04/04/2026
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Mistica, Razzle, Taco, Moose, and Murphy are all Mississippi Horses rescue horses.
These are the kinds of horses worth their weight in gold… so how did they end up at a rescue and later at Something Wild Riding School?
From left to right:
Mistica is an owner surrender. Her owner knew she would not have the time to put the training into her that she needs to become a solid horse, so she donated her to this year’s HOH Trainers Challenge and was chosen by Melinda with Something Wild Riding School. Mistica will be available for adoption in May and if interested in this little Paso Fino, be sure to follow her journey
Razzle was part of the Youth Challenge in 2023. We purchased her from a broker page for that purpose because, in order to include youth in the Trainers Challenge, we needed smaller, safer horses for them to handle. After the challenge, she still needed the everyday kind of miles that make a horse a dependable riding partner, so we asked Melinda to use her in her riding program. She did, the kids fell in love with her, and she became a permanent resident.
Taco was a stray. He and another little mare had been turned loose—untrained and unwanted. Law enforcement asked us to take them in, otherwise landowners had been given permission to shoot them.
Taco was trained by one of our longtime trainers and adopted, where he spent several years with his family. When life circumstances changed, he came back to us. Like many horses who’ve had some time off, he picked up a few bad habits along the way. So once again, I reached out to my favorite pony trainers—the students at Something Wild Riding School. And once again… they fell in love. And here he is.
Moose is one of the most beloved horses to ever come through our rescue. His quirky personality and love for attention make him a favorite wherever he goes.
He does have some conformational challenges and an old injury, which made us hesitant to adopt him out. But our vet encouraged us to place him in a riding program that would watch out for his limitations and see how he held up.
Two years later… he’s still here, living his best life. And if the day comes that he can no longer do the job, he will always have a place back with us.
Murphy was also a stray—and not an easy one to catch. It took a coordinated effort, a catch pen, and someone feeding him daily to finally capture the elusive stallion.
He had been running loose on the roads, and it was only a matter of time before he was hit by a car.
Murphy turned out to be the perfect candidate for the 2025 Heart of the Horse Trainers Challenge—and an even more perfect fit for Something Wild Riding School. No one knew that better than his HoH trainer, Melinda.
�And now the big question on everyone’s mind…
What will Mistica become in her freestyle at this year’s Heart of the Horse Trainers Challenge 2026? A unicorn? A Pegasus? A huntsman? Or a cow sorting pony? �
One thing we do know… she’ll be amazingly unforgettable.
Be sure to follow along and cheer her on—along with so many other incredible horses—May 14–16. ✨ See comments for more information.
