Greetings!
Just want to send you a reminder that the first nominations for entries are due tomorrow, May 15 postmark, and also give you all more information on our futurity that is to be held in Murfreesboro, TN on September 14-16, 2012.
I’ve included a current list of nominated stallions at the bottom of this newsletter, if your entry is sired by one of these stallions he/she is eligible for competition. If your entry’s sire is not on the list it’s not too late for the stallion to be nominated as more stallions are being enrolled daily.
Yes, May 15th is an early nomination date if you’ve got several futurity babies to choose from so you’ve got 3 options:
Save money by nominating now for $200, wait until July 1st and nominate for $300 or if you’re really uncertain wait until Aug 1st and pay $400 nomination. August 1 is also the due date for your “entry fee”. No nominations or entry fees will be accepted after that date so be sure you mark that date on your calendar.
Yes, we will have early and late divisions in the weanling futurities……. Last year we had approx. 25 entries in each division with equal purse distribution. The actual split date will be announced shortly after the August 1 payments are recorded so that participants know which split each of their entries will fall within. Like last year, our WCHA judges will be reminded that the youngest horses in each class will enter the arena first based on birth dates. Those of you that attended our futurities last year saw that the entries were judged based on balance, structural correctness, gender characteristics, quality of muscling rather what color, how tall and how much they weigh so the younger horses have an equal chance of competing.
Murfreesboro has a phenomenal new arena with first class stalls and RV parking facilities. Go to our web site: www.conformationhorse.com for stalling information. We are excited to share the weekend with the “Big Money Halter Futurities”, www.bigmoneyhalterfuturity.com. Comparing the list of stallions that are nominated to both futurity programs it appears that most entries can compete in both the WCHA and the Big Money futurities thus making it a very lucrative weekend of competition.
Breeders Futurity (formerly known as Breeders Cup) I want everyone to know that WCHA and the WCHA Futurity Committee is very supportive of the efforts that this group is doing to stimulate the halter industry with their futurity program, the National Halter Championships and their Select Sale. This group is made up of Founding and Life Time Members of WCHA and continue to be great supporters of this association. Most of the stallions in the Breeders are also nominated to the WCHA Breeders Championship Futurity Program and we truly appreciate their continued support of WCHA.
We are going to run most of our classes on Friday, Sept 14th with only the weanling filly classes on Sunday morning, Sept 16th so that participants can head out for Iowa early to compete in the National Championship Show that starts on Wednesday, September 19th. If you’re a breeder, owner or exhibitor of halter horses I urge you to participate in all three programs so that these programs can all thrive and continue for years to come. We, as halter horse enthusiasts need all of these programs to succeed if we want our children and grandchildren to have a productive future of raising halter horses. Yes, it’s easy to make the argument that Iowa is a long distance to travel, or that Tennessee is too far with the price of gas but I urge you all to do your part to support each entity that a few people are working so hard to make available to you.
Futurity Q’s & A’s
To answer some questions you may have about the futurities I’ll detail some that have been asked thus far.
1. Can I enter just the Non Pro portion of the futurity, or just the “color” portion of the futurity without entering the Open ?
No, when placing an entry each horse is automatically entered in the Open but for an additional $100.00 you can enter the Non Pro portion of the futurity. Fifty percent (50%) of all stallion nominations are allotted to the Non Pro portion of each weanling futurity with the remaining 50% to the open. A non pro exhibitor can earn money from both purses. Same for the color classes, $100.00 additional entry fee with 100% paid back to participants.
2. Can I have an open exhibitor show in the open portion and then switch exhibitors for the non-pro? No, same exhibitor.
3. Will the weanlings be split into early and late age groups ? Yes. After all the August 1 entries are recorded the split will be determined at that time depending on foaling dates of the entries.
4. How many places will be paid out in the futurities? In the open and non pro weanling futurities we’ll pay at least 10 places, the color portion of each futurity and the yearling classes will depend on the number of entries in each class.
5. Is my yearling eligible this first year ? Yes, if it’s sired by a stallion that is nominated for the 2012 breeding season.
6. Can youth exhibitors show in the non pro classes? Yes.
7. If I miss the first nomination payment can I still enter the futurities? Yes. See the official entry form
8. Memberships: Every participant must be a member of WCHA. The stallion owner that nominates his stallion, the owner of the futurity entry and every exhibitor. For membership form go to www.conformationhorse.com and print off form and send separate check payable to WCHA with your entries.
9. Can I send my stall and RV reservations with my futurity entry ? NO. These must be paid directly to Tennessee Quarter Horse Association. There are 500 stalls available and numerous RV spaces for rent.
10. What time will the WCHA futurities be held? 8:30 a.m. on Friday, September 14 and Sunday 16th. The weanling colts and all of the yearling classes on Friday. Only the weanling fillies will be left to show on Sunday morning so that participants can get an early start for the Iowa futurities.
11. I want to enter one weanling with a non pro exhibitor and it is a palomino so I want to show in the color class, how much do I send with this nomination? $200.00 for the nomination and office fee plus an additional $100 for the non pro and $100 for the color, payable to WCHA Breeders Futurity. Also send separate check with membership dues payable to WCHA.
12. My entry is a palomino that has registry in both the Palomino and the Paint breed associations, can I enter it in multiple color classes. No, pick one.
13. Trophies will be awarded to stallion owners and champions of each futurity, these trophies depict the WCHA standard horse and will be of the highest quality. We’ll need sponsors to fund the cost of these trophies so that all the money collected from stallion nomination can go directly into the purse. Please contact the WCHA Futurity Secretary, Jennifer Sheriff, if you’d like to sponsor one of the classes, you’ll be recognized in the program and award presentations.
14. When are the Big Money Futurity classes ? All of these will be held Saturday morning with approved WCHA judges.
Plans are underway for a great weekend in Murfreesboro. The WCHA Championships, the Big Money Futurities and TQHA quarter horse show featuring four sets of points. There will be a full slate of AQHA classes so plan on bringing your older horses. There will be ample space for a trade show so if you’re a vendor contact Don at [email protected]. We need people to serve on sponsorship-membership-awards-advertising committees so if you’re interested in helping out please call the office to volunteer.
On behalf of my committee members, Luke Castle, Gene Parker, Jennifer Sheriff, Mike Clites, Wade Ellerbrook, Gene Wilson, Scott Trahan we look forward to seeing you all this fall,
Don Falcon-Chairman
