APHA Youth Futurity Project

APHA offers youth the opportunity to earn prizes and recognition through its equine futurity projects. The program aims to teach and motivate youth to acquire horse training skills by raising and training their own animals.

Eligibility

All youth members can participate in the program and all breeds of horses, with additional incentives offered to Paint Horses. A current AjPHA membership is required. While there are no ownership requirements, only the youth may train the horse after March 1st of the current show year until the youth exhibitors has completed their APHA Youth Futurity Project classes. Verbal guidance from external trainers, parents, or coaches is welcomed, but the training of the horse must be exclusively carried out by the youth showing the horse. Any youth found in violation of these rules will face disciplinary action.

Entry Fees

Pre-Entry Fee (Received by May 15)

Individual Youth Futurity Class: $75/class
Yearling Futurity Flat Fee: $150 for all 3 classes
Two-Year-Old Flat Fee: $150 for all 3 classes

Post Entry Fee (Received after May 15)

Individual Youth Futurity Class: $100/class
Yearling Futurity Flat Fee: $200 for all 3 classes
Two-Year-Old Flat Fee: $200 for all 3 classes

The logbook is an essential component of the project and is subject to scoring, but there is no associated class fee for it.

*subject to change

Classes

The APHA Youth Futurity Project consists of several classes, and the dates and times can be found in the APHA World Show Schedule. Horses may be shown as pleasure-, hunter-, or ranch-type in any of these classes, and the riders/handlers are expected to dress to that type. The emphasis in all classes will prioritize training and horsemanship over movement. Participants must adhere to APHA Legal Tack & Attire specific to their chosen discipline for each class. Scoring will align with APHA rules for each respective class, with additional rules specified in each class description. Furthermore, all classes will undergo judging in accordance with applicable APHA rules for Novice/Walk-Trot classes, encompassing disqualifications, OPs, and so forth.

Yearling Classes

Showmanship

To be judged in accordance with APHA Showmanship rules.
- Exception: Hunt-Seat attire may be worn.
The horse should be expected to perform a walk, trot, straight back, 90-degree turn, and 180-degree turn

Longe Line

To be judged in accordance with APHA Long Line rules, with the following exceptions:
- Conformation will not be counted, but horses will still be tracked and judged for soundness.
- Presentation score will replace the conformation score based on 0-5.
- Emphasis shall be placed on rewarding training, responsiveness, safety and willingness. Movement should be secondary.

In-Hand Trail

To be judged in accordance with APHA In-Hand Trail rules.
Maneuvers may include walk and/or trot over poles, bridge, tarp, work gate, back L, turn-in box, yield front and/or hind end, stand ground tied, pick up hooves, stand for fly spray, etc.

Logbook & Interview

Two-Year-Old Classes

Walk/Trot Rail

To be judged in accordance with APHA Walk-Trot Hunter Under Saddle, Western Pleasure, and Ranch Rail Pleasure.
Exhibitors will ride together in the pen.
Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, and Ranch Rail Pleasure types are all acceptable, but tack and attire must clearly suit the discipline.
Maneuvers: All exhibitors will be asked to walk, jog or trot, and extend the jog or trot each way, plus a reverse, stop, and back.
Exhibitors should be judged on the responsiveness, willingness, and manners of their horse with movement secondary.

Walk/Trot Pattern

To be judged in accordance with APHA Walk-Trot Hunt Seat Equitation and Western Horsemanship.
Exhibitors will ride the pattern individually.
Western Horsemanship, Hunt Seat Equitation, and Ranch Riding types are all acceptable, but tack and attire must clearly suit the discipline.
Maneuvers: Maneuvers that may be called for include walk, jog or trot, extended jog or trot, stop, back, turn (forehand if in English tack, haunches if in western), and sidepass.
All exhibitors will complete the same pattern, with variations for discipline (such as a posting trot for Hunt Seat riders).
Judging will be based on rider’s form and connection with horse.

Walk/Trot Trail

To be judged in accordance with APHA Walk-Trot Trail with the exception that hunt-seat attire may be worn.
Exhibitors will ride the pattern individually.
Maneuvers: Maneuvers may include walk and/or trot over poles, bridge, tarp, work gate, back L, turn-in box, yield front and/or hind end, stand ground tied, pick up hooves, stand for fly spray, mount or dismount, etc.

Logbook & Interview

Exhibitors have the option to choose not to compete in all futurity classes within their horse’s age division, but it is required that they complete the logbook. Each exhibitor is allowed to enter only one Youth Futurity Project horse per age division, for example, a maximum of one yearling project and one two-year-old project. Scoring will be based on presentation, originality and precision of details. Scoring will be from 1-25 for 25% of the overall score.

You must submit the logbook online by Friday, June 7th. You must select your preferred interview time on your logbook form. You can choose from Sunday, June 16th, or Monday, June 17th. The interview will consist of a short Zoom meeting with the panel of judges.

Logbook Topics

You will submit your logbook online. You must answer questions related to the categories below.

Acquisition of Project
Feeding and Nutrition Management
Health, Physical Care and Management
Training Plan and Schedule
Practice Shows or Other Outings
Project Budget
Biggest obstacle in your training program and how you overcame it.
If you received guidance or assistance, in person/online, from a professional, how did this shape your experience with your futurity horse?

Additional information and pictures are encouraged.

The Interview

The interview will include standard project questions and any additional questions that panelists may have after reviewing your logbook. The panelists for the logbook and interview will comprise 2 Competition Advisory Committee members, 1 APHA State Director, 1 APHA Carded Judge, and 1 APHA Staff Member.

Logbook

Tabulation & Awards

Tabulation

For the overall awards, the classes will be tabulated in each age division as follows:

Classes – 25% each
Logbook & Interview – 25%

The overall placings will be announced following the conclusion of the last class.

Awards

Top 10 placings will be recognized in each individual class for both divisions.
Overall Top 10 placings will be awarded in each division.
Overall Highest-Placing Logbook will be recognized.
The overall Highest-Placing Paint Horse will be awarded in each division

Coming in 2025!

A 3 Year Old Division will be added in 2025! For eligibility in the 3-year-old division, horses must have participated as 2-year-olds.