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    THE NEW ATA FUTURITY for Foals Born in 2002 or Later  
    Futurity Logo

     

    What Foals Are Eligible?  

    All foals born in 2002 or later and registered in any book of the ATA are eligible to enter the Futurity through a payment program. The mare may be of any breed. Eligibility is maintained as long as the payments are kept up to date, the owner remains a continuous member of the ATA through the competition year, and proper transfer of ownership is made with the ATA if the horse is sold.  

    What is the ATA Futurity?        
    All who enter will have two opportunities to compete and two opportunities to win money:  

    (1) As 3-year-olds, nominated horses may compete in the U.S. Dressage Federation (USDF) Dressage Sport Horse Breeding (DSHB) In-Hand classes under the rules laid out by the USDF for their Horse-of-the-Year program. For the competition year, a horse is considered 3 years old as of January 1 of its third year. No scores will count before the third year payment has been made to the ATA. If you have no intention of competing in the Dressage Futurity at age 4½ to 5 years old, you may stop your payments at this point.  

    (2) Those who continue their payments for two more years, may compete again with the same 4½ to 5-year-old in the Dressage portion of the Futurity. They will compete at Training Level in USDF recognized shows, following the rules for eligibility for  Horse-of-the-Year awards.  

    Do I Have to Compete in Both?  

    No. you may compete in either or both parts of the Futurity. You have the option of paying through the third year only, if you wish to compete only in the In-Hand portion of the Futurity. You have no obligation to continue.  

    You may continue your payments to the fifth year if you plan to compete in the Dressage Futurity. You have no obligation to compete in the USDF/DSHB 3-year-old competition if you choose not to.    

    What if I live in Canada?  

    Contact the ATA Futurity office for information about the availability of the Breed and Sport Horse In-Hand competition. Those competing in Canada in the Dressage Futurity will show in recognized CEF (Canadian Equestrian Federation) shows at the Basic I and II levels. The scores will be recorded by the CEF or CADORA and will be incorporated into the USDF scores. There must be a minimum of eight scores from four different shows, under four different judges. You may also compete in USDF shows.    

    What Are My Payments?  

    Your individual payments and total payment will vary depending on your horse’s age when you start the nomination. Those who start early pay less by the competition year. The longer you wait to start payments, the more you will pay up front and totally. Payments may be made in a single amount any time during the year, but must be postmarked before the horse’s birthday. All payments are non-refundable and eligibility is maintained only as long as the payments are kept up to date.  

    Are There Any Reduced Payments for the Dressage Futurity?  

    (1) If payment for the Dressage Futurity has been started and you wish to pay off the two or more remaining payments in one single payment, you will get a 10% reduction on the remaining amount. If only one payment is left, no reduction is available.  

    (2) If the entire amount is paid at one time, the following reduced total amounts are available for the Dressage Futurity only:  

    (a) $375 if paid before the horse’s first birthday;                       

    (b) $500 if paid before the horse’s second birthday;  

    (c) $600 if paid before the horse’s third birthday.  

    This single payment will also qualify your horse for the USDF/DSHB In-Hand Futurity at 3 years old. No late single payments will be accepted.          

    (3) There are no one-time payment reductions for those who are competing only in the DSHB In-Hand part of the Futurity.    

    When Do I Register My Foal?  

    All foals being nominated to the Futurity must be registered at the time of nomination, and a copy of both sides of the ATA registration papers must accompany the first payment. If the papers are pending, a copy must be sent as soon as they arrive.    

    Do I Have To Be An ATA Member To Enter The Futurity?  

    Yes, continuous membership is required from the first payment through the competition year. If your membership has lapsed or you have fallen behind, you may pay for back memberships or, if you have purchased the horse and the previous owner did not keep up his/her membership, you may pay for those missed years to maintain eligibility.    

    What If I Sell The Nominated Horse?  

    The nomination goes with the horse when it is sold and may not be transferred to another horse. If you have kept up your payments and membership to the time of sale, the new owner can take over the payments to continue the nomination on the same schedule you started. The new owner must join the ATA and forward a copy of both sides of the registration papers to the Futurity office showing the transfer of ownership. Each horse has its own Futurity number, so don’t forget to pass on your payment coupons to the new owner.    

    What Is The Distribution Of Winnings?  

    (1) In the USDF/DSHB In-Hand competition at three years old, the percentages will be 50%, 30% and 20% to the first, second and third places. These will be awarded to the colt or filly with the highest median score.  

    (2) In the Dressage Futurity, the NET (all monies taken in minus expenses ) will be divided into five money prizes:      First — 30%; second — 25%; third — 20%; 4th — 15%, 5th 10%
    FYI - It will only take 30 entries to generate $12,000.            

    When Are My Payments Considered Late?  

    Your payments must be postmarked before your horse’s birthday or they will be considered late. (See Payment Schedule.)    

    Why Does the ATA Need My Social Security Number?

    If you should win any money, the ATA, by law, must send you a 1099 for income tax purposes.
    If the number is not on record, your prize money will not be awarded.

    Whom Do I Contact If I Have A Question?
    Be sure to mention your horse's name, birth date and Futurity Number in any correspondence to:
    ATA Futurity Office
    c/o Jean Brinkman 14872 47th Road 
    Wellborn, FL  32094
    ( 386 ) 963-4619   |   ( 386 ) 963-4620 FAX
    E-mail: valhalla@alltel.n

    Do I Need a Separate Coupon Sheet for Each Foal?
    Yes. Fill out each coupon sheet entirely for each foal before sending in the first one. This will prevent confusion. If you need more coupon sheets, contact the ATA office in Ohio at atahorses@alltel.net or 740-344-1111.  

    What Do I in Do the Competition Year?

    General  

    (1) In the U.S., both the owner and the rider must join the U.S. Dressage Federation (USDF) as participating members before starting to compete. Application for USDF membership and horse registration along with the USDF Horse-of-the-Year Program will be sent to you upon receipt of the “3rd and 4th Birthday” coupon.

    (2) In the U.S., register your horse with the USDF, using the ATA registered name, in order to be eligible for the USDF Year End Awards.

     (3) To qualify also for the USDF Year-End Breed Awards, you must send them a copy of your horse's registration papers. When you compete, use only your horse's registered name, not a stable or show name.           (4) Be forewarned! When the competition year is over, if your horse is one of the money winners in either the In-Hand or the Dressage Futurities, the Futurity office will need a photo of your horse for the magazine. Mark the back with the horse's name, birth date, sire, owner's name and address and which Futurity you are competing in, In-Hand or Dressage. If it is a professional photo, we will need a written or e-mailed release from the photographer in order to be able to reproduce it.    

    In-Hand Futurity  

    (5) If you are planning to compete in the USDF/DSHB 3-year-old In-Hand part of the Futurity, make sure to fill in that portion of your “3rd Birthday” payment coupon. Remember, if you plan to go to a show before your horse's third birthday, your payment must be made before competing. The competition year is from January 1 to September 30. The USDF/DSHB regulations will be sent to you upon receipt of the 3rd Birthday coupon.     Dressage Futurity  

    (6) For the Dressage Futurity, the fourth payment card serves as your "Intent to Compete" notice. The competition year is from October 1 to September 30. The USDF Horse of the Year regulations will be sent to you upon receipt of the "Intent" marked 4th Birthday Coupon.  

    (7) In the Dressage Futurity, compete at the Training Level in USDF recognized shows.

    (8) Make sure your final payment is mailed before January 1.  

    (9) If you are competing in Dressage in Canada, join the CEF and follow their regulations. You must compete in CEF recognized shows at the Basic I and II levels. There must be a minimum of 8 scores from 4 shows under 4 different judges. Details will be mailed to you.  

    FUTURITY PAYMENT SCHEDULE  


     


    Nomina-

    tion start­ed

    1st Year

    2nd Year

    3rd Year

    Sub-

    total

    4th Year

    5th Year

    TOTAL

    By 1st Birth­day

    $50

    $75

    $100

    ($225)

    $100

    $100

    $425

    By 2nd Birthday

     

    $150

    $150

    ($300)

    $150

    $100

    $550

    By 3rd Birth­day

     

     

    $350

    ($350)

    $200

    $100

    $650

      Penalty Payments:
    • Add 25% of the payment to each one postmarked 1-30 days late.
    • Add 50% of the payment to each one postmarked 31-60 days late.
    • Add 100% of the payment to each one postmarked 60-120 days late.
    • Between 120-364 days late, if the owner wishes to continue payments, the entire remaining amount must be paid at once.
    • If 365 days lapse and you wish to pick up eligibility again, you must drop down to the next fee schedule and pay the entire difference between the amount already paid and the TOTAL amount after five years. In the 3rd Birthday schedule, add $100.00 to the total.
    • The last payment, the fifth year, will not be accepted if more than 30 days late.
    ALL PAYMENTS MUST BE UP TO DATE BEFORE COMPETING.

    DIRECTIONS CONCERNING THE COUPONS
    Mark all 5 Payment coupons BEFORE you send in the first one     so you remember which schedule you are on. Example: If you choose to start your payments before your horse's 2nd birthday, mark the following:

    • 1st Payment under "By 2nd Birthday" and
    • 2nd Payment under "By 3rd Birthday" and
    • 3rd Payment under "By 4th Birthday" and
    • 4th Payment under "Final Payment:Payments must be postmarked before the horse's birthday or a penalty will be assessed.

    All payments are final and nonrefundable and are not transferable to another horse. No first payment will be accepted after the horse's third birthday. A copy of the horse's ATA registration papers must accompany the first or one-time payment. Another copy of both sides of the papers must be sent with the payment after the horse has changed ownership.

    Make checks in U.S. Dollars payable to American Trakehner Association

    FUTURITY, 14872 47th Road 
    Wellborn, FL  32094

    Do NOT send by Registered Mail or Certified Mail