DES MOINES – The Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines will be “the place to be” September 22-25, as the Iowa Quarter Horse Association presents its annual Futurity Extravaganza. That name is especially fitting this year, as in addition to the IQHA Breeders, Open, and Non-Pro futurity classes and two split/combined AQHA shows, the World Conformation Horse Association and Breeder’s Cup Halter Futurity will both be hosting their futurities at the event. Between all 3 Futurities, nearly $350,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded.
The IQHA Futurity Extravaganza is one of the largest Quarter Horse futurities in the nation. Included are halter, longe line, pleasure, and hunter under saddle futurities for all classes of exhibitors. With options to enter up until the day of the show, it’s not too late to get in on the excitement!
As mentioned above, IQHA will be joined this year by the WCHA and Breeder’s Cup Halter Futurity. The WCHA will be presenting the Breeder’s Championship Futurity, with seven futurity classes for weanling and yearling colts and fillies in open, non-pro, and color divisions. The Breeder’s Cup Halter Futurity will be holding its inaugural weanling futurity at the show, with open and amateur divisions for both sexes. In addition, that group will host a “Select Sale” on Saturday evening in conjunction with the event.
Exhibitors without futurity horses will still want to put Des Moines on their calendar, as the IQHA will also be hosting two split/combined AQHA shows in conjunction with the futurity classes. There will be a two-judge S/C show on Thursday and Friday, and a three judged S/C show on Saturday and Sunday. With a total of five judges over the four-day span, this is a perfect way to get a jump on 2012 World Show qualification as well as a final warm-up before the Congress.
All events will be held in the new climate-controlled Jacobson Center at the fairgrounds. A trade show will offer everything from trailers to tack to t-shirts, and exhibitor parties are scheduled throughout the weekend. More than 25 vendors have booked exhibit space.
This year marks the 51st installment of the Iowa Quarter Horse Association’s weanling halter futurities. Western pleasure and reining futurities were added in 1967, and a breeder’s stallion auction was included for the first time in 1974. The IQHA Futurity Extravaganza has topped the Equi-Stat charts for several consecutive years. The AQHA affiliate marks their 60th anniversary this year.
For more information on the IQHA Futurity Extravaganza and AQHA shows, visit the IQHA website by clicking here.
For more on the World Conformation Horse Association, visit: www.conformationhorse.org, and for information about the Breeder’s Cup Halter Futurity visit: www.breederscuphalterfuturity.com
