Stacy94PGT

Ford to aid wild mustangs

Horses inspired popular sports car

ASSOCIATED PRESS

HOT SPRINGS, S.D. -- The company that makes the Mustang sports car is investing in the wild horse of the same name.

With the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary as a backdrop, officials from Ford Motor Co. said the company would provide money to help save 2,000 wild mustangs that face an uncertain future. It would also help establish a fund to take public donations to maintain the horses.

The Bureau of Land Management and the Take Pride in America group also are participating in setting up the fund.

Among those on hand for Thursday's news conference at the sanctuary's headquarters on the edge of the Black Hills were actress and animal activist Stefanie Powers, credited with bringing the mustang issue to Ford; BLM director Kathleen Clark; Dayton Hyde, president of the Institute of Range and the American Mustang and the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary; and Ziad Ojakli, group vice president of corporate affairs for Ford.

"The mustang is a symbol that drove a lot of our success," Ojakli said, referring to the sporty Ford Mustang introduced 40 years ago.

He said Ford's commitment to save mustangs is "a small token that we can do to pay back" for the company's success.

He didn't provide a dollar figure for helping save 2,000 mustangs but he said it would easily reach six figures.

A federal law passed late last year allows the slaughter of mustangs for the first time since 1971.

Ford officials said the 2,000 wild horses could go to a variety of locations, including American Indian reservations.

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Stacy94PGT
My first car was a 67 Mustang Coupe, 2nd one was a 67 Cougar XR-7, 3rd one was a 66 Mustang Coupe. Why did I get rid of these cars for ? I know why, because I'm stupid, stupid, stupid.

My next Ford.....