[Arabians4ME]

Okay well I was doing my renewal stuff today and I got to thinking. Is it beneficial for me to nominate my foals in the Halter Futurity? I can' afford to nominate them as breeding entry but can the Halter. Do you think it would make them more marketable? Opinions? Please! Thanks

[Sandra-A1]

What Futurity are you talking about?
The AHA Sweepstakes Program does not have a Futurity Class that I know of.
If it is the AHA National Halter &/or Performance Futurities....
I would not unless you feel your foals are of such high quality that they would be very competitive on that level. Plus will you and/or the people who purchase your foals be willing to keep them qualified and then take them and show them at the Canadian and US Nationals?
While I am not questioning that your stallion's get are of good quality, I do think that unless you have some of your stallion's get already competing and successful on a National level I would just wait on enrolling any into the National's Futurities and instead support my local Arabian club's futurity program.
I would enter them in your state's local AHA charter club's Futurity program because you are not only supporting your local Arabian horse club, but that is where most of your customer base is going to be coming from as well as showing the foals they purchase from you.

And one more thing...the National Futurity Program is seperate from the Sweepstakes....you have to pay to enroll and participate in each of the "money programs".

Enrolling a horse in the Sweepstakes Program has a better chance of paying off.
The AHA Futurity is a one shot deal. The horse competes as a 3 year old and that's it.
The horse that is enrolled in Sweepstakes has a chance to win money for as long as it lives and is shown.

[Z's Mom]

I would do it. It's $90, but if you get a real good one, it MAY make a difference in selling. Or you can choose either US or Canada and just pay $45. I don't renominate most of them back in after I see what I got, but it has paid for me on the couple that I have. Sweepstakes has been changed to the point I'm not sure about nominating into to it anymore, although I have made money from the yearling sweeps futurity and they have kept that.

[Arabians4ME]

Okay well according to the Sweepstakes site it is part of the Sweepstakes. I am of the exact opinion as you Sandra I just wanted to make sure I was making the right choice. My mares are all nominated in MECAB along with my stallion and Region 12 Futurities that makes me feel better. In my opinion my babies are quality for these futurities and will do well but an unproven sire's off spring has little chance at National Level.... Thanks!

[Sandra-A1]

Jamie, I looked on the list of Sweepstakes classes and did not see the US Nationals Futurity classes listed ....http://www.arabianhorses.org/activit...ed_classes.asp

I am wondering if we are talking about the same thing....?
The AHA currently has 2 Prize Money Programs, the Futurities and the Breeders Sweepstakes.
The US Nationals Halter & Performance Futurities are seperate from the regular classes (the one that are designated Sweepstakes classes) and are listed as Futurity Classes at the Nationals: http://www.arabianhorses.org/activit...futurities.asp

http://www.arabianhorses.org/activit...futurities.asp

[Z's Mom]

Thanks for bringing this subject up, it had slipped my mind so now I enrolled the babe. I bought a mare this year who came in foal to a Pinto ASB and because she came preggers I sort of forgot about it. I've enrolled baby in US & Can, sire's not sweeps nominated. I am pleased to see a number of Arabian fanciers on this board, we can have some lively discussions!

[Arabians4ME]

Sandra
I think I am talking about the 3 y/o futurity, however I am unsure. If I had the moolaa to sweepstakes nominate mine I would but it was hard enough to get the moolaa to do Touch... Maybe one of these days.... I figure for Touch, my husband and I to all be in our second year of this breeding stuff we are doing pretty good! We sure have learned a lot more about breeding and Arabians! Thanks

[Sandra-A1]

Okay..I understand now!
The 3 year old futurity is what I call the National Futurity and is not part of the Sweepstakes Program. The National Futurities are a seperate prize money program from the Breeders Sweepstakes.

The Sweepstakes is a great program if you are standing a stallion and/or you do show a lot and have a horse that is very competitive.

[Z's Mom]

Are you talking about nominating a stallion as a nominated sire? There is a special on the nomination fee and the deadline has been extended until 3/31/06. If the stallion is an original entry the nomination fee is $1500, if not, it's $2500. You can pay for this over time.

[Arabians4ME]

No my stallion is done nominated.