Youth Futurity Project

Eligibility

Entry Fees

Pre-Entry Fee (Received by May 15)

• Individual Youth Futurity Class: $75/class
• Yearling Futurity Flat Fee: $150 for all 3 classes
• 2-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
• 2-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.

Classes

The APHA Youth Futurity Project consists of several classes; scheduled 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 attire of riders/handlers should correspond to that type; adhere to the APHA rulebook for legal tack and attire for your chosen discipline/class. Training and horsemanship is prioritized over movement. Scoring will align with APHA rules for each respective class, with additional rules specified in each class description below. All classes will undergo judging in accordance with applicable APHA rules for Novice/Walk-Trot classes, encompassing disqualifications, off-pattern rules and more.

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 longe 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 and Interview

2-Year-Old Classes

Walk-Trot Rail

• To be judged in accordance with APHA Walk-Trot hunter under saddle, Western pleasure and ranch rail pleasure rules.
• 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 rules.
• 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 and Interview

Logbook and Interview

Completion of the logbook and interview is mandatory for all exhibitors, even if they choose to not to compete in all futurity classes within their horse’s age division. 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 2-year-old project. Scoring will be based on presentation, originality and precision of details. Scoring will be from 1-25 and will compose 25 percent of the overall score.

The logbook must be submitted online by a specified deadline. Select your preferred interview time on your logbook form; 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 might have after reviewing your logbook. The panelists for the logbook and interview will comprise two Competition Advisory Committee members, one APHA state director, one APHA judge and one APHA staff member.

Tabulation and 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!