Lesly W-S. writes with a terrific idea. She notes that the folks trying to place feral Bureau of Land Management mustangs "have really found a fascinating marketing tool!"
They are doing Mustang Makeovers and Mustang Challenges ("55 Wild Mustangs! 55 Trainers! $12,000+ in prize money!") with the idea of getting horse trainers to "show their stuff" by training wild horses to be rehomed.
The 3-4 yr old mustangs are assigned to trainers randomly, and each trainer has 100 days to train them.
This is, quite obviously, a competition, but one in which whatever the outcome for the humans, THE HORSES ALWAYS WIN.
At the end of the competition, in which the trainers compete for prize money (and bragging rights), the horses are auctioned off with the proceeds going to a local charity.
Lesly says the Midwest Mustang Challenge brought in DROVES of on lookers, and raised a lot of interest in the horses, as well as the trainers and their styles, while also raising awareness of the horse situation on BLM lands (BLM reps were on hand to answer questions, etc.)
OK, now imagine a reality show series based on the same thing, but with dogs.
Would you watch this? Would I watch this? In a red-hot minute!
This is a GREAT idea -- a terrific way to showcase both dogs that need homes AND the wide variety of dog training methods that are out there.
The point here is obvious: and the power, potential, and advertising base is just as obvious.
Animal Planet, what the hell are you waiting for?
They are doing Mustang Makeovers and Mustang Challenges ("55 Wild Mustangs! 55 Trainers! $12,000+ in prize money!") with the idea of getting horse trainers to "show their stuff" by training wild horses to be rehomed.
The 3-4 yr old mustangs are assigned to trainers randomly, and each trainer has 100 days to train them.
This is, quite obviously, a competition, but one in which whatever the outcome for the humans, THE HORSES ALWAYS WIN.
At the end of the competition, in which the trainers compete for prize money (and bragging rights), the horses are auctioned off with the proceeds going to a local charity.
Lesly says the Midwest Mustang Challenge brought in DROVES of on lookers, and raised a lot of interest in the horses, as well as the trainers and their styles, while also raising awareness of the horse situation on BLM lands (BLM reps were on hand to answer questions, etc.)
OK, now imagine a reality show series based on the same thing, but with dogs.
Would you watch this? Would I watch this? In a red-hot minute!
This is a GREAT idea -- a terrific way to showcase both dogs that need homes AND the wide variety of dog training methods that are out there.
The point here is obvious: and the power, potential, and advertising base is just as obvious.
Animal Planet, what the hell are you waiting for?
.
3 comments:
There was a somewhat similar idea initially launched by the BBC, but the format has been sold to other countries as well (including Finland).
The idea is, that a celebrities take in dogs from shelters for training (under the guidance of pros) and then compete weekly in different tasks with the dogs. Naturally every week on pair is dropped.
The dogs are then either put up for adoption or the celebrity can keep the dog themselves.
I must admit, I never watched the program when it was on here...
I would watch! I only hope the public isn't asked to vote anyone off.
Heck, if there was a competition like that for dogs, I wouldn't just watch -- I'd do it!
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