ADOPT A CHALLENGE HORSE

What horses are available at Heart of the Horse Safe Horse Auction?

• See all adoptable horses for this event HERE. There will also be a catalog in the Heart of the Horse Expo program that will be for sale at the event.
• Only HoH Trainers Challenge horses will be adopted (to approved homes) through bidding during the live HoH Auction. 
• Horses that are not in the Challenge, but are listed in the HoH Program, will have set adoption fees posted and may be adopted prior to or during the HoH event, at the discretion of their trainers and Mississippi Horses. (Horses competing in the HoH Trainers Challenge cannot be adopted prior to the HoH Safe Horse Auction.)
• Follow the 120 day training process of the Challenge horses on the Heart of the Horse Trainers Challenge Facebook page. You can find further information on other horses available at the event through Facebook search by entering #MHR(horse name) or #hohteam(horsename)

Who can adopt?

• Most of these horses have received 120 days of training or less. Regardless of the high quality of that training, the Challenge horses are still considered “green”. That means the adopter should be at least a solid intermediate rider or an advanced beginner with a plan to work with their horse under a trainer’s direction . Some horses will not be suitable for adopters without substantial prior experience, and will be listed as such. Most Challenge trainers are offering continued training for both horse and rider after the adoption; you should inquire when you meet.

How do I qualify to bid?

• To bid on Challenge horses, you must be approved for adoption by MS Horses. If you have not already been approved, go HERE to find out more about the process and fill out their online application before May 7th. Since it can take up to 10 business days to be approved, you are encouraged to apply early. If you have issues submitting the online form, please send a message to us HERE
• You can bid on horses that are suitable for your skill level provided you have met with that horse and trainer prior to the finals and have been approved to bid on that horse in your Adoption Bidding Packet. There are no rank beginner horses in the HoH Safe Horse Auction. The lowest skill level that will be approved to bid is advanced beginner working with a trainer. 
• If you are approved for adoption, but do not have the opportunity to visit the horse you are interested in, your might still have the opportunity to bid as a Secondary Bidder. See the Adoption Bidding Packet for more information.
• Once you have fulfilled the requirements, you will receive an Adoption Bidding Packet listing the horses you are approved to bid on. Approval doesn’t require you to bid or adopt. It just gives you the option to do so.

How do I bid?

• When you receive your Adoption Bidding Packet, read the information carefully, sign and return it. Your signature indicates that you understand the rules of the auction and adoption policies, and agree to abide by them. You will not be assigned a bidder number until this signed form is received.
• You may bid in person at the live HoH Safe Horse Auction that begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 17th.
• You do not have to be present to bid. You can do so via phone with a proxy assigned to you.  
• You may only bid on the horses listed as “approved” in your Adoption Bidding Packet.

How much should I expect to pay?

• $1,500 is the opening bid for Pro division horses. Amateur division horses start at $1,200. Final adoption fees will vary due to the bidding process. Some of the horses will have a RESERVE set above the minimum bid. 
• The amount of reserve will vary, but in no instance will the reserve amount be higher than $4,000. Bidding may carry those horses above the reserve amount. The catalog will note the horses with a reserve in place. 
• There will be horses available that are not entered in the competition, and have set adoption fees posted. These horses can be adopted at any time before or during the Heart of the Horse Expo on May 17th. These horses will not be part of the HoH Safe Horse Auction bidding.
• The value of training alone for the horses being offered is between $3-4,000 per horse. They are current on vaccinations, Coggins, farrier and most have recent dental work.

If I win the bid, how and when do I pay?

• Payment is due immediately after the conclusion of the HoH Safe Horse Auction, and no later than 8:30 p.m.
• Horses can have their adoption fees paid via cash, check, PayPal or Square. Credit Cards can be used, but only with a 3% fee charge added. Adoption contract will be signed at the time of payment.

When do I take possession of the horse?

• Please be sure you have transport arrangements made before bidding. Your trailers must be suitable and safe.
• The horse becomes your responsibility as soon as you sign the adoption contract. Be prepared to transport no later than noon on Sunday, May 18.
• Many trainers will transport horses back for A FEE. Please talk to them ahead of time about this.

How does adoption work?

• All horses go on adoption agreements through Mississippi Horses unless the catalog identifies a different rescue is responsible for the adoption agreement. It is a contractual agreement that offers benefits such as access to continuing training, assistance with re-homing your horse through the MHR website and adoption events.
• Adopted horses can not be bred,. They also can't be given away or sold without going through the MS Horse Rescue application process and adoption contract.  
• If you need to rehome your horse, you may adopt it to another party for a fee - provided that the individual goes through the same approval process that you went through, and agrees to sign the same MS Horses Adoption Contract that you signed. (In this case, any fees you charge will be yours to keep.) 
• If you change your mind or can’t keep the horse, and do not want to find another suitable adopter, you MUST return the horse to MS Horses or stated rescue. The base refundable adoption fee we set in the contract (usually between $600 to $800) will be returned, if you request it, when the horse comes back to us. In this case, any funds over the refundable  fee do become a donation to the organization and would then be tax deductible.