Okay, the BFA has their future fortunes stallion thing and here in the midwest we have nothing like that.  There are a lot of barrel horses east of the Mississippi and it would seem to me that someone could come up with a program similar (with some modifications) and maybe run in conjunction with some big barrel race.  I would like to see something that would give breeders in the east more incentive and also be open to more than 50 horses.[tongue]

Not a bad idea. There should be some quality stallions out there (in the midwest and east)who would be worth looking into. How does the BFA thing work?

The future fortunes works like this the stallion owners pay into a pot each year, then whoever owns foals have to pay to nominate them so they will be eligible when they are old enough to run futurities.  They are running for awards and bonus money at certain futurities but they are limited to 50 stallions, stallion owners get a small percentage for nominating them.  But I feel that if someone would get a barrel race started by having owners give a fee then part could be used for a futurity/junior barrels, part for a derby and maybe a percentage for a sweepstakes thing.  Any foal would be eligible as long as the stud was paid for that year.  The added money would come from the stallion fees that were paid in.  What do you think of something like that?   It would take a little time to grow but I think it is something that could take off and those with older horses that were sweepstakes age could pay the fee for the stallion if it were deceased to make their horses eligible for the other stuff and a very small percentage could be given to the stallion owner/owners to get them to donate.  I think it would help sell foals more than get mares bred (which is what the BFA is promoting).  I would be interested in trying to get something like this started if I thought there would be enough support and it could be moved from time to time to different states to make the driving fair.  [wink]

It sounds as if you have put some time into thinking about this. So far the idea sounds good. How much would you want the stallion owners to put in? I am guessing that the show would be an open one and the nominated foals would get a part of the incentive money. I like the idea of moving it around but would you limit the areas to just the east? I am guessing that you have a stallion that you would like to promote? I have one that is a three year old now (as of 1/1/04, see signature picture) and would give this some thought in a couple of years for him. This year is the "test" year to see if he will stay a stud (I have to see how his attitude goes to see if he stays a stud) but, if I keep him a stud and you could put a plan together then yes, I would want to look into it.

Yes, I have been thinking about it for a long long time now, the amount of money for the studs would have to be up in the air because I was thinking of mainly making foals from the current year being eligible for it so that more can benefit from it.  Moving it around would really depend on where the studs and entries were really coming from but we really need a lot of promotion for the studs in the midwest and the east.  The biggest part of the purse would of course be from the entry fees but the stud fees would be the added money, and whatever sponsors I could dig up would be for awards like saddles and stuff and advertising.  I think it would be a win win situation but one that would take a little time to promote and would more than likely be slow growing but I have a young horse that I would like to promote also but also would pay to nominate a deceased stud to make my current horse eligible.  Does this make sense to you?  [confused]

So far I think I am with you here. I am not sure how much time you are talking about as far as the foals who would be eligible goes. How many foals does your stud have on the ground? It would take mine a couple of years to get to the point of being a benifit to him. He will have his first foal hit the ground in April/May. I like your train of thought though. Would this be something for midwest studs only and how would you gauge who is in an who is not?

Ok, my studs oldest colts were born in 2003 so it will be a couple of years for him too but if you only pay the studs in that have colts running both Junior and Senior this year then the owners of the horses and the studs will both benefit almost instantly.  You could pay a stud that is deceased in for a 15 year old horse for the sweepstakes portion.  Or do you think setting one up as like cutting or reining futurity would be better.  That is how the BFA is doing but they have limited theirs to 50 studs and the first year you could nominate anything of any age.  It is just so hard to get barrel breeders to pull together for the long haul but that is mainly because there are really very few people that breed specifically for this unlike other breeds.

I've been following this thread with great interest.  I'd love to see something for us  Midwesterners.  What state would you originally base it out of?  I'd like to offer my services if you decide to get some folks together and start the organization.  I'll volunteer to head up the advertising, do some graphic design (logos, biz cards, flyers, etc), and put up the website. Let me know what you think!

Ramsey

We need something like that around here! [grin]That would awesome!! Everyone up here has to travel sooooo far!

I don't know how the reining or cutting industries do theirs but I like the ideas you have. I know a couple of people who breed pretty much just for barrels and they too might like to see something like this.

On a side note, You said you are from "south of Indy" and mentioned "the old days" in another post. How old and how south? I am originally from Indy and did allot of running at Valley Riders and peacefull Valley. know of these places?




P.S. Ramsey, that is a very nice offer (you may be held up to it[grin])

I am actually from Shelby County Indiana, but am open as to arenas to have this in, there are so many available and it would have to be held somewhere that offered stalls, showing out of trailer options (if possible), showers and all the other stuff that goes with it.  I would be interested in getting with other people and trying to get something going.  It will take awhile and some work on everyones part but I have a jam up CPA/attorney that could tell us what we can do money wise to protect all the interested parties and stuff.  I would really like to know what everyone else would really like to expect from a program like this and where you think something like this should be held.

I am intersted. I can not say that the money thing is good right now, but e-mail me with some details and I will see if there would be some interest and ideas from some people who have barrel studs. Would South Carolina be included in the "east" idea?  

I think that every state east of the Mississippi would be considered as in like flynn.  At any rate the webmaster has stated she would be interested in doing some advertising and that could be her portion and I have a couple of people that would be willing to put in some money to be in on the ground floor as well as provide some grunt work, so I guess it is really up to how many people can pay in and then there is the question of how much to pay for the stud nominations and how long it would take to get this flying so anyone interested please contact me at vsnider@lightbound.com   I am also on msn messanger as loli94 and aol as lolisnider so let me know.  I learned a long time ago, never turn down help because this stuff can be a money maker in the long run as well as promote the stallions that many of us have and will also help those of us that like to haul but can't quite seem to manage the futurity end of the deal.[wink]

I'm excited!    Has anybody posted over at the other boards for input from more barrel folks?  I'm ready and willing to get the ball rolling!  I agree that IN sounds like a good base for a starting state... once there's more folks signed on maybe we can get a better idea of location.  Do we have any ideas for names for this organization?  MBF (Midwest Barrel Futurities)?  EBF (Eastern Barrel Futurities)?  (I like MBF better of those two, because the latter is too similar to the EBFA, but I'm just throwing things out here.)  I'd also like something to indicate that our part of the "eastern" area of the US is NOT the southeastern area as alot of folks sometimes think.  I think GA, SC, AL, and all those guys down there get all the credit for "eastern" as far as barrel racing goes.  (That's the second reason I like the MBF better of the two... but lets hear some other peoples ideas!!!)  

Ramsey

Another thought, if we're going to get this going, I am friends with the general manager (of the Dayton branch) and also an old employee (in good standing!! ) with the owner of Boot Country (you may have seen them in the Cinci area).  They *might* be interested in some kind of sponsorship, putting money up for advertising.  Let me know if you want me to pass any info along to them...

Ramsey