WCHA Futurities Set Record Numbers in Fort Worth
Thackerville, OK— The World Conformation Horse Association (WCHA), recently wrapped up the WCHA Big Money and WCHA Breeders Championship Futurities in Fort Worth, TX with record setting numbers for entries and monies paid out.
Held in conjunction with the American Paint Horse (APHA) World Championship, WCHA had three full days of Halter futurity competition with an impressive 40% growth in entries over the previous record year achieved in 2018. Horses registered with the APHA, Appaloosa Horse Club, American Quarter Horse Association, Palomino Horse Breeders of America, American Buckskin Registry Association, and American Roan Horse Association all compete in Weanling and Yearling conformation classes for Non Pro, Intermediate Non-Pro, Open, Color and Owner/Breeder/Exhibitor divisions.
“Each year, WCHA’s objective is to increase participation by implementing new classes and programs that will be most beneficial to competitors. The payouts are important, but we also want everyone that attends to leave feeling they want to come back next year because they had a great time,” stated Don Falcon, Executive Director for WCHA. “Since moving to Fort Worth three years ago, and through our partnership with APHA, we’re on a steady uphill climb and have focused on payouts as close to a break even point as possible to our owners and exhibitors.”
Seeing so many spectators in the stands again this year is testimony to the popularity of the conformation horse, but also showcased this year were two performance classes within a Versatility Ranch Horse competition. It was a three-phase competition where riders put their horses through a ranch obstacle pattern that they might see every day on the ranch; a ranch pleasure rail class where horse moved freely at walk, trot, extended trot, lope, and extended lope; and finally lined up in a Form to Function conformation class. Payouts of $28,000 were awarded and our corporate partner, National Ropers Supply (NRS), sponsored two beautiful trophy saddles for the overall winners in each class.
“These classes were very entertaining, and each contestant came prepared so it was a great competition,” states Falcon. “We are very pleased that we had a 57% increase in entries over our inaugural versatility classes in 2018, this interest gives us incentive to continue to promote these classes as a role our Halter bred horses can excel in.”
The WCHA sponsors really are the heart and soul of an event of this magnitude. Not only did they supplement purses, they also provided sponsored lunches, breakfast, and dinners for all members and spectators to enjoy. WCHA asks everyone to visit their “Friends of WCHA” page on the WCHA website to view all who made this event successful and enjoyable for all who attended. Please continue to support the WCHA corporate partners, and thank you to the WCHA Stallion Owners who nominate stallions each year and will hopefully come back next year!
WCHA is very excited about what the future might hold as 2020 approaches. WCHA hopes to see everyone at the WCHA Hall of Fame Banquet in Oklahoma City, OK in November. More information about the results of this event and other WCHA events can be found at www.conformationhorse.com.
