Breeding season is just a few weeks away and its time to consider your stallion and broodmare pairing for the year!  In this episode we take a deep dive into selecting the right broodmare or stallion for your program with Anna Horn of Chris Arentsen Quarter Horses.

We take a look at criteria for selecting the broodmare to enhance a program and some of the attributes that make a mare tough to handle.  We discuss stallion selection and how the show record can impact the marketability of a given stud.  Last, we cover industry trends and the demand for double-registered horses and futurity eligibility.

www.arentsenquarterhorses.com 

Adam and Kelley Wainscott return for a next level conversation about equine nutrition.  They walk us through each listener-provided question to describe, explain, and teach us how to supply the best care for our beloved horses. 

Adam and Kelley joined us for episode 002 and jumped back in to continue their investment in our community.  They operate Covenant Show Horses in Sanger, Texas and stand 2006 APHA stallion, He's Stylin.  

One of the most pivotal events for breeding and showing halter horses is a futurity and this is our third episode this winter, highlighting money earning opportunities across the U.S.  In this episode, we’ll learn about the Iowa Breeders Futurity, we’ll explore why it’s so significant, and how futurities like this shape the future of the industry. I’m joined by two guests who are well-versed in the halter horse world: Lindsay Black, owner of Black Show Horses, an Iowa Quarter Horse Association Executive Board Member, a seasoned trainer and exhibitor, and amateur exhibitor, Illinois Paint Horse Association Futurity Chair, and IPHA President, Carri Hansen.

We discuss the broader impact of futurities on the halter horse industry and how they shape breeding trends and the direction of the sport.  We talk through sponsorships, the cost of showing, how futurities can alleviate some of the burden, and what fundraising methods they have found to be effective.

Iowa Quarter Horse Association

In this episode we meet Michigan Quarter Horse Association board members, Chris Perniciaro and Austin Gooding.  They lead the charge for the MQHA Futurity and Stallion Service Auction (SSA) which includes many of our great halter stallions.  The Futurity and SSA classes are held every September along with the Great Lakes Classic QH show.

Chris and Austin have successfully grown this show to over $100k in prize money and they are on their way to the next goal of $150k.  This affordable futurity is for exhibitors of all levels of experience and includes a great opportunity for weanlings to earn prize money in the stallion owner, mare owner, non-pro, and open classes.  You can stick around for the full 6-judge QH showbill and enjoy the MSU show facility.

Website: www.miquarterhorse.com 

In this episode we meet Marcy Walker and Jim Scarpa, President and Vice President of the East Coast Halter Futurity.  The ECHF was founded in 2014  and provides an opportunity for halter horse owners from the Eastern states to have a halter futurity in their own backyard.  We discuss the importance of futurities to the halter industry, judge selection, and the special effort that goes into providing an exceptional exhibitor experience.

The ECHF calendar begins with the Stallion Service Auction on January 19-21, 2025 where you'll find the top stallions available.  The show is held on Sunday, April 20, 2025, at the Virginia Horse Center in conjunction with the AQHA Spring Breakout.  

East Coast Halter Futurity

In this episode we meet Laurie and Logan Lorenz, the mother-son team from Lorenz Quarter Horses.  We capture them just hours after concluding their successful show season at the AQHA World Show to discuss their show strategies, breeding operation, and the KY Breeders Incentive Fund.

Laurie comes from a multi-generation AQHA family and has instilled an incredible work ethic in her son.  Logan is an emerging leader in our field and has spent time learning from some of the greatest in the halter industry.  He leads their operation from the breeding shed to the show pen.  You'll learn about his approach to working with babies, his deeply rooted respect for the horse, and plans for the future.

In this episode, we continue with Erin Brown and her non-profit journey as Executive Director of the Philadelphia Urban Riding Academy (PURA). In her day job she gets to utilize halter horses to make a difference in the lives of youth in inner city Philadelphia. In addition to fundraising and managing horses and students, Erin is an amateur halter exhibitor, stallion owner, and world changer.

Erin recently experienced the generosity of a fellow halter horse lover, Jannee Pugliani with the donation of stallion, I Am The One And Only to the program. Jannee believes in the mission of PURA and partnered by adding "Uno" to the current stallion line-up. Jannee has been involved with horses most of her life. She started in the American Quarter Horse world in 1997 and in 2021, she purchased her first halter horse.

Philadelphia Urban Riding Academy

We love a beautiful neck on a halter horse and sometimes it takes a little extra work to get the look we're trying to accomplish.  Neck sweating is a long-standing and simple practice that can be used to refine the neck.  Consistent use of a neck sweat can make the difference!

We talk through the details, tips, and a few products with halter horse trainer, Joe Holman of Holman Halter Horses in Hempstead, TX.  He shares his experience with Elite Sweats, the length of time he leaves the sweat on, and a few tips on topical products you can try.

Leighton Wetzel just returned from the All American Quarter Horse Congress with titles and success.  We get to meet his 2024 show string and learn how he selected each horse for this show season.  He shares everything from show prep to program, challenges and solutions as a DIY exhibitor, and how to be a great show dad to daughter and exhibitor, Karsynn. 

We experience how it felt to be named Congress Champion this year plus a rewind to where it all began for Leighton as an 8 year old with his first halter win.  Leighton and his family represent the multi-generational involvement our industry needs.