Jeremy Dunn, Extreme Mustang Makeover
Jeremy Dunn, Extreme Mustang Makeover
By: Jill Barnes Nelson, Contributing Writer
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Posted by editor Wed Oct 10, 2007 09:30:10 PDT
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0 responses 1 comment Jeremy Dunn trains his horses in the Californio Vaquero style of horsemanship. It draws its roots from the old Spanish influence and is designed to produce a versatile horse with good ranch skills - soft, responsive and confident.
Dunn trained his wild mustang, Ojos, for the Extreme Mustang Makeover held in Fort Worth in September. Dunn finished 12th among 100 other trainers at the competition, scoring 237 points. The winner was Guy Woods of Texas with 288 points.
“It was such a fun time,” Dunn said. “There was so much camaraderie among the trainers and everyone there.”
Dunn, who runs the JB Cattle Ranch on his Broken Arrow Ranch in Rosamond with his wife Brandi, picked up his mustang on July 7, from the Mustang Heritage Foundation's facility in Fallon, Nev. It wasn't long before he knew Ojos had potential. Within three weeks, he had the gelding under saddle and was working on some of the trail obstacles.
“We did a lot of ground work before I actually got on,” he said. “I took my time and he responded.”
Dunn, who grew up in Tehachapi, worked with Ojos on all types of situations. Besides training at the ranch, the two were in Mountain Festival Parade in August and he showed him at few clinics before traveling to Texas for the Sept. 22 event at the Will Rogers Equestrian Center.
They hit the road to Fort Worth about a week before the competition. “On our way there, we stopped at a Horse Motel in New Mexico. One of the other competitors, Joe Misner, was there. He and Jeremy decided to go for a ride on their mustangs. It was amazing watching the two of them sort of ride into the sunset,” said Dunn’s wife Brandi.
Once there, all the horses were evaluated on body condition, and were scored on doing a series of obstacles in an "in-hand" course, and in a "horse course," a set pattern of maneuvers. A value of 20 percent was applied to the body conditioning, 30 percent in the in-hand and 50 percent for the horse course.
Dunn, said he was a little worried about Ojos because the horse had suffered a slight stifle injury just before the competition. The two were doing well in the In-Hand section and were in the Top 10. But during the “Horse Course”, one of the last parts of the event was to have the horse lie down and get up with the rider abroad. Ojos had trouble getting up because of the injury. Dunn had him do it a second time but knew the horse was hurting and didn't push him.
“I thought, 'why am I pushing him if he has some pain.' It wasn't worth it,” said Dunn.
But the two still managed to finish 12.
All the horses were auctioned the following day. Seventy-five Mustangs were adopted for a total of $233,100 for a sale average of $3,108. The Bureau of Land Management received $125 per head as the minimum adoption fee while the remainder was allocated for the development and programs of the Mustang Heritage Foundation. Trainers also received a 15 percent adoption commission for any horse adopted for a fee higher than $250.
Ojos was one of the highest sellers, going for $6,000, a price higher than the winning horse. East Lancaster Lifesavers purchased Ojos and decided to bring him back to California.
“Before the sale, we thought it would be very difficult leaving Ojos, because he trusted Jeremy and we loved having him,” Brandi said. “Lifesavers will have Jeremy continue his training. The two will make appearances on behalf of the mustangs to bring about awareness of what great horses mustangs can be. I am sure the two will be true ambassadors.”
And for all his hard work, Dunn also has been invited to do a demonstration at the Wild Horse and Burro Expo in Reno and probably will take Ojos along.
“It was just a very professional and classy event. We met a lot of nice people and had a great time, Dunn said”
The Extreme Mustang Makeover will be shown as a six-part series on RFD Television's Wide World of Horses through December. The show will share the stories of the mustangs and trainers. The show's airdates include Oct. 22, Nov. 9, Dec. 17 and Dec. 31. Check listing for times.
Now that he's back, Dunn isn't planning on resting anytime soon. He'll be giving lessons at Summertime Farms in Rosamond on Tuesdays and Saturdays. His Broken Arrow Ranch is also hosting a Richard Caldwell clinic on Oct. 6 to 7, and a horsemanship clinic at Summertime Farms on Oct. 20.
For information and directions, call Brandie Dunn at 332.7249. More information on the ranch can be found at www.jbcattleco.com. For information on the Mustang Heritage Foundation go to www.mustangheritagefoundation.com.
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Tue Oct 9, 2007 08:11:50 PDT
Congradulations!!!!!!! We are so proud of you and you just dont know how many fans you had here in Kentucky pulling for you...Your great grandfather and your great great grandfather would be so very proud of you...you cousins in Kentucky... Tricia