[SydneyandStorm]

So I finally got around to updating the banks with the auction money... Sorry it took me so long! Just wanted to let y'all know so you could check on the amount of money you have c:

[Sandy Hoofprints]

Um... Hate to be a bother, but I'm not on the bank list cx

[SydneyandStorm]

Ah, thank you ^^ I'll add you right away!

[Sandy Hoofprints]

ok x]

[GallopingHowl]

I'm entering the Mustang Million!

Username: GallopingHowl
Barn: Aspen Valley Stables
Competitor: Lyall, 16, Female, will add more on horse's page
Competitor age: 16
Horse: Biddle
Horse age: Yearling
Division(s): Youth

[SydneyandStorm]

So! Just thought I'd go into more condensed, concise information about the Mustang Million now that we're halfway there ^^ Thanks for the form, GallopingHowl!

Upon arrival: Every Mustang will be wild and untouched before arriving at the home of their handler. In order to begin training them, you must first gain their trust. You won't be the one to determine when that's happened; I'll respond to wherever you are training them to let you know once they've trusted you enough for you to begin handling and riding them. The information here applies to all Mustangs except for mounting and dismounting, which only apply to those three years and older. Skills to master include: Catching, haltering, leading, accepting grooming, picking up feet, bridling, saddling, mounting, dismounting, being handled, and loading and unloading from a trailer.

Legends: A horse entered in Legends must compete in all three classes: Horsemanship, Pattern, and Trail. They must be at least three years old and must have a handler aged eighteen or older. The top ten finalists will go on to a freestyle round, which will determine the champion. Prizes include 500,000c to the champion and 250,000c to the reserve champion, and other rewards to the remaining top ten. Skills to master include: Walking, trotting, cantering/loping, changing directions, stopping, backing, pivoting, simple lead changes, walking over a bridge, trotting over an obstacle, maneuvering through a chute, sidepassing, allowing the rider to open a race, riding past a scary obstacle, walking over strange ground, loping/cantering a circle, flying lead changes, and stopping with a rollback.

Youth: A horse entered in Youth must compete in all three classes: In-hand Horsemanship, In-hand Pattern, and In-hand Trail. They must be two years or younger and must have a handler aged seventeen or younger. The top five finalists will go on to a freestyle round, which will determine the champion. Prizes include 75,000c to the champion and 50,000c to the reserve champion, and other rewards to the remaining top three. Skills to master include: Proper exercise, conditioning, and feeding, ground tying, walking, trotting, changing directions, stopping, backing, pivoting, walking over logs or poles, trotting between obstacles, and maneuvering through a chute.

Specialty: A horse entered in Specialty classes only needs to compete in one class; each class is an individual competition. However, a horse may only be entered in up to two Specialty classes, and horses entered in riding classes must be at least three years old. See the post that will be linked to the front on which skills should be mastered for each discipline. Prizes include 10,000c to the champion of each class and 7,500c to the reserve champion, with additional prizes going to the remaining top six competitors.

Versatility: A horse entered in Versatility must compete in all three classes: English, Western, and Trail. They must be three years or older and must have a handler aged eighteen or older. Prizes include 100,000c to the champion and 75,000c to the reserve champion, and other rewards to the remaining top six. Skills to master include: Any necessary skills for whichever disciplines the horses participate in, as well as those necessary for the trail class.

Heritage: A horse entered in a Heritage class only needs to compete in one division, for which there are three classes. However, he or she must compete in all three classes for that division. Horses must be three years or older and must have a handler aged eighteen or older. Prizes include 100,000c to the champion of each division and 75,000c to the reserve champion of each division. A horse may only be entered in up to two Heritage classes. Skills to master include: Those mentioned on the post that will be linked to the front.

Training: Training may take place either through writing or art, though quality art will accomplish more than writing most of the time. You may do both if you'd like. I'll let you know once your horse has completely mastered a skill, though once he or she has a good grasp of it, you're free to move on to another skill. Technical training will proceed only once the horse has been trained to be ridden (or handled if under three).

After the competition: Horses do not need to be auctioned off. Once you have won a horse from an auction, that horse is yours. If you no longer want to hold on to him or her after the competition, you may offer him or her up for auction along with the others that may be available if their owners do not want them, but you will never be forced to auction your Mustang off.

So! If I left anything off or if you're still confused, just let me know and I'll try to clear that up for you!

[SydneyandStorm]

I have one more quick update: There is now a limit of three Mustangs per user who does not wish to enter them in the Mustang Million. Please, guys, now that we're more than halfway through, take into consideration the fact that there are some users with busy schedules or in different timezones that are still wanting to participate in the Mustang Million and cannot because their schedules don't allow them to hop in at the last minute and steal a Mustang out from under someone's nose ^^'

Additionally, I'm officially going to switch it to the last post to the minute to win a horse at an auction to prevent this from continuing to happen.

If anyone begins to hoard these Mustangs and then does not continue to work with them, whether in the Mustang Million or just as RVEC horses, those horses will be confiscated and offered up for adoption once more. Additionally, I'm going to make a quick edit to the "Ask to train no more than five horses per day" rule -- users who break this rule and continually post horse after horse to be trained will simply be ignored, and no horses will be trained. I'm sorry to get serious like this, but I've really got a lot on my plate and I'm sacrificing a lot to get all this working for you all -- all those little things build up! xD

Also, new poll on the discussion thread! Please go and vote -- this is very important information for me ^^

[Naeco]

I have a quick question. Could I have more than three mustangs, say four, and not enter three? Like is it ok to have four and only enter one?

[SydneyandStorm]

Yes, definitely! You just can't have four and not enter any, for example ^^ You could theoretically have ten horses and enter them all, but you can't have more than three that you don't enter c:

[Naeco]

Okay, thank you. That helps a lot as I was going to get two breeding pairs and only enter one or two of them.