Rider Wars

100+ Days to become a better horsewoman or man,

Not just in the saddle, but on the ground and all around.

Apply Here to be a Competing Rider

The Appalachian Trainer Face Off welcomes

this innovative division for riders who want to improve their skills and compete

against others to show who can go the furthest during the event.

There is a virtual division and in person division.

There is a mentor award for the mentor who helps

take riders the furthest.

If you're interested in being a mentor, let us know.

You will have goals, clinic meet ups, videos requirements

and more during the 100+ day event.

Apply Here to be a Competing Rider

Apply Here to be a Mentor

RIDERS:

Both division competitors will need to commit and invest in the program fully.

This will require time and some financial commitment.

You do not have to own a horse to take part, but you do need to enroll in a local lesson program where you’re riding at least every other week at a lesson barn of YOUR CHOICE.

The goal of this competition is to be candid about where you are now,

so you can go further during this event.

*NO MATTER YOUR LEVEL - YOU ARE IN COMPETITION WITH YOURSELF ONLY*

HORSES

YOU WILL NEED TO SOURCE A HORSE TO COMPETE ON, Whether this is your own horse or a horse from your lesson provider or friends and family

VIDEOS

Submission of riding video and how to submit. Please upload your video WITH ALL Parameters

(this will be posted by January 1st of 2026) to either google drive and link us or upload to an unlisted link and link us on the ATFO Facebook page.

The video is ideally a single take, unedited and filmed without pauses showing all listed requirements posted here by January 1st.

This video WILL RECEIEVE A SCORE. You are in competition with others, but the ultimate goal is showing how much you improve from your starting score to finishing score. The rider with the highest improvement, paired with other earned points, will WIN Rider Wars.

Full answers ABOUT THIS EVENT can be found on THE APPLICATION Here

Mentors:

We are looking for mentors who have an established presence in the horse community they live in. This means you train and/or give lessons or maybe you’re a clinician. You have been in the horse world awhile and have built a thriving program with a good track record with humans and horses. You need to enjoy interaction with people who are learning, or at least enjoy making the horse world a better place by imparting knowledge.

Mentors for Rider Wars will commit to hosting individual riders for in person and virtual sessions from the end of April through August. The competing riders will expect a 2 hour (more or less) session on either riding or ground work, with elements covering choices of bits, knowing whether a horse is experiencing discomfort, basic understanding of saddle fit, as well as a follow up video submission for the mentor to review and provide feedback on at least once.

Riders cover the cost of this visit, which includes the feedback of on their video submission.

The fee will be decided by Heart of Phoenix and be across the board for all mentors.

Mentors must be reliable and have an establish business training, providing lessons and/or clinics. We will be looking for mentors with an eye for solid horsemanship, comfort of the horse, saddle fit knowlege, a heart for equine welfare and a solid ability to teach.

This event will help you expand your client base as a clinican, better your skills as an instructor (riders will fill out and submit surveys after they leave a session with you), and it will establish you as a go to person when someone wants to learn. It is an ideal platform to help you if you're looking to gain clients online and in person nationally.

Mentors ARE competing, as well. The mentor who coaches the top rider (points combined for riding performance improvement only) in all divisions will receive an award.

Mentors, apply here

Judges:

Two sets of Judges will offer an initial and then final score tto the RIDERS. There will be 2-4 judges at the start and 2-4 at the competition. Initial judges will review initial video submissions, and final video submissions for the virtual portion, and score the in-person competitors at the ATFO in August.

COMPETITION:

Final riding requirements will be the same as the video requirements at the start with allowance of a free-style. In-person competitors will ride horses of their choice, either personal horses or a horse they source. The virtual portion will require a SINGLE TAKE video filmed between certain dates near the end of August to be submitted. Riders also accumulate points during the event for online quizzes, attending extra clinics and more!

HORSES:
Riders can ride their lesson provider's horses, their mentor's horses or haul in their own horses for the purpose of the learning modules and classes during the event. You can source a horse from wherever you chose for the event.