Professional Division
- First prize: $5,000 Second prize: $3,000 Third prize: $1,500
- Professional trainers will receive the first $500 of the base adoption fees and 50% of the amount after that if the horse is adopted at the Heart of the Horse Auction adoption event. (That’s in addition to the prize money if you win or place in your division.) If your horse is not adopted at the HOH Expo and it is mutually agreed for you to continue training/fostering that horse, the same payment agreement will be in effect if it is adopted at a Mississippi Horses Rescue Adoption Event or re-homed from your facility. If the horse isn’t adopted before you need to bring it back, you will receive $500 when the horse is adopted if it is within 90 days of its return to the rescue. (All horses are property of Mississippi Horses Rescue or other specified rescue organization before and following the event, and all horses can only be placed through our screened adoption process).
- You will receive recognition throughout the competition on social media, the Heart of the Horse Trainers Challenge website and local media outlets.
- You will receive support and educational opportunities from respected clinicians through access to optional clinics offered at no cost to trainer participants in the HOH Trainer’s Challenge.
- You will receive support and promotion to grow your lesson and training program.
INTERESTED? See 2025 Heart of the Horse Trainer Information
Amateur Division
- First place winner in Amateur Division will receive the first $500 of the base adoption fee and 50% of the amount after that if the horse is adopted at the Heart of the Horse Auction adoption event.
- All other amateur trainers will receive the first $400 of the base adoption fee plus 20% of the adoption fee if the horse is adopted at the Heart of the Horse Auction adoption event. If your horse is not adopted at the HOH Expo, you will receive $400 of the base adoption fee if it is adopted within 90 days of its return to the rescue. (All horses are property of Mississippi Horse Rescue or other specified rescue organization before and following the event, and all horses can only be placed through our screened adoption process).
- You will receive support and educational opportunities from respected clinicians through access to optional clinics offered at no cost to trainer participants in the HOH Trainer’s Challenge.
- You will gain skills and confidence to have the horse/human partnership
- You will be an important part of helping a horse find its forever home.
There will also be awards for the following categories:
Best Conditioned
Fan Favorite
Overall High Point
ARE YOU INTERESTED? See 2025 Heart of the Horse Trainer Information