Welcome to the Art of the Horse contest for 2026. The theme for this year is Dazzle. All art is dazzling in its own way, and this year we challenge you to make something that dazzles. This could mean literal dazzling colors, art representing a new skill or talent to impress, or simply art you feel proud of creating. This contest is at its heart about art for art’s sake, and we can’t wait to be DAZZLED!

Click each Class Title to see the three finalists in no particular order! Winners will be announced at our Equilocity Art of the Horse awards ceremony and dinner on Friday, July 10 at the Marriott Griffin Gate in Lexington, KY. Stay tuned for tickets going on sale soon!

DIVISION B

ART OF THE HORSE CLASSES FOR ENTRY

Division B of the AOTH offering for 2026 celebrates the amazing customizing artists in our community.

All entries for these four sections must be done on our Trotting Drafter mold, and YES - you can use our newly released Pewter Micro Mini!

***Entrants for these four classes must be attending Equilocity 2026 in Lexington, or have an identified proxy hand-deliver their entries to the Griffin Gate event space***

Michael Buglé by Morriah Voogd

Taiji by Ruth Sheridan

How to Enter Division B

Entries for classes 5-8 must also fill out the entry form before 5:00 PM on Friday, July 3rd 2026, and then physically bring your piece to the our Lexington event location on Thursday, July 9th 2026 between 12pm-9:30pm. No Purchase is necessary to win.

You do not have to be a current/past customer of Stone Horses to enter.

Pickup for Division B Entries: NEW IN 2026: Division B customized horses must be picked up from our Equilocity space on Sunday July 12th between the hours of 8am and 4pm Eastern time. You are welcome to send a friend to pick up your model if you are otherwise occupied during these hours, just send us an email to submissions@stonehorses.com so we know who to release your horse to. We will have volunteers staffing horse pickup to ensure they all go home as intended.

Who Can Enter 
Art of the Horse Contests?

The Art of the Horse contest is open worldwide. Entries must be submitted in English or with English Subtitles where applicable.

Open to everyone ages 14 years and up. Ages 14 years to 17 years must fill out and submit with entry a parent consent form.

Novice to professionals may enter. Please review judging and understand that the criteria set for determining a winner is factored by more than the expertise displayed in the works.

Participants may enter ONE piece per class. A separate entry form per entry must be completed for each entry.

Witness by Brianna Thaxton

Elements of Harmony by Wiktoria Szamburska

Judging Criteria

Artwork should be horse related. Judges will review entries for creativity, originality, execution, use of media, realism where appropriate, and overall impact of the piece. Customized art is judged on the same criteria, with an emphasis on celebrating horse art. All levels of artist are welcomed in this contest, and experience will be a weighted criteria in judging decisions.

Division A is judged by the Stone Horses Employees in rounds of whole-company voting. Division B is judged by Stone Horses Employees and (non-entering) qualified artists in collaboration.

Prizes

Each Division will be awarded these prizes:

1st Prize: Limited Edition Prize Model Horse, $275 Stone Horses Gift Card

2nd Prize: $250 Stone Horses Gift Card

3rd Prize: $200 Stone Horses Gift Card

Harmonia by Kristy Thiessen