Good Trainers are wanted
Heart of the Horse Trainers Challenge endorses the use of natural horsemanship methods (as used by T. Dorrance, R. Hunt, C. Anderson, P. Parelli, C. Cox, etc.) that promote mutual communication, respect and understanding between horse and handler. We understand all trainers have their own way of training and we do not expect a trainer chosen to participate in our events or programs to change their training methods, but do expect them to train our challenge horses to have basic ground manners, and to perform in-hand maneuvers and basic round pen exercises in response to basic natural horsemanship communication methods in addition to riding and/or driving skills.
We are currently recruiting trainer applications for Professional and Amateur Divisions for the 2025 Heart of the Horse Trainers Challenge.
The Heart of the Horse Trainers Challenge is a 120 day competition offering over $15,000 in cash and prizes! This event involves the intensive training of horses between the ages of 3 – 12 yrs. of age that are sound and healthy, but are totally or mostly untrained. Pick up of the Challenge Horses is Saturday, January 18 at the Kirk Fordice Equine Center in Jackson. The Heart of the Horse final competition is May 15-17, 2025. For further information, see 2025 Trainer Prizes & Benefits and 2025 Heart of the Horse Trainer Information.
The horses provided for the Heart of the Horse Trainers Challenge are, and will remain, the property of Mississippi Horses Rescue (MHR) unless a specific agreement with a partnering rescue is made known at the time the horse is listed as a Challenge horse. All of the equines will be available for adoption under contract to approved homes only (as determined by MHR screening policies). Adoption fees and the percentage of fee retained by the trainer vary according to the desirability/ability of the animal and by the trainer commissions specified by the division (Pro or Amatuer) the trainer is working under.
