Source:  News Release

2011 Keystone Draft Horse Futurity and Sale
Continues to be the Largest Draft Horse Futurity in North America
with 21 – two-yr olds returning to compete!

It was a father/daughter team that topped the field this year at the Keystone Draft Horse Futurity held at the Crawford County Fairgrounds in Meadville, Pennsylvania.  Pennwoods Percherons Chad Cole and his daughter, Jordan, respectively placed first and second overall to earn enough points to edge out the competition and take home paychecks worth $3565.73 and $1836.89.

Silver Oaks KC’s Wave 09, a Percheron mare owned by the Coles and bred by Silver Oak Percherons, Darcy & Spud Strain of Boissevain, Manitoba, emerged victorious at the close of the day-long event.

Not far behind and following in her father’s footsteps was Jordan Cole with another Percheron mare, Northern Lights Contessa.

“I’m very proud of Jordan,” commented Cole at the conclusion of the cheque presentation.  “She bought that mare with her own money and used her as her 4H project.”

There are three divisional components to the draft horse futurity show; halter or line division, rail cart division, and pattern or obstacle division.

In the halter division, the horse is judged as a regular halter class with emphasis placed on an animal that is conformationally correct and sound on all feet and legs.  Balance, breed type, form-to-function, smoothness of body parts, eye appeal and the action of the animal are all taken into consideration in judging the horse.

The rail cart class is designed to show a free, easy-moving animal that is relaxed with alert ears and moving balanced with a non-intimidated forward way of going.  The horse should be bright and responsive to the driver at various gaits and work in both directions of the ring.  Judging is based on the horses overall performance and way of going as well as its ability to hold the designated gait.  Action, headset, type and eye appeal all contribute to the score.

The third and final division is the pattern division which consists of individual pattern work designed to show how well broke the horse is.  Some of the pattern components included are:

¨        a series of cones that the horse has to navigate

¨        cross a bridge

¨        stand quietly

¨        back up

¨        enter, turn 180 degrees, and exit a keyhole

Scoring is by way of a panel judging system, and then points are tallied from each division to arrive at the overall winner.  Judges for this year’s event were Mr. Greg Morrison of Evans City, PA, Ms. Julie Westbrook of Huntington, Indiana and Mr. Don Morzenski of LaPorte, Indiana. The first division was the halter or line class.  Cole and Silver Oaks KC’s Wave 09 won the line class, as well as the pattern division.  There were several hopefuls in the rail division, but when the dust settled, the father/daughter competitors ended up tied for first.  With a sweep in all three divisions, Chad Cole and the Percheron mare, Silver Oaks KC’s Wave 09, were the hands-down winners.

The following top ten overall presentations were made in the futurity:

The 8^th annual Keystone Colt Sale was held Saturday morning.  Any foal purchased from the Keystone Colt Sale held in conjunction with the futurity, and paid into the futurity at the time of sale, is eligible to return to compete in the Keystone Draft Horse Futurity as a two-year old, and to compete for the total futurity purse.  Equine ranchers and breeders from Manitoba and Saskatchewan historically consign foals to the sale held in Meadville, PA.  The total purse consists of nomination fees paid by the consigning breeders as well as NAERIC, along with the futurity fees paid by the colt buyers at the time of the sale.

This year’s sale was conducted by Todd Woodruff of Springfield, Ohio, with Dale Stoltzfus of Leola, PA, on pedigrees.  The high selling foal of the sale was a Percheron  colt, Elkview Enforcer, consigned by Elkview Percherons of Elkhorn, Manitoba, and purchased by Pennwoods Percherons of Centre Hall, PA for $6500.00.  High selling Belgian was Creek Side Willow purchased by Sam K. King of Lititz, PA for $4000.  The top Clydesdale, Boulder Bluff Jadee, was consigned by Blaine and Trinda Martin of Strathclair, Manitoba, and sold to Neal Zoldan of New Springfield, OH for $1900.00.  There were 45 lots sold for an average of $1500. 

The evidence that the competition is growing stronger in Meadville, PA is reflected in the show ring by the number of two-year olds that return to the futurity show each year, and the quality of their turn out.  With events such as the Keystone Draft Horse Futurity and Keystone Colt Sale to showcase Canadian-bred draft horses, the promotion of draft horses in North America is proving to be stronger than ever.

About NAERIC

The North American Equine Ranching Information Council (NAERIC) is a non-profit association of equine ranchers that  serves its members, the horse industry and public as an agribusiness resource by providing the latest information and research on all aspects of the equine ranching industry, including ranch management, horse care, breeding practices and innovative marketing programs.  For complete information, visit www.naeric.org.