With the economy on the upswing, one cannot help but be optimistic about the future of the horse industry. One area where many are seeing improvement is the recent turnaround of the halter industry. Top halter trainers would concur that business is holding strong and growing while bringing promises of a bright future.
Halter trainer, Clint Fullerton, boldly claims that the halter horse industry “is the best it has been in years.” We spoke to others who agree. This may not have been the case a few years ago due to Rita Crundwell’s stranglehold on the industry combined with an unstable financial market. However, with Crundwell in jail, a stronger fiscal report for the country and the addition of some major high paying futurities, the halter industry has regained strength, interest and appears to be changing in a positive way.
Many professionals in the industry agree that the heavy financial dominance of Rita Crundwell’s illegal empire was ultimately very harmful to the industry. Ted Turner, AQHA’s leading earner of Word Champion titles, believes that the improved state of the halter industry can be partially attributed to her absence.
“At the top of her game, Rita Crundwell was great for the
halter business. She spent money,” states Turner. 
“Mind you, it was other people’s money and this
left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.
However, now that she is gone, the amateurs are coming back. They feel that they can compete again on a
level playing field and not be dominated by her all-encompassing shadow.”
Clint Fullerton, a multi-carded judge who has had a
hand in over 162 World and Reserve World Championships in multiple breeds, agrees. “It wasn’t just her high quality horses, but also that she was a well-oiled political machine. It was difficult for others to compete. Now that she is gone, it has given a place for others to have a fair shot.”
For Andy Staton of Madisonville, Kentucky, the removal of a big
competitor such as Crundwell hasn’t affected his program at all. 
The
multiple World and Congress Champion trainer states, “Our goals are
still the same as always. Push forward, be the best you can be and win.
Competition is competition and we all want to be the best,” states
Staton. His positive attitude and big personality come beaming across as
he talks about the fate of the halter industry. “It’s moving forward.
Horses have to be great legged. A balanced animal is the future.”
Another significant change to the industry is the addition of three major halter futurities; the Breeders Halter Futurity (BHF) held in Des Moines, Iowa, the World Conformation Horse Association (WCHA) Breeder’s Championship Futurity and Big Money Halter Futurity held in Tunica, Mississippi. Many agree that these futurities, held in September, have infused money and prestige back into the industry.
“The bottom line is the futurities have saved the halter industry,” says Turner. “The WCHA Futurity, Big Money Futurity and the Breeders Halter Futurity have given exhibitors somewhere to go with babies, yearlings and two year-olds where there is an opportunity to get paid. AQHA has been struggling for numbers the past few years, but due to the influence of these halter futurities, there has been an overflow back into the AQHA classes and they are growing.”
The success of the futurities can be attributed to the fact that organizers have carefully addressed the concerns
of halter breeders, trainers and competitors in a positive
way. “They have put the money and the
excitement back into the industry,” claims Fullerton.
According to Turner, “Customers can compete again and make money. The most positive impact of the futurities is that people can bring their babies, yearlings, etc., and the payout is so great that you may not have the winner, but you still go home with some money in your pocket. The payout is done properly at the futurity, no waiting. This creates a domino effect as breeders are becoming reinvested again as there is a refreshed market for babies and there is an added appeal for stud owners.”
Fullerton continues, “There is a trickle-down effect from these futurities which impacts our industry. People want to win, therefore, sales increase, breeding increases, and the standards are tougher.” He notices this especially affecting a growth in the stallion and mare divisions, “there is money to be made here. People are beginning to see breeding as a way to get a return on their investment again and more than just a hobby.”
Andy Staton believes that part of the upswing is due to the three new major futurities. “They have all created new motivation in the halter world,” Staton admits. “There is new incentive to buy and breed horses when a winner of a class can take home $20,000. It just increases the value of horses all around. It has been tremendous.”
AQHA Professional Horseman and multiple World Champion, Chris Arentsen concurs that the halter industry is improving and he gives the WCHA much of the credit. Arentsen states, “The WCHA has helped address the political perception of the halter horse by developing a breed standard and making judges accountable to that standard.”
Arentsen also notes that further education is necessary in order to continue to grow and promote the industry in a positive way. “Fair and consistent judging will promote the halter industry more than anything in years to come. The future of conformation is in a balanced animal as outlined by the standards. Conformation has not changed but we are tending to be showing a ‘breedier’ look of a halter horse–tighter and fit looking as compared to heavier physiques. Legs are better than in year’s past, but they are still an issue and need to be addressed.”
While he sees the biggest sales growth in weanling and yearling halter horses, Arentsen agrees that the ability to win money is the key to the ascension of the industry. He states, “I would like to see more prize money at the World Show. Futurities have benefited us greatly because of having more money at stake. People are trying to get some return for their investment.”
With numerous AQHA and APHA World Championships to his credit and holding a judge’s card in seven associations, Michael Ochetto is enthusiastic about the future.
Ochetto claims that, “The state of the halter industry is as strong as it’s been in recent recollection. This is strictly due to the fact of the creation of the Breeders Halter Futurity that was the vision of Chad Beus and Doug Tallent that brought ten major halter horse breeders together to personally lay out a plan to take upon themselves both financially and ethically to save the industry that they love so much.”
Ochetto continues, “With having stallion breedings continuing on a steep decline, sales down and very discouraging judging standards not consistent to their needs, the BHF owners took it upon themselves to risk their money and time on this last ditch effort to not just talk about the problem, but to invest in a risky solution to drastically alter the course of this dwindling industry.”
Ochetto, who has been involved in the industry for over 30 years, encourages his fellow competitors to “be proud of what each one of us has brought to the recovery and strength of the halter horse industry.”
Michael also has noticed an improvement in the quality of the animal and is highly impressed. “The bar is set so high and yet, it continually keeps being raised by these extraordinary breeders with such a passion and vision of these athletes.”
Form to function is not just a buzz term in the performance horse industry any longer. Ochetto sees the industry breeding stronger and sounder horses in recent years. He states, “I believe that most breeders have taken a strong look at their programs and have honestly evaluated not only the strength of the stock that they have, but the weaknesses and have made great strides on these improvements.”
Continuing to praise the BHF, he notes the positive impact and its trickle-down effect into other aspects and associations. “As the breeders continue to breed futurity prospects, they create a market for the amateur and youth horse past their weanling, yearling and two year old years and are now becoming the older division competitors.”
Congress and World Champion halter trainer, Joe Engle (pictured on left with Gary Gordon) sees a change for the better within his halter horse training business. Engle, the trainer at Vern and Rita Habighorst’s Blue Ribbon Ranch in Whitesboro, Texas, states, “I believe the halter industry is on the rise. The top prospects and show horses have great value. Everyone wants to buy the first place horse. If you have the winner, people are ready to buy.”
With increased breeding, stricter, clearer standards and tougher competition comes better quality horses. Better quality horses translates into higher sales figures as well. Engle notes, “These major futurities most importantly have given breeders a reason to invest their time and money. The breeding business when done correctly is very expensive; these futurities give breeders a place to showcase their prospects with a chance to sell and win money.”
According to the industry’s top trainers, the halter horse industry is on a positive ascent that is gaining momentum. There is no one who appears to be more excited about this than Michael Ochetto.
“What I am most amazed at, though, is how a once struggling and often misunderstood industry has united and worked together to unite and have a vision for the future. With the success of the BHF and the WCHA and other futurities–all with much momentum, enthusiasm, showing growth and forward planning and thinking, the halter horse industry is alive and well.”
About the Author: Mo (Maureen) West grew up on a large vegetable farm in rural Ontario, Canada where she began riding and showing quarter horses as a child. Her interests mostly include all-around horses that lean toward hunter under saddle events. While continuing to compete in the quarter horse circuit across the province, Mo graduated from the University of Western Ontario and subsequently D’Youville College. She excelled at her career for 14 years as a high school English teacher and Department head. She now lives with her husband in Dublin, California.
