Ever see a dollar bill on the ground and walk on by? Of course not. Well the Arabian Reining Horse Association is offering Quarter Horse owners a great opportunity to pick up some extra income and it’s just about that easy. You may already be doing well with your current group of clients in the American Quarter Horse industry, but you may want to consider dipping into the Arabian and Half-Arabian industry too by participating in the programs and the new markets being made available through the ARHA.

Prize Money - The NRHA sanctioned Scottsdale Arabian and Half-Arabian Reining Futurity Classic is already scheduled for February 11-21, 2010. So mark your calendars now. This event offers something for everyone; pro and non-pro riders, stallion owners, mare owners, and trainers - everyone has something to gain by attending and participating in the programs offered by the ARHA. You can compete and enjoy all of the programs offered by the AQHA, and you can participate in the ARHA too – it’s double the fun, and it doubles your chance to increase your earnings.

To start with, there is $150,000 in prize money being offered at the Reining Futurity Classic, which are open to both purebred Arabian and Half-Arabian horses. A purse that size definitely makes it worth the while to bring horses to this show. In 2009, John O’Hara won the Half-Arabian Open Futurity riding Tucks for Bucks and took home a hefty $36,000.00. Tracer Gilson took second in the class with Sugarplum Starlight and won an impressive $15,000.00. Veteran Quarter Horse trainer Brain Welman won the class with Fyre in the Skye and brought home a very nice prize of $20,000.00. There was a three way tie for second place between Crystal McNutt riding Here She Comes, Brian Welman riding TR Rein Dance, and John O’Hara riding Premium Buckshot. All of the classes pay out to tenth place, so there is plenty of prize money to go around.





Also offered are Limited Futurity classes, these run concurrently with the Arabian and Half-Arabian Reining Classic. The Limited Futurities are a jackpot and to become eligible for the award, competitors pay the regular class fee plus an additional fee of $500.00. All of the Limit fees go into the jackpot so the more riders there are, the bigger the purse.

There are plenty of opportunities for non-pro riders too. The Scottsdale show includes both a Non-Pro Futurity and a Non-Pro Derby. The Non-Pro Futurity is for 4 and 5 year old Arabian and Half-Arabians with separate classes for each division, which run concurrent with the Open Futurity. The Non-Pro Futurity Classic entry is automatically entered in the Open Futurity and they may enter the Limited Futurity class for an additional $500 entry fee, regardless of their wins. The Non-Pro Derby Classic is for adult amateur riders with horses aged 6, 7 and 8 years. Pros, non-pro, young horses, mature horses – the ARHA has done a great job to include something for just about everyone.

Quarter Horse Stallion Owners – Those owners who want to increase their stallion’s book should look to the ARHA as an additional market opportunity. Breeders of Half-Arabian reining horses use the services of top Quarter Horse reining stallions on their Arabian mares with the goal of producing a high quality reining style foal. More and more Arabian breeders are focusing on developing programs specifically to produce reining horses. The Quarter Horse is the undisputed king of the ring when it comes to reining, and other working disciplines, so it’s natural that Arabian breeders seek out and use the top reining sires on their Arabian mares. Quarter Horse stallion owners can post their horses on the ARHA website where there is a page dedicated to Reining Stallion Services. There is a very nominal charge to include your stallion, photos, stats, and a link to your web site, just contact the ARHA and they will give you all the details.

Quarter Horse Mare Owners – There are ample opportunities for Quarter Horse mare owners too. You don’t have to own a Quarter Horse stallion to enjoy the benefits of participating with the ARHA. Arabian stallion owners who want to produce reining style horses are looking for top quality Quarter Horse reining mares either to purchase, lease, or to purchase embryo rights to them. If you own a great reining mare, why not take advantage of the increasing interest shown by Arabian breeders and offer them the services of your mare. It could produce additional income from a mare that you might have otherwise left open. One of the best ways to market your mare and breeding services is to utilize the Sale Horse Page on the ARHA website. Again, it is very inexpensive and you will be reaching a great new market for your horses.

NRHA Professional Trainers – Trainers are another group of horse men and women who can benefit from participating in the ARHA. With their experience and high level of expertise in the reining arena, Quarter Horse trainers have a lot to offer to owners of Arabian and Half- Arabian reining horses. Today’s economy presents tough challenges. Now more than ever it takes an open-minded approach to maintain or grow your business. Arabian and Half-Arabian owners are serious competitors who are always looking for ways to improve their skills and enjoy their horses. Quarter Horse trainers who can offer them assistance in gaining a competitive edge through personal training or through educational clinics have the opportunity to gain a whole new group of clients.

One More Note – There’s another benefit to participating in the ARHA and the Scottsdale Reining Futurity Classic – it’s just plain fun! Scottsdale is a great city; the Scottsdale show is a really good time, especially for those living in cold, northern climates, it’s a great opportunity to enjoy some nice warm weather, and the members of the ARHA are horse men and women who truly love the sport.

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