Eligibility
The program is open to all youth members and all breeds of horses with extra incentives offered to Paint Horses. Exhibitors must be current AjPHA members. There are no ownership requirements, but ONLY the youth may train the horse after April 15th of the current show year and until the youth exhibitor has completed all their APHA Youth Futurity Project classes. Verbal guidance from outside trainers, parents and/or coaches is encouraged, but at no time can someone other than the youth showing the horse train the horse. Youth found in violation of these rules will be subject to disciplinary action.
Entry Fee
Pre-Entry Fee (Received by May 15):
- Individual Youth Futurity Classes – $75/class
OR
- Yearling Futurity Flat Fee – $150 for all 3 classes
- Two-Year-Old Futurity Flat Fee – $150 for all 3 classes
Post Entry Fee (Received after May 15):
- Individual Youth Futurity Classes – $100/class
OR
- Yearling Futurity Flat Fee – $200 for all 3 classes
- Two-Year-Old Futurity Flat Fee – $200 for all 3 classes
The logbook is scored and required for the project, but there will not be a class fee for the logbook.
Classes
The APHA Youth Futurity Project consists of the following classes. See APHA World Show Schedule for dates and times. Horses may be shown as pleasure-, hunter-, or ranch-type in any of the classes, riders/handlers should dress to type. Emphasis will be placed on training and horsemanship over movement in all classes. APHA Legal Tack & Attire will be required for their chosen discipline in each class. Scoring will follow APHA rules for each respective class with additional rules listed with each class description. All classes will also be judged in accordance with applicable APHA rules for Novice/Walk-Trot classes (i.e. disqualifications, OPs, etc.).
-
Yearling Classes
- Showmanship
- To be judged in accordance with APHA Showmanship rules with the exception that hunt-seat attire may be worn.
- 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 & Interview
-
Two-Year-Old Classes
- Walk/Trot Rail
- To be judged in accordance with APHA rulebook for 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. 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 rulebook for 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 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 rulebook for Walk-Trot Trail with the exception that hunt-seat attire may be worn. Exhibitors will work the designated pattern in the arena individually. 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 are not required to compete in all futurity classes of their horse’s age division, but they MUST complete the logbook. Exhibitors may ONLY enter one Youth Futurity Project horse per age division (i.e.: a max of one yearling project and one two-year-old project).
Logbook & Interview
Logbook will be due using the above submission form by Friday, June 9th. Interview will consist of a short zoom meeting with the panel of judges, interview times will be selected on your logbook entry form. Possible dates to choose from are Sunday, June 18th and Monday, June 19th.
- Futurity Project Questions
- Record Book – Items to be reviewed in record book can include but are not limited to:
- Acquisition of project (why you chose this horse)
- 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?
- The interview will consist of standard project questions as well as any questions that panelists may have after reviewing your logbook.
- The 5 panelists for the logbook & interview will consist of 2 Competition Advisory Committee members, 1 APHA State Director, 1 APHA Carded Judge, and 1 APHA Staff Member
Overall 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 6 placings will be recognized in each individual class for both divisions.
• Overall placings will be awarded to the Top 3 in each division.
• The overall Highest-Placing Paint Horse will be awarded in each division.
