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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 346
 
Location: USA | What is the advantage of starting a colts futurity year at 4 instead of waiting till the are 5? |
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I AM being nice
Posts: 4396
Location: MD | I live in the MidAtlantic. For us, we really just don't have many 5 year old Futurity options. I think that the advent of the 5 year old Futurities are a wonderful thing. Many colts just are not ready for that sort of speed and pressure as 4 year olds. That being said, if you really want to haul, campaign and have a chance at the BIG money with a futurity horse, you really do need to run them as 4 year olds. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 346
Location: USA | I guess what your sayin is there is more money in the 4 year old futurities than 5? |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | More money to run at and quicker return on your investment running a 4 year old. There is no advantage for the horse, it's all economics. |
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Cat Collector
Posts: 1430
| Up here its rare to see a 4yr old enter a futurity as well we have no juvenile races. Personally I do not like the idea of 3yr olds running but thats a whole new topic.
Entering the futurity year as a 5 yr old then gives us 2 years of derby. IMO running as a 5yr old just gives them that much longer to grow up. We do not have the advantage to run all winter long, there is way too much snow and cold here,lol |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 393
| I hate the idea of the 4 year old futurities. I don't think it gives them enough time to grow up. And honestly, how many of those top 4 year old futurity horses make it in say the rodeo world? Not many! Their are either crippled or fried! JMO |
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Cat Collector
Posts: 1430
| SassyPirate - 2014-01-07 8:32 AM
I hate the idea of the 4 year old futurities. I don't think it gives them enough time to grow up. And honestly, how many of those top 4 year old futurity horses make it in say the rodeo world? Not many! Their are either crippled or fried! JMO
This is my exact thinking...there have been a handful that I can think of that actually lasted.... |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | Karlaw - 2014-01-07 9:21 AM
Up here its rare to see a 4yr old enter a futurity as well we have no juvenile races. Personally I do not like the idea of 3yr olds running but thats a whole new topic.
Entering the futurity year as a 5 yr old then gives us 2 years of derby. IMO running as a 5yr old just gives them that much longer to grow up. We do not have the advantage to run all winter long, there is way too much snow and cold here,lol
you get two derby years no matter what if I am not mistaken. if you run at 4, you derby at 5 and 6. if you run at 5, you derby at 6 and 7. |
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You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | There's good and bad for both. I am aiming my 3 YO to run as a 4YO, but if I feel she isn't going to be ready, no big deal I have the ability to wait until 5. If I just wait now and shoot for 5 YO futurities, I may end up missing out on all of it if something comes up.
I don't see a problem with running at 4 so long as you have the ability to back off and go home if your horse is starting to say I can't/won't/don't want to do it right now.
I don't think horses are immune to blowing up or injuries once they get past a certain age. It's something as riders/trainers/owners you ALWAYS have to be concerned with.
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Cat Collector
Posts: 1430
| casualdust07 - 2014-01-07 10:01 AM
Karlaw - 2014-01-07 9:21 AM
Up here its rare to see a 4yr old enter a futurity as well we have no juvenile races. Personally I do not like the idea of 3yr olds running but thats a whole new topic.
Entering the futurity year as a 5 yr old then gives us 2 years of derby. IMO running as a 5yr old just gives them that much longer to grow up. We do not have the advantage to run all winter long, there is way too much snow and cold here,lol
you get two derby years no matter what if I am not mistaken. if you run at 4, you derby at 5 and 6. if you run at 5, you derby at 6 and 7.
Yes you do. Can you not derby for 3 yrs if you futurity as a 4yr old?
I feel as though my 3yr old is ready to futurity this year as a 4yr old but I am not going to enter her until she is 5. I am only riding her 3 times a week and maybe entering a few exhibitions. |
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You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | Karlaw - 2014-01-07 11:08 AM
casualdust07 - 2014-01-07 10:01 AM
Karlaw - 2014-01-07 9:21 AM
Up here its rare to see a 4yr old enter a futurity as well we have no juvenile races. Personally I do not like the idea of 3yr olds running but thats a whole new topic.
Entering the futurity year as a 5 yr old then gives us 2 years of derby. IMO running as a 5yr old just gives them that much longer to grow up. We do not have the advantage to run all winter long, there is way too much snow and cold here,lol
you get two derby years no matter what if I am not mistaken. if you run at 4, you derby at 5 and 6. if you run at 5, you derby at 6 and 7.
Yes you do. Can you not derby for 3 yrs if you futurity as a 4yr old?
I feel as though my 3yr old is ready to futurity this year as a 4yr old but I am not going to enter her until she is 5. I am only riding her 3 times a week and maybe entering a few exhibitions.
I am pretty sure it's only 2 years, even if they run as a 4YO. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 393
| Karlaw - 2014-01-07 10:08 AM
casualdust07 - 2014-01-07 10:01 AM
Karlaw - 2014-01-07 9:21 AM
Up here its rare to see a 4yr old enter a futurity as well we have no juvenile races. Personally I do not like the idea of 3yr olds running but thats a whole new topic.
Entering the futurity year as a 5 yr old then gives us 2 years of derby. IMO running as a 5yr old just gives them that much longer to grow up. We do not have the advantage to run all winter long, there is way too much snow and cold here,lol
you get two derby years no matter what if I am not mistaken. if you run at 4, you derby at 5 and 6. if you run at 5, you derby at 6 and 7.
Yes you do. Can you not derby for 3 yrs if you futurity as a 4yr old?
I feel as though my 3yr old is ready to futurity this year as a 4yr old but I am not going to enter her until she is 5. I am only riding her 3 times a week and maybe entering a few exhibitions.
I think you are correct. I think at least in Canada. Derby age is 7 and under, it isn't number of years they competed. |
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You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | SassyPirate - 2014-01-07 11:24 AM
Karlaw - 2014-01-07 10:08 AM
casualdust07 - 2014-01-07 10:01 AM
Karlaw - 2014-01-07 9:21 AM
Up here its rare to see a 4yr old enter a futurity as well we have no juvenile races. Personally I do not like the idea of 3yr olds running but thats a whole new topic.
Entering the futurity year as a 5 yr old then gives us 2 years of derby. IMO running as a 5yr old just gives them that much longer to grow up. We do not have the advantage to run all winter long, there is way too much snow and cold here,lol
you get two derby years no matter what if I am not mistaken. if you run at 4, you derby at 5 and 6. if you run at 5, you derby at 6 and 7.
Yes you do. Can you not derby for 3 yrs if you futurity as a 4yr old?
I feel as though my 3yr old is ready to futurity this year as a 4yr old but I am not going to enter her until she is 5. I am only riding her 3 times a week and maybe entering a few exhibitions.
I think you are correct. I think at least in Canada. Derby age is 7 and under, it isn't number of years they competed.
Not according to Diamonds and Dirt Derby entry form:
Derby Event Rules
• Derby will be one Long Go Round and a Finals.
• Finals will consist of the 20 fastest times from the Long Go.
• If a horse competed in Futurities at age 4, it is eligible for Derby at ages 5 and 6, other-
wise it will Derby at ages 6 and 7.
• Derby horse registration papers must be submitted with entry form.
• Original Derby horse registration papers must be presented at check-in. |
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Expert
Posts: 2121
Location: The Great Northwest | It is so sad to see events offered for these horses that are not mature body or mind. Most horses are not mature until around six years old. To enter a youngster, the fate of the horse totally rests upon the judgement and experience of the trainer. It's sad that we need to know as soon as possible cause of money. |
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 Colored Jean Queen
Posts: 1282
Location: TX | skye - 2014-01-07 8:26 PM It is so sad to see events offered for these horses that are not mature body or mind. Most horses are not mature until around six years old. To enter a youngster, the fate of the horse totally rests upon the judgement and experience of the trainer. It's sad that we need to know as soon as possible cause of money.
I completely disagree with this. I hate that futuritied have this stigma. It all depends on the horse you are working with, and their mental and physical capabilities. Yes there are some people who do push horses too fast and ruin it for all of us. But I Futurity & have had horses in the juviniles, and 4 yr old futurities. But I base it all on the animal I'm dealing with. For instance, I have a 2 yr old already riding, that is more mentally mature than a 5 yr old that I have been riding for a few years now.
Different folks different strokes. I start my colts as long yearlings, they're always always sound and sane, some people don't start things until they're 5 yr olds. I don't judge for that. |
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You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | IndianPony - 2014-01-07 8:46 PM
skye - 2014-01-07 8:26 PM It is so sad to see events offered for these horses that are not mature body or mind. Most horses are not mature until around six years old. To enter a youngster, the fate of the horse totally rests upon the judgement and experience of the trainer. It's sad that we need to know as soon as possible cause of money.
I completely disagree with this. I hate that futuritied have this stigma. It all depends on the horse you are working with, and their mental and physical capabilities. Yes there are some people who do push horses too fast and ruin it for all of us. But I Futurity & have had horses in the juviniles, and 4 yr old futurities. But I base it all on the animal I'm dealing with. For instance, I have a 2 yr old already riding, that is more mentally mature than a 5 yr old that I have been riding for a few years now.
Different folks different strokes. I start my colts as long yearlings, they're always always sound and sane, some people don't start things until they're 5 yr olds. I don't judge for that.
Honestly I would be willing to bet there's a considerable amount of ruining and pushing horses too fast at the local level… not even young horses.. like I said earlier, the wrong hands and pushing a horse too hard no matter the age will end up with the same result..
I personally think there are good and bad trainers and jockeys in the futurities, just like there are good and bad riders at the local 5D, the big added money race, and the rodeo. You must use your judgment when finding the right person to train your horse, no matter how young or old your horse is. Watch the futurities and see which trainers are producing the horses that you would like to ride. Pay attention to the jockeys who consistently have the ones that look like a wreck waiting to happen and avoid that.
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 I'm not opinionated
Posts: 4597
Location: Online | I don't especially like futurities and I'm really not a fan of 4 year old futurities. I see way too many burnouts running that young - most people do it and ruin a perfectly good horse just for the money. I think 5 year old is better if you insist on going to futurities. I will enter my 5 year olds a little if I feel they are ready but not before. I may even enter some small local futurities, but as a general rule, I don't believe in running them hard at 4 or 5.
Flame away, I can take it.
Don't even get me started on race horses running at 2....... But what can ya do? |
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Expert
Posts: 2121
Location: The Great Northwest | I believe if they are hurting it effects the mind. I hate to see the use of pain meds to get them through. It can physically ruin the horse for life physically and medically. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 380
| SassyPirate - 2014-01-07 10:24 AM Karlaw - 2014-01-07 10:08 AM casualdust07 - 2014-01-07 10:01 AM Karlaw - 2014-01-07 9:21 AM Up here its rare to see a 4yr old enter a futurity as well we have no juvenile races. Personally I do not like the idea of 3yr olds running but thats a whole new topic. Entering the futurity year as a 5 yr old then gives us 2 years of derby. IMO running as a 5yr old just gives them that much longer to grow up. We do not have the advantage to run all winter long, there is way too much snow and cold here,lol you get two derby years no matter what if I am not mistaken. if you run at 4, you derby at 5 and 6. if you run at 5, you derby at 6 and 7. Yes you do. Can you not derby for 3 yrs if you futurity as a 4yr old? I feel as though my 3yr old is ready to futurity this year as a 4yr old but I am not going to enter her until she is 5. I am only riding her 3 times a week and maybe entering a few exhibitions. I think you are correct. I think at least in Canada. Derby age is 7 and under, it isn't number of years they competed.
In Western Canada the general rule is you can derby any horse 7 years or younger no limit on how many years that being said any event producer can put a ground rule that they can only compete in the derby 2 years.
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Cat Collector
Posts: 1430
| RNugent - 2014-01-07 9:28 PM
SassyPirate - 2014-01-07 10:24 AM Karlaw - 2014-01-07 10:08 AM casualdust07 - 2014-01-07 10:01 AM Karlaw - 2014-01-07 9:21 AM Up here its rare to see a 4yr old enter a futurity as well we have no juvenile races. Personally I do not like the idea of 3yr olds running but thats a whole new topic. Entering the futurity year as a 5 yr old then gives us 2 years of derby. IMO running as a 5yr old just gives them that much longer to grow up. We do not have the advantage to run all winter long, there is way too much snow and cold here,lol you get two derby years no matter what if I am not mistaken. if you run at 4, you derby at 5 and 6. if you run at 5, you derby at 6 and 7. Yes you do. Can you not derby for 3 yrs if you futurity as a 4yr old? I feel as though my 3yr old is ready to futurity this year as a 4yr old but I am not going to enter her until she is 5. I am only riding her 3 times a week and maybe entering a few exhibitions. I think you are correct. I think at least in Canada. Derby age is 7 and under, it isn't number of years they competed.
In Western Canada the general rule is you can derby any horse 7 years or younger no limit on how many years that being said any event producer can put a ground rule that they can only compete in the derby 2 years.
Haha Randa is there anything that you dont know??? Seriously I wish i had half your information/knowledge!
Do you know of any horses that were ran as 4yr old then 3 derby years! |
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