In 1974 the first Minnesota Aid to the Zoo [A-Z] Horse Show was 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 was changed to the Minnesota Fall Charity Horse Show.
In the 1980s the Minnesota Fall Charity Horse Show became an exclusively hunter/jumper show and promoted the Saturday night Grand Prix to a broader audience.
In 1992 Beth Miner took 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 returned to the Minnesota State Fair Coliseum.
In 2006 Beth Miner stepped down after 14 years of service, and a new committee worked alongside Midstates Horse Shows to expand sponsorship and increase the attendance of competitors and spectators.
In 2009 Infinity Direct updated 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, takes over the management of the horse show.
In 2016 the Minnesota Harvest Horse Show celebrated its 25th Anniversary.
2019 Over the course of many years, the show has expanded its charitable contributions to four equine-related 501(c)(3)’s: We Can Ride, This Old Horse, and Equine Innovations. 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 canceled for the first time in its history due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
