Local Woman Involved In Mustangs Challenge
Wolf Point native Samantha Reed has been having quite a busy summer as she is part of the Oregon Teens and Mustangs Challenge.
The event is a 100-day training competition for wild horses and burros. At the end of the competition, there will be a live auction adoption where people can adopt one of the trained mustangs or burros.
Reed and her co-trainer Winter Palmateer are excited about this year’s online auction on Aug. 30 through Sept. 1 at the Linn County Fairgrounds in Albany, Ore. Online bidding is available.
Supporters of Reed can check her progress on Facebook at Samantha’s Ziva.
“I got involved when I visited Oregon in 2021. Winter was in the middle of training her mustang at the time Rico, and I thought that had to be one of the most exciting yet challenging things a horse women could do, let alone someone at our age,” Reed said.
In 2024, she was asked to participate in the program and she jumped at the opportunity.
“I am so excited to debut my amazing mustang and see where she goes next,” Reed said.
Her horse is a 3-year-old mare called Ziva. The horse’s height is approximately 14.3 hands.
“Ziva is one-of-a-kind mare with so much love to give her new family. Ziva is extremely personable and wants to please,” Reed, a 2023 Wolf Point High School graduate, said. “She has a wonderful ability to try whatever is asked of her and will give her all for her person no matter the circumstances.”
She said the horse knows how to carry a rider, and is capable to walking, trotting and cantering in both directions.
“I love the support from everyone in this organization, even my competition are so excited to jump in and assist in any way needed,” Reed said. “We all know we have different strengths and are eager to assist.”
