Lampasas High School student Brandyl Brooks is training two horses and could win up to $20,000 in special competition. Hollywood Star, above, and Blackjack, at right, are her charges. Brandyl Brooks of Kempner has been selected by the Mustang Heritage Foundation to compete in the Extreme Mustang Makeover's Mission 007: Yearling Edition during the 2008 Extreme Mustang Makeover in Fort Worth from Thursday through Sept. 20.

Mission 007, aptly named for the foaling year of the Mustangs, is the yearling edition of the successful Extreme Mustang Makeover first held in September 2007.

The 2008 competition will feature 200 of America's iconic mustangs and their trainers competing for a purse of $50,000 with an additional $20,000 made available for the yearling edition.

Open to youth, amateur and professional competitors, the event will showcase the first opportunity for youths ages 18 and under to interact and train with a wild horse.

A total of 97 trainers from seven states will show 131 American mustangs during the competition, with a dozen of those youngsters ages 9 to 18.

"Our standing-room-only crowds in 2007 included hundreds of young people who were totally in awe of what these trainers were doing with these mustangs," said MHF executive director Patti Colbert. "With this new program, youth will be able to receive a yearling mustang they will gentle to a halter."

Mustangs were picked up in Elgin in May, and handlers have until Wednesday to gentle their mustangs.

During competition, handlers receive scoring based on the body condition of their American mustangs, as well as their ability to handle the horse "in hand" through a series of maneuvers which include picking up the horse's feet, maneuvering it through obstacles and loading it onto a trailer. Three skilled horsemen will judge the competition.

Handlers will receive $200 in reimbursement as well as 50 percent of any adoption fee over $125. Yearling mustangs will be available for adoption to the public after each competition.

Potential adopters will apply for the opportunity to be included in the competitive bidding process at the event with BLM personnel available to review and approve applications on site.

There are specific facility requirements for potential adopters.

The Mustang Heritage Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, created the Mustang Challenge event to highlight the recognized value of mustangs through a national training competition.

One hundred percent of the horses placed for adoption at the 2007 event were adopted.

Brandyl, a Lampasas High School student, has been training horses since she was 9 through various 4-H projects, such as the yearling lounge line, halter, 2- year-old western pleasure and 3- year-old stock horse classes.

"I have never had the opportunity to train two mustangs, so when I was invited to participate in this project, I felt I could take on a new challenge. With what I had heard and read about the primitive mustang, I wanted to explore it."

When selected by the BLM to participate, Brandyl set her goal to train two mustangs -- a sorrel named Hollywood Star, and a gelding named Blackjack. Both horses are disciplined and great with kids, Brandyl said. "I have learned a lot throughout all of this training, as acquiring trust is the biggest hill to climb with a mustang. If you win their trust, they will do anything for you, and they will learn to respect you."

At a recent mustang show, Brandyl watched 25 horses closely. "Each has its own curious personality, along with conformation variances, a tremendous hair coat and colors which are fascinating, and their determined mannerisms.

"It is true that mustangs are amazing animals and are renowned for their strength, endurance, agility and intelligence."