Big Dreams For 2025: Oregon Trainers Line Up To Adopt Wild Mustangs For The Mustang Champion Show
Updated: Dec 7
There’s a lot to be excited about this year for mustang adopters. The BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program in Oregon held a one-of-a-kind adoption event, the first to support the newly launched Mustang Champions competition.
On October 9, 2024, early morning wildfire smoke painted the sky with a stunning sunrise, casting a glow on the 47 mustangs waiting in pens for their future homes—and a chance to compete in the 2025 shows.
I’ve attended plenty of these events, but this one had a different kind of energy. Maybe it was the crowd—filled with familiar faces and new ones—or the fact that these mustangs were destined for something bigger, with two major competitions on the horizon: one in Las Vegas and the first-ever all-English event in Lexington, Kentucky.
The gates opened just before 7 AM, and people wasted no time. Hannah Brown was first in line, followed closely by some of the Pacific Northwest’s top trainers—Marissa and Sierra Steffen, Lydia Dedera, Alexis Wilkinson, Lora Bannan, London Gall-Anderson, and others. They came with lists of their top picks, ready to find the perfect match from the group of 3- to 7-year-old mustangs, most of them mares. The variety was striking—palominos, bays, reds, blacks, cremellos—and while competition loomed large, there was an undeniable camaraderie. Trainers worked together, negotiating who would get which horse, and even when someone didn’t get their first pick, there was a sense of shared joy that each horse was heading toward a bright future.
By 10 AM, the first three adopters were ushered into the chute area, ready to make their picks. Nerves and excitement mingled in the air, especially as some hadn’t settled on their top choices yet. The anticipation was electric, and I could feel it from the sidelines—watching people light up when they got their mustang, or nervously wait for their second choice to rejoin the herd.
The BLM staff facilitated 21 adoptions by the end of the day, with horses heading to new homes in five different states. It was smooth, thanks to the teamwork on display. Crimson and Beverly kept things moving with the paperwork while Kayce and her team handled the logistics in the corrals. Watching Kayce in action—getting halters on wild horses with such calm, clever skill—was nothing short of impressive. Each haltered mustang was led through the chutes and into a trailer, off to begin a new chapter.
A couple of two-year-olds also made an appearance, but they’ll have to wait until January to be adopted if they’re going to compete in the Mustang Champions events. One of those two-year-olds just so happened to be my favorite mare. I may not have gone home with a mustang this time, but come January, who knows? Maybe I’ll be back to pick up my first wild mustang.
Photos by Alicia Amerson
This was more than an adoption event—it was the beginning of a journey for both the mustangs and their adopters, with the promise of two major competitions, prize money, and a chance to show what these incredible horses are capable of. I’m looking forward to following along, watching these horses transform from wild to champions. Maybe, next time, I’ll be part of the action too.
If you have a compelling equine story to tell and have photographed, Alicia is eager to hear from you. Contact her through the Alicia Mae Equine and Dog Photography website or send her an email.
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