Got confirmation from the mustang people that I am invited to compete. Oh, was I thrilled to hear this!
Now I'm focusing my efforts on preparation, mostly myself. I need to be in tip-top shape for this challenge--my seat, my hands, my judgment, my feel, my timing, horse sense, patience, everything needs to be as good as I can get it. I will see Lalo a few more times and learn what I can. I'm studying video--Monty Roberts, Clinton Anderson, and Chris Cox right now. I'm counting on the cowboys to make the initial gentling phase go well. From there I will focus on gymnastic exercises along classical lines--Philippe Karl, Michel Henriqet, etc. I went out yesterday to practice round penning and approach on Panda. I was very impressed watching Chris Cox work in a round pen on some online RFD video. He does not push the horse hard in circles, only in small (10-20 sec) increments. The focus is on getting the horse to look at him. I was very impressed. It was actually gentler than even some Parelli round penning I watch, certainly more so than Monty Roberts and Clinton Anderson, both of whom push horses hard in the round pen.
Anyway, I will need as many tools as possible for this challenge, and I will be working on all of them.
