The Roan To Riches (R2R) program comprises a Roan To Riches Stallion Service Sale and Roan To Riches Futurity. Roan To Riches was created by the American Roan Horse Association (ARHA) to promote breeding roan horses of AQHA, APHA, and ApHC bloodlines and to offer a futurity showcase and increased earning potential for exhibitors and their roan horses. While showing at AQHA, APHA, ApHC, and other venues, horses and members have the opportunity to earn special awards and titles and compete in American Roan Horse Association World Championships.
GoHorseShow talked to Sarah Adams Wells, the head of the Roan To Riches Stallion Service Sale and Futurity program, about this exciting new program.
GHS: Hi Sarah, can you tell us about your involvement with the Roan To Riches Stallion Sale and Futurity program? How did you get involved?
Sarah: For many years, I was the program coordinator for the Color Classic Stallion Service Sale and Futurity, a Virginia-based, multi-breed program for AQHA, APHA, and ApHC. With expecting my second child, I stepped away and began a new venture as the stallion agent for junior stallion Salt On The Rocks (AQHA/APHA). This allowed me to continue working with mare owners and to check the pulse of the horse breeding industry, while balancing motherhood and working as a nurse practitioner. Then, over the summer, I was contacted by Lori Watkins, founder of the American Roan Horse Association, looking for someone to create and facilitate a stallion service sale and futurity program. After learning about the ARHA and their organization’s mission and vision, I quickly realized that their vision and mine aligned. That was the beginning of Roan To Riches.
GHS: Who is eligible to enter? Does it start with 2023 foals?
Sarah: All AQHA, APHA, and ApHC offspring of nominated stallions registered with the American Roan Horse Association are eligible to participate in the futurity, regardless of age. The ARHA now has a new registration pathway called ARHA Roan Bred Solid for horses who don’t exhibit a roan color but whose sire or dam is a roan. These horses and their roan-colored counterparts can all be ARHA registered.
GHS: How much does it cost to enroll in the program?
Sarah: Futurity slots are $250 for early entry and $350 for late entry.
GHS: Why should stallion owners join this program?
Sarah: The program’s purpose is multifaceted to meet the needs of stallion owners, mare owners, and exhibitors. First is the promotion of breeding AQHA, APHA, and ApHC horses. The second is providing cost savings to mare owners and, lastly, offering monetary incentives for those to choose to exhibit ARHA registered horses.
GHS: Why should mare owners pick stallions involved with this program?
Sarah: These stallion owners believe in the vision of Roan To Riches. They have chosen to include their stallion in hopes that mare owners and exhibitors will recognize their donation and desire to promote offspring. Programs like Roan To Riches would not be possible without the stallion owners’ generosity. They are your biggest cheerleaders. AQHA, APHA, ApHC, and JC Mares of any color can purchase a breeding through Roan To Riches.
GHS: What should our readers know about this program?
Sarah: The first Roan To Riches Futurity will host four classes; yearling longe line, all age hunter under saddle, all age western pleasure, and all age trail. We hope to add additional classes, including ranch riding and halter, as we grow.
GHS: How is it different than other programs in the industry?
Sarah: The main difference is the simplicity. The stallion nomination process is straightforward using our online documents. Once a stallion is nominated, offspring are automatically eligible for that competition year. Mare owners can purchase breedings without additional program fees being added. From the exhibitor’s perspective, the stallion is not required to sell in the stallion service sale for offspring to be eligible to compete in the future.
GHS: Will you have the Futurity next year, or when will that start?
Sarah: The 2023 Roan To Riches futurity will be held July 13-15 in Murfreesboro, TN, alongside the American Roan Horse Association World Show and AQHA Southland Circuit.
GHS: Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Sarah: I enjoy many parts of my role as the program director. I want to network, meet new people, and connect with good horsemen. But, one of my favorite things is watching a mare owner’s dreams transform from words on a stallion purchase form to watching that foal exit the arena with a championship and check in hand. Knowing that I had a small part to play, fills me with joy. I offer hugs and a pat on the neck as they leave the arena, sharing their big smiles and happy tears.
GHS: Thanks, Sarah!
If you would like to learn more about this program, please visit their website by clicking here.
View their latest ad in the October Issue of GoMag by clicking here.
