The annual Trainer Pick-Up event, which is part of the Heart of the Horse Expo and Trainers Challenge, will be held Saturday, January 18, beginning at 11:00 a.m. inside Barn 11 at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds. This event is hosted by the Mississippi Horse Rescue.
This equine event is open to the public and offers the chance to see trainers select their horses for the 2025 Challenge. Twenty participants will choose from over 30 untrained horses to embark on a 120-day Training Challenge. The trainers range from top professionals with championship titles to amateurs and youth trainers. Most of the horses being featured are formally unwanted, untrained rescues who will be transformed by this event into desirable equine riding partners. Each trainer will have 120 days to work with their chosen horse before returning to the Mississippi Fairgrounds for a final showcase competition, scheduled for May 15-17, 2025.
The Trainer Pick-Up event not only marks the beginning of a transformative process, but also provides an opportunity for the community to meet local trainers and horses, learn about the training process and support the vital mission of adopting rescue horses. This competition also provides the public with horsemanship and training clinics to help prepare novice equine enthusiasts for successful horse ownership. The public can also follow their favorite horse and trainer team on social media and by visiting www.hohchallenge.org.
Heart of the Horse is a collaborative partnership of equine organizations, individuals and professionals, and is spearheaded by the Mississippi Horse Rescue. Established in 2022, this 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 horses.
For more information about the Heart of the Horse Trainers Challenge, visit www.hohchallenge.org or contact Caitlin McDonald at 601-278-3812 or hohchallenge@gmail.com.