Horse Illustrated Magazine

Edited Press Release

When Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society (BEHS) launched the first Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge in 2009 only a handful of horses competed, but BEHS Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Williams says the event has grown each year.

“For the first few years, we only had one or two professional trainers and a handful of foster homes compete,” says Williams. “We’ve improved the Challenge and now we have a great group of people training our horses and preparing for the event each year. It is a great opportunity to show off the talents of some of the amazing horses who come to us!”

The Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge (the Challenge) is a training competition open to anyone in Texas or a surrounding state who is either a professional trainer or is willing to become an approved foster home for Bluebonnet. It includes three divisions that compete for honors in their division as well as Grand and Reserve Grand Champion of the event: Professional Trainer, Foster Home/Amateur Showing Under Saddle, and Foster Home/Amateur Showing in Hand. New to this year’s event is a fourth division that won’t compete for the Grand or Reserve Champion spots dedicated to horses who have been started under saddle but need additional training.

Contestants spend three months (July-October) working with a horse from the rescue and then demonstrate the horse’s skills in a freestyle competition and over an obstacle course at the Bluebonnet Horse Expo on October 20, 2014 in Austin, Texas.

The organization is accepting applications for the Challenge from now until mid-July, and all competitors will be able to pick up their horses in mid-July.

The organization is seeking sponsors in order to offer even more competitive awards to participants. Sponsorship benefits include complimentary admission, advertising privileges, vendor space and more.

Anyone wishing to participate in or sponsor the Challenge can get more information at www.bluebonnethorseexpo.com under “Challenge” or by emailing info@bluebonnethorseexpo.com or calling (888) 542 5163.

Further Reading
North American Horse Rescues
Horse Rescue Resources