The Tar Heel Triple Classic is welcoming exhibitors to Raleigh, North Carolina this week for two AQHA show circuits which bookend The Little Futurity, one of the premier futurities of the show season.

A new format this year calls for nine AQHA sanctioned shows spread across eight days. Action got started on Thursday with four-day show, sponsored by the North Carolina Quarter Horse Youth Association. Classes included Halter, Showmanship, Small Fry, Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, Ranch Riding and Reining classes. On Friday, the schedule opens with Pleasure Driving followed by Small Fry English classes, Hunter Under Saddle, Equitation, Trail and Western Riding.

On Friday and Saturday, a few miles to the south at the 11 Bar East Ranch in Sanford, North Carolina, exhibitors and horses will gather to compete in Boxing, Working Cow Horse, Heading, Heeling, and, Tie-Down and Breakaway Roping; showing to nine judges in three separate goes.

“We’re the only horse show in North Carolina now that has the cattle classes,” said Larry Little, who along with his wife, Gale, founded the Little Futurity. “In the East, it’s hard for people to get qualified for the World Show in these classes. They’re not huge entry numbers for us, but we’re able to offer them and the format is cost efficient for the show, so it’s good for the exhibitors.” The schedule between the arenas is designed to accommodate horses in the cattle and non-cattle classes for those who do both, such as the ranch riding or halter.

The Little Futurity, June 11-13, features a full slate (52 classes) of Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Trail and Western Riding classes in its 13-year run. The Littles have tweaked their show over the years, making changes when necessary to best accommodate the exhibitors.

“We felt like Trail was a good place to increase participation,” Gale said. “We’ve always had added money in the Trail, but this year we’ve put a major focus on it, adding $8,500 to the Trail classes. Trail has become a lager class at many shows, but exhibitors don’t normally have the opportunity to ride for the money like the pleasure horses do.”

Exhibitors will compete for a share of the $1,000 in the Green Trail, $2,500 in Non-Pro, Junior and Senior Trail.

“We’ve always used Tim Kimura patterns, but this year Tim will be here and he will hold a Trail clinic during the show,” Larry said. “We think it’s a great thing for the exhibitors.”

The futurity Trail will run concurrently with the AQHA trail classes on Sunday, June 11.

In addition to the NSBA futurities the Little Futurity has special classes, like the Winehust Farm NSBA Maturity $10,000 Limited Horse Western Pleasure, plus their two slot classes: The Southern Oaks $1,000 Novice Horse Western Pleasure and the Non Pro Maturity $7,500 Limited Horse Western Pleasure Slot Class. The two slot classes are the premier evening events held inside, with introductions and the trot down the center adding to the prestige. The beautiful buckles, NSBA trophy and paychecks are incentive for the entries.

The Heart of Stone Western Pleasure class is an open class benefitting the Heart of Stone Foundation, that supports research efforts in the fight against childhood heart issues.

“Of course, we’re emotionally attached to the family,” explained Gale, speaking of Shane and Holt Pope, who lost their very young son to congenital heart defects. “When we approached Shane and Holt (Pope) with our idea to have a class in his name, to benefit the foundation they blessed it. As long as they will let us have it we will have a Heart of Stone class.”

The only requirement for the class is the entry fee of a minimum of $100. Any horse, any rider can ride in the pleasure class. “NSBA donates a trophy awarded to the winner, so it is judged,” Gale said. “Some will hand us a $100 bill, some will pay $500. They just want to participate.”

All the class proceeds are donated to the Heart of Stone Foundation.

Inside purses go a long way in encouraging exhibitors in the futurity classes.

“We have a purse within the purse for horses that have not won $1,000 prior to the start of the Little Futurity,” said Gale. “New in the Novice Horse Hunter Under Saddle class, we have an additional inside purse for the two highest placing non-pro and limited riders.”

All told, the Little Futurity pays out approximately $150,000.

The Jamboree, NCQHA’s largest fundraising event of the year, will drive the tar Heel Triple Classic to the finish line on June 11-16. Exhibitors will show the same schedule of AQHA and NSBA classes as the Youth Show.

Keep checking back for additional coverage from the show including live results from the Little Futurity on the InStride Edition Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/InStrideEdition/

Check out our candids from the show here