The greatest thing I’ve ever been part of began for the tenth year in a row two weeks ago.
The Appalachian Trainer Face Off.
I’ve been rescuing horses for almost two decades now.
I’ve been able to be part of so many firsts with horses since then, so you’d think it would be hard to pick which first mattered most, but it isn’t.
Heart of Phoenix was the first successful equine rescue to exist in West Virginia.
We were the first to focus on helping in the heart of Appalachia.
We were the first horse rescue at all here for years.
We offered the first equine based law enforcement training program in the state.
We offered the first free gelding clinic for owners in the region.
We offered the first no cost euthanasia option for owners in need.
We offered the first open shelter.
We were among the first, if not the first, rescue to freeze brand and microchip adoptable horses and have situations proving how powerful these steps were for the horses.
We have had an incredible track record for rehabilitation of extremely low body score horses.
We were an innovator from the early days with our foster based program.
And all of those things are worth being proud of, and they are thanks to a sprawling, ever growing group of horse people that said they wanted to be instrumental in creating change for the animals they love.
But that all said,
Nothing has been as important or impactful as the Appalachian Trainer Face Off in our work at Heart of Phoenix.
The only reason we have the huge network of trainers we call friends, the only reason we can take the hardest cases, the only reason our capacity is so large is the Appalachian Trainer Face Off.
It takes so many people and so much commitment.
Don’t miss the journey to the 10th annual Appalachian Trainer Face Off from now through August 20-22. Winfield, WV.
