WCHA to Offer Yearling Longe Line, Two-Year-Old Ranch Pleasure, and Three & Over Ranch Versatility
GLS Uptown Secret & Rusty Dare
WCHA News
World Conformation Horse Association Executive Director and Futurity Manager, Don Falcon, says the group has worked diligently in recent years to change the perception of Halter-bred horses.
“We have taken steps to change the image of our Halter-bred horses- that they don’t ride and their purpose is to stand still and look pretty. This stereotype was created when our horses became as specialized as either a Reiner, Cutter, Pleasure horse, race horse, Hunt seat horse, or ‘just a Halter horse,’ depending on which discipline certain bloodlines excelled within, even though our stock horses were advertised as most versatile breeds,” he says.
“Back in the day, competitors competed in Halter classes in the morning and the same horses competed in Roping, Reining, and Pleasure classes in the afternoon. With the increasing popularity of Ranch Riding events across the country, this is the perfect venue to showcase our Halter-bred horses that are structurally correct with kind dispositions and pleasing to the eye. After all, every cowboy wants to ride the prettiest horse in the Remuda!”
“We’ve showcased our Halter-bred horses in Ranch Versatility classes the past few years during our WCHA Breeders Championship Futurity and watched our Halter-bred horses compete side by side with seasoned ranch horses.The Halter-bred horses performed exceptionally well, so we are excited to announce we’re expanding on our performance program that rewards form to function, conformation, and athleticism.”
“To date, we haven’t used any stallion nomination monies to fund our performance classes, so this year we are thrilled that the following supporters of WCHA stepped forward with financial support for these programs that will move our association forward. Thank you DAC Equine and Livestock Health and Nutrition Products, Amy Erhardt Quarter Horses, and Steve and Kathy Headley Quarter Horses! We are excited to announce the following ranch-themed stakes classes at our WCHA Breeders Championship Futurity in Fort Worth September 28th through October 2nd, 2021.”
FR Nite Life & Katie Fox
NEW CLASSES OFFERED IN 2021
The DAC Yearling Longe Line Futurity -$5,000 Added
DAC owner and WCHA Executive Committee Member, Randy Jacobs, has been instrumental in the support of WCHA for the past decade. In fact, DAC was the very first sponsor of WCHA and is still sponsoring events for the WCHA membership today.
Three and Over Ranch Horse Versatility Stakes- sponsored by Amy Erhardt Quarter Horses -$5,000 added
We are very pleased to announce Amy Erhardt Quarter Horses as the newest association partner of WCHA. Amy and her family raise and compete in both Halter and performance classes and have generously donated added money that will greatly increase awareness and participation in this class. Thank you Erhardt Quarter Horses for giving back to our industry.
Two-Year-Old Ranch Pleasure Futurity- sponsored by Steve and Kathy Headley -$10,000 added.
The Two-Year-Old Ranch Pleasure Stakes will headline our new classes with $10,000 added money. The Headleys have sponsored our Ranch Versatility classes the past three years and have been instrumental in the steady growth in proving our Halter horses can ride too. They are donating an additional $2,500 to be used as special incentives within the three classes. Steve, Kathy, and Sarah Headley were awarded the very first Platinum Member status for their support of WCHA at our recent Hall Of Fame Banquet. We are appreciative of their unwavering dedication to WCHA and our mission.
ALL entries in these stakes classes MUST have Halter bloodlines and be sired by a stallion that is currently or has previously been nominated into the WCHA Breeders Futurity Program. Additionally, these are ALL BREED classes welcoming APHA, AQHA, ApHC, PHBA, ARHA, ABRA registered horses. Each class will offer both Open and Non-Pro paybacks, with Non-Pro incentives to enter both Open and Non-Pro divisions. Watch for entry forms to be posted on the WCHA website this week.
It is a very exciting time for the WCHA Performance Division. Watch for the new Performance Only Nomination Program. If you missed enrolling your horse in the regular nomination period in 2020 this is a second opportunity to make them eligible for the WCHA Performance Classes with NO late penalties.
For more information, visit https://www.conformationhorse.com.
