Taming the American Mustang: Kaylin Drake - Grace and Glory Youth Horsemanship - West Virginia's only Youth to Participate in Extreme Mustang Makeover
By Julie Perine on January 27, 2018
There’s something captivating about the wild west – unbroken horses running in herds through the flatlands; their manes blowing in the wind.
Such imagery can be inspired by western movies and history books. And soon, an authentic element of the wild west is coming to Bridgeport, specifically to the home of 13-year-old Kaylin Drake.
An eighth grader at Bridgeport Middle School, Drake is excited to have been chosen a participant in the youth division of the 2018 Extreme Mustang Makeover, sponsored by the Mustang Heritage Foundation.
On Feb. 23, she and her family will travel to Tennessee, pick up her yearling and bring him or her back to Bridgeport where for 120 days she will work to transform the Mustang – which has virtually been untouched by humans - from wild to mild.
“It will take pretty much my whole summer, but that’s ok,” said Kaylin, who will halter break, saddle train, build trust and develop a relationship with the young horse who already has a special place in her heart.
“If it’s a colt, his name will be Rhett and if it’s a filly, I’ll call her Denali,” said Drake about the names which she said mean “Gone with the wind” and “Great one,” respectively.
Trainer Mike Hurst understands Drake’s passion for her upcoming project. He’s trained three American Mustangs through the program: Sweet Water, Cinder and Lola Mae; the latter he’s proud to call his own.
As part of the Mustang Makeover process, trainers are required to show the horses they have worked with. In the youth division, the Mustangs are less than two years old. They become the property of the trainer. In the adult division, the Mustangs are older – of riding age. They are sold via auction following the show; trainers receiving 50 percent of the commission. They are also compensated for their quality training; receiving prize money for notable placement in the show. Hurst bought Lola Mae after showing her earlier this month in Fort Worth, Texas.
Mustangs involved in the program come from wild herds in Oregon, Wyoming, Nevada and other western states.
“The Bureau of Land Management is kind of tasked to monitor the herds and when they get so big and the land can’t sustain the population, they remove a certain amount,” Hurst said. “Some of them are placed in holding facilities throughout the U.S. There are well over 50,000 Mustangs in holding facilities.”
So, the Mustang Makeover program saves the lives of horses and brings them purpose. For participating trainers, it’s is a way to show the public all the hard 
work which goes into training a horse. But there’s more to it than that.
work which goes into training a horse. But there’s more to it than that.
“It’s the romance of the west. We think about riding these wild Mustangs from out west; that sort of thing,” he said. “But having worked hands-on with these horses, they are amazing. They are a clean slate.”
Horses which have been under human care sometimes develop fears and anxieties and encounter negative experiences which they associate with fear; inhibiting them, Hurst said.
“But Mustangs don’t have any issues; no mindset that humans are bad,” he said. “They have no preconceptions of you or the world we live in. So, once you get their trust and train them properly with positive responses, they are the most loyal and honest horses.”
That initial contact and early training sessions can be tough as the horse has a fight or flight instinct.
“But once that initial fear is gone and you start teaching them through proper horsemanship, they are some of the most confident horses,” he said. “In fact, they can be more confident than those who have had people riding them for the last 20 years.”
The Mustangs can develop into such quality horses that they sell for, on average, $3,600 at auction. Some go for much less, but some for much more – up to $30,000, Hurst said.
Hurst believes Drake will do a nice job with the Mustang Makeover challenge.
“She’s a very mature young lady and she’s a hard-working girl. She’s prepared to do her best and give it a go,” he said. “It’s a serious commitment - taking a horse that has never been touched by human hands and within a few months showing that horse in front of thousands of people.”
A great deal of time is involved. It’s a slow process to train and build a horse’s confidence.
“And you want him to look his best so nutrition and physical fitness comes into play, too,” Hurst said.
Drake – who works under the trainer name of “Grace and Glory Youth Horsemanship,” has been smitten by horses since she was a little girl living in Bridgeport. Though she dreamed of riding at even an earlier age, she first got the chance at age eight when she lived in Butler, Pa., when her family relocated. She not only loved riding Old Rebel Dan, Shilo, Bucky and Seven, but helped take care of the horses which belonged to a neighbor.
After her family returned to Bridgeport, she continued her riding hobby. In November of 2016, she got her first horse: Chip, a brown beauty with black mane and tail and a white snip across his nose. In August of 2017, she showed Chip at the Barbour County Fair, competing in rail, pleasure, horsemanship, showmanship.
To prepare, Drake and Chip attended horse camp in Barbour County during the summer of 2017. It is there she began working with Mike Hurst Horsemanship and she continued to travel to the Philippi area to learn from him. She also followed his journey with Lola Mae and traveled to Fort Worth, Texas, to watch him show her.
Hurst, as well as Drake’s Equine 4-H leader, Sarah Poling – who taught her to ride a horse properly - helped her fill out her application for the Mustang Makeover program. The day she received word she would be participating was like Christmas, she said. And, in fact, Christmas was even all about the Mustang.
“I wanted to be prepared so I got a halter and a lead for the Mustang,” she said. “Then I put it all in God’s hands to see if it was meant to be.”
Drake is West Virginia’s only competitor in the Mustang Makeover youth division – ages 8 through 17. It will take a lot of patience and time to teach the young horse ground manners, how to back up and lead, etc. On June 20, she will show off her work in Lexington, where she will compete with other youth in the program.
Accompanying Drake and her family to pick up the yearling next month will be her best friend Gracie Webster. The girls have been friends for many years and share a passion for horses and horsemanship. In fact, they share a horse - Sherry – who, along with Chip, is boarded at Kross Kreek Farm in Brushy Fork.
Drake said she’s very fortunate to have so many people behind her, including her parents Chris and Kerri Drake.
“They go completely out of their way to help me out and give me an extra boost when I need it,” she said. “Then, there’s Mike Hurst and Sarah Poling. They’ve all been so supportive.”
Drake is enjoying every single minute of her youth and is in no hurry to grow up. But when she does, she hopes to run an equine business.
“I hope to go into the medical field with horses,” she said. “I just love to show horses. It’s my passion. If I could turn it into a career, that would be amazing.”
In addition to horsemanship styles mentioned above, Drake also works in barrel training and cutting – a western-style equestrian competition in which a horse and rider work as a team to demonstrate the horse’s athleticism and ability to handle cattle.
Hurst and his wife Tiffany, Drake and Genny Mallow of Fort Ashby will represent West Virginia in this year’s Extreme Mustang Makeover . The four of them will meet Feb. 25 at Brightbill Farm Training Facility to a “first touch” with their horses.
