Documentaries
To help broaden awareness of the mustang breed, Mustang Leadership Partners has collaborated on two PBS documentaries, each with a unique and inspiring focus. We are proud of our mustangs for their role in these powerful films and hope you will take time to learn more or view the documentaries online. You can also view additional photos from the featured documentaries by visiting our Photo Gallery (click here).
Untamed Legacy: America’s Wild Mustang (2010)
Focusing on the wild mustang’s survival and struggles as resources diminish, Untamed Legacy: America’s Wild Mustang chronicles a mustang named Charlie on his journey from the wild to his new home in Alabama, and all the people whose lives he touches along the way – including students from the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy. Mustang Leadership Partners adopted Charlie from the Bureau of Land Management and trainer Ed Dabney worked with him for 100 days in preparation for the October 2009 Extreme Mustang Makeover in Murfreesboro, TN. Charlie’s transformation is showcased in the film, along with many other inspirational stories from mustang trainers and advocates in Tennessee, Alabama, Nevada and New Mexico. Untamed Legacy: America’s Wild Mustang is narrated by Jack Perkins, best known for his work with NBC News and as host of AE’s Biography, and is produced by Emmy Award winner Jen Noble. WTCI is the producing PBS station of this documentary. Click here to watch Untamed Legacy online.
We Shall Remain (2009)
From the award-winning PBS series AMERICAN EXPERIENCE comes We Shall Remain, a ground breaking mini-series and provocative multi-media project that establishes Native history as an essential part of American history. The series includes five 90-minute documentaries spanning 300 years that tell the story of pivotal moments in U.S. history from the Native American perspective. Each of the episodes focuses on important historical events, telling five sometimes heartbreaking, but always inspiring, little-known stories. The series is the product of a tremendous collaboration between Native and non-Native filmmakers, advisors, historians, and community leaders, placing Native American voices at the heart of the series. Episode 3: Trail of Tears, featured footage from the Tennessee Valley Region, including Red Clay State Park. Several of Mustang Leadership Partners’ mustangs appeared in Episode 3, helping the film’s producers create horseback riding scenes realistic to the time period. Our mustang stars performed fabulously on the big screen, as you can tell from some of the photos. Click here to watch We Shall Remain: Trail of Tears online.
Resources
For more information regarding the Mustang organizations featured in Untamed Legacy: America’s Wild Mustang, please visit:
The Mustang Heritage Foundation: The Mustang Heritage Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) public, charitable, nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating successful adoptions for America’s excess mustangs and burros. Founded in 2001, its mission is to help promote the Bureau of Land Management’s National Wild Horse and Burro Program and increase the number of successful adoptions.
Extreme Mustang Makeover: With more than 30,000 American Mustangs waiting to be adopted in BLM facilities, the Mustang Heritage Foundation is stepping up its efforts to help these American legends find adoptive homes. In 2011, the Mustang Heritage Foundation’s Extreme Mustang Makeover events will continue to showcase the talents of the American Mustang and will up the ante by offering the largest purse ever in Mustang competition.
The Bureau of Land Management: The Bureau of Land Management’s top priority is to ensure the health of the public lands so that the species depending on them – including the nation’s wild horses and burros – can thrive. To achieve that end, the BLM’s wild horse and burro program must be put on a sustainable course that benefits the animals, the land, and the American taxpayer.
Carr’s Wild Horse and Burro Center: Paula and Randall Carr have been in the business of helping wild horses and burros find good homes in the East since 1979. Paula is president of the Board of Trustees for the National Mustang Heritage Foundation, and both Carrs are very active in their Farm Bureau. In December of 2006, The Carr’s were awarded a 3 -Year renewable contract with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to do “satellite” weekend adoption work throughout the Eastern States. They take a crew of 5 wranglers and set up panels, chutes, water buckets, etc., for the horses. They sort, halter, handle and place newly adopted animals in the adopter’s trailer. The Carrs say with pride that they feed and water the animals with only the best quality hay and continuous clean water while at the site.
Least Resistance Training Concepts: The Wild Horse Mentors project is a concept that was first conceived by the LIFE Foundation, the “Wildhorses” Internet Group and the Kickin’ Back Ranch (KBR). The idea was to develop a corps of wild horse enthusiasts who could help new wild horse and burro adopters by sharing their skills and knowledge, or who could assess situations and make referrals so that adopters can find the help that they need.
Assurance Home: Therapy on horseback, or hippotherapy, has been widely applauded as a great means for teaching kids coping skills and helping them overcome trauma. Assurance Home’s 16-acre facility includes horse stables, riding area and pasture, where horse expert Lee Kyser helps kids ride their way to improved confidence in themselves and others.