Thoughts on North American Pony Futurity

[crownridgefarms]

Hey all pony breeders,
I am looking into nominating my 3 boys for the NAPF for spring 2010. They don't have many (if any foals) on the ground this year, but next spring there will be a few. I am looking for your opinions on the program, and if you think it is worth it. Did it help promote your stallions? Please let me know any extra info you can give me as well. Thanks for your time and looking forward to hearing what everyone has to say! :)

[chunky munky]

This will obviously be a biased opinion :-) Firstly let me say that the NAPF awarded over $6000 of prize money in its first year. A percentage of that goes to the stallion nominator. Though you may not feel a huge impact in the first year you nominate there are many folks that are seriously taking into consideration if a stallion is nominated when thay are choosing who to breed their mares to. For 2010 there is a "Stimulous Package " discounting the stallion nominatiing fee. The group is trying to bring in the smaller breeder to enjoy the benefits and the fun of participating. I hope that you will consider participating and help expand this great program for all pony breeders to enjoy. This year there will also be a $1000 bonus for the Grand Champion Stallion and $500 for reserve in addition to the regular cash awards and the beautiful perpetual trophies that have so generously been donated. And before any one gets on screaming about why is it in VA, there is nothing written in stone saying that it must stay here forever. Right now this is where our volunteer base is. The other thing is that we would like it run in conjunction with a fairly large show so that the ponies may be seen by outside riders and owners and prospective purchasers. There are not many show managers that are willing to give up ring time to accomodate an event like this. And what could be better than having you get seen in a different part of the country??
p.s. I just went to your website...You have some beautiful ponies. And I love the pedigrees on your stallions. Looks like you are off to a great start! You may want to chat with Suzanne Moody who is very involved with the program and has some of that same Downland blood.

[crownridgefarms]

Thanks for your response! I have emailed you some more in depth questions. Personally I think its a great idea, I just don't know how it will benefit me right away because as I said my boys don't have many (if any) foals on the ground. So, how much would it cost me to nominate my 3 boys in 2010?

[Daventry]

Sigh! You will get a big debate on this one - both positive and negative. While I'm sure we can all applaud the organizers for coming up with a pony version of the International Hunter Futurity, many of the West Coast Pony Breeders are not very happy and not in support of the Futurity being held on the far East Coast....which makes it next to impossible for the rest of the Country to participate in the program.
It's not by chance that the West Coast pony stallions haven't been Nominated to the Futurity. :no: Everyone out west is calling it the Virginia Pony Futurity. Like I said, while I completely applaud the organizers...and I'm sure they had the best of intentions in starting the program, it's very much beneficial to only a few....those on the East Coast.
If you do a search for the topic on the COTH BB, you'll find lots of discussion over it!

[chunky munky]

Actually our Grand Champion Stallion was from Tenessee, and another winner was from Ohio. Not so bad for our first year. But as we all know, we can't make everyone happy. With as little live cover that is done anymore I am not sure that where a stallion stands is that significant, particularly if they are involved with this type of program to promote him to other parts of the world. Also read my above comment regarding location of the competition.
As far as I know the only discussion ever about this competition was before it ever occurred and many wanted to say why it wouldn't work. Well, it worked and those that took part I believe were pleased with the first year. Things can always be improved of course.
It takes a little courage and vision to get involved with a new program, but often it is worth the effort of helping to build and benefit breeders everywhere. Watch for our ad in the Pony Breeder issue of COTH.

[Mel0309]

Was trying to find the results of the futurity but it looks like they aren't posted on the site. Any idea when you will get the results up?

[chunky munky]

The website is being updated now. Check in the next two weeks for all updates. I will try to email you a copy of results if you like. They were also printed in the big splashy two pages of photos and coverage that COTH was kind enough to print in the July 31, 2009 issue. We do have the new nomination forms up and a few changes to how things are run for 2010.
The other good news is in 2009 the competition was the same weekend as the Maryland Pony Breeders show and yearling fururity. There is no conflict this for 2010 as they are a week earlier now. It was impossible to do both this year and we expect that will allow many folks that were involved with that show to be able to participate this year.

[quicksilverponies]

I participated last year and hope to do so again this year. The organizers worked hard at ironing out glitches that invariably happen the first time such an event takes place. And while I am sure there are things that can and will be improved upon, I think overall the concept worked well. I only nominated Adagio, as he was the only stallion of mine that had get on the ground old enough to participate. My 2 yr old filly won her class and Oliver Brown's yearling colt by Adagio was Res. Best Young Pony. I did get money back - not a break even proposition, but I think well worth the investment. And I am not on the East Coast or the West Coast so I have to pay for shipping and handling wherever I show for the most part.

[chunky munky]

And those were some beautiful babies! Glad you were pleased with our first outing. We are just a small group of volunteers trying to do a good thing. The highest prize money is for the performance divisions, simply because nothing else exists like that for young ponies that earns $$$. This year the pony that was best young pony and won the 3 year old performance division went home with a nice big bank roll!!:yes:
Also remember that the babies pay a one time fee and have up to 5 years to compete and win lots of money.:) The 1-3 year olds also have the regular USEF breeding classes they can compete in on the same day.