Heart of the Horse is a collaborative partnership of equine organizations, individuals and professionals spearheaded by Mississippi Horse Rescue.  Established in 2022, this 501c-3 non-profit project sponsors special events designed to promote and grow horse ownership, equine related businesses and equine activities with a unique approach to helping provide secure futures for equines. 

The Heart of the Horse project is unique, in that it is not just a trainer competition. It also provides public horsemanship and training clinics to help prepare novice equine enthusiasts for successful horse ownership. Support and clinics are also offered to help Challenge Trainers promote their talents and hone their skills. Clinics will begin in October, 2024, and will be offered in various locations throughout Mississippi through April, 2025. Specific dates and locations will be announced soon.

The Heart of the Horse 2025 Expo & Trainers Challege will be May 15-17 at the Kirk Fordice Equine Center in Jackson, MS.    

The Challenge trainers will meet at the MS State Fairgrounds in January to select an untrained rescue horse as their training partner for the next 120 days..  They will return to the Kirk Fordice Equine Center on May 15-17 to compete for the title of Heart of the Horse Trainers Challenge Champion and over $15,000 in cash and prizes. Professional, amateur and youth trainers from English, western and gaited disciplines will test their horsemanship skills in three days of head-on competition. The challenge horses, once cast aside as useless and neglected, will perform their skills to prove they are now transformed into safe, capable riding companions, ready for a long-term owner and loving new home.  The Trainers Challenge will kick off Thursday, May 15, with trainers exhibiting in health &  ground manners classes. Friday, May 16, will feature horsemanship and trail classes. On Saturday, May 17,  the Heart of the Horse Expo will offer a wide variety of horse related vendors and exhibits, as well as the most popular class of the HoH Trainers Challenge - the freestyle competition!  At the conclusion of freestyle presentations, the overall 2025 Heart of the Horse Champion, division champions and other training awards will be announced. After the awards ceremony, the Challenge horses, who have been pre-vetted and trained intensively for past 120 days, will be presented in the live Safe Horse Auction to pre-screened adopters. Prospective bidders must be pre-approved to adopt these horses through Mississippi Horse Rescue and meet with the horse and trainer before the auction on Saturday, May 17. This type of auction is the place to find that

special treasured horse because it provides the setting to match buyers and horses appropriately, according to the suitability of the horse to the abilities and activities intended by the buyer, ensuring long-term interest and lasting homes. 

Admission is free to the public.

We are so thankful for our staff, volunteers and sponsors for the Heart of the Horse Expo & Trainers Challenge!  This event has a team of great people and wonderful sponsors who make it happen.   Everything we do is driven by the passion and commitment that we have for the mission behind this great event.  We could not do it without them.  If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about how you can help, please complete our Contact Us Form. We would love to connect with you.

We seek to develop and grow participation in the equine community and to provide a more secure future for unwanted horses by sponsoring programs that provide training for at risk horses to transform them into valued equine partners, offering education and training clinics, developing equine enthusiasts and helping aspiring owners find the horse of their dreams. The Heart of the Horse events facilitate the process of helping match people to the right horse for their skill level while providing the tools for them to attain their goals with their new horse.