A program focused on encouraging participation in the growth and promotion of a region’s breeding, training, and exhibition of quality locally bred horses.

The Carolina Connection Breeders Program or CCBP is an exciting new platform designed to promote locally bred horses within the five state region of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. The CCBP will offer incentives to the horses enrolled to compete each year in a special event to be held in a central location for cash prizes.

Originally established with the thought in mind to grow and support a region of breeders, exhibitors, and trainers so that they can have the opportunity to compete against other locally bred horses thus building a strong region of quality horses and competition.

Organizers are hoping to revive the local breeding and breeding incentives for this region by creating a way for breeders to be able to breed their horse, enroll in this program, and have a more affordable way to make that foal successful and thus enhance its value.

“We’ve watched over the last few years the local and state futurities in this region dwindle away and because of it, people aren’t breeding as much or participating in the shows as much as they used to or maybe even want to,” says Paul Thurston, an organizer of the CCBP program.

Breeders and trainers have revealed that financial restrictions have had a serious negative impact on the industry that has impacted breeding and training.

“We have talked to local breeders in this region as well as trainers who all say that finances have stopped a lot of the breeding and has hurt the local industry for training as well. Some clients just don’t have the means to enter the Master’s at the Congress, or go to the Tom Powers or NSBA World to get a chance to win some money from their foals or build value for resale.” Thurston explains. “Now we are going to give them that opportunity by having a futurity locally that’s affordable to enroll in and will put money back into the local horse industry from beginning to end – breeding, training, showing, selling.”

Owners of a horse born in the five eligible states in 2013 or 2014 can enroll their foal in the CCBP for $100 by Nov. 1. There will be a special event held the first weekend of December of 2015 that will feature 2-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle Classes for those 2013 foals that were enrolled. These foals must be owned by a regional resident and shown by a rider from the five state region as well. Horses that have been in the top 10 of any major futurity in the country are ineligible to compete. All money paid into the futurity will be put back into the program There has already been $5,000 added among the classes.

The CCBP hopes to eventually to have this event grow where they have support from corporate sponsors and can incorporate non-pro, color, and limited classes along with a yearling sale for those enrolled.

“We’ve had a lot of interest in the program and hope to start receiving enrollments now that word about the program is spreading,” says spokesperson Margaret Byrd.

CCBP is asking that everyone try to participate in order to grow this program and help promote the region’s quality bred horses and horse industry.

For more information contact Byrd at (910) 410-9859 or bmargaret200@earthlink.net

You can also visit the website at www.carolinaconnectionbreeders.com for enrollment forms and information. Check back often for updates as this program progresses.