2009  IMPORTANT DEADLINES

    Feb.1- $100. Annual maintenance membership payable to MB 50/50 Superhorse Assoc.. If not received by Mar.1,   then membership is revoked.  Please refer to Rules and Regulations for complete membership information.  New Memberships are welcome.

    July 1- $100. Fee per weanling guarantee payable to the MB 50/50 Superhorse Assoc. $50.00 late fee applies to this deadline. $50. is refunded when colt sells.

    July 1- $100.- Advertising & payment due payable to the MB 50/50 Superhorse Assoc..  Missing       deadline will result in double fee- $200.. Money to be taken off sale of colts if not pd. by sale time. If money not received by Dec. 31, then membership expires. Prior to Dec.31,  you will receive one notice  NOTE: If ad copy is not received by Aug.1^st then no add will be included in the catalogue. All advertising is to be camera ready.                                                                                             Please mail/email to:        Marg Poier Box 1397  Roblin, MB, R0L 1P0
(204) 564-2206 Email: rafterpranch@hotmail.com                                                                                   

 Ad prices – full page -$125., ½ pg - $100., ¼ pg $50., bus. cards - $25.00  

 Aug.1-   Foal information for the sale catalogue should be sent to the show secretary.   Foal                  information must be in by Aug 1 dead-line or forfeit consignment rebate.

OVERVIEW 
The Manitoba Superhorse 50/50 Futurity is a success story unparalleled in western Canada. It's success has been dependent upon the support of the breeders who bring their good weanlings to the sale each fall and give half the selling price back to the futurity pot. It's success has been dependent upon the support of the buyers who pack the stands each fall as they bid on the weanling they think will come back and win the two year old Futurity. The Manitoba Superhorse 50/50 Futurity has been a phenomenon in the horse industry with the futurity pot growing to make it the richest futurity in Western Canada.

HISTORY
It all started in with an idea. Brandon horseman Neil McLeod had seen a similar program in the U.S. and thought that it was something that could be implemented in Manitoba. He called together a group of horse breeders and told them about this crazy futurity that took half the monies paid out for weanlings at a sale to create a lucrative pot, which would be paid out when they were two year olds. Only horses sold at the weanling sale would be eligible to return to compete at the two-year-old futurity. The horses would be judged for conformation, under saddle on the rail and on how they performed a simple reining pattern geared towards two year olds. The futurity would also differ from other horse shows because the horses would never leave the ring from start to finish of the three phases.

FOUNDING MEMBERS
In addition to consigning horses to the sale breeders would also become founding members of the Manitoba Superhorse 50/50, which would be closed to only 30 members. The founding members were Circle S Ranch, Joe and Jan Goodwill, Charles Enns, M Bar 2, KJ5 Ranch, K & J Bridgeman, Mcleod's Paints and Quarter Horses, Kelly Stuart, Bridgeman Appaloosa's and Quarter Horses, Dave & Wendy Somers, Blains Bend Quarter Horses, Rocking W Ranch, 2 U Ranch, Thunderbird Horse Center, Larry and Noreen Hicks, Joynts Quarter Horses, Kelly Bridgeman, Pat Kleemola, EJM Paints and Quarter Horses. Whenever a breeder wanted to drop out they could and new members would pay a membership fee to become a member. They did not know that they were starting a program that would catch the imagination and interest of many horseman who would either buy colts and return to compete on them or just those who come to the Keystone Center each fall to watch the futurity drama unfold each year.

FUTURITY
And a drama it is. Aside from the four official judges that will appraise the horses and their riders are the hundreds of amateur judges in the stands who wait in eager anticipation to hear the placings and see how their favorites fair in the standings. To win the 50/50 a horse must do well in all three phases but some will place higher in the conformation portion than they will in the pattern or perhaps they are strong rail horses but not conformation types. Add to this the fact that for many of the youngsters in the ring this is their first trip to town and they are having to deal with all the distractions of a big show and you can see how anything can happen! The futurity is a testing ground for many and is to the credit of the trainers and riders how well these young horses handle the situation. Some horses handle the first day well and don't perform as well the second or it might be vise versa. Two judges look at the horses each of the two days and what one judge likes the other might not which results in the horses being placed differently. Some years no one knows who has won the futurity until the final announcements is made!

PARTICIPANTS
The riders range from professional horse trainers to amateurs and youths. To this end the 50/50 has built in awards for the top amateur and top youth. There are lucrative payouts for the top ten placings at the futurity and breeder aren't forgotten as they also receive a payout in the form of a Breeder's Award. But aside from the money it is equally important to the breeder, owner, trainer, and rider to be able to say they won or (placed!) in this very prestigious event. The show gives many people the opportunity to see the finished product from several different breeders in one venue. The futurity gives the youngsters added value and in the past ten years have contributed to the horse industry by putting good, well started young horses back in the marketplace. Many of the youngsters that come through the 50/50 have gone on to excel in a variety of disciplines for their owners. In it's first year, the 50/50 offered yearlings as well as weanlings for sale in order to have a two year old futurity the next year. In 1991 two year olds were simply entered in the 50/50 futurity but since then only horses sold at the 50/50 sale have been allowed to compete. The total selling price of the weanlings has surpassed itself each year for the past ten years and many people wonder where it will all end. The sale gives horsemen a chance to see how good their eye is. It is a gamble that many enjoy taking and one that pays handsomely when all is said and done. The members of the Manitoba Superhorse 50/50 Futurity believed in the idea of a sale and show and it has paid off. One thing is for sure there will be horses that ride and look good doing it! Good luck to all buyers and competitors.