The Stewart's met on horseback at age 15 and have been surrounded by great horses ever since.  They raised three children around horses and 4H and later began celebrating life milestones by purchasing a new horse or breeding.  Their halter horse journey began with a 25th wedding anniversary purchase of a yearling filly who went on to accumulate 127.5 points with AQHA.  A retirement gift included a breeding to Kids Classic Style for the winning mare and the result included a sorrel colt who was world champion and reserve world champion as a three year old.

https://www.facebook.com/fitforhalter

Rhonda Culp credits her dad and daughter as significant influences in her horse world involvement.  She is a “get it done” kind of innovative leader and serves currently as the Texas Paint Horse Club President. She has served in various volunteer leadership roles in the American Paint Horse Association for more than a decade and was awarded the 2024 Distinguished Service Award from APHA.

Rhonda is an advocate for getting involved and devoted to building the next generation by supporting leadership experiences, scholarships, and serving opportunities.  Her primary motivation is the youth and she’s had a hand in seeing 4 of her TPHC serve as AJPHA President.  She will inspire you to explore the world of showing whether you have a horse or not!

https://texaspainthorseclub.com/

https://www.facebook.com/texaspainthorseclub

Paint Horse Club of Oklahoma (PHCO) President Lisa Maxwell and Vice-President Trisha Shorten Armstrong join me in a behind-the-scenes look at the brand new Club.  Their first show in May, 2024, included great participation from the board, a friendly and fun environment, and generous entries and prizes.  The event, held in Oklahoma City, was a collaboration with the Appaloosa Horse Club and World Conformation Horse Association and offered a total of 6 judges depending on the breed.  

Their mission is to provide an affordable and welcoming environment at shows and clinics where exhibitors, horse owners, and enthusiasts will learn, grow, and enjoy the horse community.  They want to see new people go from the sidelines to the ring and are committed to increasing the number of shows and clinics so people can explore the world of horse showing.  

The spring show will be held again next year at the OKC Fairgrounds - May 9-11, 2025.  See their website or Facebook page for more details! 

https://www.okpainthorse.org/ 

https://www.facebook.com/PaintHorseClubOK 

In this episode you'll meet Karen Kennedy, Event Secretary for the Breeders Halter Futurity.  You won't meet anyone more knowledgeable and passionate about the art and experience of a horse show.  She's been with the BHF since the beginning and affectionately renamed "BHF Google".

The purpose of the Breeders Halter Futurity is to promote the breeding of quality halter horses that will be marketable in today's horse industry, and to create an event that is appealing to the general public.  The annual Fall futurity is innovative, creative, and actively building into the next generation.  The BHF is scheduled for September 10-14 in Des Moines, IA.  

Find more information and entry forms here: The Breeders Halter Futurity 

Join us for the first Q & A episode!  Fit for Halter followers submitted their questions and our first hosts, Scott and Amy Zabel, brought practical information to help you on your journey.  You get an inside look at how a husband and wife team navigate jobs, finances, workouts, travel, and show day.

Listeners asked great questions about all aspects of the horse show process.  They share details about how they budget for shows and how they divide & conquer the endless tasks that come with horses and showing.  From a tornado to show outfits, you’ll learn more about this couple than you might want to know!  

Find is on Facebook at Fit for Halter Podcast

Carri Hansen leads the charge for the Illinois Paint Horse Association Stallion Service Sale and Futurity.  The show is held every Fall at Gordyville USA in Rantoul, IL.  She along with a team of 6 others work tirelessly to keep the longest-standing state futurity running smoothly.  They work 11 months of the year to bring a class list that pays out approximately $31,000 in cash plus $9,500 in prizes and awards.

She explains the importance of the futurity for the halter industry and how many of them function.  She shares a list of the major events across the country including the Halter Million and Breeders Halter Futurity.

Futurity season is now!  Listen to learn more about futurities and get ready to show!

www.illinoispainthorsefuturity.com

You might know Erin Brown as the Concrete Cowgirl on social media. In this episode you'll get to know the halter horse loving, non-profit professional who is ON A MISSION!

Erin begins early in the morning with feeding, golf cart workouts, and neck sweats for her two halter stallions, FG Dawns Legacy (AQHA) and Strike Acclaim (ApHC) who are actively showing at the breed level. Then, she transitions to her role as Executive Director of the Philadelphia Urban Riding Academy, also known as PURA.  

In this episode she touches on where her love of horses began, shares stories of how her family invested in her show career early on and how a fairy godmother helped catapult her into the world of halter as a successful amateur exhibitor. 

She began her riding career in the early 90’s at the legendary Fletcher Street Stables and is keeping the legacy alive through PURA by raising funds to convert a city building into a modern riding facility right in the heart of Philadelphia.  Just $400k from her goal of $3 million dollars, the facility will provide a safe space for inner-city kids with a place to learn about horses, connect with one another, and enjoy the cowboy lifestyle and tradition that runs deep in Philly.  

She is on a mission to “preserve the life, legacy, and culture of Black urban cowboys in the city of Philadelphia and the riders of Fletcher Street Stable as seen on Netflix’s Concrete Cowboy” (thepura.org). 

https://www.thepura.org/

See Concrete Cowboy on Nexflix!

Don Falcon recaps the Supreme Championship held in May, 2024, with generous payouts and prizes, healthy numbers and competition, and fantastic social opportunities.  Additionally he reviews the upcoming Yellow Rose Futurity held at the Pinto World Championship this June in Tulsa, OK.  The Halter Million hosts the remaining WCHA futurity programs this fall including the Big Money and Breeder's Futurity.  He gives us some help with understanding how futurities work, from entries to nominations.  He credits all the stock horse futurities for keeping the halter industry alive as the industry ages.

"Everyone got a check at the Supreme Championship and we sent people home happy and ready to bring more horses next year." 

Listen and learn from one of the greats!

Find out more: www.conformationhorse.com