With all this talk about futurities you are probably wondering, ‘What the heck is a futurity and why is it so special?’ When a cowhorse person or a reiner talks about a futurity, they are referring to an event where three-year-old horses come to show their stuff for the first time. The big futurities are the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno, NV in September and the NRHA Futurity in Oklahoma City in November.
Both futurities last a little over two weeks and are very similar to any other professional sporting event. People come from everywhere to watch the high powered horses, cheer on their favorite riders, buy tack and doo-dads from the trade shows and buy horses from the horse sales at the shows. Watching the open finals at one of the big events is literally breathtaking.
I will confess that the NRCHA SBF was mostly responsible for me falling in love with the cowhorse. One of the guys who I respect tremendously and who has given me a lot of help with my own horses is Mike Helsen. If I am ever having a problem with a horse, Mike is the first person I call for advice. In addition, Mike has had a lot of futurity success, so let’s hear what showing futurity horses means to him.
What is the allure of futurity horse competitions? What makes them so special?
It is exciting to see the up and coming stars, the “future” of the cowhorse or reining industry. Everyone is talking about so-and-so who has a great horse, and who they think is going to win. People love to see new horses compete for the first time. Then you throw big money in the mix. That’s excitement! It is a very special feeling if you are a competitor or an owner of a horse that everyone wants to watch. At the Futurity there are many horses of that caliber and the excitement is almost tangible. You can feel it in the air. It is an addicting experience you will work all year just to get to have it again.
How important are futurities to the horse industry?
I think futurities function as a convention of sorts, they bring horse people and industry icons from around the world together. You can’t imagine the buying, selling and trading that goes on. People often select what stud they are breeding their mare to the next season based on the performance of his offspring. It is also a great spectator event and helps lure new blood into the industry. This is always good for business.
Are there any downsides?
The only real downside is if you try to make a young horse do something at a level that is too great for that individual, whether it be mentally or physically. You need to use sound judgment when deciding how hard to push a young horse. Sometimes trainers get so thirsty to go and compete at the futurities that they ruin good horses. The big thing to remember is that the futurity year is the start of their career, not the end of it.
What is your favorite part of the futurity experience?
I really enjoy getting together with all my friends and cheering each other on. Well, and hopefully winning….everyone likes to win, that’s what you’re there for!
Biography:
Mike Helsen and his daughter Stephanie live in Auburn, WA. Mike and his assistant Andrea Koehn train out of Stillwater Stables. He has lifetime earnings in excess of $50,000 and has been a multiple time NRHA Futurity Finalist, multiple times AQHA World Show Finalist, and has won many PRHA Superslide Championships. He is also a board member of the NWRCHA. Mike owes a lot of his success to his mentor, good friend, and cowhorse legend, Benny Guittron.
On the Plus Side Spotlight on AQHYA World Show
In the Youth Issue this year I introduced you to a Northwest woman, Tara Christiansen and her horse TC Lena. Tara just brought home the title of 2006 American Quarter Horse Youth Association Working Cowhorse World Champion! Tara and her brother Travis, were escorted to the 2006 AQHYA World Show by their grandmother, Bonnie. “This year I finally felt sure of myself. I had gotten some help from Don Murphy before we went to the show and I sat with him and watched cattle before I showed down there. I knew that I was prepared and that I had the horse that could win.” said Tara. In their preliminary run the team marked a 218.5 in the rein work and a 216 on the cow. For the finals Tara and TC Lena drew up last, something that Tara was thrilled with. “I get really anxious if I go at the beginning and other people start passing me. That happened to me last year and I didn’t want it to happen again.”
After executing a phenomenal rein work, scoring a 219, TC Lena and Tara finished up their go with 217 cow work. “When I came out I heard my score, but it didn’t compute in my mind that I had won. All of the girls were saying congratulations, but I still didn’t get. I guess it must have sunk in at some point because I started crying. The whole experience still feels so surreal. I do think that the greatest part is that the first buckle I have ever won is a World Champion buckle. How cool is that?”
The title of Reserve Champion in the Working Cowhorse went to another Northwest youth, Katie Buss and Tuxskeeto. Katie says of the experience, “I felt really good about my dry. He was really good in his circles, and he ran fast and hard into his stops. And our cow was awesome, we had the highest cow score in the finals and we couldn't have drawn a better cow. Our cow was pretty wild, which is really good for tux and me. He tends to get strong coming off of the end so we need a cow that really wants to run and that is exactly what I got!” When asked how it feels to be Reserve World Champion Katie said, “I can't even begin to explain just how amazing the feeling is!”
One of the neatest things about this year’s AQHYA Working Cowhorse is that of the 15 horses taken back to the finals, five of them were youth from Washington State! Also making the finals were Kyle Hannon and Wright on TC, Rosie Jensen and Plain Frosty Doc, and Ellie Kemp and Trava Rey.
We are so proud of all of you!
