Questions   Eligible Stallions  Eligible Mares  Eligible Weanlings  Results THE 2004 AMERICAN SADDLE HORSE BREEDERS FUTURITY OF TEXAS Limited Breeder's Weaning Stake Questions and Answers What is a Limited Breeders' Weanling Stake? A Limited Breeders' Weanling Stake is a program designed to promote the breeding and showing of American Saddlebred Horses. How does a limited Breeders' Weanling Stake work? The organizers contact stallion owners through out the country asking them to donate the services of their stallion(s). After the stallion services have been donated, an auction is held to sell the donated services to be used the next breeding season. Then the mares are bred and the following December the buyers of the stallion services make a declaration of which mare they have chosen (bred to the stallion whose service they purchased) to have the foal they wish to compete with. The year the foal is to be foaled the stallion, mare, and foal must be properly nominated to the Texas Futurity. In the fall of the year the foal is born there will be a class held for the Limited Weanling Stake colts/fillies, which only they may compete in. They will be awarded prize money (75% to the owners of the foal and 25% to the owners of the stallions) which was derived from proceeds from the auctions and any donations less 10% for administrative costs. As a stallion owner, why should I donate a service to my stallion, what do I get out of it? First and most important, you are helping to promote the American Saddlebred Horse. You will also get exposure for your stallion in promotion for the auction by way of the auction website. Monetary compensation in the form of transport fees and mare care, and the potential to win more than most stallions stand for if your stallion sires one of the top winning foals. As a mare owner why should I buy a service at a Limited Breeders' Weanling Stake auction? As with the stallion owner the most important reason is to promote the American Saddlebred Horse. You do not have to show or even intend to show to have a benefit, as the bidding starts at 1/2 of the stallions advertised fee or $250.00 minimum, many times you will be able to buy a service to that stallion you just couldn't quite afford at a discounted price. As an added incentive, if you choose to show and you happen to be one of the top foals you could win a significant amount of money sometimes considerably over the money paid at the auction. I only own one mare and already have a paid season to a stallion in the auction, why would I buy another season? This you would do if you had a mare you thought could have a very good foal to the stallion involved, and intended to show the resultant foal--the Limited Breeders' Weanling Stake than becomes a futures of commodities game--you are risking X dollars in hopes of winning Y dollars. Even though you own a service to a stallion in the auction you may not compete with that stallion's foal unless you bought his service at the auction in addition to what you already have. There are breeders who have been known to buy the same stallion at several auctions for use on a single mare, simply for the potential to win prize money with the foal. I have donated my stallion(s) to the auction, as I own them I can breed as many mares to them for no cost as I want to, why would I pay to breed to my own stallion? You would buy your own stallions service for the right to complete in the class with the resultant foal, with the potential tow in many times more than the amount invested at the auction. I own one or more mares, what benefit would I have by purchasing my stallion services in the fall, why not just choose a stallion in the spring and not have the money paid out so long before I breed my mare? (a) In most cases you will be able to buy a particular stallions service at a discount, that in itself makes it worth while and (b) you also, by buying that stallions service at the auction have the right to show, with the potential to win your investment plus in return. What if the stallion whose service I purchased dies, or becomes infertile before my mare is bred? The amount that you paid for the service at the auction will be refunded. What if my mare doesn't get in foal, can I try next year and show next year? No, you may not show a foal in the next Limited Breeders' weanling Stake that resulted from a service from the previous Limited Breeders' Weanling Stake. You may or may not have return privileges to the stallion you bought in the auction depending on the contract with the stallion owner. If I buy a service at the auction is it live foal guarantee? All guarantees if any and arrangements are entirely between the stallion and mare owner, the Limited Breeders' Weanling Stake has no involvement. Some services are fully guaranteed, some partially with clauses and some have no guarantee, it is advised to contact the owner of the stallion(s) you are interested in and request a contract before the auction. What if I can't get my mare in foal or she loses the foal? You will not be able to show, as you will not have a foal born that year to that stallion/mare combination, you may or may not have a return privilege, but the foal born in a later year can not compete in the Limited Breeders' Weanling Stake. Can a stallion have multiple foals shown in the same year? No. One service per stallion is sold at the auction. If embryo transplant is used and there are multiple foals expected from the combination of stallion to donor mare, the recipient mare must be indicated along with anticipated date of birth on the mare declaration forms.