Apply as a Trainer

Competition Divisions are Diamond, Platinum, Whippersnappers, 365

The Non-competition Division is Showcase and Showcase 365

YOU CAN ENTER TWO COMPETITIVE DIVISIONS!

ANNOUCEMENTS JAN 2026

╰┈➤ Interested in the 365 Competition for this year and do not already have a competition horse? We have options for you but must apply SOON. To compete in this division for 2026, you MUST pick up a horse before the end of February.

These horses are picked by the trainers upon approval and from the pool of horses offered. THERE is no drawing names for this portion.

Horses offered for this right now:

Charisma

Astoria

Terra

Wrigley

"IF" Vetted clear, Hera

Sport

Seven

Illusion

(more will be added to this pool)

If you take one of these horses now, you can opt to compete in 2026 in the 365 Division or roll over to 2027.

╰┈➤ Whippersnappers!!!

New for 2026:

⟢ Due to the number of feral babies we have, TRAINERS have the adoption to take unhandled foals EARLY. Most trainers have made their selections for this, but a few unhandled babies remain.

Young Horses with training prior will go out the last week of April, as usual. Some of the unhandled babies will not be selected, and will be offered in April.

You still have the options to wait and pick a handled young horse the last week of April. This year, names will be drawn, and you will chose your young horse at that time.

The “ATFO” has grown to become one of the largest trainer exhibitions in the country, and we invite you to apply now for 2025.

Featured multiple times in Horse Illustrated Magazine, The Appalachian Trainer Face Off enjoys between 500 to 2,500 attendees, as well as thousands who tune in to watch online.

The competition portion is judged by internationally recognized horsemen and women, and we offer a non competitive portion, too.

While trainers enjoy massive exposure, the most important aspect is that many horses without previous hope of finding a home become amazing equine partners and find adopters year after year.

We believe in a message that good trainers and good horsemanship make lasting partnerships.

Competition trainers will select a horse to train from various breeds, ages and handling levels at the end of April. They will train the horse for 110 days to compete in a 3 part event in LATE August. Trainers in this division compete for a prize package and title, and all trainers receive 50% of the adoption fee of their horse. 365 Trainers receive 70% of their horse's fees!

Showcase Horsemen and women will not compete, but they have their own amazing portion leading up to and during the ATFO!

Preliminary SELECTION is based on The Board of Heart of Phoenix. Final selection is based on a committee outside of the organization.

PREVIOUS COMPETITORS: You are required to re-apply yearly, UNLESS INVITED. If you’ve competed before, strength of previous year’s performances will be factors by the committee, as well as overall embodiment of the spirit of the competition and the goals of the ATFO, as well as consideration to allowing new competitors.

All who apply OR ARE INVITED BACK will need a NEW 1+ minute BIO video submitted via email, youtube link or facebook.

These are posted publicly. https://form.jotform.com/252206448896063

Please make sure this is submitted in a usable format, as these will be used on social media.

You will need client, vet, farrier, professional and peer references, facility photos, facility video.

You will need to provide income proof showing you’re able to support the horse’s basic care well while he/she is with you. If you need clarification of what is acceptable on this, email equinerescue@live.com

Call 304-962-7761 with questions

You will need a training and riding video ready if you are applying, not matter the division. There is an application fee os $15

We offer a year long partnership with trainers you can learn about here, too!

Apply Here

TRAINER BIO SUBMISSION LINK

In order to apply:

Be able to travel to the pick up in West Virginia April 28th and for the THREE DAYS event at the end of August (20-22). If you cannot be present in May for selection, you must be able to select your horse via livestream and pick up by the weekend after.
Demonstrate skill level with horses of a multitude of backgrounds.
Show a history of sensible, humane horsemanship.
Be willing to commit to consistent video and photo updates of your horse’s progress for 110+ days on social media.
Have a network that will allow your to successfully secure sponsors for much of your horse’s care (or have financial resources that make caring for your training horse no burden).
Be a great sport in a team environment
Market your training horse
Compete in Basic skills (with a ground work section required), Trail Course and Free Style segments over the course of competition in August.
Agree to haul their horse back to the event or the rescue at their cost, even if they fail to compete

Competitors can take a showcases horse on pick up day, if they wish.

There are 4 Competition Training divisions:

Trainers demonstrate:

An established history of equine training,
Extensive ground work understandin as demonstrated in their submission video
Have a proven history of quality training with references
Have a safe facility the fits the needs of your division level
Have the Horses at your facility up to date on needed care, including dental work and farrier care.
May be age 6-17 with good equine support system if all other criteria is met
Vet history on your horses must be up to date

All trainers must:

Submit 2 videos of your work to be evaluated by our application judge panel (Panel is anonymous to applicants).

Riding and ground work is required for the videos.

Submission can be sent to the Appalachian Trainer Facebook Page via messenger.

These can also be posted and linked to us from social media or youtube.

Ideally, submit videos with an unhandled horse or troubled horses, if you plan to select a feral horse.

Diamond Division –

Horses are unstarted
Horses are under age 16
May be unhandled or feral but lower level based on our evaluation, should be mostly simple blank slates, most will be handled / haltered / leadable.
For 2026, the confirmed cash prizes are:
$1,000 Champion Placement and 50% of adoption fee of their horses. Typically, 1/2 a ton of feed is given to this division’s champion.

Platinum Division – this division will have horses that:

Horses are Under age 16
These horses have been ridden.
They need more miles, skills and polish to find the right home.
Horses will not be suspected of a truly troubled past.
Judged expectation will be these horses can accomplish more during the training time and have a higher performance level at competition.
These horses may prove more adoptable to the average home.
These horses will have a more complex trail course, basic skills portion and so forth at the event.
For 2026, the confirmed cash prizes are: $1,000 Champion Placement and 50% of adoption fee of their horses.. Typically, 1/2 a ton of feed is given to this division’s champion.

365 Division – this division will have horses that:

*If selecting a difficult feral horse, you do need to have a proven success history with that type of horse.*

Typically under 16 at the start
May be started but troubled or a reactive, difficult feral or just be a horse that needs a LOT of time for other reasons or a lot of marketing to be adoptable.
Pick up of 365 horses for 2026 can may be anytime from January 2024 through FEB 2026. This horses are selected by the trainers at the time they decide to commit to compete in 2026. Competition isn't required for 365 trainers; it is an option.
For 2026, the confirmed cash prizes are: $1,500 Champion Placement and 70% of the adoption fee.

The Whippersnapper Division – this division will have horses that:

Unstarted, young horses
Assigned by TRAINER SELECTION IN EARLY PICK UP, APRIL PICK UP, IN ORDER OF NAME DRAWN
This division required a proven history of previous success with foals or youngsters horses.
For 2025, the confirmed cash prizes are: $1,000 Champion Placement and 50% of the set adoption fee. Not in auction.
Read MORE DETAILS HERE

Approximately 6-12 trainers will be selected for each Division.

A revised set of extended guidelines will be given out in a packet to selected trainers in late April. PICK UP DAY IS APRIL 28TH 2026 IN WINFIELD, WV

The Non-Competitive Showcase Division horses will go back in the auction, if not adopted before the event at a fee set by the trainers.

These horses are all ages, started and unstarted, some head to trainers before the event starts in May 2025, some head to trainers after May.

Awards are also given combining divisions for:

Fan Favorite

Best Turned out horse (best groomed / tacked and conditioned horse)

Glow Up (giving consideration to those who select horses in sub-par condition at pick up and rehab the horse).

Best Social Media