Joy Wheler and Al E Hondro, 3-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle winners

Tom Powers, the founder and manager of the Tom Powers Futurity, one of the most prestigious pleasure horse events in the country, is reporting that this year’s show closed out with a total 749 entries –up 84 over last year’s event.

Powers attributes the increase to great weather in Berrien Springs, Michigan, starting the Wednesday prior to the futurity’s start and lasting throughout the four-day event. That was a welcome change from the heavy downpours that greeted contestants upon their arrival earlier in the week.

“We had lots of entries at the show office,” Powers says. “People come back because we treat them good and because there is always the excitement of the unknown. When it’s nice it’s really nice but then………..”

Powers says he was especially pleased with this year’s yearling sale, which featured 86 pleasure prospects on Saturday evening.

“It was our best sale ever,” he says. “A little less than half actually changed ownership and the average price was about $11,200. That’s up substantially over last year.”

Randy Haines and Ima Fancy Schmancy, Non-Pro Western Longe Line winners

Powers listed the presentation of the two Western Pleasure Super Sires classes and the Benefit Bridleless Western Pleasure as the show’s highlights.

Plans are already in motion for the 2015 Tom Powers Futurity.

“We are looking at possibly removing the AQHA shows and replacing them with two AQHA/NSBA special events for Western Pleasure and Hunter Under Saddle.

Continue to monitor the futurity’s website for announcements at http://www.tompowersfuturity.com

Click here for results from the show including payouts