It all began as a vision. For years, Larry Little, of Mebane, North Carolina wanted to have an event for futurity horses in his home state. Becoming a reality 10 years ago, the Little Futurity held this year June 15-18 during the Tar Heel Triple Classic at the James B. Hunt Horse Complex in Raleigh, North Carolina has developed into one of the country’s premier futurities.


For the Little Family, the event is so much more than just another horse show. It’s a legacy for North Carolina Quarter Horse Hall of Fame members, Larry and wife, Gale to pass on to their children Josh and Kathryn for generations to come. Pillars in the North Carolina Quarter Horse Association, both Larry and Gale have been very involved in AQHA and NCQHA through the years. Besides their futurity’s 10-year Anniversary, the couple will also be celebrating their 38th wedding anniversary on June 22 days after the conclusion of the show.


Larry who has been a professional horse trainer for over 45 years, has been the NCQHA Most Valuable Professional Horseman twice and was voted the AQHA Most Valuable Professional Horseman in 2012. Also a Past-President of NCQHA, Larry was the Co-Founder of the NCQHA Futurity and currently serves on the AQHA Judges Committee. He holds an AQHA, NSBA and NRHA judge’s card and has judged many of the country’s biggest shows including the AQHA World Shows, NSBA World Show and the All American Quarter Horse Congress. Gale is an AQHA Director and member of the AQHA Membership and Marketing Committee as well as the AQHA Blue Ribbon Task Force and the AQHA Governance Task Force. She was the AQHA Youth Advisor of the Year and is currently the NCQHA Vice President of Shows. She also is an AQHA Ring Steward for World Shows.


Passing their horse knowledge and association leadership to their children both Josh and Kat have been involved with Quarter Horses their whole lives and have both served as Past-Presidents of the North Carolina Quarter Horse Youth Association. Their son, Josh started showing Quarter Horses at the age of 10 and currently operates Josh Little Rope Horses in Mebane, North Carolina. He is also a current member of the Wrangler Extreme Team. Their daughter, Kat also began showing Quarter Horses at the age of 10 in all-around events and made several AQHA Youth Champions and AQHA Superior horses. She was an AQHYA Director and Secretary and graduated from East Carolina University. She currently works for Tanger Outlets Corporate Headquarters in Marketing.


Being truly a family affair, both Josh and Kat are very involved with the planning and working of the Little Futurity.


“Our family has always been involved with horses and shows,” Gale Little says. “We raised our children going to horse shows and they had some great teachers along the way. They learned competition, sportsmanship, dedication, compassion and many other important tools in life.”


The Little Futurity was born in 2004 when failing numbers were threatening the existence of NCQHA’s June AQHA shows.


“NCQHA had an AQHA show that was getting smaller each year and there was discussion about no longer having it. However, this particular show, the Jamboree was very important to NCQHA because a portion of the proceeds at that time helped to fund the Harriet Lynn Norris Scholarship Fund,” Little says. “Long story short, with the support and great minds of the NCQHA and NCQHYA the Tar Heel Triple Classic with the Little Futurity was born.”


Initially starting the futurity was a little scary, the Littles admit because they had no idea what kind of response it would receive.


“It was and still is heartwarming the amount of support we have received over the years from sponsors, trainers and owners,” Little says. “The show has grown over the last 10 years. We continue to strive to provide a safe and enjoyable showing opportunity and environment for our horses, owners and exhibitors.”


With the addition of slot classes five years ago, the payouts have continued to grow as well as interest from trainers all over the country. This year the futurity has a $25,000 added 3 & 4-year-old $1,000 Novice Horse Western Pleasure and a $20,000 added Non-Pro Maturity $7,500 Limited Horse Western Pleasure Slot class. The Littles are truly appreciative of Ceclia Hylton and Peek and Virginia Owen for their generous sponsorships for the Slot classes as well as the many, many generous donations they receive like from the Winehurst Family for their sponsorship of the NSBA $10,000 Ltd. Horse Western Pleasure class, the Harris Family for donating a work saddle for the random drawing, Jeff Long for belt buckle sets, and Betsy Tuckey and Jean’s Custom Show Clothes for chaps.


“We are so truly grateful to all our sponsors on all levels who help make this show a very special show,” Little says. “There are just too many to name them all but we appreciate everyone’s support!”


From the start, the Littles have been asking for feedback from owners and exhibitors and will continue to improve the schedule and add events to the show based on the demand of the participants. Besides the larger added money classes, the Little Futurity tries to accommodate many levels of competitors with added money in a variety of events.


“Among some of the classes that we offer are the North Carolina Resident, Walk/Trot, Novice Horse, Novice Rider, Limited Rider, Limited Horse and Slot classes. We like to think that we have classes for everyone,” Little says. “We have made many changes to our list of classes over the years. We feel the improvements that have been made are a direct result of the feedback we were given by the professionals that know the needs of their horses. They have been a great support group for us and we appreciate them.”


Longtime successful horse trainer, Cole Baker of Ocala, Florida has been attending the event since the first year.


“We come back every year because it’s the first big futurity of the year. So, it’s the first chance to see everyone and all the new young horses,” Baker says. “The show staff is great! There are very little late fees to enter at the show and it’s always a lot of fun!”


Beyond the Little Family, putting together a successful-running, large show takes a whole team of highly dedicated individuals who work all year round putting the event together. Gale heads the Tar Heel Triple Classic Steering Committee as the Vice President of Shows for NCQHA and each member has a specific task. Referred to as the “Dream Team” by Gale, this amazing group of people are dedicated to the success of the entire event. Throughout the entire Triple Tar Heel Classic there are many fun activities and dinners planned to accommodate exhibitors and create a fun, social atmosphere.


“Planning is ongoing. It doesn’t stop. It takes a village!” Little says. “Aside from our family, we have wonderful friends that have helped us for the entire 10 years. Edna Atwater and her daughter, Christin, Russ Kimbrell, Judy Sullivan, Perry Davis, Martha Moss, Sis, Hannah, Holt Pope and more along the way. This great group is very enthusiastic and works hard to make it look like it is smooth sailing!”


Judy Sullivan has been the Show Secretary since the very first year. She works close with Perry Davis and Sharon Kostrova in the office getting all the paperwork in order as well as with Lester Kostrova, the show’s announcer.


“The classes offered at the show, the money offered and the way people are treated at the show has brought people from all over the country and Canada to the event. With the Little Futurity being held between the NCQHYA Show and the NCQHA Jamboree exhibitors can show at 10 AQHA shows as well as the Little Futurity classes at one location,” Sullivan says. “I start usually in January getting the class sheet together and work on and off throughout the year getting prepared for the event.”


Sullivan feels many exhibitors also like the show atmosphere of being able to prepare and show their horses outside, weather permitting, especially with the Tom Powers Futurity being held a week after the event where futurity horses also show outside. The Slot, Trail, Reining and Western Riding classes are still held inside however. This year, the class schedule will run as it did last year which Sullivan explains was a big success.


“The Trail and Western Riding classes for the Little Futurity will be on Sunday June 15 during the end of the NCQHYA Show and the Reining classes on June 18 at the beginning of the Jamboree with the majority of the futurity classes held on June 16 and 17,” Sullivan says. “We first ran the show this way last year so it would not run so long and late. It was a success so the show will have the same schedule this year.”


The Littles are truly appreciative and blessed for the ongoing support of the event. They are anxiously anticipating another successful year for their futurity and the entire Tar Heel Triple Classic.


“We see the Little Futurity in the future of our children. They believe in it as we do,” Little says. “Larry had a vision over 10 years ago and it is humbling to feel the support and participation that we still have. It is a compliment to be considered one of the major futurities.”


For more information about A Little Futurity visit www.littefuturity.com or call (919) 949-7340.