We would like to introduce you to a new contributor at GoHorseShow.com, Kassie Blazer, who lives in Drayden, Maryland. She is currently completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications at University of Maryland and shows primarily in the AQHA Hunter Under Saddle classes.
The end of summer only means one thing, futurity season in full swing. I’ve watched countless futurities year after year and always find myself in awe of the new two year-olds making their debut into the ring. I’m sure many of you, like myself, wonder what it takes to get these two year-olds ready. The first step to owning a winning futurity horse is finding a great prospect. It takes a well-trained eye and years of experience to be able to see a yearling’s potential as it lopes throughout the pasture.
It’s safe to say that owning and showing a futurity horse is a big risk, but to some that gamble is half the fun. Most futurity prospects are bought as weanlings or yearlings, which gives them a lot of time to change before they enter the show pen. AQHA Multiple World and Congress Champion trainers Kristy and Jay Starnes of Summerton, South Carolina stress, “It is always a gamble with buying prospects.” This is partly due to the uncertainty of the horses’ reactions when they are saddled and have weight on their backs.
Gambling aside, it’s evident that finding a great horse truly takes a trained eye. The Starnes prefer to look at prospects that are in pasture. They believe a person can get a true sense of how a horse will carry itself without distortion from a longing circle.
AQHA and APHA trainer, Alan Fisher located in Fayetteville, North Carolina also believes looking at prospects in pasture is the best way to get a feel for a yearling. Fisher, who specializes in mainly training western pleasure futurity prospects, states, “I like to see one loping across a field so easily that you could imagine throwing a saddle on its back and head to the show.”
Matt Gouthro, an AQHA trainer and judge in Stauton, Virginia, who specializes in training western pleasure and hunter under saddle futurity horses, looks for prospects that are big and balanced. He also looks for physical and mental strength in his prospects, stating prospects need to be able to mentally handle the stress of showing.
Fisher agrees, “The ultimate goal of these horses is to move onto non-pro, youth, and amateur horses. We as trainers can help them as much as we can when they are twos, but they need to be able to step up and do what they are bred to do in the future.”
When Gouthro is in search of a prospect, he tends to gravitate towards bloodlines that have been successful in his program. Bloodlines are also important to Fisher, who likes to look at bloodlines that are bred do their job. “I have my favorite bloodlines that work in my program,” Fisher states.”It’s whatever you are comfortable with.”
The Starnes also enjoy big, strong prospects that carry themselves well and have a nice slope to their shoulder and not an overly straight hock. Fisher points out that he looks for a nice flat front leg, deep hock and a soft mover, one that, “you cannot even hear landing”.
Multiple AQHA/APHA World Champion hunt seat trainer, Beth Case of Highpoint Performance Horses looks for good movement in her prospects and horses that want to naturally carry their neck level. It’s also important to point out a willing mind is an important quality most trainers look for in prospects. These trainers do not base their final decisions on looks, but as Kristy Starnes says, “Being pretty never hurts!”
The question, “Should I raise my own prospect or buy one?” is probably heard over and over in training barns across the country. Gouthro points out that he has been lucky enough to be successful with homegrown prospects as well as purchased ones, but would prefer to buy a prospect. Gouthro says purchasing a prospect as a yearling, you will be able to get a good sense of what it’ll be like as a two year-old. Alan does enjoy breeding his own if he has a good producer but does note, “There are so many sale options out there such as the Tom Powers, Reichert, Congress, and World Show, it’s just too easy to go pick out what you like.”
The Starnes do not have a preference on raising or purchasing a prospect but did point out you never know what you will get when you raise a prospect, “just because the mare and stud are western pleasure World Champions doesn’t mean the foal will be.”
Case definitely prefers to buy a prospect over raising one because she can pick out exactly what she likes in a prospect. Raising or purchasing a prospect is a personal preference that depends on one’s time, money, and ability to search for the perfect prospect.
Buying a futurity prospect is always a gamble but one well worth the risk once it makes its debut into the winners circle. Searching for a quality prospect takes time, patience, and a good eye. Regardless, if you want to raise your own or buy a yearling there are tips to help make sure your prospect will be successful.
Tips for purchasing a Futurity prospect:
• Look for quality movement.
• Avoid prospects that have confirmation defects that can lead to issues in the future.
• A willing mind is best for training.
• If you love one particular stud, don’t base your search just on him, broaden your horizons.
• Just because a sibling, dam, or stud was successful, doesn’t mean the prospect will be.
• Value your trainer’s advice. They are the ones working with the horse every day so the horse needs to be able to fit into their program.
• Shop around. Rushing into buying a prospect could lead to a letdown. Don’t feel pressured to buy the first nice prospect you see.
• If you aren’t confident looking at prospects, ask for help from someone experienced in buying yearlings or early twos.
• If a weanling/yearling is too much of a risk for you, wait until early spring when trainers start bringing two year-olds to shows.
About the Author: Kassie Blazer is an intern who lives in Drayden, MD. She is currently completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications at University of Maryland while working for her family’s contracting company. In her free time she enjoys showing in the AQHA hunt seat with her 18.1h gelding, Slick and spending time with her three dogs. Kassie also enjoys rescuing and rehabbing various animals such as the orphaned fawn she is currently raising.
Photos @ Impulse Photography, Larry Williams, Shane Rux, and Don Trout Photography
