Show Me The Money
Michelle Watson and Cliff McCurdy
these great sires. Also, when it comes to marketing, it never hurts that a prospective new horse is nominated to one or more payback program. “For me personally, I believe that it is important for owners to nominate their stallions for the benefit to the breed. That’s why I nominate Mamage—not for myself, but for the other breeders, the mare owners, and the owners of Mamage offspring. I want to support the breed and to help create good performance horses. It’s not about me. It’s about encouraging others to breed well and ensuring a bright future for the Arabian horse.” Marty Shea, Shea Stables “Recently, we were thrilled to hear that Maroon Fire Arabians’ stallion, Afire Bey V, was ranked second on the list for 2012 Top Ten Futurity Leading Living Performance Sire and Top Ten Futurity Overall Living Leading Sire, with 17 winning offspring. Taking the top spot was Afire Bey V’s son, Baske Afire, and three more of his sons were also ranked among the Top Ten Leading Futurity Sires. The Linigers’ stallion IXL Noble Express was ranked fourth in the Top Ten Futurity Leading Living Performance Sires and seventh in the Futurity Overall Living Leading Sires, with 10 winning offspring. “We were tied for third among the Top Ten Arabian Performance Futurity Breeders and Top Ten Overall Arabian Futurity Breeders, with seven winners. Shea Stables and Maroon Fire Arabians support and participate in most of the Arabian breeder futurity programs across the country. In fact, Tim is a board member for the AEPA, as well as the APHA; we believe it’s a way we can pay forward all the benefits we have received from these organizations. “We participate on several levels. We nominate the stallions for the AHA Breeders Sweepstakes, the Scottsdale Signature
Stallion, the AEPA, and recently, we included the Minnesota Medallion Stallion program. We believe it’s our responsibility to nominate the stallions to these programs so the owners of the stallion offspring have every opportunity possible to participate in programs that will benefit them. “In our opinion, everyone wins with the futurity programs. It helps owners promote their stallion’s services and market the offspring, and it provides trainers with horses and exciting competition in many divisions and disciplines. Futurity programs also offer owners and amateur riders opportunities to enjoy their horses and whenever possible win some prize money—that’s always a bonus! “We especially like the AEPA Purebred and Half-Arabian Saddle Seat Futurity programs. The classes are great marketing opportunities. Everyone knows if you want to find the best up-and-coming young English pleasure prospects, you’ll see them in these classes. Although we enjoyed the AEPA classes when they were held at Scottsdale, we were really pleased when they were moved to the Nationals in October. That gave everyone several more months to work with their young horses, and having the extra time takes a lot of pressure off the trainers and the horses. We all saw the result (better trained horses and extremely exciting competition). These are now the most prestigious performance classes in the industry. The AEPA, and the other breeder futurities, make this all possible.” Michelle Watson, Victoria Arabians, LLC Victoria Arabians LLC, of Florida, are strong supporters of breeder futurity programs. The farm owners, Michelle Watson and Cliff McCurdy, have earned a place of high honor among Arabian horse breeders, as they were tied for second place among the 2012 Top Ten Futurity Breeders of Champions, tied for fifth place among Top Ten Overall Futurity Breeders, and tied for fifth among Top Ten Halter Futurity Breeders.
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