Futurity (horse competition)

Last updated October 10, 2023

A futurity for horses is a competition, usually limited to younger horses, which offers significant prize money to winners, generated in part from fees paid to nominate, maintain eligibility, and enter the final competition. In most cases, a horse will only compete against other horses of the same age.

To be eligible, a horse usually must be entered in a specific competition well in advance. Sometimes a nomination is made several months ahead of time, at the beginning of a competition year, but more often a horse must be nominated as a foal, or even prior to birth.^[1] The owners of the horse make periodic payments to keep the animal eligible for the futurity competition, then pay a final entry fee to actually compete. Purses are usually larger than other, similarly-situated non-futurity races.^[2]

In some cases, horses may be nominated later than the usual deadline, but the owner of the horse must pay an extra fee to do so.^[3] If a horse is sold between the time of nomination and the competition, the nomination usually stays with the horse so long as the new owner continues to make eligibility payments.^[4]

Purpose

The purpose of futurities in general is to identify and promote the best young horses in a given discipline.^[4] Futurities are common in performance disciplines such as horse racing, as well as in sport horse competition for jumpers and dressage horses.^[5] They are also seen in western-style events such as barrel racing, reining, and cutting. Various horse breed registries also offer futurity events to encourage breeding and development of young horses across multiple events open to a specific breed.

In the UK, a program designed to develop the best young horses in that nation for Olympic-level disciplines uses a futurity system from foaling year through age five. Nominees are evaluated at the beginning of the competition year and monitored throughout the season. Owners of these horses have access to expert nutrition and veterinary advice as part of the program. Competition does not begin until later in the summer to allow late-developing horses a fair chance in competition with their age cohort. Horses are thoroughly evaluated and developed to succeed from local amateur to international levels.^[6]

Types

Futurity competitions for horses include the following.

A horse race, usually for two-year-old horses.^[1] Multiple horse races carry variants on the name "Futurity Stakes." Similar races for three-year-olds are called a Derby,^[7] the best known being the Kentucky Derby in the US and the original “Derby”, the Epsom Derby in the UK.
A stock horse competition for young performance horses, usually offering various events for horses from three- to six- years old. The National Reining Horse Association holds a large futurity every year,^[8] as does the National Cutting Horse Association.^[9] These futurities often offer purse money well into the tens of thousands to various event winners.
Barrel racing competition for horses usually ranging in age between three and five years, but must be in their first year of competition.^[10]
Breeders' futurities, in various equestrian disciplines, limited to horses sired by stallions that have been nominated for the program.^[10] In some cases, the owner of a nominated stallion may also be awarded a percentage of the prize money won by that horse's offspring.^[5]
”Sweepstakes” futurities, offered for various horse show events. Horses are usually nominated in utero, as foals, or at the beginning of a specific competition year, with continued eligibility payments required thereafter. Nominated horses may compete in more than one event depending on their age, training and continued eligibility. Younger horses such as yearlings are shown in hand in halter competition; adult horses are usually ridden in specific classes, usually offered for horses between ages two through four or five years of age, depending on breed and event. The largest of these events is held at the Quarter Horse Congress,^[11] but similar events exist for other horse breeds such as the American Saddlebred,^[12] Arabian,^[3] and others.
Performance futurities, often a type of breeders' futurity, often seen in sport horse disciplines open to all breeds. Horses are nominated and then compete in a series of events, earning points throughout the year. At the end of the year, the top performers are given awards and additional prize money. As a horse matures, it may be entered in subsequent events for similarly-aged or -trained horses.^[4]

Criticism

Futurities are sometimes criticized for asking too much of young horses, too soon. The debate centers around whether the intense training required can harm the long-term welfare of the horse. Some organizations have responded by moving certain competitions from spring to autumn to allow young horses more time to mature. In other cases, debate rages over allowing young horses one more year before their major performance competition. Some breeders prefer earlier events for younger horses because of reduced expenses and less time before a profitable sale. In contrast, horse trainers, under pressure to produce quick results and often criticized for doing so, also want horses with career longevity.^[13]

Related Research Articles

The American Saddlebred is a horse breed from the United States. This breed is referred to as the "Horse America Made". Descended from riding-type horses bred at the time of the American Revolution, the American Saddlebred includes the Narragansett Pacer, Canadian Pacer, Morgan and Thoroughbred among its ancestors. Developed into its modern type in Kentucky, it was once known as the "Kentucky Saddler" and used extensively as an officer's mount in the American Civil War. In 1891, a breed registry was formed in the United States. Throughout the 20th century, the breed's popularity continued to grow in the United States, and exports began to South Africa and Great Britain. Since the formation of the US registry, almost 250,000 American Saddlebreds have been registered and can now be found around the world, with separate breed registries established in Great Britain, Australia, continental Europe, and southern Africa.

Reining is a western riding competition for horses where the riders guide the horses through a precise pattern of circles, spins, and stops. All work is done at the lope, or the gallop. Originating from working cattle, reining is often described as a Western form of dressage riding, as it requires the horse to be responsive and in tune with its rider, whose aids should not be easily seen, and judges the horse on its ability to perform a set pattern of movements. The horse should be willingly guided or controlled with little or no apparent resistance and dictated to completely. A horse that pins his ears, conveying a threat to his rider, refuses to go forward, runs sideways, bounces his rear, wrings his tail in irritation or displays an overall poor attitude is not being guided willingly, and is judged accordingly.

The Appaloosa Horse Club, located in Moscow, Idaho, is dedicated to preserving and promoting the Appaloosa breed. The state of Idaho adopted the Appaloosa as its state horse in 1975. More than 630,000 Appaloosas have been registered with the Appaloosa Horse Club since its founding in 1938. The Appaloosa Horse Club is an international breed registry which records and preserves the breeds' heritage and history. The club is one of the top international equine breed registries, and is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and enhancing the Appaloosa breed.

Cutting is a western-style equestrian competition in which a horse and rider work together before a judge or panel of judges to demonstrate the horse's athleticism and ability to handle cattle. Modern competition utilizes a 2+1⁄2 minute performance, called a "run." Each contestant is assisted by four helpers: two are designated as turnback riders, who help to keep cattle from running off to the back of the arena, the other two are designated as herd holders to keep the cattle bunched together and prevent potential strays from escaping into the work area. Cutting cattle are typically young steers and heifers that customarily range in size from 400 to 650 lb. They usually are of Angus or Hereford lineage though may be a mix of crossbred beef cattle, including Charolais or Brahman lineage.

The American Warmblood is a horse of warmblood type, intended primarily for the traditional sport horse disciplines of dressage, show jumping, eventing and combined driving.

Diamonds Sparkle was an outstanding show horse and Quarter horse broodmare. She was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame.

The National Cutting Horse Association is a non-profit equestrian organization headquartered in the US. Their primary purpose is to promote and sponsor cutting events. The association was founded in 1946 at the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show. The first NCHA sponsored cutting horse competition was held that same year in Dublin, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Snaffle Bit Association</span> American equestrian organization

The National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) is an equestrian organization in the United States that began by promoting and staging Western Pleasure events in 1983. Since then, focus has expanded to promoting the show horse at every level across multiple disciplines. The association is currently headquartered in Weatherford, Texas, United States.

The National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) is an American nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote the reining horse.

Peppy San Badger (1974–2005) was an American Quarter Horse stallion who won the National Cutting Horse Association Futurity in 1977 and the NCHA Derby in 1978. He was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Association's Hall of Fame in 2008.

Hollywood Dun It, was an American Quarter Horse who excelled in reining and was a record-setting stallion. He was known for his charismatic demeanor and passing on his trait of a big stop and athletic turning style, both desirable characteristics of reining horses.

Dual Peppy is a 1992 sorrel stallion registered with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). He is sired by Peppy San Badger, and out of the mare Miss Dual Doc by Doc's Remedy. Dual Peppy qualified for the AQHA World Show during the 1997-1998 show season, and earned the title "1998 AQHA Reserve World Champion Senior Cutting Horse". In 1998-1999, he competed as a novice horse in National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) events and earned the title "NCHA World Champion $10,000 Novice Cutting Horse." Dual Peppy, bred by the late Greg Ward, is the second of four full brothers in the Dual Pep line, which also includes Dual Pep, Mister Dual Pep and Dually Pep, all of whom have been successful horses in their own right. Ward broke, trained and showed Dual Peppy until he was sold in January 1998 to Rick and Sherry Brunzell of the Dual Peppy Partnership located in Colorado.

Smart Little Lena was an AQHA registered Quarter Horse, an NCHA Triple Crown Champion cutting horse, and sire of champion cutting horses. He was inducted into both the AQHA Hall of Fame and NCHA Horse Hall of Fame. He was sired by NCHA Futurity Champion Doc O'Lena and out of the mare Smart Peppy by Peppy San, who was the first NCHA World Champion to sire an NCHA World Champion.

The NCHA World Championship Futurity, originally established in 1962, is an annual cutting horse event, or limited age event, that is hosted by the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA). It is the debut event for 3-year-old cutting horses, and the first jewel in the NCHA Triple Crown, which also includes the annual NCHA Super Stakes held in April, and the NCHA Derby held during the NCHA Summer Cutting Spectacular. Initially, the two main divisions of the NCHA Futurity were the Open and Non Pro, but over time an Amateur division was added.

Joe Heim is a horse trainer and clinician residing in Thackersville, Oklahoma. He trains primarily Quarter Horses in various disciplines of western riding, including reining and cutting. He was inducted into the NCHA Rider Hall of Fame and is most notable for training and showing Docs Okie Quixote to win the 1983—1984 NCHA Triple Crown which included winning the 1983 NCHA Futurity, 1984 NCHA Derby and 1985 NCHA Super Stakes. Docs Okie Quixote was a 1980 AQHA stallion sired by Doc Quixote and out of the mare Jimmette Too by Johnny Tivio. He sired only one crop of foals before he died in 1985. His Triple Crown earnings totaled US$335,095.00, and his NCHA Lifetime Earnings totaled US$599,109.00.

Fay Owen "Buster" Welch was an American cutting horse trainer and inductee into the NCHA Members Hall of Fame, American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame, NCHA Rider Hall of Fame, and Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Buster was chosen as the recipient of the 2012 National Golden Spur Award for his "outstanding contributions to the ranching and livestock industry".

Shining Spark was an award-winning and hall of fame reining Quarter horse. Shining Spark is in the National Reining Horse Association Hall of Fame (NHRA) Hall of Fame. He is a 2013 NHRA Four Million Dollar Sire. He is also a National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRHCA) Four Million Dollar Sire. He sired 1,316 foals after his quarter horse career.

Carol Rose is a champion horsewoman. She is a world-class show woman and breeder. She became a leader during a time when men dominated the field.

Kay Floyd was an American horse breeder who was the first woman ever to win two NCHA Futurity championships, albeit in the Non-Pro division. She also earned the title of 1988 NCHA Non-Pro World Champion, and in 1991 was inducted into the NCHA Rider Hall of Fame - Non-Pro Division. Floyd owned the stallion, Freckles Playboy (1973-2003), sired by Jewel's Leo Bars by Sugar Bars out of Gay Jay by Rey Jay, and bred by Marion Flynt. As of 2013, Freckles Playboy ranked 3rd on NCHA's list of all-time leading sires and maternal grandsire sires of champion cutting and performance Quarter Horses with offspring that have earned $24.56 million in NCHA competition. Among his champion offspring were Playfulena, the mare Floyd rode to win the 1987 NCHA Non-Pro Futurity, and Playboys Madera, the mare she rode to earn the title of 1988 NCHA Non-Pro World Champion.

Jewel's Leo Bars (1962–1978), commonly known as "Freckles", was a sorrel American Quarter Horse stallion sired by Sugar Bars, out of Leo Pan by Leo. He is considered to be one of the early cutting horse foundation sires, most notable for his influence on the performance horse industry. He was owned by Marion Flynt and stood at stud at Flynt's Square Top 3 Ranch in Midland, Texas, the home of "many legendary horses". In addition to being a notable foundation cutting horse sire, Freckles also competed in three different disciplines—racing, halter, and cutting—earning an AQHA Register of Merit in Cutting, Halter Stallion points, and a National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Certificate of Ability.

References

1 2 "Definition of FUTURITY". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
↑ Staff. "Industry Glossary". Equibase company. Retrieved 2013-08-27.
1 2 "Arabian Breeders Sweepstakes". Arabian Horse Association. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
1 2 3 "Futurity Competition Rules". American Trakehner.com. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
1 2 "International Jumper Futurity and International Dressage Futurity Inspire Breeder Recognition and Reward". US Equestrian. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
↑ "2019 British Breeding Futurity Plans Announced". Eurodressage. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
↑ "Definition of DERBY". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
↑ "NRHA Futurity - Forms". National Reining Horse Association. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
↑ "NCHA Triple Crown Futurity Event". National Cutting Horse Association. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
1 2 "Futurity 101". Barrel Horse News. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
↑ "Futurities & Stakes :: All American Quarter Horse Congress / AQHA / OQHA / NRHA / NCRHA / NCHA /". Quarter Horse Congress. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
↑ "Prize Program: Sweepstakes". American Saddlebred Horse Association.
↑ Avila, Bob (21 December 2015). "Too Young?". Horse&Rider. Retrieved 20 August 2019.

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[MW_def-1] 1 2 "Definition of FUTURITY". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 20 August 2019.

[equibase_defs-2] Staff. "Industry Glossary". Equibase company. Retrieved 2013-08-27.

[AHA-3] 1 2 "Arabian Breeders Sweepstakes". Arabian Horse Association. Retrieved 20 August 2019.

[Trak-4] 1 2 3 "Futurity Competition Rules". American Trakehner.com. Retrieved 20 August 2019.

[USEF-5] 1 2 "International Jumper Futurity and International Dressage Futurity Inspire Breeder Recognition and Reward". US Equestrian. Retrieved 20 August 2019.

[Eurodressage-6] "2019 British Breeding Futurity Plans Announced". Eurodressage. Retrieved 20 August 2019.

[MW-Derby-7] "Definition of DERBY". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 20 August 2019.

[NRHA-8] "NRHA Futurity - Forms". National Reining Horse Association. Retrieved 20 August 2019.

[NCHA-9] "NCHA Triple Crown Futurity Event". National Cutting Horse Association. Retrieved 20 August 2019.

[Barrel-10] 1 2 "Futurity 101". Barrel Horse News. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2019.

[QH-11] "Futurities & Stakes :: All American Quarter Horse Congress / AQHA / OQHA / NRHA / NCRHA / NCHA /". Quarter Horse Congress. Retrieved 20 August 2019.

[asha-12] "Prize Program: Sweepstakes". American Saddlebred Horse Association.

[Avila-13] Avila, Bob (21 December 2015). "Too Young?". Horse&Rider. Retrieved 20 August 2019.

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