East Coast Halter Futurity Crowns Champions and Awards $71,000
She said yes!
By: Brittany Bevis
Halter horse aficionados gathered August 29th at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington for the seventh annual East Coast Halter Futurity. Futurity President, Marcy Walker, was thrilled to have 90 entries presented during the event.
All exhibitors were eager to compete for the $60,000 in added money that was up for grabs, as well as $11,000 in prizes. Although things were run a little differently this year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, everyone thoroughly enjoyed being able to show again.
“We weren’t able to have spectators this year, because of COVID,” Marcy says. “We had masks to hand out to everyone, and the policy was that if you weren’t riding a horse, a mask must be worn. Our judges and show personnel wore masks, and we had hand sanitizer everywhere. Everyone was just so excited to be able to show.”
A trademark of the East Coast Halter Futurity is the grassroots feel with personalized, oversized checks that are handmade by Marcy herself, complete with lots of glitter, as well as goody bags stuffed full of treats. “We like for everything to have a personal touch,” Marcy says. “We had many varieties of horse treats; Pepi, Equinity, and dac products; a Harris show halter; a Kathy’s show halter; a recliner; Hands On Gloves; Triple Crown Feed; Tribute hay bags; shampoo, conditioner, hoof picks, and worming paste. We also gave away benches, chairs, Roswell Performance Products, and each WCHA class winner received a wooden cooler that was engraved. The Harris show halter that was donated by Harris Leather and Silverworks and Mike and Stephanie Jennings of Pro Horse Services was won by Suzanne Kaiser.”
But Marcy certainly didn’t do all of this herself. She would like to recognize the Futurity’s Vice President, Jim Scarpa; Travis Thompson, who assists with the Stallion Service Auction; and her own husband and sister, who donate much of their time to the cause. The West Virginia Quarter Horse Queen, Sydnee Barker, was also in attendance to help out the the awards presentation. Marcy would also like to thank Brooke Lynes from the Idaho Fudge Company. “We couldn’t do this without all of them,” she says.
A special event took place at the horse show when competitor, Tate Herring, proposed to Haley Walsh, and she said yes! “We set it up that they were just going to take a family photo. Then, when everyone was in place, we told her to turn around, and he was on one knee and proposed. Everyone clapped, and it was a highlight of the show,” Marcy says.
The Grand Champion of Champions was a weanling colt named The Original, by My Intention. He was shown by Ronald Stratton for Steve Phillips. They were presented with a Kathy’s Show halter for their efforts. Each year, the Champion of Champions class is conducted in honor of Marcy’s late father, Earl Walker, who was killed by a drunk driver ten years ago. The Reserve Champion was Lauren Bedwell with SP Ice Princess, by Secrets Of A Legend. She was presented with a recliner that was donated by Paul and Paula Crotts of Graham Furniture Mart.
Scroll below to view class results.
Click here to view photos from the show, courtesy of G-Man.
If you’d like to share your show’s photos and results with EquineChronicle.com, email B.Bevis@EquineChronicle.com.
