Appalachian Trainer Face Off

Appalachian Trainer Face Off A yearly Appalachian Equine event from Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue where horse trainers from across the USA compete with Adoptable Horses in Winfield, WV

Operating in one of the nation’s most economically challenged regions, Heart of Phoenix found through necessity there was a need to create innovative ways to get a large number of horses trained and adopted each year on a small budget. Our answer to this was the Appalachian Trainer Face Off, a training competition that began in 2017. The ATFO currently is the largest equine event in West Virginia,

hosting over 1,000 people in attendance over the course of the 3 day August event each year. This event has helped make a rescue organization an equine leader in our state. The ATFO horses previously without much hope of adoption for 100 days with trainers from May through August. Many of the horses are rounded up entirely unhandled. Trainers apply and go through a screening process, and horses are vetted and cleared beforehand. These horsemen and women work with their horses to offer accomplished, willing equine partners up for adoption and document their process strategically on social media. The photos, stories and videos required create a vested interest by the public in the success of each horse, trainer and the “ATFO.”

Trainers then compete for 3 days in August to showcase all they have accomplished with their horses. In the end, the trainers showcase their skills, horses gain training, and most go into approved adoptive homes in an auction format event the end where fees range from $800 to over $13,000, as of 2020. Adopters are pre-approved and adopted through Heart of Phoenix adoption agreements. There are prize packages made possible by the ASPCA and other sponsors. Nationally known clinicians, such a Josh Lyons, Michael Lyons and Patrick King have stepped up as judges. We also have a nice array of vendors.

09/03/2026

We have a saddle fitter coming to the farm this weekend, and would love to have Donnie on the list to get a saddle fit, if anyone wants to chip in and help us cover that for cost him, it would be so appreciated!!

Follow pretty Angelina in her next training journey at Wild at Heart Horsemanship ❤️
09/01/2026

Follow pretty Angelina in her next training journey at Wild at Heart Horsemanship ❤️

The Ride For Rescue is this LABOR Day weekend atElkins Creek HorsecampIt is a come one, come all event! Event if you're ...
09/01/2026

The Ride For Rescue is this LABOR Day weekend at
Elkins Creek Horsecamp

It is a come one, come all event! Event if you're not familiar with HOP or don't have a horse,

Come out the this lovely cowboy themed grounds to be part of all the events for a great cause.

There are still some cabins and stalls to rent, but it will be busy, packed weekend!

We've changed the process to be an ala cart fundraiser:

There is no cost from Heart of Phoenix to attend, and you can buy into any portion of this schedule.

FRIDAY SEPT 4th

*3:00 – Check in Registration, buy T-shirts ($20-25) or raffle tickets and register for meals and games
*6:00 – Welcome Message from HOP and Dinner ($15)
Meat and Vegetarian Chili options, Corn bread, Peanut Butter Sandwhiches and Nachos with a variety of desserts with lemonade and water or coffee
*6:45 – Bingo ($10 first card, $5 for extras) and live auction preview

SATURDAY SEPT 5th

*8am-9am – Breakfast is Build your own Burritos with eggs, sausage and all sorts of additions ($10) and Registration
*10:30 am – Ride Out at your leisure with various HOP supporters
*3:00 pm – Saturday 3 pm to Dog show ( $5 Classes: Waggiest Tail, Prettiest or most Handsome, Best Obedience, Costume Class), entrance fee per class with awards
*4:00 pm – Live Auction Begins! This is a do not miss! Always the best fun and the biggest part of the fundraiser!
*6:30 pm – Dinner with Mission of HEART OF PHOENIX, Baked pasta with various options, salad, desserts and garlic toast ($15)
*8:00pm – Live Music on the Patio!

Sunday Sept 6th

Ride at Your Leisure

$1 for 1 ticket
$5 for 6 tickets
$10 for 15 tickets
$15 for 20 tickets
$ 20 for 30 tickets

For Door Prize and Split the Pot

Ride for Rescue at Elkins Creek for Heart of Phoenix

So excited to see all of these Give Cassidy Sullivan Photography a follow and a thanks!
09/01/2026

So excited to see all of these

Give Cassidy Sullivan Photography a follow and a thanks!

May the late night ATFO photo editing begin!

It’s been a crazy month with a lot of projects that happened all at once, but these photos are in the works.

Final photos will be uploaded to a Google drive folder that is open and free for use, I just ask my watermark stay intact and if you tag my page with it, that’s always appreciated!

ATFO fun show photos will also be edited soon and will be added to a separate folder. Thanks everyone for being patient! ❤️🐴

Appalachian Trainer Face Off
Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue, INC

08/31/2026
08/28/2026

I always feel like somebody’s watching meeee 🎵👀

08/28/2026

Address

WV 34
Winfield, WV

Telephone

304-962-7761

Website

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