"I think these animals have so much more to teach us than we do them. The complexity beneath their language is beautifully inspiring. A day hasn’t gone by where I didn’t study my herd’s ways of communicating with one another and take back valuable information for my own relationships with people." – Leah Martin

Meet Leah Martin — the Extreme Mustang Makeover Competitor, Domestic Horse Trainer & Ranch Hand Ambassador

Meet Leah Martin. She's from Buchanan, Michigan, and at just 17 years old, she’s been making waves and gaining notoriety in the mustang training world. This is because, almost overnight, Leah has become an amateur horse trainer and has participated in the Extreme Mustang Makeover competitions around the country.

Since she was just eight years old, Leah discovered her passion for horses when she was in 1st grade and has since participated in numerous competitions and events. Now, at 17 years old, Leah has participated in the Mustang Heritage Foundation’s Extreme Mustang Makeover program and the Extreme Mustang Makeover Youth Division, training two horses, Catori and Mikey, along the way.

While her recent wins are intriguing, the story of how she started is equally unique and inspiring.

Here is her story, which starts about a decade ago.

Her Passion Stems from a Desire for Improved Well-Being & Homeschooling

When Leah started school, it was quite clear early on that the traditional classroom was not supportive of her interests and that the standard classroom was not where she wanted to be.

She struggled with anxiety and desired to find a schooling solution that would support her education and interests while promoting emotional well-being. Before she had finished 1st grade, her parents made the decision to disenroll her from public school, instead opting to homeschool.

Her parents, looking for activities that would support her education, discovered that the state would pay for sporting activities, and this is where it all began — horseback riding just happened to be one of the available sports that Leah could participate in, and so her parents supported her desire to join.

Every week, Leah began to anticipate and look forward to her rides, and she quickly found that with routine riding, her anxiety diminished significantly. She increased her rides to twice a week, and it was clear that this young, eight-year-old had found her lifelong passion — caring for horses.

Her parents saw the benefit of her passion and quickly found a way to support it. They leased a pony, which allowed Leah to ride even more. Shortly later, they bought a second pony, which was a little bigger than the first, and Leah, almost instinctively, started training the young horse. Leah and her horses were inseparable. “It was as if we were learning together,” Leah explained.

With her new passion and resulting lifestyle taking root, it was around this time that Leah watched a documentary about professional horse training, and this piqued her interest.

It was at that point that Leah knew she wanted to train horses professionally, and since then, she's been pacing forward without hesitation or looking back. This decision was monumental for her life and career.

Since She Discovered Her Passion, She's Made Strides in Numerous Competitions

In 2021, Leah took her passion for horse training to another level when she decided to train a wild mustang through the Mustang Heritage Foundation’s Extreme Mustang Makeover program. This competition allows horse trainers to adopt a wild horse and take them from "wild to mild" in 90 days. The trainers compete for prizes at makeover events across the country.

The focus of the Extreme Mustang Makeover is to feature the trainability of America’s wild horses and promote their adoption. The Mustang Heritage Foundation is a partner of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

The BLM created the Wild Horse and Burro Program, which was an act passed by Congress in 1971. The law identifies wild horses and burros as "living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the west." The BLM, along with the U.S. Forest Service, has the responsibility to protect and manage the herds.

A New Addition to the Martin Family

In March of 2021, Leah and her family traveled to Springfield, Ohio, to adopt her new mustang, Catori, which was part of the Extreme Mustang Makeover application process.

With her new mustang at her side, she officially began her horse training career and prepared for the event that was set to take place in Lexington, Kentucky — the same location where she previously competed in the Extreme Mustang Makeover Youth Division.

The actual training begins when the trainer can make a first touch on their mustang and halter the horse, moving into pressure and release training. “My favorite part of training is the first touch and tag removal — it's all about connecting with the horse. I was able to build trust with Catori and removed her tag within an hour," Leah said. "Working in hand training is done by first teaching the horse body control and respect of their handler."

Leah placed in the top 15 in her first makeover competition and learned a lot. She took a great deal of knowledge back to Michigan with her and is using this knowledge in training her horses at home.

Leah is busy training Mikey, her second mustang, for the 2022 makeover event which will take place mid-September in Fort Worth, Texas. She's excited to compete in person and has been diligent in her training, which is in hand because she is under 18 years of age.

Growing Pains & Becoming a Professional Mustang Trainer

In case you are wondering if Leah has been hurt during her riding and training, the answer is a resounding, “Yes!"

Once, during a pole bending routine at a Western riding competition, the horse was bending and unfortunately, Leah and the horse went different ways, resulting in a fall and a broken wrist.

That's not all. When she was 10 years old, Leah was thrown off a horse and broke her shoulder.

These injuries have not stopped her drive or dedication for horse training, however. According to Leah, “I am driven, and that comes from my heart. This drive also fuels my dedication and discipline to put in the work that is needed to train these horses.”

Leah does become emotionally attached to the horses she trains and plans to keep both Catori and Mikey as a part of the family.

Ambitions & Plans for the Future

When asked, "What does the next five years look like?" Leah responded promptly and with confidence, saying that she "wants to be a professional horse trainer" and sees herself living on a large, sprawling farm with many more Mustangs and domestic horses in the next five years

“My life is these horses and the barn,” said Leah. “I want to learn more and do better with the training, and I know that will happen. I encourage others to chase their passions and apply dedication and discipline. If you want it, go get it!”

Wise words, Leah.

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