ATFO Adoption Details
The Event: A three-day competition in Winfield, WV from August 20–22, 2026.
The Horses: Nearly 50 horses receive 100 days of professional training leading up to the event.
Health Status: All horses are current on dental work, farrier care, vaccines, deworming, and Coggins.
👤 Rider Experience Requirements Most of these horses are "green" and are not suitable for inexperienced owners. You should be a solid intermediate rider, or a beginner working closely with a professional trainer to adopt.
Adopters should plan for continued training. Many event trainers offer a discount for post-event training.
📝 Bidding & Approval Process
Pre-Screening: You must take a quick, online self-screening quiz before applying.
Application Deadline: You must apply and be approved by August 10th to bid. Being approved does not require you to bid; it simply gives you the option to bid IF a horse is a fit.
Required Test Ride: You will need to ride the horse and get approval from Heart of Phoenix (HOP) before you can place a bid.
Bidding Remotely: You can bid over the phone via an assigned proxy handler if you cannot attend in person and have already met the horse.
🔨 Auction Adoptions
Competition Horses: These horses can only be adopted through the live auction at the end of the event.
Showcase Horses: These horses can be adopted before the event if their trainer feels they are fully ready, and these have a set fee.
💰 Fees, Rules & Additional Information
Bids are Binding: If you bid, you must intend to complete the adoption and pay the fee. Refund Policy: Full Adoption fees are non-refundable.
Return Policy: If you can no longer keep the horse, you must return the horse to Heart of Phoenix.
Base Fee Return: If you return the horse, you can request a flat refund at a maximum of $800. Any money you paid above this amount is non-refundable and becomes a tax-deductible donation to the non-profit. 50 percent goes to the trainer.
Transport: Many trainers will transport the horse to you for an extra fee. Speak with them ahead of time.
🔒 Post-Adoption Process Horses adopted under a legal adoption agreement that remains in place between the adopter and HOP. This process differes from a sale. It remains in place, unless the horse returns to HOP.
Identification: All horses are branded and microchipped to HOP.
You can show, trail ride, and love your adopted horse, but breeding/transfer or sells are not allowed at any time for the life of the horse.
Platinum Division horses were already undersaddle at the start of the event. Diamond Division Horses were unstarted, sometimes unhandled prior to the start of the event.
Opening bids are $1,800.00. Showcase fees are set by trainers.
The average 2025 fee was around $3,800. The value of training for these horses alone is over
$3,500 per horse up to $15,000.
Important Link:
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HELP us assign your riding and bidding level HERE
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You must apply HERE before August 10th and be approved to be able to BID on event horses, and you are encouraged to meet these horses beforehand while in training. There is a quick self screening quiz you take first that just takes a few minutes before applying to help you see if the application is a good fit for you.
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You can learn about adoption here. The horses go on adoption agreements through Heart of Phoenix.
Resources:
Apply to ADOPT before August 15th here in 2026
To read about what to expect from a 90-100 day training horse, visit here.
Please try to arrange with the trainers to meet the horses before applying, if the trainers schedule allows.
If you cannot, please try to meet the horse during the event.
Approved candidates can visit / ride the horses while in training and are encouraged to do so, if time allows.
Please chat with the trainers, and the trainers will be very honest with you about the faults and the talents of the horses.
Once approved to adopt, you may BID on any horse you are approved for (you will be given a list when requested on auction day) in person or BY PROXY (We have people able to do this for you, but you must let us know ahead of time, and you will be the phone and able to watch the auction livestream).
Live Bidding tentatively will have an official auctioneer.
The event, competition and auction will be streamed live on this website, Facebook on the ATFO and Heart of Phoenix pages.
So, Submit Your Adoption Inquiry Here
Essentially, HOP horses adopt to safe homes with a history of good horsemanship, the ability to provide sufficient care and with solid vet, farrier and peer references. Nothing needs to be fancy.
Our adoption process makes sure you get the right horse for you – it is a no fail process for finding the right match.