The Arabian and Half-Arabian Futurity Continues to Impress At the 55th Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show
It was all about families during the 6th annual Arabian and Half-Arabian Futurity Classic, when both human and equine families teamed-up to win bragging rights and take home the money. It took a team effort, as the competition was tougher than ever at this year’s show.
All in the Family….
Nathan Kent - 2010 Purebred Futurity Champion
The family connection was never more apparent than when Nathan Kent won the $50,000.00 Purebred Futurity, riding Nobles Fantasy (Vaguely Noble x SH Sharloni) for family owned Sage Hill Ranch of Malad, Idaho “We have been producing reining, working cow type horses since we started out in 1984. It is great we are able to do this as a family, we’re having a ball and hope this is just the beginning.” Said proud dad Dave Kent. The Kent family has understood the importance of breeding from the beginning. “Although we are fairly new to the show world, we have been involved with Arabian horses for some time. I have always admired those breeders who had a vision of what they wanted to produce and were not swayed by the trend of the day. I hope we can be counted in that group.” He concluded. Nathan had stiff competition from his younger brother Preston who also had a good showing at the event. Second place was awarded to Brian Welman riding Slide N Style (Black N Style x Marliera) for Dick Ames and Cedar Ridge Farms of Jordan, Minnesota.
Arabian breeder and long time supporter of the Arabian and Half-Arabian Futurity, Tom Redmond (owner of Wolf Spring Ranch) and NRHA trainer Tyson Randle took home the “Big Check” in the $80,000 Half-Arabian Futurity Class. Tyson riding TR Skid Marks (Zee Mega Bucks x Chics Flip) is the product of a well designed breeding program. When asked about it, Tom said “We have had our breeding program in place for over 6 years with our main focus on producing competitive Half-Arabian Reiners. I have to give a lot of credit to Tyson Randle, as he was very instrumental in constructing our program. I think we have proven we can produce some good quality reining horses. Hopefully other breeders in the Arabian industry will follow suit. With the success of the Futurity Reining Classic there is a demand for talented horses.” Equine family ties were evident as Wolf Springs Ranch not only bred the Half-Arabian Champion TR Skid Marks and Reserve Champion TR Cockadoodledo (Jaborrs Impack x Roosters Julie) ridden by NRHA trainer Crystal McNutt but the Non-Pro Futurity Champion and Reserve Champion as well.
After his win, Tyson said, “The Arabian and Half-Arabian Futurity has really changed over the last 6 years. The horses, trainers and riders are competing at a higher level of difficulty every year. There were some great horses in the finals and any one of them could have won. It feels great to finally win after competing for the last six years.”
Besides the nice paychecks both the Purebred and Half-Arabian Futurity Champions were awarded Dale Chavez Saddles (donated by Eleanor’s Arabians, Nymeyers’s Tack and Dale Chavez), champion buckles and The Lawson Bronze donated by the ARHA.
For the second year in a row, Jennifer Murrell won the Purebred Limited Open Class; riding Aantonian SF (Aabsolut x EE Karmel) NRHA trainer Abby Cosenza riding Chex My Refleciton DF (Skeeter Chex DF x LTF Reflection) won the competitive Limited Open Half-Arabian Class.
Non-Pro Futurity off to a Great Start
Cotton McNutt - 2010
Purebred Arabian Non-Pro Futurity Champion
Some great rides were seen during the inaugural Non-Pro Futurity. Coached by her sister Crystal, Cotton McNutt rode No Dough (Meriann x Spryng Wynd) to the first place win in the Purebred class. The Half-Arabian Non-Pro winner was Lauren Bailey-Pollard riding a Wolf Spring Ranch bred horse, TR Brace for Impack (Jaborrs Impack x Oakchic). Besides trophy buckles and some nice cash-both Cotton and Lauren took home Bob’s Custom Saddles donated by sponsor Marshall Kyle and Kyle’s Tack.
Big Changes Underway for The Non-Pro Derby
Over the last 3 years the Non-Pro Derby has become a great class, both to watch and to compete in and it is going to get even more exciting. Tim Anderson owner of Amani Arabians of Milbank, South Dakota has agreed to be the sponsor of the class for the next 4 years and contribute $20,000.00 for the payout of the event. Tim stated, “The Scottsdale Arabian/Half Arabian Futurity Classic is my most favorite show of the year. At Amani Reiners, we will do approximately 15 reining shows this year, starting with Scottsdale, and ending with the NRHA Futurity in Oklahoma City. So to say it's my favorite, is to say a lot.” Tim continued, “ When Dick Ames, Tom Redmond, and Joe Betten came to the ARHA club in 2009 and said ‘we need some ideas to keep this thing going’, I immediately thought of the Non-pro derby.”
“I need some where for my futurity horses to move onto after their 5 year old year. And I think the majority of the futurity horse owners face the same situation. These are potentially some great non pro horses. They have had a lot of time, and TLC invested into their training, not to mention the cost. They have bright show careers ahead of them.” “That being said, I decided that to make the Half Arabian Non Pro Derby a little more interesting, I would guarantee the purse to be a $20,000.00 minimum for each of the next four years. My hope is that this will stimulate the market for the retired futurity horses, which in turn will boost the entries of the Futurity Classic itself. This purse should make the HA Non Pro Derby the largest payout for a class of its type.”
This year, Kim Nivens riding HH Charmed N Color (Tucknicolor x Khabreah) dominated the Half-Arabian Derby by winning the Non- Pro, the Intermediate and Primetime Class. Cory Sampson-Volkum riding Premium Buckshot (Scimaron x AQR Sonatina) for Buckshot Farms won the Purebred Non-Pro Class. Jim Taylor’s Trophy Saddles were awarded to the two champions.
The Futurity Classic
The Arabian and Half-Arabian Futurity Classic is an NRHA-sanctioned event and open to four- and five-year-old horses. The top one-third high-scoring horses from the two go-rounds advanced to the clean-slate final. The Futurity Classic is held during The Scottsdale Arabian Horseshow where over 2,000 horses compete and is one of the city’s “signature” events, bringing thousands of spectators from within the breed and the greater Phoenix area.
ARHA at the 2009 Fall Festival & Futurity Horse Show
The ARHA invites Quarter Horse Owners To Participate
In Its Programs And Earn Big Rewards
Ever see a dollar bill on the ground and walk on by? Of course not. Well the Arabian Reining Horse Association is offering Quarter Horse owners a great opportunity to pick up some extra income and it’s just about that easy. You may already be doing well with your current group of clients in the American Quarter Horse industry, but you may want to consider dipping into the Arabian and Half-Arabian industry too by participating in the programs and the new markets being made available through the ARHA.
Prize Money - The NRHA sanctioned Scottsdale Arabian and Half-Arabian Reining Futurity Classic is already scheduled for February 11-21, 2010. So mark your calendars now. This event offers something for everyone; pro and non-pro riders, stallion owners, mare owners, and trainers - everyone has something to gain by attending and participating in the programs offered by the ARHA. You can compete and enjoy all of the programs offered by the AQHA, and you can participate in the ARHA too – it’s double the fun, and it doubles your chance to increase your earnings.
To start with, there is $150,000 in prize money being offered at the Reining Futurity Classic, which are open to both purebred Arabian and Half-Arabian horses. A purse that size definitely makes it worth the while to bring horses to this show. In 2009, John O’Hara won the Half-Arabian Open Futurity riding Tucks for Bucks and took home a hefty $36,000.00. Tracer Gilson took second in the class with Sugarplum Starlight and won an impressive $15,000.00. Veteran Quarter Horse trainer Brain Welman won the class with Fyre in the Skye and brought home a very nice prize of $20,000.00. There was a three way tie for second place between Crystal McNutt riding Here She Comes, Brian Welman riding TR Rein Dance, and John O’Hara riding Premium Buckshot. All of the classes pay out to tenth place, so there is plenty of prize money to go around.
Also offered are Limited Futurity classes, these run concurrently with the Arabian and Half-Arabian Reining Classic. The Limited Futurities are a jackpot and to become eligible for the award, competitors pay the regular class fee plus an additional fee of $500.00. All of the Limit fees go into the jackpot so the more riders there are, the bigger the purse.
There are plenty of opportunities for non-pro riders too. The Scottsdale show includes both a Non-Pro Futurity and a Non-Pro Derby. The Non-Pro Futurity is for 4 and 5 year old Arabian and Half-Arabians with separate classes for each division, which run concurrent with the Open Futurity. The Non-Pro Futurity Classic entry is automatically entered in the Open Futurity and they may enter the Limited Futurity class for an additional $500 entry fee, regardless of their wins. The Non-Pro Derby Classic is for adult amateur riders with horses aged 6, 7 and 8 years. Pros, non-pro, young horses, mature horses – the ARHA has done a great job to include something for just about everyone.
Quarter Horse Stallion Owners – Those owners who want to increase their stallion’s book should look to the ARHA as an additional market opportunity. Breeders of Half-Arabian reining horses use the services of top Quarter Horse reining stallions on their Arabian mares with the goal of producing a high quality reining style foal. More and more Arabian breeders are focusing on developing programs specifically to produce reining horses. The Quarter Horse is the undisputed king of the ring when it comes to reining, and other working disciplines, so it’s natural that Arabian breeders seek out and use the top reining sires on their Arabian mares. Quarter Horse stallion owners can post their horses on the ARHA website where there is a page dedicated to Reining Stallion Services. There is a very nominal charge to include your stallion, photos, stats, and a link to your web site, just contact the ARHA and they will give you all the details.
Quarter Horse Mare Owners – There are ample opportunities for Quarter Horse mare owners too. You don’t have to own a Quarter Horse stallion to enjoy the benefits of participating with the ARHA. Arabian stallion owners who want to produce reining style horses are looking for top quality Quarter Horse reining mares either to purchase, lease, or to purchase embryo rights to them. If you own a great reining mare, why not take advantage of the increasing interest shown by Arabian breeders and offer them the services of your mare. It could produce additional income from a mare that you might have otherwise left open. One of the best ways to market your mare and breeding services is to utilize the Sale Horse Page on the ARHA website. Again, it is very inexpensive and you will be reaching a great new market for your horses.
NRHA Professional Trainers – Trainers are another group of horse men and women who can benefit from participating in the ARHA. With their experience and high level of expertise in the reining arena, Quarter Horse trainers have a lot to offer to owners of Arabian and Half- Arabian reining horses. Today’s economy presents tough challenges. Now more than ever it takes an open-minded approach to maintain or grow your business. Arabian and Half-Arabian owners are serious competitors who are always looking for ways to improve their skills and enjoy their horses. Quarter Horse trainers who can offer them assistance in gaining a competitive edge through personal training or through educational clinics have the opportunity to gain a whole new group of clients.
One More Note – There’s another benefit to participating in the ARHA and the Scottsdale Reining Futurity Classic – it’s just plain fun! Scottsdale is a great city; the Scottsdale show is a really good time, especially for those living in cold, northern climates, it’s a great opportunity to enjoy some nice warm weather, and the members of the ARHA are horse men and women who truly love the sport.
The ARHA board is sponsoring a raffle for a 2 year old (2007) Half-Arab reining bred filly.
The filly, Sheza Melody Jac, is by Hesa Zee+/ and out of a Mr Melody Jac daughter. Hesa Zee+/ reiners have won over $83,000 in the Scottsdale Futurities. Mr Melody Jac won the 1988 NRHA futurity.
This filly is to be in training with Gary Ferguson, started under saddle and ready to continue with a new trainer for the 2011/2012 futurities.
Raffle tickets will be a $10 donation, with the drawing to be held at the Scottsdale Show 2010. The black/bay filly will be at Scottsdale for the drawing.
Tickets will be available from all board members and committee chairpersons, Eleanor Hamilton, Deb Witty, Mary Jane Brown, Judy Kibler, Jim Hitt, Kathy Callahan-Smith, Brian Scoggins, Lee Mancini, Anthony Champion, Pam Rose, Phyllis LaMalfa, Crystal McNutt
Or from my office:
Eleanor Hamilton
7956 Main Street NE
Minneapolis, MN 55432 h.hamilton@microcontrol.com
Tickets will also be available at these locations:
Youth Nationals
Nymeyer’s Tack
Arabian Horse Times
Gold Star, Des Moines
Eleanor’s stalls
US Nationals
ARHA booth
Scottsdale Show
ARHA office
Proceeds are to go to the operation of the Arabian Reining Horse Association and Futurity program.
Picture will be here shortly.
Remember, Xenophonn bred horses just won both the 2009 Half-Arab and Purebred Futurities!
Eleanor Hamilton, President
Spring 2009
Dear Reining Enthusiast,
Thank you for your interest in the Arabian Reining Horse Association. We welcome your interest and also ask you to visit our website at www.ARHA.net.
Formed in 1999, the Arabian Reining Horse Association is an affiliate club of both the Arabian Horse Association and the National Reining Horse Association. ARHA is dedicated to the highest standards of sportsmanship, to breeding the highest quality of Reiners and to the promotion and enjoyment of the sport of reining in the Arabian and Half-Arabian breeds.
The Arabian and Half-Arabian Reining Futurity Classics at Scottsdale debuted in 2005 with the Half-Arab class and purebred class added in 2006. The classes are NRHA approved with 5 NRHA judges. The projected payout is $130,000. Futurity entry deadline for 2010 is December 1, 2009.
New for Scottsdale 2009 futurity classes was the LIMITED FUTURITY, which ran concurrently with the futurity classic. Details are on the ARHA web site and also in this packet.
The Non-Pro Derby with its inauguration at the 2008 Scottsdale Show is designed for the 6, 7 and 8 year old reiner – both purebred and Half-Arab. For full details consult the Arabian / Half-Arabian Reining Horse Non Pro Derby Classic Scottsdale. Terms and Conditions in this membership packet.
Prize money is given in the AOTR reining classes at the region shows. $1000 is available at each region for the two classes – purebred and Half-Arab. $500 for each class; Champion $250, Reserve $100, Top 5 $50 each. The Horse/Rider Nomination Form must be completed each year and sent to Phyllis LaMalfa by April 1. The Horse/Rider Nomination Form is in this packet.
To be eligible to win any of the ARHA prize monies, both the rider and the owner must be members of the Arabian Reining Horse Association. This includes the futurity classes.
With your membership and support we can continue to offer substantial purses and encourage participation in Arabian and Half-Arabian reining competition throughout the country.
If I can be of any service to you, please contact me.
Lee Mancini, Michigan, and Anthony Champion, Texas, have been elected to the ARHA board. The board consists of 8 elected members and the Jr. Past President.[click here to view]
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Judy Kibler has put together an impressive schedule of reining clinics for 2009 scheduled for Colorado, Florida, Southern California, Oregon, Illinois and tentatively Texas and Utah. [click here to view]
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As a reminder for you amateur reiners, be sure you and your horse(s) are nominated for 2009. You and your horse(s) need to be nominated to win any ARHA monies – and, of course, be an ARHA member.
[click here for the forms]
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The ARHA board will have a 2-day planning session May 26 and 27. The board needs your input and suggestions.
ARHA introduces a new Sale Horse Listing Coming Scottsdale 2009
Dear Reining Horse Owners,
ARHA would like to introduce a new program designed specially to help you as an owner and /or breeder of Arabian and 1/2 Arabian reining horses, get your horses in front of prospective buyers.
At Scottsdale 2009 we will be debuting a new sale horse listing. This is designed to help you get the “word out” that you have horses at the show available for sale and let buyers know how to find you.
An ARHA “Sale List” will be part of the official program with information on each horse available as well as a map of the stabling indicating where each sale horse is located. In addition, a daily “preview time” will be assigned to the reining arena so that buyers will know when and where sale horses may be seen. Each listed sale horse will be given a Lot # (like an entry number) to be worn during this preview and it will correspond with the list. We will encourage owners and trainers to have this lot # displayed any time the sale horse is out being ridden. That way anyone can quickly reference the sale list to see which horse is on display.
In the reining office there will be a binder with more detailed information, photos, show records, etc… that anyone shopping for a reining prospect will have access to.
ARHA is really excited about this new concept in horse sales and hope that you will take advantage and participate. The cost for each horse listing will be $150. Spots are going to be sold on a first come first serve basis. Applications will start being accepted at US Nationals at the ARHA booth or can be mailed to the below address after Nationals. Please remember that this is for horses that will physically be at Scottsdale and available for purchase. These horses must have a stall and be properly entered in the Scottsdale show.
Remember, this is only open to ARHA members. Horses must be Purebred or Half-Arabian, 3-5 years of age, started under saddle and showing reining ability. (Or, if newly started, of reining pedigree.)
For more questions concerning this program please contact:
Quarter Horse Mare Owners – There are ample opportunities for Quarter Horse mare owners too. You don’t have to own a Quarter Horse stallion to enjoy the benefits of participating with the ARHA. Arabian stallion owners who want to produce reining style horses are looking for top quality Quarter Horse reining mares either to purchase, lease, or to purchase embryo rights to them. If you own a great reining mare, why not take advantage of the increasing interest shown by Arabian breeders and offer them the services of your mare. It could produce additional income from a mare that you might have otherwise left open. One of the best ways to market your mare and breeding services is to utilize the Sale Horse Page on the ARHA website. Again, it is very inexpensive and you will be reaching a great new market for your horses.
