They had just 3-1/2 months to turn two wild mustangs into well-mannered riding horses.

Next week, Sharleen Bergum and Jean Morehouse take their mustangs to Texas to see how they did in the first-ever Extreme Mustang Makeover competition.

The Sturgis women were two of 100 horse trainers chosen nationwide to compete in the makeover competition, sponsored by the Mustang Heritage Foundation and Bureau of Land Management. The winner of the Sept. 22 and 23 competition takes home $25,000. The mustangs will be auctioned after the competition.

Bergum, a longtime trainer and co-owner of the Buffalo Berry Arena near Sturgis, said she liked the challenges presented in the Extreme Mustang Makeover. She convinced Morehouse, a friend and horse boarder at Buffalo Berry, to submit an application, as well.

After the two women were chosen, they drove to Oklahoma in June to pick up the two wild mustangs, now affectionately named Slim Jim and Vegas.

The mustangs and trainers were paired by a random drawing. When Bergum and Morehouse first glimpsed their horses, both screaming and kicking in terror, Morehouse admits to some serious doubts.

"When they loaded him, I thought, 'What was I thinking?'" she said. "Initially, I told myself, if I can put a halter on him, I'll be happy."

Morehouse surpassed that goal fairly quickly, but not without plenty of tough moments.

In the early days, her horse Vegas charged anyone who approached him. The 3-year-old bay, which stands 13 hands tall (a hand is 4 inches), rattled Morehouse's nerves. Because Bergum has more experience with horses, Morehouse relied on her advice and often her physical help to stop

the charging horse.

By contrast, Bergum's horse, the 4-year-old sorrel Slim Jim, rejected any contact. It took 30 days before Bergum could even touch Slim Jim. As recently as last week, Bergum was forced to approach the horse, which stands 16 hands tall, with minimal eye contact and usually by walking sideways to him.

Both horse trainers use the Parelli approach to horse training, which takes into account the personality and psychology of the horse. The training techniques call for a gentle and even-handed approach to training, rather than the more forceful "breaking" approach of years past.

Though Bergum has worked with plenty of horses, Slim Jim's personality proved extremely frustrating initially. "I remember saying, 'I just want to touch him,'" she said.

Today, Bergum rides Slim Jim with confidence.

Just a week and a half before competition, Morehouse remains unsure whether she will ride Vegas in the final competition phase. Although Vegas has come a long way, Morehouse believes he may need a more experienced rider than herself for competition.

"I won't risk my life to ride him," she said. "He's probably ready, but I'm not."

Yet, even though she may be out of the money, Morehouse wouldn't have missed the experience.

"He's surpassed my expectations," Morehouse said. "I never thought I would put a first ride on a horse … ever."

Bergum plans to compete, which will include judging in conditioning, groundwork and a "horse course" that requires specific maneuvers such as jumps.

She looks forward to the contest, although she smiles modestly at any suggestion she might bring home the money. Bergum seems more interested in the progress Slim Jim has made over the summer, especially considering the slow start the two had together.

When Slim Jim stumbled and fell recently during a jump, both Bergum and he hit the ground. The horse remained calm. "I was so happy. I got dumped, but he didn't run away," Bergum said with a smile.

"You set goals and when you reach those, you're so ecstatic," she said. "Then you look for the next one."

The next one for Slim Jim is Extreme Mustang Makeover.

Lynn Taylor Rick can be reached at lynn.taylorrick@rapidcityjournal.com or 394-

Extreme Mustang Makeover

The first-ever Extreme Mustang Makeover takes place Sept. 22-23 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Sturgis trainers Sharleen Bergum, owner of Buffalo Berry Arena, and Jean Morehouse are competing in the competition. For more information about the Extreme Mustang Makeover, go to www.mustangheritagefoundation.org. To find out more about Shar Bergum's Sturgis stables, Buffalo Berry Arena, go to www.buffaloberry-arena.com.8414.