Rising stars shine at Futurity

When visitors come to the Celebration and see the hundreds of horses parading around the ring -- flat shod and padded, ridden by professionals or amateurs, pulling carts or carrying rider -- they may not realize they've seen many of these horses when they were just colts and fillies. That is, they have if they've ever gone to the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association's National Futurity.

The Futurity showcases the youngest of the breed, holding classes for horses three years old and younger. Although some Celebration classes are held on the Wednesday morning before the "official" opening Thursday night, it is the Futurity that really kicks off the 11-day event. It begins at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Calsonic Arena.

It also represents the richest purse of any one-day event in the walking horse industry and is consistently voted one of the best shows of the year. Most of the Futurity classes are also qualifiers for the Celebration.

"We usually use it as qualifying class for the Celebration," said Lisa Teel, who with Mitzi Butler owns Harmony Walking Horse Farm in Andalusia, Ala. "We always want to support the Celebration, whether we've got one horse or four horses. We want to have a presence."

Futurity shows, she said, serve a real purpose in the walking horse world.

"The futurity is significant simply because you're able to showcase the breeds," she said. "I think the Futurity is for the breeders -- that's the best opportunity for the people who do the actual breeding, spending the time and money and love to breed these horses and get them ready for the show ring. It's easier to buy a horse than it is to breed one, raise one, and get it ready."

Often, as the horse moves up in age and into professional training, its name is forever linked to its winning trainer or owner, and the Futurity, said Lisa, recognizes the role of the breeder.

She and Mitzi will only be bringing one filly this year, although they usually have several. In fact, Harmony Farms made a stir last year when they showed up with Miss Congeniality by RFK and Mr. Personality by RFK -- twin foals. The colt was a surprise waiting for them after his sister was born, and wasn't breathing when he was first born. The owners got him breathing and he went on to show with his sister at the Futurity last year.

This year even though they're thriving and shaping up well, for economic reasons the twins are staying at home and Teel and Butler are showing another filly instead.

"It's her first," said Lisa. "Her name is She's Entitled. She is the daughter of I'm the Lady in Command by The Titlist."

Their owners -- and that mare -- have a special reason to appreciate Futurity shows. When I'm the Lady in Command was a weanling, she won first at the International, first at the Alabama Futurity (where she also won first as a two- and three-year old) and third at the TWHBEA Futurity -- and first at the Celebration.

Futurity schedule

Aug. 26, 5:30 p.m.

Class 1 Two and Three-Year-Old Park Pleasure Stallions, Mares, and Geldings

Class 2 Weanling Fillies

Class 3 Three-Year-Old Western Trail Pleasure Stallions, Mares, and Geldings

Class 4 Two-Year-Old Park Performance Stallions, Mares, and Geldings

Class 5 Two-Year-Old Mares and Geldings

Class 6 Yearling Fillies

Class 7 Two-Year-Old Western Trail Pleasure Stallions, Mares, and Geldings

Class 8 Two-Year-Old Lite Shod Stallions, Mares, and Geldings

Class 9 Weanling Colts

Class 10 Three-Year-Old Mares and Geldings

Class 11 Three-Year-Old Park Performance Stallions, Mares, and Geldings

Class 12 Three-Year-Old English Trail Pleasure Stallions, Mares, and Geldings

Class 13 Yearling Colts

Class 14 Three-Year-Old Lite Shod Stallions, Mares, and Geldings

Class 15 Two-Year-Old Stallions

Class 16 Two-Year-Old English Trial Pleasure Stallions, Mares, and Geldings

Class 17 Yearling In-Hand Extended Gait

Class 18 Three-Year-Old Stallions