Applications are open for the 2023 Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge. Horse pick-up will be in early June and the competition takes place on October 7th at the Williamson Co Expo Center. We’ve increased the total prize money to $13,000!
If you haven’t heard of the Challenge, it’s a competition where professionals and non-pro horse lovers work with a Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society horse for four months and then compete in an obstacle course, basic skills challenge, and freestyle. There’s more info as well as our application on our website at http://www.bluebonnethorseexpo.com/blog/challenge
While you are working with a horse for the Training Challenge, we pay for all pre-approved veterinary care, hoof trimming (and shoes if medically necessary and pre-approved), and pre-approved medications or supplements. We also pay $120/month as a stipend (paid after the competition) to help offset partial costs of hay, grain, shavings, etc. Money spend on the Bluebonnet horse but not covered by the stipend may be tax-deductible since we’re a 501c3.
Also – for professional trainers: when you participate in the Challenge, we offer advertising on our website, our Facebook page, and vendor space at the event. And when we need to hire a trainer to work with a Bluebonnet horse who isn’t in the Challenge, we try to hire past Training Challenge competitors.
If you would like to support the Challenge but don’t want to compete, we’re looking for sponsors (https://bluebonnethorseexpo.com/blog/sponsors/) and vendors (https://bluebonnethorseexpo.com/blog/vendors/).