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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 322
| What are the benefits/perks of running futurities as a 4 year old vs 5 year old?
I have seen why people wait until they are 5 years old (growth/maturity/etc). But I want to know what are the benefits/perks to running at 4. Are there any 4 year old only futurities? I live on the West Coast and I havent seen any out here that are only open to 4 year olds. |
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| I am in Minnesota, and I haven't been able to pattern my 4yo (will run as a 5yo) consistently since the beginning of November, unless I haul somewhere. Closest indoor arena to me is 30 miles away, so I only get there once a week if I'm lucky. Its all back roads, and if it snows I am screwed since I refuse to haul horses on roads that are less than perfect. This is how my life is going to be until at least end of April or early May. Thats 6 months of the year I am losing, where as other people can keep going. It's just not practical for me to have them ready to run as 4yo unless they're complete freaks of nature.
Actually, right now its hard to even ride them at home anywhere! We keep getting snow, followed by 35 degree days, followed by below zero days. . . which turns everything into ice. I am so over winter and its only early Decemeber! I am lucky that 99% of the futurities up here are open to 5yos.
I guess my response isn't very helpful, I'm just venting my frustrations LOL.
Edited by WrapN3MN 2014-12-03 1:04 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 550
| I don't futurity, but I know there are some 4 year old futurities.
Also I think for some, cost is an issue. With a 5 year old you have an extra year of feeding/shoeing/vet on a horse that isn't earning it's keep. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 322
| quikchik - 2014-12-03 12:13 PM I don't futurity, but I know there are some 4 year old futurities. Also I think for some, cost is an issue. With a 5 year old you have an extra year of feeding/shoeing/vet on a horse that isn't earning it's keep.
I have heard there are 4 year old only futurities, but i cannot find which ones are. Thank you for your response :) |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 550
| I'm on the east coast, so it may be different, but here is an early one locally:
http://www.southernrebelfuturity.com/entry_rules.html#rules
There are a few others this way, too. |
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 Expert
Posts: 5290
| Isin't Ft. Smith a 4 year old only? |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | I thought BFA was mainly just for 4 years olds and there's tons of money in that. |
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  Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | oija - 2014-12-03 1:42 PM I thought BFA was mainly just for 4 years olds and there's tons of money in that.
All of the BFA futurities are 4 and under. That is the advantage to running a 4 YO. Many of the 5 YO futurities are in the North and Northwest due to their weather and not being able to ride all year and get a colt ready. I have a 5 YO futurity horse; we ran him on the track as a 3 YO, so didn't start riding him until spring of his 4 YO year, so we'll be going to the 5 YO futurities that are within reasonable driving distances. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 322
| oija - 2014-12-03 12:42 PM I thought BFA was mainly just for 4 years olds and there's tons of money in that.
I thought the juvinile race & slot race was for coming 4 year olds. But i wasn't sure about the futurity. Same with Fort Smith... I cannot find any rules that state it is for 4 year old only. Many entry forms arent on websites since the new futurity year is starting. |
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 I'm not opinionated
Posts: 4597
Location: Online | I'm NOT saying ALL, but most people who do 4 year old futurities do it for the money. They have no patience and ram jam these horses so they can get more money sooner. They don't give a moment's thought to what that horse will become after that futurity year. How many horses that were tough in the 4 year old futurities become competitive years after? Not many. Most are burned up, blown up, or crippled.
Don't get me started on 3 year old futurities.
I think 5 should be the minimum. But that's just my opinion. Flame all you want, make excuses. But no one can deny what I said. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 322
| Are all BFA futurity sanctioned races open to 4 year old only? From any upcoming races i can find, they look to be that way. Again, since I am on the West Coast I may not be running my horse as a 4 year old... Damn those full time jobs!!! |
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 Champ
Posts: 19623
Location: Peg-Leg Julia Grimm | You have to be sure to read the rules. The futurity year starts on Dec 1 and goes through Nov 30th of the following year.
Some eastern futurities are 4 and under. Some are 5 and 4 year olds. Nothern and western states are mostly 4-5 year olds. Either way they can't have run in competition before Dec 1 to be eligible for that 12 month futurity year. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 322
| OregonBR - 2014-12-03 1:03 PM You have to be sure to read the rules. The futurity year starts on Dec 1 and goes through Nov 30th of the following year.
Some eastern futurities are 4 and under. Some are 5 and 4 year olds. Nothern and western states are mostly 4-5 year olds. Either way they can't have run in competition before Dec 1 to be eligible for that 12 month futurity year.
I know when they cannot run before Dec 1 - I am familiar with many of the rules. I've been racing for a long time, and decided to raise and train (with help) my own to futurity. My filly is now coming 2 and I am trying to decide how serious I want to be about running her as 4 or 5 years old. If there is no added benefit to running at 4 (besides certain races back east) then I dont have to worry about it.
I am not in a financial position to haul back East (unless I find a sugar daddy... which i am currently accepting applications ). |
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Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | I am in a similar position as you with a 2 year old (coming 3). Even knowing that major money in the BFA is related to the 4 year old races, I have scheduled her training to be consistent with competing her 5 year old year and not her 4 year old one. |
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Veteran
Posts: 219
| Roundpen (Easy Dash Oak), Frenchmans Jester, Slick by Design, Skye (can't think of her name), christy Loflin's mare, Worm (Trula Churchill), The horse Shada Brazile made finals on last year, Brittany Pozzi's Duke, Firewater on the Rocks. Many more!
All competed as 4 year olds.
"A good horse is a good horse"
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Whack and Roll
Posts: 6342
Location: NE Texas | If they are ready as 4's i'll run them as 4's. If they aren't i'll run them as 5's but I try not to dictate my horse and where they will run too soon. My goal is to always go as a 4 YO simply because there are more options, but if I need to wait then I have no problem with that either. As mentioned before there are alot of great horses who ran as 4 YO futurity colts, there are also alot of great horses who never ran in a futurity at all, and yes, there are alot of futurity colts that never make it passed their 4 YO year. As a trainer or owner, it's important to find a program that works for you and your horses if you're not training them yourself, and to be sure that your trainer or jockey is understanding of what your objective is and don't be afraid to change trainers or programs if you don't like the results you're getting. |
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 Elite Veteran
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Location: Bigfoot Country | Herbie - 2014-12-03 3:48 PM
If they are ready as 4's i'll run them as 4's. If they aren't i'll run them as 5's but I try not to dictate my horse and where they will run too soon. My goal is to always go as a 4 YO simply because there are more options, but if I need to wait then I have no problem with that either. As mentioned before there are alot of great horses who ran as 4 YO futurity colts, there are also alot of great horses who never ran in a futurity at all, and yes, there are alot of futurity colts that never make it passed their 4 YO year. As a trainer or owner, it's important to find a program that works for you and your horses if you're not training them yourself, and to be sure that your trainer or jockey is understanding of what your objective is and don't be afraid to change trainers or programs if you don't like the results you're getting.
Well said! I agree, it's all about if they are ready, physically and mentally. |
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 Ms. Poutability
Posts: 2362
Location: In my own world | Mis_Trev - 2014-12-03 1:52 PM Are all BFA futurity sanctioned races open to 4 year old only? From any upcoming races i can find, they look to be that way. Again, since I am on the West Coast I may not be running my horse as a 4 year old... Damn those full time jobs!!!
Yes all BFA sanctioned futurities are for 4 yr olds only. I'm not sure which ones those are though |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 322
| Thank you! Very well said. |
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Expert
Posts: 5290
| rodeomom13 - 2014-12-03 11:50 AM
I'm NOT saying ALL, but most people who do 4 year old futurities do it for the money. They have no patience and ram jam these horses so they can get more money sooner. They don't give a moment's thought to what that horse will become after that futurity year. How many horses that were tough in the 4 year old futurities become competitive years after? Not many. Most are burned up, blown up, or crippled.
Don't get me started on 3 year old futurities.
I think 5 should be the minimum. But that's just my opinion. Flame all you want, make excuses. But no one can deny what I said.
I agree 100 percent! |
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