Ennis High School student competes in Extreme Mustang Makeover

ENNIS – An Ennis High School sophomore is competing in Extreme Mustang Makeover this year.

Jennifer Cox, 14, said the challenge is 100 days to train a wild Mustang, and she is happy to be taking part in the competition.

“I’ve been around horses my entire life,” Cox said of her decision to take on the Mustang Makeover.

“It’s been the same with the Mustangs. My nana, Sharon McLeod, competed in one of the first Extreme Mustang Makeovers. And my father, Steven Cox, competed in the 2018 Extreme Mustang Makeover.”

The Extreme Mustang Makeover competition started in 2008 by the Mustang Heritage and the Bureau of Land Management.

The organizations partner up each year to help re-home Mustangs and give them a forever home.

Cox said Mustangs are an interesting breed of horse with a more defined flight or fight sense.

“This is why when they are put under certain circumstances they might run away from the issue or they will defend their ground and go head,” Cox explained.

“An example of that would be humans. When they are wild, Mustangs have no contact with humans while a domestic horse is around humans from day one.

“When a Mustang first sees a human is when that flight or fight sense kicks in.

“These horses’ personalities have a sense of wild in them for sure, but they are definitely a joy to train.” 

Cox has competed in competitions like the Extreme Mustang Makeover for the past three years.

She did a smaller competition called Texas Tip Challenge, which is the same idea as the Extreme Mustang Makeover – just not as big.

Her main goal is to find the right person to adopt her Mustang if, she says she doesn’t decide to adopt the horse herself.

Speaking of the Mustang in questions, Cox’s new friend is a male just over one-years-old, and his name is Rebellion. Currently he is with her on the family’s small ranch.

The young trainer is asking for donations and possible adopters for the horse and said, “Whoever wants to donate to support me and Rebellion through the 100 days can go to Hope To Home (wildhopetohome) Facebook Page and Message me about donating.”

The adoption is something that can happen before or during the competition too.

“If they see a Mustang, they like they get the opportunity to bring the Mustang home,” she said. “If they want to adopt a Mustang or donate, they can fill out some paperwork. If they want to adopt or are looking to adopt my Mustang or just in general, they can reach out to me at Double S Mustangs! on Facebook.” 

Cox also said, “One way people can help is by buying earrings from my business called Hope to Home @wildhopetohome on Facebook that I create to help me gain the money to re-home these Mustangs. The earrings are inexpensive and super cute.” 

The Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge began on May 14 and will end Sept. 10.

“The Mustang and I grow closer and create a bond,” Cox concluded. “Overall, through this competition the Mustangs learn to trust and realize it is okay and humans won’t hurt them.”