE:   The competitor is responsible for all care since the day of PICK UP. Including, but not limited to - providing a suitable, BLM approved facility/fencing/shelter, feed, hay, water, farrier and vet care, etc... at the the competitor's expense. 

PROGRESS REPORTS: Progress reports will be due on September 1st, October 1st, November 1st. Progress reports MUST BE submitted on or before the date they are due!!! There will be 2 contests for the most physically IMPROVED CONDITION, as well as the BEST decorated stall, with a THEME of "TIP Challenge Journey", with $200 to each winner.

GENTLING/TRAINING: Only gentle horsemanship methods are allowed. No harsh training methods will be tolerated! Please read the RULES AND REGULATIONS bellow, to familiarize yourself with the DOs and DON'T! If the competitor has any questions or runs into problems during this process, she or he is advised to contact the Show Manager Mirka Crew to discuss those - Call 334-550-8750. 


 

PHASE 5 - COMPETITION - the 2021 Alabama Wild Mustang TIP Challenge will take place November 19-21, 2021 at the Southern Cross Ranch, 6065 County Road 55, Columbia, AL 36319.

All competitors entry fees are FREE. There will be no charge for stalls and shavings will be provided. There will be a charge for RV hook ups if used ($30/night). 

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PRIZES: A total of $_____     TBD -  depending on the number of applicants who pick up their mustangs for this competition. Meaning, if all 30 applicants pick up their mustangs, the total Prizes and Awards will be worth $18,000!!!

 A total of 2x Custom Silver Buckles will be awarded - one for the Adult Champion and one for the Youth Champion. 

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All adopters competing in the event will receive $200 to help offset expenses related to horse/burro care and travel.

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