TWHBEA Executive Committee Approves Changes to National Futurity
Copyright WHR 2007
By Christy Howard Parsons
In the final meeting of the 2007 Executive Committee, the EC voted to convert the National Futurity to a true futurity program beginning the weanling class of 2008. Thus the weanlings that are nominated for the National Futurity in 2008 will be the only colts eligible for nomination as yearlings in 2009, and so on. During the year 2008, yearlings, two-year-olds and three-year-olds will still be allowed to buy into the Futurity even if they didn’t participate in their earlier years. Similarly in 2009, two-year-olds and three-year-olds will be allowed to buy in. However in four years, the National Futurity will be a true futurity such that all horses will have to have been nominated beginning their weanling year and throughout their participation in the program. The motion to make this change was made by Pat Stout, seconded by Marty Irby and passed, although Bruce Vaughn declined and Charles Wharton abstained.
Pat Stout also made a motion to change the distribution of the National Futurity fees to benefit the regional futurities. Stout proposed a simplification of the fee structure whereby a stallion owner can pay one nomination fee, equal to one advertised stud fee with a minimum of $150, to participate in all futurities. Fifty percent of the nomination fee will go to the National Futurity (which is the same that is collected currently for the National Futurity). The other fifty percent will be split equally among the regional futurities, of which there are currently nine.
Stallion owners who do not participate in the National Futurity, but who do choose to participate in a regional futurity, will still have the option to participate in the regional futurity in the same way that they have in the past.
Jerrold Pedigo asked that the motion be amended to be subject to the “buy in” by the management of the regional futurities. The program is intended to benefit the regional futurities as they will receive money from every stallion that participates in the National Futurity, however, there could be some stallions who currently participate in a regional futurity for which the regional futurity will receive less from that stallion than they would have under the prior arrangement.
Pat Stout made the motion and Kathy Zeis seconded . The motion passed unanimously, although Marty Irby abstained due to a conflict of interest.
Kathy Zeis and the Breeders Committee also presented motions for approval by the Executive Committee. The Breeders Committee suggested that the premium IPEDs membership be available free of charge to all members, and that the resulting loss of $55,000 revenue be made up by expanding the classified advertising program online to be available to members and nonmembers. After discussion, the motion was amended to direct the staff to develop these programs and return to the Executive Committee with their recommendations at the February 2008 meeting. Holly Reynolds seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Zeis and the Breeders Committee also made a motion to initiate a new award, a Lifetime Breeders Award, intended to honor generational contributions to the breed with a vision. Marty Irby seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The Breeders Committee will now develop criteria for the award and return to the EC for their approval of that criteria.
Holly Reynolds proposed a fee increase for the youth membership following her youth committee meeting. The fee increase will have to be approved by the National Board, according to the bylaws, but the EC unanimously approved the proposed increase from $10 per year to $15 per year, $35 for a four-year membership, and $60 for a full-youth membership until aging out of the program.
As the final meeting of this Executive Committee, each of the members felt obliged to share their appreciation for the relationships developed among the members despite the discord that permeated much of the year. Jerrold Pedigo began, “Regardless of our differences of opinions, I have enjoyed being here. I am thankful to national board for allowing me to serve. It’s been entertaining to say the least. . . I love this horse, I love this breed. Collectively we’ve come to decisions that will impact and help this breed in a big way. I know each of you have a passion for this horse. Push in the direction that you think is best for this association.”
Charles Wharton echoed those sentiments saying that he had come to know Jamie Hankins and Wayne Dean and respect them as trainers even vowing that if he returned to active showing that he would put a horse with them, to which Dean quickly clipped “I’ve got a stall. Do you want me to send a truck?”
On a more serious note, Wharton said “Let’s look back over the past year with the good memories and leave here with a high personal regard for each other. It’s been a difficult year. And it‘s going to be difficult in the future because of our financial situation. I look forward to 2008 and a better brighter future.”
Recently resigned Executive Director Chuck Cadle thanked the committee saying that this had been an interesting assignment, despite the fact that he felt like he had been in a tug of war. “I tried to do the best I could.”
Cadle also proudly explained the new partnership with the National Park Service which was recently announced in a new release by TWHBEA (see news release at