We had so much success with the Yakama horses, that we became TIP Trainers with the Mustang Heritage Foundation in cooperation with the BLM. This program paid approved trainers to gentle wild horses and burros and find adopters. We did this for several years before that program was discontinued. At that point, we continued taking in client horses, owner surrenders, and adopting unhandled horses and burros to continue our mission of getting them trained and into loving homes.

We are currently a Forever Branded Partnership Trainer. This is a sort of “new and improved” program similar to the old TIP program. What this means is that we are approved trainers funded by Forever Branded and the BLM to gentle wild burros and mustangs and find qualified adopters. These equines are available for adoption to qualified adopters for just $125, fully gentled!

Cara Seekell, president and head trainer, grew up on a cattle ranch where horses have always played a huge part in her life. She has a century of experience with horses in ranch work, 4H (both as a participant and as a leader), hunter/jumpers, and as a mustang and burro trainer. She has competed in several mustang competitions, always placing in the top 10 and winning a few buckles along the way. She has successfully trained and placed hundreds of mustangs and burros in the past 10+ years.

Ashleigh Seekell, Cara’s daughter and assistant trainer at Montana Mustang Connection, started training unhandled horses at the age of 7 with her mini horse, “Luna”, who was an unhandled rescue intake. She trained and competed with her first BLM burro, “Kirby” at the age of 9. She has competed in several mustang competitions since, culminating in her 2024 win at MYWY and completing her first mounted competition at the 2025 MYWY with a 7 year old South Steens gelding, “Spirit”. She is quite an accomplished 14 year old horse woman and has now started several mustangs under saddle. She hopes to continue as a professional trainer after high school.