We have all seen it. Many of our state clubs are struggling to put on shows and state-run futurities, in many cases, have gone away in the wake of some of the big name/big money national programs now available.
The Michigan Quarter Horse Association is one of the clubs that has been able to weather the changes in the industry, and they continue to offer a lucrative breeders futurity each fall to their members.
GoHorseShow sat down with Michigan Breeders’ Futurity Co-Chairs Mike Huntoon and Chris Perniciaro during the year-end banquet this past weekend to get their insight on how the club continues to thrive and run this successful program year-after-year.
GHS – Hi Mike and Chris – Thank you for sitting down with us today. Tell us more about the stallion service auction (SSA). How many years has it been in existence?
Chris – This SSA and subsequent futurity have been held for 35 years. Mike and I have been running it for the last eight years. The SSA funds our breeders’ futurity each year.
GHS – What was the amount of prize monies available in the 2018 futurity?
Chris – Last year the Michigan Breeders’ Futurity awarded $67,000 in prize money, along with buckles – at what is a weekend horse show.
GHS – What are your roles in running the program?
Mike – Chris and I co-chair it. We start right around Congress time by contacting stallion owners and sending out contracts. We encourage them to get their paperwork back to us as quickly as possible to enable us to advertise their stallions. The quicker they get their paperwork in, the better we can promote their horses.
GHS – Have you ever considered running this as an online auction or do you think part of the success of this SSA is due to keeping it a live event?
Chris – We have considered doing an online auction, but all the feedback we have gotten back from people is that they like coming here to socialize and live bid. We average 75-100 people here at the auction, and we will generally have an additional 75 phone bidders.
GHS – It looks like you had a total of 96 stallions enrolled. How many sold today?
Mike – Forty-five sold so far today. More will sell as the day goes on and still more will sell over the upcoming weeks and months.
GHS – Who were your high sellers today?
Mike – Our high seller today was Batt Man, and our top-selling halter horse was Kid Coolsified.
GHS – What futurity classes do you offer?
Mike – We offer mare owner weanling colts and mare owner weanling fillies, stallion owner weanling colts, stallion owner weanling fillies, longe line, 2 and 3-year-old hunter under saddle and 2-year-old western pleasure.
GHS – Why do you think this Stallion Service Auction and futurity remains solvent and successful when we’ve seen many other state-run futurities dissolve?
Mike – I think a lot of our success still has to be credited to Jim Evans and all of the great relationships he built over the years. We do all we can to respect and sustain those relationships while cultivating new ones.
GHS – Do you foresee any changes in this futurity program going forward?
Mike – We made some significant changes last year. We opened it up to all breeds and added some color classes. Depending on how that goes in the next couple of years, that could expand. It’s a little bit tough because our show is up against the BHF in Iowa and the Paint World Show, but even with those conflicts I think we are doing a pretty good job.
Chris – We are always open to new ideas and willing to try things that might help us expand and grow.
GHS – Is there any advice you can give other clubs who might be struggling with their stallion auctions and futurities?
Mike – Work hard. Sometimes it gets frustrating. We were still making calls this morning and were able to add more stallions to the sale.
Chris – We have a great group of volunteers that work hard, and the stud owners are great. We couldn’t do any of this without their support.
GoHorseShow would love to hear your thoughts. What do breeders and exhibitors want to see in a state futurity? Let us know in the comments.
About the Author: Cheryl Vasi is a New Jersey native now living in Western Michigan, sharing her house with her dogs, her antisocial cats, and her house duck. She has a passion for Australian Shepherds, a good cup of coffee and raising beautiful halter horses which she shows as an Amateur Exhibitor.
