Nomination Information

WHY IS MAKING A NOMINATION IN A FUTURITY DIFFERENT FROM MAKING AN ENTRY IN A HORSE SHOW?

A nomination is a plan for showing a young Saddlebred which begins with a weanling and takes it through the time it is a three-year old. When a Saddlebred owner nominates an entry in a futurity, he/she must follow the procedures which have been set up as the rules of that futurity and are listed on the "General provisions" sheet. The questions and answers given apply to the American Saddle Horse Breeders Futurity of Illinois.

DOES A SADDLEBRED HAVE TO BE REGISTERED TO BE IN THE FUTURITY?

Yes, only Saddlebreds registered with the American Saddle Horse Association are eligible for nomination in the Illinois Futurity. This includes all sires, dams, and fillies and colts.

WHY IS NOMINATING A WEANLING DIFFERENT FROM MAKING OTHER NOMINATIONS?

Weanling nominations are a family affair. The sire, dam and weanling nominations are due by June 1st of the year in which the foal is born. After this year, the foal should be nominated as a yearling, two-year old and three-year old.

HOW SOON DOES A WEANLING HAVE TO BE REGISTERED?

A weanling must be registered by December 31st of the year in which it is foaled. If the weanling is to be shown however, it must have its registered name and number by the closing date for entries in the Futurity of Illinois. The Illinois Futurity show is held at the Illinois State Fair in August.

HOW LONG CAN A SADDLEBRED STAY IN THE FUTURITY?

In Illinois, the Futurity provides classes for four age divisions. A Saddlebred may be nominated in the Futurity for four years if all the requirements for nomination as a weanling have been fulfilled and it has been renominated each of the successive years as a yearling, two-year old and three-year old. A colt may be a stallion or a gelding.

DOES A FUTURITY NOMINATION ENTRY HAVE TO BE SHOWN?

No, you may opt to show or to wait until your foal reaches its best form, as long as you keep it nominated. If you show, your entry is made in the section for Futurity classes on the entry blank of the Illinois State Fair Horse Show by their deadline also. No horse show entry fees are required for Saddlebreds nominated in the Illinois Futurity.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MONEY OBTAINED FROM THE NOMINATION FEES?

All monies from fees are combined with donations to the Illinois Futurity and returned to the nominators as prize money divided among the weanling, yearling and two-year old age divisions of the Futurity. The fees are: $50.00 for stallions (sires) and $60.00 for mares (which includes the foal). Jackpot prize money has a $2,000 sponsorship added to the Jackpot fees collected. Fees are due with the nomination entries no later than June 1st of the current year.

Sire and dam of the Grand Champion weanling each receive $50.00.

Sire and dam of the Reserve Grand Champion weanling each receive $25.00.

Winners in the Illinois Futurity classes are listed in the American Saddle Horse Register.

DOES A WEANLING HAVE TO BE FOALED IN ILLINOIS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR NOMINATION IN THE ILLINOIS SADDLE HORSE BREEDERS FUTURITY?

No, a weanling may be born in any state and if the rules of the American Saddle Horse Breeders Futurity of Illinois are fulfilled, it may be nominated in the Illinois Futurity.

WHERE DO I GET NOMINATION ENTRY BLANKS FOR THE ILLINOIS SADDLE HORSE BREEDERS FUTURITY OF ILLINOIS?

Entry blanks are supplied by the American Saddle Horse Breeders Futurity of Illinois. They are available at all times on this website, but are mailed to former nominators and to known breeders in May of each year by the Secretary.

For nomination entry blanks and further information about Illinois Futurity classes, contact Cynthia Daniels, Secretary at: cynthiayavart@att.net or call 217/836-7433.