In 1974 the first Minnesota Aid to the Zoo [A-Z] Horse Show is held as a combination Hunter/Jumper and American Saddlebred show, benefiting the Minnesota Zoological Society. Organizers included Bob & Zandra Powers, Hans Senn, Chip Reker, Louise Otten, Joe Cleary, Norm and Rita Van Sloun, Kris [Pendergast] and Mike Parish, Irv Brooks, and John Nordgren, Barbara Lyman, Keith Bartz, Franklin Groves, Jack Gassner, and Tom Walsh.
In 1978 the name is changed to the Minnesota Fall Charity Horse Show.
In the 1980’s the Minnesota Fall Charity Horse Show becomes an exclusively hunter/jumper show and promotes the Saturday night Grand Prix to a broader audience.
In 1992 Beth Miner takes the reins along with Midstates Horse Shows. It is renamed the Minnesota Harvest Horse Show. The Grand Prix moves to the Target Center.
In 1993 the Grand Prix returns to the Minnesota State Fair Coliseum.
In 2006 Beth Miner steps down after 14 years of service and a new committee works alongside Midstates Horse Shows to expand sponsorship and increase attendance of competitors and spectators.
In 2009 Infinity Direct updates the Minnesota Harvest Horse Show brand. www.minnesotaharvesthorseshow.com is born. A new event, Jumping with the Stars, is added. The Hunter Spectacular moves to the Friday night lineup.
The Horse Show Management organization, Showplace Productions, led by Pat Boyle and his talented team, take over the management of the horse show.
In 2016 the Minnesota Harvest Horse Show celebrates its 25th Anniversary.
2019 Over the course of many years, the show has expanded it’s charitable contributions to four equine-related 501(c)(3)’s: We Can Ride, This Old Horse, Equine Innovations and Hope Rides. Each organization participates in helping the Committee run the show in very important ways. They are also featured during the Pre-show of the Grand Prix.
In 2020 the Minnesota Harvest Horse Show was cancelled for the first time in its history due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
