One cannot help but notice Six Flags Over Texas amusement park as one leaves the Dallas/Ft. Worth airport en route to Ft. Worth, TX. Its skyline presents an unmistakable assortment of outrageous thrill seekers’ rides and roller coasters.
But even Six Flags could not compete with the thrill that a handful of Norconians (myself included) experienced at the Mustang Heritage Foundation’s Extreme Mustang Makeover event in Ft. Worth on Sept. 21-23.



We encountered quite the roller coaster of emotions beginning with eager anticipation during the trainers’ warm ups in the Watt Arena at the Will Rogers’ Equestrian Center on Friday and that evening’s media event at the National Cowgirls’ Museum, an event covered, we were told, by Newsweek magazine and National Geographic.
By noon on Saturday all seemed to be going as we had hoped and expected it would. Ray Ariss and his Mustang, Hail Yeah, had placed 3rd among over 90 other participants for conditioning and 4th in the in-hand obstacle course. This represented 50 percent of the total scoring, leaving the under saddle obstacle course competition that would make up the remaining 50 percent to determine the top 10 competitors. Those top 10 would then compete in a four-minute freestyle Saturday evening. Ray and Hail Yeah were ready with a performance that was sure to wow the audience.
We eagerly settled in for the afternoon’s competition and watched as Ray rode what appeared to be an excellent, if not flawless, obstacle performance by Hail Yeah under saddle. We were later stunned to discover that they had been given a zero on the entire course due to a technical error. At a specified point in the course Ray had taken Hail Yeah to the left, then to the right for two 360-degree turns on the haunches in each direction. Evidently the instructions stated that they were to start to the right.
This single “rider error” had, as a practical matter, taken them out of the competition.
Many in attendance thought that a score of zero for the entire course was too harsh a penalty for a single rider error. We heard that more than 30 other trainers had suffered the same fate, having gone off course in one fashion or another. But the rule had been applied uniformly to all and the judges’ decision was final, as it must be in any organized competition. 
Despite having had his dream of victory for his beloved Hail Yeah shattered, Ray thereafter devoted himself to helping a fellow contestant who had reached the finals. He and his team assisted her in setting up for her freestyle performance, loaning her some of his own props. It was with immense pride that we watched Ray, hand-in-hand with his 5 year old son Austin, in the show arena that night, helping a fellow trainer who placed 4th in the overall competition.
The following morning the auction for the adoption of the Mustangs began. Hail Yeah was number 49 of 92. Those who had preceded him had gone for anywhere from $250 to $10,000. Many of the trainers successfully bid for their own horses, thus enabling their Mustang to return home with them to their respective stables. Ray, too, had originally hoped to be able to adopt Hail Yeah with the help of the prize money he would have received if they had placed first or second overall.
There had also been rumors during the weekend that the City of Norco might adopt the gelding to serve as the City’s mascot, fitting in that Norco is known as “Horsetown USA.” That question was even posed by one of the announcers as Hail Yeah’s turn for auction approached, however the answer was no. Evidently, the City would not be bidding.
We looked on from the stands as Ray led Hail Yeah into the arena, sadly realizing that these might be his last few minutes with the horse that had become such a big part of his life. Ray managed to voice just a few comments about him as the bidding got underway.
It went very quickly, from $1,000 to $2,000 to $3,000, $5,000, $10,000 on up to $20,000, then $30,000. We were stunned. By the time it reached $40,000 my heart was in my throat. Ray’s representative, who had stayed in the bidding for as long as possible had already dropped out. One could see by his body language that Ray was crushed. The auctioneer confirmed the final bid of $50,000, and Hail Yeah’s new owner had been determined.
Then, rather than letting Ray and Hail Yeah leave the arena, Patti Colbert, executive director of the Mustang Heritage Foundation, called them over. She announced that the Foundation had decided to form a partnership with Ray and the City of Norco. They were the winning bidders and Hail Yeah was, in fact, going to be going home with Ray after all to serve as both a mascot for the City of Norco and for the Foundation itself.
Author Donna K. Fernandez lives and rides her horse in Norco. A dressage enthusiast, she has ridden with Ray Ariss at his Starbrite Riding Academy.

Extreme Mustang Makeover
Creative program does a great job promoting America’s wild breed.

The Mustang Heritage Foundation was founded in 2001 with the mission of promoting the Bureau of Land Management’s National Wild Horse and Burro Program and to facilitate successful adoption of these wild horses and burros. The non-profit organization, based in Betram, TX, did that in spades with its first Extreme Mustang Makeover.
The competition began in June, when 100 trainers throughout the country, including 10 from California, were invited to adopt a Mustang. They chose Mustangs at one of two BLM facilities: in Nevada and Oklahoma City. Contestants had until Sept. 22 to prepare the horses for the first Extreme Mustang Makeover, held in Ft. Worth, TX. The horses were judged on conditioning, groundwork and the ability to navigate a trail course. On Sun., Sept. 22, the horses were auctioned off to raise funds to support the Foundation’s good work.
Seventy-five of the horses were adopted at the auction, for a total of $233,100 and an average sale price of $3,108. Hail Yeah, trained by California horseman Ray Ariss, went for a whopping $50,000 in a joint bid from the Foundation and the City of Norco, where Ray lives. Of the proceeds, the BLM gets its standard $125 adoption fee and trainers of horses that went for more than $250 received a 15 percent commission.
“With this partnership, Hail Yeah will serve as an incredible example of what the American Mustang is and can be to people interested in owning a great horse,” said the Foundation’s executive director Patty Colbert. “The city of Norco doesn’t just call itself Horsetown USA, it is Horsetown USA, and having Hail Yeah there in Norco and traveling the country with Ray Ariss will do so much to raise awareness of the value of Mustangs.”
For a spectator’s perspective on watching the Makeover, see story, page 58. The Foundation also has a DVD of a TV show about the Makeover available. For more information on the Mustang Heritage Foundation, please visit www.mustangheritagefoundation.org.